-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
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.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Help me choose
- Thread starter Hjalmar69
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 9,945
Actually, I'd look for a compact fixed blade for your purposes, but if you're set on a lockback, I'd consider a Buck 110 or any Cold Steel with the Tri-Ad lock.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
My 2 cents:
Dergyll
brought Valuable point about both knives in question might have issues with cleaning.I would not disagree that frame lock will be easier to clean. However, and this is only my opinion, if I have to prioritize,
I’d put the metal frame and cleaning last in my list, after useful blade geometry, non slippery grip and type of locking mechanism.
Having used Griptilian for years, also the Rat, in very dusty environment, out in the field, both knives covered with dirt and grime, I am positive that the Grip will have almost no issue with functioning even if the studs opening have some stuff in it. Same goes for the Rat too, the lock is protected some how between the scales and if just rinsed, almost all stuff will be flushed away, there is nothing to hold it there.
With this said, from both knives, the omega springs are the more vulnerable element in the Grip and IMO
353
have a point here, not picking the Grip is just preventative measure, why dealing with two small spring that could rust if you can pick the Rat.
- Joined
- May 29, 2004
- Messages
- 3,022
Other - for budget friendly knives I think it’s hard to beat Cold Steel for outdoor folders due to the tri-ad lock. I wasn’t a fan until they introduced this feature, but it beats out most other mechanisms in terms of strength, reliability, longevity and ease of cleaning.
They can be slow to close and aren’t very fun to fidget with for most folks, but that’s not very important to me.
If you like the fidget factor then the Benchmade will probably be the most fun.
Good luck and please let us know (pics if possible) of what you end up with.
They can be slow to close and aren’t very fun to fidget with for most folks, but that’s not very important to me.
If you like the fidget factor then the Benchmade will probably be the most fun.
Good luck and please let us know (pics if possible) of what you end up with.
the Original Poster"OP.... Ot" forgive my ignorance, but I do not understand?
The Grip is a much better knife in a better steel. The actual percentage of omega spring failures is incredibly small. And the knife is still useadble.My 2 cents:
I would not disagree that frame lock will be easier to clean. However, and this is only my opinion, if I have to prioritize,
I’d put the metal frame and cleaning last in my list, after useful blade geometry, non slippery grip and type of locking mechanism.
Having used Griptilian for years, also the Rat, in very dusty environment, out in the field, both knives covered with dirt and grime, I am positive that the Grip will have almost no issue with functioning even if the studs opening have some stuff in it. Same goes for the Rat too, the lock is protected some how between the scales and if just rinsed, almost all stuff will be flushed away, there is nothing to hold it there.
With this said, from both knives, the omega springs are the more vulnerable element in the Grip and IMO
the OP might be better off with something like an esee 3/4 or white river caper
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2021
- Messages
- 11
I have Spyderco Chaparral Titanium C152TIP and it's made of a qualitative titanium
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Messages
- 2,707
Well thank you for calling me hysteric.
I have 1 BM. And it broke a spring after 2-3 months.
It's a known weakness of the lock, and so bringing it out trekking/hunting, maybe even without a back up knife, is hard for me to recommend.
I know it doesn't happen all that often, but happen it DOES.
First, I said the fear of axis locks is hysteria. I didn’t call you “hysteric”.
The Axix lock is one of the more common locks these days. I am sure some will fail. If you killed one after 2-3 months,
1 the knife still functioned
2 you either fidgeted with it 24/7 or took it in salt water
Do you avoid toyotas and Honda’s with timing belts because one *might* break?
I don't think you will go wrong with either one. The grip will be nicer, but harder to clean after gutting.
If there is one that you want more than the other, just get the one you want now, otherwise, you will probably buy both eventually.
I would probably buy the RAT and a Kabar Dozier Folding Hunter (maybe in orange with AUS8 steel). You will still spend less than the price of a Grip. My thought is to carry the RAT clipped to your pocket and use it for everything except gutting animals. Use the Dozier for gutting, then put it in a ziplock for easy cleaning at home (I would even consider running it through the dishwasher without any anxiety). This way if you need a knife on the way out of the woods for whatever reason you will have your clean RAT easily available.
Alternatively, the Kabar dozier could work as a stand-alone option as well.
If you want the Grip and the price doesn't bother you, I would consider spending a bit extra and getting one with G10 scales or a Hogue RSK. Check out the Benchmade Freek with M4 steel as well.
P.S. a BRK/ESEE Avispa or Zancudo folder would be similar to the RAT but easier to clean.
If there is one that you want more than the other, just get the one you want now, otherwise, you will probably buy both eventually.
I would probably buy the RAT and a Kabar Dozier Folding Hunter (maybe in orange with AUS8 steel). You will still spend less than the price of a Grip. My thought is to carry the RAT clipped to your pocket and use it for everything except gutting animals. Use the Dozier for gutting, then put it in a ziplock for easy cleaning at home (I would even consider running it through the dishwasher without any anxiety). This way if you need a knife on the way out of the woods for whatever reason you will have your clean RAT easily available.
Alternatively, the Kabar dozier could work as a stand-alone option as well.
If you want the Grip and the price doesn't bother you, I would consider spending a bit extra and getting one with G10 scales or a Hogue RSK. Check out the Benchmade Freek with M4 steel as well.
P.S. a BRK/ESEE Avispa or Zancudo folder would be similar to the RAT but easier to clean.
Last edited:
I really do. The blade shape feels slicier and Sal‘s thumbhole is never a bad idea. I do like the Ritter blade shape as well which is available from Hogue (with Wolf omega springs for those that are concerned)
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2009
- Messages
- 1,632
you should also consider the spyderco endura, its strong and very reliable, good for all kinds of tasks and cheaper than the griptilian
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Messages
- 2,707
As it was my first(and most likely last) axis lock, of course it got some fidget time. And it should have been taking it IMO.
Yes it will still function, but for how long? I imagine the second spring will wear even faster on it's own.
Toyota and Honda's are fine by me, dont know what a timing belt is.
But I would not take a car known for suddenly loosing half it's breaking power at any moment, without any warning, out into the wilderness.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
Yes, the Grip have better steel, I agree. I’m fine with sharpening any steel outdoors because I usually carry smal two sided diamond stone with me, but for some this doesn’t necessarily being advantage… Also I’m not talking about Omega springs failing, but possibilities of rusting.
Not completely sold that it is a better knife. I extensively used both of them for years in my work. I can’t say which one is better. I like both of them, Griptilian is smoother for opening and better for stabbing because of the Axis but the Rat is much better for slicing, both knives have different qualities but both being excellent designs also have smal negativities…
let’s not forget that the Rat was designed specifically for survival in the elements, marketing gimmick for some, not so much for others, it doesn’t matter, it does have properties for small survival folder.
Question: How did you use your Grip and Rat so you are so sure in your statement ? You’re looking at numbers and data or you actually have hands on on those two ? I don’t want to argue or something, I’m just curious.
Didnt measure it but I can do it later if I have to, to me the Griptilian is thicker behind the edge, in this regard the Rat is the better slicer and this matter out there. Also I’m not recommending the Grip only as I said - as preventative measure in case those springs get rusty, we’re talking redundancy on the field, not like the Grip is the worst knife from those two…
I have had a dozen Griptilians since they came out. I currently have a thumbhole/wharncliff grip in and a rather old Ritter Grip. So old it is in S30v, not the 390 or 20cv they went to. Both of those blade types slice better than the Rat, btw. And I cant imagine anyone arguing that D2, especially Rats D2 is better than BM S30v or 134, for that matter.
I have sold off a bunch of grips and both of my rats as my tastes developed. In all that time I have had zero omega spring failures. I have a bunch of other axis locks that have zero failures. My water knife for years was an axis lock BM H2O.
The Rat does not have any “survival folder” attributes that the Grip (or Hogue Ritter) is lacking. just marketing.
The Rat in D2 will definitely rust, btw.