Griptilian vs Barrage + Minis vs Full size?

J

JDX

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I used the search function and only found barrage vs mini barrage and same with the grip..so I apologize if this thread has been overdone


Okay, so I figured it's about time I add a benchmade to my collection. A lot of people recommended the 940..and I bet it's a great knife, but it's just not aesthetically pleasing to me..I'm not saying looks are everything..but I want to like how my knife looks.

Anyways, I figured I'd go mainstream and get one of the two more popular, cheaper blades from benchmade. As an introductory knife to the brand.

So the the full size barrage looks to be a bit bigger than the full size Griptilian. But I always see people mention the grip over the barrage. So my question is why?

Also, for General edc, which includes cutting cardboard, cutting through canvas, burlap, plastics and cordage. And of course the random and unexpected uses. Which would be better? I've heard two different things when comparing the grip to the mini grip.
-1) the blade on the full size feels heavier than the light plastic handle, giving it a cheap feel to it causing people to go with the mini.
-2) the mini is a complete disgrace because why would you miniature an already great knife (not my words) and of course that is strictly opinion, but people also mentioned how the mini is smaller than they anticipated. I felt this way when I got my Spyderco Delica 4 which is now the smallest knife in my collection.

As for the barrage, I just simply don't know much about it and the benchmade site just gives specs.. So how come there's a lot of talk about the grip, but not the barrage, and which would be better suited for my edc tasks. Would partial serrations be worth it or no?

Thanks for your time
 
Forgot to mention, I know the main difference is the grip is Manual and the barrage is assisted but is there anything other than that? Ergos? General usability?
 
Others will tell a different story, but I've had bad luck with quality control on the griptilians so I'd go with the barrage. They're very similar though. I doubt you'd notice any real difference in usability. I tend to prefer the larger knives of this variety as I always carry a small traditional in another pocket.
 
What is your price point and sharpening equipment/skill like?
The new griptilians are available in 20cv which is comparable to m390 for most accounts and a significant upgrade over the stock alloys in the grip line.

All sizes and shapes available, even the Sheepsfoot with the opening hole.
 
My budget is >150. And as for sharpening..I have yet to buy a good sharpening system. I'm still paying my way through college so all my money is going towards tuition which I'm paying out of pocket. Which is a reason I don't abuse my knives. I borrowed a friends and practiced on 8cr13mov and Aus 8 and I did the s30v on my kershaw blur which was difficult with the recurve. But s30v is the "best" steel I've sharpened.
 
I own a Griptilian and Mini Griptilian. I like both of them. I have other assisted opening knives, but I don't see the need for it with the axis-lock on the Benchmades. In fact, one of the great things about the axis lock is that it makes the knife just as easy to close one-handed as it does to open it. If the Barrage is like my other assisted openers, it would remove that benefit since you would have to overcome the spring to close it.

I looked at the full-sized Barrage but I didn't like the blade profile as much and it is a bit larger knife than I need.

I find the 154CM steel to be fine for my needs and easy to sharpen and maintain. I would not be willing to pay the higher price for the newer Griptilian line, but that's just me.
 
I own both a 580 Barrage and a Ritter Grip. Both are great knives and will serve you well. I purchased the Barrage as my first Benchmade about five or six years ago. It was my only folder for a very long time. It did any task I asked it to. These days the Ritter Grip sees most of my tasks. Not because the Barrage is incapable... More because my taste have changed. I still carry the Barrage from time to time. Either knife will serve you well.
 
$166 for small and $178 for large gets you g10 slabs and a higher end steel.

I actually prefer sharpening m390 over s30v, but then again I have dmt stones. But if you can be happy with your s30v then 20cv shouldn't be an issue.

But I know funds are tight, so I would look in the exchange. Grab a lightly used grip, maybe a Boker Urban Trapper, and look for a DC3 or 4 or dmt diafold in coarse/fine for all sharpening needs.
 
Consider a Ritter Griptilian with m390 steel. This is a very high value knife in your price range. This knife is currently in my edc rotation.
 
I love my barrage for its size and assisted opening! I gifted my grips to my nephews! The barrage is a hell of a knife! That being said I think the 810 Contego is the best knife ever made!
 
I owned both. And I think the Barrage is to fat in hand and to heavy. Also the assisted opening gets old after a while and you almost need two hands to close it. The grips are decent but IMO the 904 or stryker series is a better/tougher knife not sure why people overlook it so much
 
Hello 'Twisted,

bad luck with quality control on the griptilians
Click to expand...

could you elaborate please; I see a stock handled Griptillian (because I like the grip shape) in my future and now that I have read they come in 20CV all the more.
 
My favorite Benchmade is still the Ritter Mini-Grip (w/ Wilkins scales). It is pretty compact and is a comfortably large for the tasks I use it for. The large versions of both do have significantly more handle volume, so if you're doing a lot of cutting or heavier cutting (having to put more weight into it), it will be more comfortable at the expense being a bit bulkier in pocket. Size-wise, the large versions are noticeably larger than their mini counterparts, both in length and width. I can get a decent 3.5 finger grip on the small ones, and the large ones comfortably provide a full grip.

I like assisted-opening on some knives, but I really didn't like it on the Mini-Barrage. It seemed to suit the large Barrage fine, but it did make the Mini-Barrage much more accident prone for me. Ultimately, I did de-assist both my Barrages, and I like both better that way.

Here's a shot I took a while back that has both the large and small Barrages and Griptilitans.
1169685_comparison2_open_800x597.jpg


1169685_comparison2_closed_800x452.jpg


Here's the large Grip next to the Blur for reference (since you mentioned having one of those). They are similar in length, but the Griptilian handles are noticeably wider.
710_551_Blur_open_800x457.jpg


710_551_Blur_closed1_800x481.jpg


And with the Grips, you can always get alternate aftermarket scales for them. I really like the Wilkins ones.
Wilkins-Ritter-Grips_800x439.jpg
 
My budget is >150. And as for sharpening..I have yet to buy a good sharpening system. I'm still paying my way through college so all my money is going towards tuition which I'm paying out of pocket.
Click to expand...

did you mean <150 then ?
 
NJBillK said:
$166 for small and $178 for large gets you g10 slabs and a higher end steel.

I actually prefer sharpening m390 over s30v, but then again I have dmt stones. But if you can be happy with your s30v then 20cv shouldn't be an issue.

But I know funds are tight, so I would look in the exchange. Grab a lightly used grip, maybe a Boker Urban Trapper, and look for a DC3 or 4 or dmt diafold in coarse/fine for all sharpening needs.
Click to expand...

I've been on the benchmade website at the custom creator part..messed around and customized a Griptilian. With s30v it came out to $130 for the large. So where are you getting those prices? And where can I have the g10 scales and 20cv steel? Thanks for the recommendation on the sharpening equipment!
 
flarp said:
My favorite Benchmade is still the Ritter Mini-Grip (w/ Wilkins scales). It is pretty compact and is a comfortably large for the tasks I use it for. The large versions of both do have significantly more handle volume, so if you're doing a lot of cutting or heavier cutting (having to put more weight into it), it will be more comfortable at the expense being a bit bulkier in pocket. Size-wise, the large versions are noticeably larger than their mini counterparts, both in length and width. I can get a decent 3.5 finger grip on the small ones, and the large ones comfortably provide a full grip.

I like assisted-opening on some knives, but I really didn't like it on the Mini-Barrage. It seemed to suit the large Barrage fine, but it did make the Mini-Barrage much more accident prone for me. Ultimately, I did de-assist both my Barrages, and I like both better that way.

Here's a shot I took a while back that has both the large and small Barrages and Griptilitans.
1169685_comparison2_open_800x597.jpg


1169685_comparison2_closed_800x452.jpg


Here's the large Grip next to the Blur for reference (since you mentioned having one of those). They are similar in length, but the Griptilian handles are noticeably wider.
710_551_Blur_open_800x457.jpg


710_551_Blur_closed1_800x481.jpg


And with the Grips, you can always get alternate aftermarket scales for them. I really like the Wilkins ones.
Wilkins-Ritter-Grips_800x439.jpg
Click to expand...

Great picture references!! Thank you for your input. My main worry is that I'll have two knives that are similar and I'll pocket one over the other. So far my collection is composed of:
-Zero Tolerance 0350
-Spyderco Paramilitary 2
-Cold Steel Recon 1 Tanto (stripped paint, sanded g10 a bit)
-Spyderco Delica 4 FFG
-Buck 110
-Kershaw Blur S30V
-Ontario Utilitac II
-Ontario Rat 1
-Victorinox Fieldmaster II



I would love to have a benchmade in my collection (as well as a ZT 0566 eventually) and besides the 904, which I just don't like the very narrow blade. I don't know why..but anyways, given my current collection, is there a benchmade that wouldn't overlap another knife? Or do you think that having two similar knives is okay and that you can just rotate them? Thank you!
 
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Keep in mind they can also be found on the exchange for around your limit, if not just under.
 
Having multiple similar knives is perfectly fine if you want them. ;) There are people on the forum that have dozens (if not hundreds) of variations of a single base model (Leeks and Blurs come to mind). Of my Benchmades, the Ritter Mini-Grip probably sees more use than all the others combined. The 940 would be just behind that Mini-Grip. And since de-assisting my Mini-Barrage, I've come to like that one more as well. The large Grip and Barrage don't really make it into my EDC much (just too bulky for regular carry), but they saw more use from me for camping or yard work.
 
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