Griptilian popularity

mromeo23

mromeo23

Joined
Jan 22, 2013
Messages
386
For the last couple months, I've been on the hunt for an upgrade to my standard 551 grip. I've been very interested in finding a full size grip with either m4 or other higher end steels, Ritters, and custom scales. Due to my current financial doom, I'm limited to trading, which I've done regularly since I joined this site.

Man!!! I had no idea how popular Grips were! The prices that people want for them is just shocking to me. I've offered discontinued rare knives and knives with super steels and only got one offer (had to pass as it was the one and only steel choice I did not want). I've made countless offers to people with grips listed on the exchange and I get rejected almost as fast as I can hit the send button.

The point of this thread is not to try to advertise a trade opportunity...not at all. The point is more to just express my love for Griptilians because I always thought they were the most underrated production knives. I had always heard so much criticism about the stock scales or the liners, so it was surprising when I learned how hard it was to acquire one. I've done probably well over 20 trades in the last year and a half but my grip is the one knife I've never parted with. It always felt like the perfect knife to me. And I do agree with what many say that custom scales really take them to a whole new level.

If anyone has yet to see virtuovices YouTube vids on his Grip tests, they really do show what these knives are capable of.

I know there are countless threads already and they have been discussed to death, but I believe the more people talk about a knife and the more threads keep popping up, I think that's the best way for a company to see customers' desire for more upgrade opportunities and limited run editions. If benchmade made m4 or m390 options on their customs or even better, scale upgrades...that would be a dream of mine. And I'm sure others would agree.
 
Since knife makers are running business, unless there are significant business gain blade with M4, M390 are not as common as we would like.

If you are looking for M390, KW offers M390 in 2 models (810 and 710) and those are very popular midtech from BKC. We can only hope for M390 Griptilian. If you are looking for CPM-M4, I saw M4 being offered in Griptilian 551-1301 in flea bay for low $200's.

I personally don't like FRN grip, so I have opted for 551-1401 with G10 grip.
 
I agree. The griptilian and mini grip hit a real sweet spot. I've bought most of mine used. I'm now in the spot that I too will likely only buy another if there is an upgraded blade steel as I now have a couple S30V and a D2 models. What is more likely is that I will be customizing the ones I haven't swapped scales on yet. The griptilian is a great package.
 
Thats insane considering what they were new from an authorized reputable dealer not too long ago.

mromeo, I hope you find a fair deal or trade. You can't help no trades, but I hope you find a fair seller.

MobileFireLord said:
Since knife makers are running business, unless there are significant business gain blade with M4, M390 are not as common as we would like.

If you are looking for M390, KW offers M390 in 2 models (810 and 710) and those are very popular midtech from BKC. We can only hope for M390 Griptilian. If you are looking for CPM-M4, I saw M4 being offered in Griptilian 551-1301 in flea bay for low $200's.

I personally don't like FRN grip, so I have opted for 551-1401 with G10 grip.
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A nearly bombproof combination along with an awesome S30V blade is the Ritter Grip. Sure I'd love to see M390 in the mix, but point is the venerable Pardue designed Grips remain top sellers and for good reason. There's nothing wrong with the stock scales either.
 
Yea in my opinion the griptilian is hands down the best out here with respect to what you get for the price. The AXIS lock is my favorite locking mechanism and there are so many variations and options it is just unbeatable.
 
I have to agree, the Grip and Mini Grip are great knives. I have a 556 and love it, but I don't carry it as often as I used to. I guess that new knife smell wore off.
 
akrapacs said:
Yea in my opinion the griptilian is hands down the best out here with respect to what you get for the price. The AXIS lock is my favorite locking mechanism and there are so many variations and options it is just unbeatable.
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I'd have to disagree. Being that Im on the benchmade forum, I probably wont get much love for saying this. But honestly, with the new pricing, the grip line is getting into the 100 dollar area. At that price, you could get a Spydie Sage 1 with s30v and peel ply CF. Or for just a little more than that, a manix 2 s110v. Or for that matter, a blur in s30v. Or for $114 on the south american river retailer, I can get a zt 0566 with elmax....... So, yes the grip line is good, but not as good as it used to be considering the new pricing.......

Flame suit on.......
 
Krissig12 said:
I'd have to disagree. Being that Im on the benchmade forum, I probably wont get much love for saying this. But honestly, with the new pricing, the grip line is getting into the 100 dollar area. At that price, you could get a Spydie Sage 1 with s30v and peel ply CF. Or for just a little more than that, a manix 2 s110v. Or for that matter, a blur in s30v. Or for $114 on the south american river retailer, I can get a zt 0566 with elmax....... So, yes the grip line is good, but not as good as it used to be considering the new pricing.......

Flame suit on.......
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Plus the inconsistency of the axis lock. You just never know what's going to happen with these omega springs. I was looking into the Ritter and looked like a good knife, but I changed my mind with what seems to be unreliability or should I say unpredictability with the springs.
 
Krissig12 said:
I'd have to disagree. Being that Im on the benchmade forum, I probably wont get much love for saying this. But honestly, with the new pricing, the grip line is getting into the 100 dollar area. At that price, you could get a Spydie Sage 1 with s30v and peel ply CF. Or for just a little more than that, a manix 2 s110v. Or for that matter, a blur in s30v. Or for $114 on the south american river retailer, I can get a zt 0566 with elmax....... So, yes the grip line is good, but not as good as it used to be considering the new pricing.......

Flame suit on.......
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No need for the flame suit. :) You make a very good point and like alot of discussion here it sometimes comes down to personal preference. Personally I'm not a big fan of the spyderco models in the "around $100" price range -- including the sage and the manix. The PM2 is my favorite spydie and one of my favorite knives in general. I would certainly put that as #2 on my list of best value for price and quality but I generally consider that more in the $125+ price range. Same for the ZT0566 -- again one of my absolute favorite knives -- but I would have considered that more in the $140+ price range. If you can actually put either of these alternatives into the "around $100" price range then yes I would have to reconsider my assertion because given the choice of the PM2, ZT0566, and the Griptilian at $100, the Griptilian would be my last choice. I just think it's very difficult (though not impossible) to put those two in that price range whereas it's very easy to do so with the Grip.
 
I own the 556 but never cared for it's full size version too hollow and plastic feeling. Even though the 556 isn't bad I still feel there are better options within the Benchmade line. I guess a lot of it's popularity came from it being the most affordable axis lock, but with the new prices It's hard for me to justify purchasing another.
 
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cards94 said:
Plus the inconsistency of the axis lock. You just never know what's going to happen with these omega springs. I was looking into the Ritter and looked like a good knife, but I changed my mind with what seems to be unreliability or should I say unpredictability with the springs.
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I've owned numerous BM's over the last 20 years or so. All Axis lock models, and have never had a spring fail. There have been some who have had problems with this happening, but the chances of it happening, are so small, I wouldn't let that keep you from buying one.
 
To the OP, even if you have to settle for 154CM, Benchmade's is awesome, and I'd be very surprised if you weren't impressed with it. I have other blades in M4 and M390, but the hollow ground 154CM... I sliced up a bunch of cardboard, and I might as well have been cutting peach in terms of resistance.
 
338375 said:
I've owned numerous BM's over the last 20 years or so. All Axis lock models, and have never had a spring fail. There have been some who have had problems with this happening, but the chances of it happening, are so small, I wouldn't let that keep you from buying one.
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I'm starting to wonder that maybe these omega spring failures are due to someone, out of sheer boredom, sitting around all day just flicking the knife.
 
cards94 said:
I'm starting to wonder that maybe these omega spring failures are due to someone, out of sheer boredom, sitting around all day just flicking the knife.
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If you do some searching here on this subject it seems that some people have issues with multiple Benchmade models. So I'm inclined to think there are definitely instances where the failure is owner caused. I'm sure it isn't always the case because anything can break but I would bet more often than not there is something they are doing that is causing it. IIRC there was discussion that it was possible the springs were failing because they had been exposed to moisture and the springs corroded and broke.
 
akrapacs said:
No need for the flame suit. :) You make a very good point and like alot of discussion here it sometimes comes down to personal preference. Personally I'm not a big fan of the spyderco models in the "around $100" price range -- including the sage and the manix. The PM2 is my favorite spydie and one of my favorite knives in general. I would certainly put that as #2 on my list of best value for price and quality but I generally consider that more in the $125+ price range. Same for the ZT0566 -- again one of my absolute favorite knives -- but I would have considered that more in the $140+ price range. If you can actually put either of these alternatives into the "around $100" price range then yes I would have to reconsider my assertion because given the choice of the PM2, ZT0566, and the Griptilian at $100, the Griptilian would be my last choice. I just think it's very difficult (though not impossible) to put those two in that price range whereas it's very easy to do so with the Grip.
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I understand your point, but if you search hard enough, you can find standard PM2's for around 106ish (thats what I got mine for) and 0566's for under 120 (on that big retailer that starts with an "a";)). If BM wants the grip line to succeed in today's market, they should lower its price by at least about 20 bucks. Minis for 60 bucks and full sizes for 80 would be pretty fair, if you asked me. That way they arent in competition with so many offerings that have arguably superior materials.

Dont get me wrong, I love the grip line. The first quality knife I ever got in my hands was a mini grip that I was buying for my dad at a local knife store. It was, and still is, a great knife. But at the prices they are going for now, it is easy to skip over them in favor of something that represents a better value in terms of what you get.


BTW, thank you for reminding me about the PM2! I forgot to include that in my list. You have actually just bolstered my argument:D Oh and dont forget the Chaparral CF with cts-xhp. That one is 100 bucks as well.... See??? Too many damn options in that range!!!:grumpy:
 
338375 said:
If you do some searching here on this subject it seems that some people have issues with multiple Benchmade models. So I'm inclined to think there are definitely instances where the failure is owner caused. I'm sure it isn't always the case because anything can break but I would bet more often than not there is something they are doing that is causing it. IIRC there was discussion that it was possible the springs were failing because they had been exposed to moisture and the springs corroded and broke.
Click to expand...

Another thing that crossed my mind was I hardly see any of the broken springs coming from the mini-Grip. Maybe it's do to the smaller part?
 
Thanks for pointing out those Youtube vids. I fully agree with you - grips are underrated and really capable. I'll try and take some pics or videos of what I do with mine in the winter. It's abuse, but there's no signs of it on the knife.
Check out the #griptilianfamily tag on IG.
 
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