EDC XIII Which knife or knives are you carrying today?

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ChazzyP said:
I've long been a fan of the Benchmade Griptilian--largely the larges, as it were--while at the same time somewhat incongruously disliking their stock Noryl handles as cheesy and uncomfortable. I've owned a fair number of them and still have several. Along the way I've also acquired numerous sets of Kevin Wilkins scales as I really like them both for their style as well as how they greatly improve the knives' ergos. Kevin stopped making his BMG X2's and X1's some time ago, as his market had dried up, and he's been moving out his stock on hand since. A couple years back I bought a set of flame-ano'd Ti scales to install on a 550 HG in 154CM that I picked up off the Exchange. I liked them quite a bit, though they're a bit more blingy than my taste usually runs, but as time went by I found myself not carrying and using a knife with a blade configurtion and steel that I like an awful lot.

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I'd been perusing Kevin's site from time to time, looking at both the knives he had to offer as well as tracking what he had for scales. I had been really taken many years back with a special run of a few sets of red G11 scales he made a had always regretted not picking one up. G11 has a sort of translucence that I find appealing and recently I ran into these G11 Coyotes with a slightly violet-toned bronzed backspacer, flamed screws, a free clip, and a 20% off special. I think he has or had a few sets left and I grabbed one. The Fedex guy dropped the package unprotected on our stoop today in the rain, but J saw it soon enough to save it getting too soaked.

I set about freeing the knife's innards from the existing set of scales straight away. Everything came apart easily and it wasn't too long before I had the new scales installed, though it had been a while since I've put a Griptilian back together and getting the pivot all the way through can be a bit tricky. I had to tweak a little to get the blade centered, but all came out just fine for action and play. I'm pretty pleased with the look and feel of these. The slightly greenish tint and translucence are much more attractive than the usual dead tan look of typical Coyote and the G11 has a nicely softish, grippy feel in hand. I think this one's gonna get considerably more carry now.

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Different and cool 👍🏼
 
I carried my 550 with its new BMG X2 G11 scales yesterday, but had a long day in the gym and never managed to get outside for a stroll and any knife pics. Today I mostly relaxed, save for a shopping errand and one mile walk, and took some time while lunching to tie up a tail on the re-vamped Griptilian using a bead that came along with others from our friend sonofwilfred sonofwilfred . I couldn't really capture how close in color and tone the bead and G11 scales are as the light was poor outdoors and our indoor lighting does nothing to complement any photographic endeavor.

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Here's one more pic of the newly-scaled 550 with the barely recognizable former 551 that sports both aluminum Wilkins scales and backspacer along with one of Kevin's oval-holed replacement blades in S30V--the knife that literally cut the cord today.

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bigolegator said:
Monday Christmas Week…
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Nice pic and nice knife, B. I've come around the long way in appreciation of Spyderco backlocks, FRN, and the Delica/Endura series. I'd bought my first pair of these two as they seemed significant touchstones in the evolution of modern folders that any out-of-control knife accumulator should own. I wasn't much of a fan of VG10 to start with either, especially after my first hard use of the Endura yielded a chipped and edge-rolled blade. After working back a ways from that damaged factory grind, though, I liked the new edge and how it cut and it held up much better. I gave the Delica a little honing love too.

Last summer I finally replaced the crappy, chipped-looking, painted black clips on those two with a pair of LynchNW long deep-carry's and just love what they add both appearance-wise and functionally.

Your knife looks great with that clip, and I've been trying to figure out if it's Delica with a short clip or an Endura with a long. After comparing to my two and counting courses in the FRN without getting a match to either, I'm wondering if that's an Endela you've got there. I've been tempted to try one out, and if I'm right about yours, am wondering how you like it. I've got a bunch of rewards points saved up over at Knifecenter and if I go for one will have decide among their offerings of VG10 or K390 in FRN, or maybe their HAP40 Pakkawood Exclusive to go along with my Delica, Endura, and Police. I know, I know, the standard BF answer is get all three. 😏

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