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Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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Full size Grip or Kershaw Whirlwind
- Thread starter jhansman
- Start date
I gotta tell ya.....as much as I like Kershaw I have to say "Get a Grip".
The Griptilian is made with better steel and it has a better lock.
I think it's a better knife personally.
Were you looking at the 550 Grip or the 551 Grip? I have the 550 and love it.
The Griptilian is made with better steel and it has a better lock.
I think it's a better knife personally.
Were you looking at the 550 Grip or the 551 Grip? I have the 550 and love it.
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2006
- Messages
- 274
Haven't handled the Kershaw yet, but I love my BM 551. It's the one from Cabela's with the D2 blade. What can I say about the Axis Lock and D2 blade that hasn't been said already. Get the BM, you won‘t regret it!!!
I was looking at the 550S. Actually, I'd love to get the 550SOD (olive drab), but it has been out of prodution so long, no one carries it, or at least I can't seem to find one. So, based on the feedback thus far, the Grip is the clear favorite. I just handled one today and was surprised how much of a handful it is. What the hell, I need to add a BM to my miniscule collection. Thanks for the opinions.
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2006
- Messages
- 274
I don't know if you're dead set on the 550, but Cabela's does carry the 551 with the Olive Drab scales...
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
I would definitely say the Grip...
However, I think there are definitely some Kershaws that better compete with the Grip. The Storm cost less and I like a lot, the Pseudo bump (as I'm calling it) cost somewhat more, but I like it more than the grip.
The axis lock and better steel are really nice....I'm also not a big fan of AO either. I have great luck with both companies and own a lot of both.
However, I think there are definitely some Kershaws that better compete with the Grip. The Storm cost less and I like a lot, the Pseudo bump (as I'm calling it) cost somewhat more, but I like it more than the grip.
The axis lock and better steel are really nice....I'm also not a big fan of AO either. I have great luck with both companies and own a lot of both.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2001
- Messages
- 1,308
I've had unsatisfying experiences with some Kershaw product (the crappy thing they called a "dive knife" that cost me like $70 wasted at a mall shop), but I like and respect my Vapor II...
But I would take any Benchmade any day over any Kershaw, period.
That's just my feeling about it.
Some Kershaws back up their hype, but many don't. Just about all Benchmades are up to the reputation, period.
-Jeffrey
But I would take any Benchmade any day over any Kershaw, period.
That's just my feeling about it.
Some Kershaws back up their hype, but many don't. Just about all Benchmades are up to the reputation, period.
-Jeffrey
I wasn't looking to start a 'Kershaw vs. BM' debate, only draw opinions on those two folders. FWIW, I love my K.O. Scallion; if Kershaw can put out a knife that good, I figure their Whirlwind must be worth considering. No one near where I live stocks it, so I figured maybe I could find a soul here who had at least handled (if not owned) both. Still, my lust for a BM is taking over on this one.
Well I have a whirlwind, not a bad knife, but an earlier design of Onion's. There is no lock on it, and I think that most recent of his designs are much better to go with, I am in love with my spec bump and offset, yet they are more pricy, my fav. all purpose knife to carry around is a leek, they are not too small not too big, great price, now have a s30 steel option and jst perfect for utility, I can't bear to use my offset yet and although the bumo is just awesome .. i still carry my leek for use due to it's nice size.
Don't know about a grip, but sounds good, I just say, if you are going to compare folders, do it with kershaws cream of the crop.
Don't know about a grip, but sounds good, I just say, if you are going to compare folders, do it with kershaws cream of the crop.
Ok - I just went and grabbed both. I have a BM550/PE/Sheepsfoot/Thumbhole and my Kershaw Whirlwind, which is PE. I have med. small hands (cadet, but golf terms, which means slightly long fingers). The Griptillian has these pluses for me:
- Feels better in hand, hence will work better when a forceful downward cut is required
- Clip positioning - I can go right/left/tip up/tip down. I'm a very strong lefty.
- Thumbhole - Not as good as Spydie, but very manageable.
- Sheepsfoot shape - Surprisingly useful in a knife this size.
- Handle patterning - slightly better than the Whirlwind, should be better in wet/slippery conditions - only spec here - haven't done a comparison.
- Axis Lock - being a strong lefty has a huge advantgage for me here.
It has very few downsides but it does have one or two:
- Partial steel liners give it a bit of a cheap sound. I don't doubt it would more than hold up but.... In a knife of this size, the extra weight that the liners would have imposed, may actually have been desireable for me.
- Thumbhole should not have been chamfered. I have very dry hands and my thumb does slip out occasionally when I try to deploy quickly - something my Spydies don't do
The Kershaw Whirlwind has these things going for it:
- Assisted opening - It actually works very well.
- The knife itself, despite being every so slightly thinner does fit my hand very well. Just not as good as the Griptillian.
- The bladeshape is to me, sort of a cross between a drop point and a clip point. Probably closer to a drop point, but a useful shape nonetheless.
- I haven't used this one all that much, but the linerlock hasn't budged, screws haven't loosened up since I got it. I've had a few where pivots have loosenend and this is definitely not one of those.
Here are the things that sort of keep it on the shelf:
- Only one position for the clip - tip down/right.
- thumbstud is not reversible - not that I can't manage, but.......
- Because of the AO, it's a little harder to close it than the BM
- No lanyard hole per se. I wouldn't say this is that big of a drawback, just a preference.
- I think it's because the handle is slight more rounded on the Whirlwind, but when the AO flicks the blade open, it makes a very hollow cheap sound. Same when you close it.
They are both in roughly the same price point up here, the 550 being slightly more. I haven't done that much cutting with either so I'm not going to venture an opinion on edge retention. For the things that I do, either will work fine. This is just my thoughts on it. I have several friends who have Whirlwinds and absolutely love'em. I don't mind it, just prefer the Grip. I would suggest picking up both if you can before deciding. Both should serve you well.
I collect at a pretty voracious rate (I have a pretty good "allowance"
), probably several folders a month. Sometimes I go into withdrawal, and can't find something I like, so to get by, I will buy something non-knife. Last week, it was a small digital camera for my Maxpedition - A Fuji A400, but that was because I couldnt' get to Target Knives to pick up my Endura 4's I needed a tax deduction against my rental properties, yeah, that was it........
One of the fun things for me in my collecting is to try to find replacements for my current EDC's. I do cut things several times a day, so it doesn't take long for me to determine what I do and don't like. I also wear cargo pants on a regular basis, so it allows me to carry several blades, actually a LOT of blades I will usually carry a new acquistion in one of my cargo pants pockets, but will reach for it all time for a day or two just to see how it works. If it works better than what I have in my front pockets, something will have to go. Now interestlingly,in the last 5 months or so, the Spydie Delica 4/PE/FRN and a recently acquired Vic Soldeir were the only blades to make it to my front pockets. The Delica 4 replaced my Delica 2.
My usual daily carry:
- Left front clipped - BM556, Delica 4 and SAK Recruit loose. Soldier has found it's way in there the last few days. An SE Delica 4 is also being rotated there, on occasion.
- Right front clipped - Spydie Meerkat, Dragonfly loose.
- IWB Kabar/Dozier Folding Hunter.
When I wear cargos, I have a small piece of leather (2 or 3 oz) that I cut out to fit the pocket and will rotate new ones there.
Lately - left cargo is holding my Delica 4 and a Buck Northshore - has been known to also carry a Grey Calpyso Jr. and/or Centofante 4. Right cargo - Delica 3 and a Centofante 3 and/or a Camillus Blaze. I'm still deciding about the Northshore - it's a gorgeous folder and has so far worked really well, but I doubt it will make to the front pockets. Definitely a suit knife, though
Hope this helps - gord
- Feels better in hand, hence will work better when a forceful downward cut is required
- Clip positioning - I can go right/left/tip up/tip down. I'm a very strong lefty.
- Thumbhole - Not as good as Spydie, but very manageable.
- Sheepsfoot shape - Surprisingly useful in a knife this size.
- Handle patterning - slightly better than the Whirlwind, should be better in wet/slippery conditions - only spec here - haven't done a comparison.
- Axis Lock - being a strong lefty has a huge advantgage for me here.
It has very few downsides but it does have one or two:
- Partial steel liners give it a bit of a cheap sound. I don't doubt it would more than hold up but.... In a knife of this size, the extra weight that the liners would have imposed, may actually have been desireable for me.
- Thumbhole should not have been chamfered. I have very dry hands and my thumb does slip out occasionally when I try to deploy quickly - something my Spydies don't do
The Kershaw Whirlwind has these things going for it:
- Assisted opening - It actually works very well.
- The knife itself, despite being every so slightly thinner does fit my hand very well. Just not as good as the Griptillian.
- The bladeshape is to me, sort of a cross between a drop point and a clip point. Probably closer to a drop point, but a useful shape nonetheless.
- I haven't used this one all that much, but the linerlock hasn't budged, screws haven't loosened up since I got it. I've had a few where pivots have loosenend and this is definitely not one of those.
Here are the things that sort of keep it on the shelf:
- Only one position for the clip - tip down/right.
- thumbstud is not reversible - not that I can't manage, but.......
- Because of the AO, it's a little harder to close it than the BM
- No lanyard hole per se. I wouldn't say this is that big of a drawback, just a preference.
- I think it's because the handle is slight more rounded on the Whirlwind, but when the AO flicks the blade open, it makes a very hollow cheap sound. Same when you close it.
They are both in roughly the same price point up here, the 550 being slightly more. I haven't done that much cutting with either so I'm not going to venture an opinion on edge retention. For the things that I do, either will work fine. This is just my thoughts on it. I have several friends who have Whirlwinds and absolutely love'em. I don't mind it, just prefer the Grip. I would suggest picking up both if you can before deciding. Both should serve you well.
I collect at a pretty voracious rate (I have a pretty good "allowance"
), probably several folders a month. Sometimes I go into withdrawal, and can't find something I like, so to get by, I will buy something non-knife. Last week, it was a small digital camera for my Maxpedition - A Fuji A400, but that was because I couldnt' get to Target Knives to pick up my Endura 4's I needed a tax deduction against my rental properties, yeah, that was it........One of the fun things for me in my collecting is to try to find replacements for my current EDC's. I do cut things several times a day, so it doesn't take long for me to determine what I do and don't like. I also wear cargo pants on a regular basis, so it allows me to carry several blades, actually a LOT of blades
I will usually carry a new acquistion in one of my cargo pants pockets, but will reach for it all time for a day or two just to see how it works. If it works better than what I have in my front pockets, something will have to go. Now interestlingly,in the last 5 months or so, the Spydie Delica 4/PE/FRN and a recently acquired Vic Soldeir were the only blades to make it to my front pockets. The Delica 4 replaced my Delica 2.My usual daily carry:
- Left front clipped - BM556, Delica 4 and SAK Recruit loose. Soldier has found it's way in there the last few days. An SE Delica 4 is also being rotated there, on occasion.
- Right front clipped - Spydie Meerkat, Dragonfly loose.
- IWB Kabar/Dozier Folding Hunter.
When I wear cargos, I have a small piece of leather (2 or 3 oz) that I cut out to fit the pocket and will rotate new ones there.
Lately - left cargo is holding my Delica 4 and a Buck Northshore - has been known to also carry a Grey Calpyso Jr. and/or Centofante 4. Right cargo - Delica 3 and a Centofante 3 and/or a Camillus Blaze. I'm still deciding about the Northshore - it's a gorgeous folder and has so far worked really well, but I doubt it will make to the front pockets. Definitely a suit knife, though
Hope this helps - gord
Gord-
Thanks for the in-depth reply; you covered just about every possible aspect of each model. I had to laugh at your comment about carrying several knives per day in your cargos. I was picturing you being patted down by the cops and explaining your (our?) obsession. You're lucky to have the budget for such a variety.
The Grip felt good in my hand, so I'll go for it and file away your comments on the Whirlwind for another day.
Er, one more question: how do you know when you have 'enough' knives? Hmmm, I guess my putting 'enough' in quotes prolly answers that one
Thanks for the in-depth reply; you covered just about every possible aspect of each model. I had to laugh at your comment about carrying several knives per day in your cargos. I was picturing you being patted down by the cops and explaining your (our?) obsession.
You're lucky to have the budget for such a variety. The Grip felt good in my hand, so I'll go for it and file away your comments on the Whirlwind for another day.
Er, one more question: how do you know when you have 'enough' knives? Hmmm, I guess my putting 'enough' in quotes prolly answers that one
I would likely say I'm a collector and indeed they are tools, which, for me they really are How many are enough? Good question - I would venture a guess at "When I lose interest......." I've been in the collecting side probably around 3 years or so and I started doing that when I ran out of time to monkey around and make my own blades and a few kits here and there. Still do a bit of leatherwork - not that I don't want to or can't afford to - time is the issue - I don't have enough of it. Would I sell off stuff? Naw - I'm too much of a pack rat...
- gord
How many are enough? Good question - I would venture a guess at "When I lose interest......." I've been in the collecting side probably around 3 years or so and I started doing that when I ran out of time to monkey around and make my own blades and a few kits here and there. Still do a bit of leatherwork - not that I don't want to or can't afford to - time is the issue - I don't have enough of it. Would I sell off stuff? Naw - I'm too much of a pack rat...- gord
I was in a similar situation yesterday. I was out of town at a knife store and looked at three knives, all Benchmades. They had a used 710, new griptillian and new presido. I didn't really like the rounded and rather bumpy feel of the grip and i felt the alluminum handle of the presidio was heavy and would not be as much fun to use when very cold. The 710 was the black serated blade. I like the serations, but not sure that's really what I want and I'm a little uneasy about the long term durability of the black finish. But.... the 710 is the best knife I have held. I love the G10 handle, etc. I bought it and I think it's going to be my favorite and in my opinion well worth the little extra I spent (used but like new). I use mine for similar tasks as you describe.
Steve
Steve
Actually, the handles on the Grip are one of the things that attracted me to it. The thinner, metal handles so prevalent in todays folders put me off. I can live with them on a small EDC clipped to my pocket, but out in the woods I'd prefer a handful of knife.
To complicate things even more, I forgot that I had 3 knives in the running: the Grip, the Whirlwind, and the Camillus Heat. Decisions, decisions....
To complicate things even more, I forgot that I had 3 knives in the running: the Grip, the Whirlwind, and the Camillus Heat. Decisions, decisions....
