I'm a n00b, narrowed my choices to 3

C

CincyBrad

Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
5
Hi all, n00b here. I'm in the market for my first quality knife. It will be an EDC knife, with a mix of normal useage and a little bit of defense. I've narrowed it down to these 3, all Benchmades:

530 Pardue
551 Grippy
556 Grippy

All are around the same price. I like the spear point blade design of the 530, and that it's very thin and light. I've done some searching here and it seems the biggest complaint is the handle feels pretty flimsy, and the axis lock seems to be harded to use. :( I'd like something that doesn't print like crazy and it seems like the Grips would be rather bulky to carry around.

Of those 3, which would you buy?
 
Depends on your carry preference. The 556 is the smaller version of the 551. I had a 530, it just wasn't me. Nothing against it, but the design was not me. I've owned the 551 and the 556, both great knives, had them in 440C, if you can get it in 154CM go for that. I graduated to the Ritter Grips, and alternate the mini Ritter Grip for EDC with my 710.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I graduated to the Ritter Grips, and alternate the mini Ritter Grip for EDC with my 710.
Click to expand...

The Ritter Grips are especially nice if you don't mind the added cost.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Depends on your carry preference. The 556 is the smaller version of the 551. I had a 530, it just wasn't me. Nothing against it, but the design was not me. I've owned the 551 and the 556, both great knives, had them in 440C, if you can get it in 154CM go for that. I graduated to the Ritter Grips, and alternate the mini Ritter Grip for EDC with my 710.
Click to expand...

I like the 530 blade design, but the handle does look pretty crappy.

The biggest problem I'll have with the 551 is the size. I work in an office, a formal one at that (suit + tie required) and it might be kind of hard to conceal it in a pocket. I have a CCW, but can't carry at work because of the no firearms policy. :jerkit:

556 probably won't work for me, I have pretty big hands.
 
I have all three and I would say the most versatile of the lot would be the 551. See if you can try one out at a local store to see if the knife is too big for you. I think it carries pretty well. But it is bulkier than the others. If its too big, my second choice would be the 530. The mini grips are nice, but they are quite a bit smaller than the other two.
 
CincyBrad said:
The biggest problem I'll have with the 551 is the size. I work in an office, a formal one at that (suit + tie required) and it might be kind of hard to conceal it in a pocket.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention it- Whenever I have to wear a suit (which is rarely) my trusty 530 is the knife I carry! They will never know you have it on you. Try one out if you can, its a good knife and probably perfect for the enviornment you're talking about.
 
My 551 arrived today and I have yet to put it down. Big but beautiful and so nicely made. Another vote.
 
I've used all of those, and like them all. The 530 is awesomely slim, you won't notice it in your back pocket. I'm not a big fan of the dish shape of its lock though (hard to explain, but you'll know what I'm talkin bout).

If you don't need something ultra slim, I really like the minigrip with the hole in it for its blade shape.
 
A full size rittergrip was my first high quality knife (same handle but different blade then the 551), and I ended up finding it a bit bulky and unwieldy. To give you some idea of what I've moved on to since then, now I alternate between a 705-401 and a 960 (~2.95 and ~3.12 inch blades, respectively) for EDC. I also seem to like having a little bit more of a narrower point on my blade than the rittergrip had (the knives I have now seem to be better at such hard use tasks as opening letters).

I think if I was going to get another grip, it would definitely be the mini model.

Just glancing at it on Newgraham, I personally wouldn't choose to purchase a 530 because I don't care for the aesthetic look of the handle, but that's just my initial impression from 10 seconds of research.

I would get whatever you think you might like best, and if you end up not liking it as much as you like, you can try to sell/trade* it on the forums here for most of what you paid for it and then keep looking (that's what I ended up doing).

*note: you have to be a gold member to sell here, but can trade for free
 
I'll probably go with the 551 for now.

I've got a feeling this is going to end up like my Surefire and firearm collection. One suddenly multiplies into 15. ;)

Off to the Newgraham site I go!
 
Of those 3, which would you buy?

I would choose the 530 for a lightduty solo knife or as a partner to a bigger blade. The lock on the 530 is not hard to use. It is only rough on your fingers when you are flicking it many times or more in a short span. I would have to call the 530 a light duty knife, nowhere near not as stout as the Griptillians. But there are many nice things about the 530, it's thickness, weight, blade profile and efficiency, and the fact that you can wave it with two small zipties on the thumbstuds as they have extruded ends. If you are going to go with the Griptilian, choose a fun colour. There are plenty of other black knives that usually any alternative is good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top