Help on First Benchmade Purchase

R

rbc

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
43
This is my first post so please excuse if I have any mistakes commited in my posts.
I've been going through the other threads a lot, particularly on similar requests for suggestions on the first BM purchase. and I thought I share a little of my situation so you guys would have a better idea of my requirements before making a recommendation.

Currently I have the ff: knives:

Spyderco Delica(combo blade): mostly in my office bag. used mostly for cutting cardboard boxes in the office.
Spyderco Lady Bug (serrated blade): my weekday EDC. It is in my cellphone pouch mounted on my belt. Used mostly for miscelleanous cutting. ( letter opening, opening snacks, etc)
Emerson Reliant(Hard Use Knive - tanto , combo(plain/serrated blade) - my weekend EDC. I use it around the house. cutting mostly cardboard, rope, paper. I also bring it with me when I do my Mountain Biking. My biking group usually do trail biking. It is really for generally cutting needs but if cornered and as a last resort, I will consider using it for self defense. I do my mountain biking every weekend. 3-4 hours in the trails.
Buck 110 - My first knife. Was given to me by my father 10 years ago. Now, it it mostly in my cabinet.
Assorted Leathermans and SAKs

Other situations where knives are useful are during out of town trips, about 5 times a year in my wife's family's farm, where these knives are mostly used to help harvest and cut pineapples, bananas, mangoes and other local fruits.

Also, I join our group's/office's outings about 2-3 times a year where we go outdoors on different areas( mountain climbing, hiking, camping). I usually bring a knife just for emergency purposes but it mostly used for cutting dried branches for fire and sometimes rope occassionaly.

For my first Benchmade purchase, I'm looking at somewhere in the US$100-200 price range. This would be my only knife purchase until next year.

It would help if the new knife would add to the flexibility, functionality of my collection. But I think it should be mostly in the area of where the Reliant operates.

Should I get a fixed blade instead of another folder?

I am also interested in getting to own a folder with an Axis-lock that is why i'm looking at Benchmade. Also, in opening the Benchmade knives, in the knife store, I notices that the feel is very different versus the knives I already have. It is so smooth.

Given my use for the knives, which should I prioritize, getting a mid range folder or getting a fixed blade?

I have looked at the local knife shops here and the following are available:
501 Griptilian (combo blade)
420 Resistor (combo blade)
220 Resistor Fixed Blade ( plain edge blade)
HK34 (in tanto style combo blade)
HK30 (plain edge blade)
HK 36 ( plain edge Blade) fixed blade

Please notice that I indicated the edge type of the blade since it has an impact on use the knives and since it is the only ones available. It would take a long time before the shops here in our area re-stocks.


thanks in advance for your comments/advise.
Bird
 
First , I tell you up front that I'm a BM fan. I bought my first BM knife during the Christmas Holidays. Most of the guys here recommended the Axis Lock folders as a first BM, I narrowed it down to the 420 Resistor ( black blade , part serrated) and the 710 HS M2, the guys here recommended the 710. But I wound up buying both ( about a week apart). IMO the 420 is a work of art, the 710 is a serious working knife.

So I too would recommend any axis lock BM. Shop on the web, you sometimes find great deals. The prices on some of the knives I bought varied by vendor dramatically.
 
I've used a number of BMs of the years. The military issues a fair number of them, and the AFO autos have proven reliable. They sure get to looking like crap after a bit of normal use, though.
I presently own and use a Mini-Ritter (Modified Mini-Griptillian), and really like the Axis lock. I would say that the Axis lock is about the best thing going over at BM these days, and about the best lock in the industry. I yap abit more about it in this post:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384887
 
Well, due to the limited choices you listed, I'd go for the Griptilian.

If you open up the options, go for the 710.
 
Thanks for suggestions.

I was just wondering why no one made a case for getting a fixed blade given the folders that I already have?

thanks,
rbc
 
BM's bread and butter is the combat auto. Law Enforcement and Military must surely account for a huge % of their sales. Thier FB offerings have never caught on with the military. There are a few troops that tote them, but none that were "issued" that I know of. Ontario Knives and Camillus pretty much have the Military issue FB market wrapped up.
 
rbc said:
Thanks for suggestions.

I was just wondering why no one made a case for getting a fixed blade given the folders that I already have?

thanks,
rbc
Click to expand...
Because if you want to get a taste of Benchmade, it should be done with an Axis lock.

I highly recommend getting a fixed blade to expand your collection, but I would get a very "standard" fixed blade like a KA-Bar or a Buck 119.

You want a Benchmade, so an Axis folder is the way to go. After that, then get a Benchmade fixed blade if you want one.

I think the Griptilian is a great entry-level Benchmade. It has the Axis lock, comes in two sized and seveal blade shape/blade color/handle color/opening method/blade steel configuations. It is also a cheap way to experience an Axis lock.

If you like the Grip, then get a 710HS or 806D2. These are the classic Benchmade Axis lock flagships of today (710) and yesterday (806).
 
I would get the Grip with the combo edge. Good value.

I would try to find an Apparition 670 assisted if you want to step up. It has a good 3.5 inch blade and I like the modified wharcliff (sheepsfoot) style blade alot.


http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=670


This one of my EDC's. I think it is important to get a knife that just feels really good in your hand and this one does. The best steel, etc. don't mean much if the knife is uncomfortable to use, IMHO.

Years ago the folders were not as robust as they are today and you had to have a fixed blade for real strength and toughness. I know it is heavily debated but I find my folders can take more than I could ever dish out. They have much better locks, steel in the blades, handle materials, and the fit and finish are very good in today's knives. Unless you are hunting and need to gut/dress game I don't think you really need a fixed blade when outdoors.
 
Next vote for a Griptilian.

Take this and keep the other $100,00 for your next purchase.

This year BM comes out with some other FB, that might get more attention.
 
Actually, the biggest problem I have with fixed blades is that I will buy one, carry it very little, and ,when I want/need it, its home/in car/in camp.

Ya, I know there are people who carry them all the time, but I find the reason I buy them (5+ inch blade) makes them a pain to carry. Folders, even the big ones, carry easier and therefore I'm more likely to have one when I need it.

If you want a fixed blade, the Benchmade knives appear to be well designed cutters (not prybars). I haven't picked one up yet, so as to their use, I have no experience.
 
To all those who responded,
Thanks for the inputs . I guess everyone really recommends for me to experience the axis lock.

One question though, does the griptilian have a liner?
 
The Griptilian has partial liners. The liners mainly just support the Axis lock and pivot area.
 
Hair said:
The Griptilian has partial liners. The liners mainly just support the Axis lock and pivot area.
Click to expand...

The Mini Grip's liners run the whole length of the knife. The full sized Grip's liners run through approximately three quarters the length of the handle.
 
I've never handled a Mini before. Good to know.

About the big Grip, I am mainly taking about total surface area rather than length. Towards the bottom of the handle, the liner moves away from the edge. It may continue almost to the end of the handle, but only along the spine. I don't feel they offer much support of the handle beyond the Axis lock and pivot as I can squeeze the handle together with ease. So I feel they are partial liners and really only serve to make the lock and pivot stronger, not the majority of the handle.

This may not be the case with the Mini, though. But even if the liner runs the full length, it still may not be a full liner, as I understand it.
 
It isn't a full liner - on the Minis or Full sized, but it is incorrect to say that they "mainly just support the Axis lock and pivot area."
 
Considering I can squeeze the handle slabs together easily with my bare hands, I think it isn't incorrect to say that. The contact between the FRN pieces along the 'spine' of the handle makes it hard/impossible to do so along the spine, but that is not because of the liners.

The liners make the pivot and lock area strong. The FRN pieces themself make the spine very stiff as that is where they come together. But the rest of the knife is easy to bend and squeeze together, as if it has no liner there at all.

None of my full liner knives are this flimsy. My unlined knives are. The problem is that the liner is near the spine of the handle, where little support is needed, and not along the front where the FRN does actually need support.

So I think it is very fair to say that the liners *mainly* support the lock and pivot, as that is the truth. They do a very poor job at supporting any thing else. Note that I never said that supporting the lock and pivot is *all* they do. My choice of words was careful and true.

If you were to remove the liners from the bottom half of the handle, you probably wouldn't notice. If you removed them from around the pivot and lock, you probably would notice. Supporting the pivot and lock is their main job in this particular knife. It's not their only job.

Mind you, I am not bashing the knife. It is a great knife and doesn't need full liners. I think I even like my Grip more than my full-lined AFCK.
 
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