Help me choose a knife

Djulbert

Djulbert

Joined
Aug 2, 2016
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68
I have EDC a 556 mini grip for the last couple of years. I wanted to get something new, just for something different. I love the mini grip. I am a pipefitter and as much as I hate to, I sometimes use my knife for some pretty hard use tasks.

I bought a PM2 and I loved it, but I was scared of the delicate tip. I carried it for about a week and in that time I somehow managed to put some pretty good nicks in the edge and just barely chipped the tip. I did drop it once so that may be what caused it. It all came out while sharpening but all the characteristics that make it such a great cutter also make it a little fragile. Awesome knife but I don't think it is the knife for me.

I then bought a 940-2 which I love but it seems a little delicate, long and skinny. It would probably be fine but I feel it would develop some blade play if used hard, and it's just too nice for me to scratch up.

Have any suggestions? It must be made in America. I am thinking of buying a full size Ritter grip. The griptilian just seem like a work horse. Thanks for any help
 
I have spent a LONG time finding a knife I can be as happy with as you sound like you are with your Grip....stick with it!

There are a ton of variations (you mentioned the Ritter) as well as the G10/20CV version + different blade shape options (the 550 is my personal favourite)

If it works for you, stick with it.
 
I can relate to your knife use, I work around pipe fitters all the time.
If you like the grip, big or small, get it, but get one with an M4 blade. You'll be pleased at how little it gets damaged compared to what I assume is your mini grip 154CM blade. There's not many, if any, blades steels available at this time that's as tough as M4 with equal or better wear resistance and edge retention.
 
Custom shop M4 full size grip with G10 slabs
Spyderco manix 2 sprint in Cruwear
Or possibly
Benchmade 710-1501 in m390

I have came out of a cardboard box at an alarming rate when someone was accidentally pushed into me, this caused me to slam my Cruwear Manix into a steel frame that we house out pallets in (.25" thick angle iron, low carbon).
I cringed when it happened, but only noticed a slight roll that could be felt with my nail and was touched up on my car window edge over lunch (I left a notch in the steel about 1/2 the height of my secondary bevel).

I was immediately and absolutely impressed with the alloy and I am looking for a back up.
 
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Is the tip on the Manix a little beefier than the PM2? I have looked at them a lot online but never seen one in person.
 
My first serious folder was a tanto mini griptilian, i stabbed glass with it because child idiocy and it barely dented it, still works fine all these years later, got a M4 large griptilian last year, i would say it is the basic work folder for a serious worker

I also snapped the tip off my spyderco yojimbo... not exactly a good wood chopping knife
 
I would suggest a Spyderco TUFF...available on the web as ANIB fairly often. I've had one, but sold it. I doubt that you would ever need to replace it...it IS that good.
The CPM-3V bladesteel is a wondrous thing.:thumbup
 
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As you can see it has been used for a couple years. I'd just like a little bigger knife, so the full size grip is definitely what I'm looking at. But was just curious if anyone had any other suggestions


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Sonnydaze said:
I would suggest a Spyderco TUFF...available on the web as ANIB fairly often. I've had one, but sold it. I doubt that you would ever need to replace it...it IS that good.
The CPM-3V bladesteel is a wondrous thing.:thumbup
Click to expand...

I will keep my eye open for a TUFF. It definitely has an odd look!


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What is you spending threshold/limit? I would say a ZT 0808 would be good, or a lnib Southern Grind Spider Monkey.

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If you like the mini-Grip, you will be hard pressed to find a better knife than a full-size Grip. My main locking knife is an edition of the Griptilian that Benchmade used to make for the REI stores - Olive/Black G10 handle, S30V steel. If you don't mind the polymer scales, look at the Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 knife - it's got M390 steel now, which should be plenty tough. I also like the Ritter blade shape just a bit more than the standard griptilian drop point. Unfortunately, its only available on the one knife and not through their custom shop.

If you want G10 scales, you can either go with the off-the shelf grey-blue Griptilian in CPM-20V steel, or make your own in their custom knife program with a variety of steel and scale choices.
 
Another vote for the full sized Grip with upgraded blade steel. You already have a love for that style so no way to be disappointed. It's also still a new better toy so you get the positive parts of that too!
 
Djulbert said:
Is the tip on the Manix a little beefier than the PM2? I have looked at them a lot online but never seen one in person.
Click to expand...

Yes, the tip is a bit more stout.
I would consider the Manix 2 to be the Spyderco answer to the Benchmade Grip.

Especially now that Benchmade has started offering different steels through the custom shop. Which seems to be an attempt to pull some customers away from the Spyderco sprint runs.
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As I stated earlier, I Love my Cruwear and will own a backup. But if I am to buy another folder for an edc role, it will be a Grip in M4 or a Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1.

The cruwear will have a bit more corrosion resistance than the M4, but as long as you wipe it dry and hit it with some oil, the M4 should perform Fantastically.
 
3v and pd-1 are both heralded for their toughness and ease of edge maintenance. Cruwear is right in the mix and often grouped with those two as 3 of the more hard use/user friendly alloys around.
Compositions below:
 
I own a full sized in 154 cm. Got it for super cheap here on the exchange and was shocked at how much I loved it. If I could get one for as good of a deal, I would definitely upgrade to m390, but until I find that deal, this one remains part of my toolkit.

4cpw0oG.jpg
 
If it was originally a custom shop grip, you can send it in and just pat the difference on the blade swap.
 
How well do you think the 940-2 I have would hold up to a little abuse? I'd love to carry it but I hate to scratch it up if I feel like I'll later regret it. Think it is as tough as a mini grip? (Not that I think my 556 is a real tough knife it just stands up well to a little abuse)


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I've heard it said before that if you are going to own just one Benchmade, it should be one of the 940 series Osbornes. Thus far I have resisted - there is just something about the blade shape(s) that don't speak to me. But I don't think you could possibly go wrong with one of those, either.
 
Please keep the handle shape in mind when it comes to the 94× series.
Since it doesn't have much of a height or that much in the way of choils or ergos, it will be slicker when wet and grimy. Also, due to the short heightof the handles, it will not be that easy to keep from rotating in a cut as easily as a ZT 770 series, manix 2, grip, or even a 710. The flip side is that it will be easier to make turning cuts easier due to the shorter blade height.
That being said, I have owned a 940 and 943 and I Loved the 940 and will eventually own another. They are slim in the pocket, carry Very easily and pack a surprising amount of blade length into a deceptive package.
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I will own a 940 again, but as a a light/medium edc carry, not a work knife.
 
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