Gryphon M-10 Tactical/Survival/Field Utility
Specs: *of my knife, not the listed production specs
Carrying a fixed knife has become an inconvenience for many of the everyday carry crowd in the blade community nowadays. In no small part due to inadequate and ill concieved sheath designs meant in many cases as simple coverings for storage. Other sheaths use quality materials but incorporate huge and bulky storage pouches, snap straps, dangling belt loops etc leaving no way to discreetly carry our most useful and reliable cutting tools. Among showmade sheaths and hobbyist outfits there is way too much grip being covered for retentions sake in pancake plastic...the Gryphon is way ahead of the pack in this area.
Mike Sastre at River City sheaths has concieved a carry system for the Gryphon M-10 which lends itself perfectly to the teachings of James Keatings Drawpoint method. This sheath is a very sleek and minimalist fold over concealex thermoplastic. The reduced dimensions and materials in the Gryphon's system allow discreet and unobtrusive IWB carry with either a Pull-the-dot rubber IWB loop or Spypderco G-clip, (which may be mounted vertically, horizontally, or at 45 degrees). The grip of the knife can be fully and very quickly acquired before deployment and once the retention is broken, the knife encounters no further resistance on the draw.
The way in which this crisp action is attained without having any rattling or looseness of retention is through a tedious process of individual custom fittings. That is right, each knife has been hand fit to a sheath by Mike himself! This is practically unheard of for a factory made blade. No waiting in the backlog for this high demand custom fit carry combination, for every knife sold will come outfitted with the River City Sheaths Drawpoint sheath system.
Knife with G-clip attached vertically.
I was very excited to see the comeback of this great defensive/utilitarian tool in black DLC coating and VG-10 Japanese stainless. That is why the majority of this review will be pictorial. If you want to read a very good and more detailed typed review it can be found at Cutlery Shoppe.com
I believe the characteristics of this blade as a weapon as designed are easy enough to see but want to show with the following comparisons the refined features of the design that lend the knife to many versatile cutting activities. I did not incorporate any comparisons with classic daggers and boot knives in the pictorial simply because the Gryphon out performs so many otherwise adequate double edged knives in utility, slicing, and harder use chores where leverage need be applied to the back of the blade.
Here is a very popular 4" blade. Next to the Gryphon M-10. The VG-10 has proven itself to hold a good edge so far and even sharper than the sabre ground Endura. Good geometry on the hollow grind I suspect is responsible.
Look at how similar these utility cutting edges are.
Perhaps my favorite fixed knife comparison is the sharpened clip ESEE 3. The ESEE has a shorter edge because of choil but the extra high full flat grind makes this one a great utility slicer.
The extra bulk of carrying the ESEE 3 knife compared to the stainless Gryphon becomes more clear when the knives are placed in their sheath setups.
Let's see the Gryphon next to the Field and Streams "Best of the Best" Cold Steel Pendleton Lite hunter.
Top: Gryphon
Bottom: CS Pendleton Lite
Now next to a working knife mainstay, Cold Steel Master Hunter. This shows the Gryphon is significant in hand.
Top: Pendleton Lite
Middle: Gryphon
Bottom: CS Master Hunter
Hard use anyone? Fixed knife strength in a smaller package with the M-10.
This comparison between a Cold Steel Mini Pendleton (3"blade 6.75" overall) and Gryphon M-10 4" blade 8.5" overall) really shows the potential of carry ease the sheath offers.
The Knives:
The knives in sheaths.
Looke even closer. The full size Gryphon carries nearly as compact as a miniature model knife.
I hope the photos have helped to illustrate that the Gryphon M-10 might just be the best and most reliable value and versatility in the tactical fixed blade market right now. Those who have been waiting for a blade paired with a carry system to take the personal trial and error out of reliable fixed knife carry have the answer. Do not compromise where it counts, use your gross motor skills and grab a Gryphon quickly, before they disappear again forever!
Specs: *of my knife, not the listed production specs
- Steel: VG-10
- Blade Length: 4"
- Edge Length: 3.8"
- Overall: 8.5"
- Blade Thickness: 3/16"
- Handle Material: Dupont Zytel
- Weight: 3.6oz
- Weight: (in sheath w/ Blade-Tech loop): 4.8
- Sheath: River City Custom Drawpoint Setup
- Attachment Options: G-clip or Blade-Tech IWB loop
Carrying a fixed knife has become an inconvenience for many of the everyday carry crowd in the blade community nowadays. In no small part due to inadequate and ill concieved sheath designs meant in many cases as simple coverings for storage. Other sheaths use quality materials but incorporate huge and bulky storage pouches, snap straps, dangling belt loops etc leaving no way to discreetly carry our most useful and reliable cutting tools. Among showmade sheaths and hobbyist outfits there is way too much grip being covered for retentions sake in pancake plastic...the Gryphon is way ahead of the pack in this area.
Mike Sastre at River City sheaths has concieved a carry system for the Gryphon M-10 which lends itself perfectly to the teachings of James Keatings Drawpoint method. This sheath is a very sleek and minimalist fold over concealex thermoplastic. The reduced dimensions and materials in the Gryphon's system allow discreet and unobtrusive IWB carry with either a Pull-the-dot rubber IWB loop or Spypderco G-clip, (which may be mounted vertically, horizontally, or at 45 degrees). The grip of the knife can be fully and very quickly acquired before deployment and once the retention is broken, the knife encounters no further resistance on the draw.
The way in which this crisp action is attained without having any rattling or looseness of retention is through a tedious process of individual custom fittings. That is right, each knife has been hand fit to a sheath by Mike himself! This is practically unheard of for a factory made blade. No waiting in the backlog for this high demand custom fit carry combination, for every knife sold will come outfitted with the River City Sheaths Drawpoint sheath system.
Knife with G-clip attached vertically.
I was very excited to see the comeback of this great defensive/utilitarian tool in black DLC coating and VG-10 Japanese stainless. That is why the majority of this review will be pictorial. If you want to read a very good and more detailed typed review it can be found at Cutlery Shoppe.com
I believe the characteristics of this blade as a weapon as designed are easy enough to see but want to show with the following comparisons the refined features of the design that lend the knife to many versatile cutting activities. I did not incorporate any comparisons with classic daggers and boot knives in the pictorial simply because the Gryphon out performs so many otherwise adequate double edged knives in utility, slicing, and harder use chores where leverage need be applied to the back of the blade.
Here is a very popular 4" blade. Next to the Gryphon M-10. The VG-10 has proven itself to hold a good edge so far and even sharper than the sabre ground Endura. Good geometry on the hollow grind I suspect is responsible.
Look at how similar these utility cutting edges are.
Perhaps my favorite fixed knife comparison is the sharpened clip ESEE 3. The ESEE has a shorter edge because of choil but the extra high full flat grind makes this one a great utility slicer.
The extra bulk of carrying the ESEE 3 knife compared to the stainless Gryphon becomes more clear when the knives are placed in their sheath setups.
Let's see the Gryphon next to the Field and Streams "Best of the Best" Cold Steel Pendleton Lite hunter.
Top: Gryphon
Bottom: CS Pendleton Lite
Now next to a working knife mainstay, Cold Steel Master Hunter. This shows the Gryphon is significant in hand.
Top: Pendleton Lite
Middle: Gryphon
Bottom: CS Master Hunter
Hard use anyone? Fixed knife strength in a smaller package with the M-10.
This comparison between a Cold Steel Mini Pendleton (3"blade 6.75" overall) and Gryphon M-10 4" blade 8.5" overall) really shows the potential of carry ease the sheath offers.
The Knives:
The knives in sheaths.
Looke even closer. The full size Gryphon carries nearly as compact as a miniature model knife.
I hope the photos have helped to illustrate that the Gryphon M-10 might just be the best and most reliable value and versatility in the tactical fixed blade market right now. Those who have been waiting for a blade paired with a carry system to take the personal trial and error out of reliable fixed knife carry have the answer. Do not compromise where it counts, use your gross motor skills and grab a Gryphon quickly, before they disappear again forever!
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