Is there a better choice out there than the mini griptilian, give or take $10.

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cards94

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I'm looking at staying at the same price as the mini griptilian but not much higher. Is there another knife out there with a stronger lock or more reliable?
 
The mini grip is a good knife and a strong lock. The only stronger lock you're gonna find is cold steel's triad lock. The mini grip has better steel, but the cs recon 1 is about the same size and has that strong triad lock. Otherwise you are looking at liner locks, ltraditional lockbacks etc, which aren't as strong as the aforementioned. The spyderco delica would be something to consider.
 
K.O.D. said:
The mini grip is a good knife and a strong lock. The only stronger lock you're gonna find is cold steel's triad lock. The mini grip has better steel, but the cs recon 1 is about the same size and has that strong triad lock. Otherwise you are looking at liner locks, ltraditional lockbacks etc, which aren't as strong as the aforementioned. The spyderco delica would be something to consider.
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I don't own the mini grip yet, but it feels and looks good, but before I drop my cash down, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't skipping over any knives. Not interested in the cold steel. Spyderco delica is in the same price range and league as the mini griptilian? I thought the delica was behind the mini grip by a few steps but not sure.
 
Axis lock is incredibly strong. Any lock from a reputable maker will be good, the axis is benchmades flagship lock and is very strong.

Reliability is also going to be fairly uniform unless you have some kind of defect which is not very common if you are getting a spyderco or benchmade.

IMO spyderco's direct competition with the mini grip would be the manix 2. While it is bigger its in a similar price range and has a lock that performs in a similar fashion. It won't do the axis flip but its no problem closing one handed and is fully ambidextrous.
 
Another suggestion to consider the Delica. It really depends if you need or want the Axis lock and one-handed opening/closing.
 
The Delica is a better choice for me. I bought a mini-grip first but just didn't fall for it. I like the Delica's simple design better, it feels better in my hand and I think it slices better. My 2 cents.

Jim
 
I think the delica is ahead of the mini grip I have both and ever since I got my 1st delica my mini grip never gets carried now. I definitely prefer VG-10 steel over 154cm as it sharpens unbelievably easy and keeps its edge really long. the delica has much better ergonomics and feels wonderful in hand. The only thing I like better about the mini grip is the lock but Im perfectly fine with lock backs. I already have 2 delicas with a 3rd on the way and a 4th in the future :D
 
The Delica is a better slicer than the Mini-Grip and I prefer the ergos but to each his own. The Mini-Grip has the stronger lock design but the lock on the Delica is well designed and has more than sufficient strength for an EDC knife of this nature. Both are good knives in that price range.
 
I just got a mini-grip, and I really like it a lot.
I had a Delica, but sold it. There was nothing wrong with it, but I was alternating between it and a Native frn, and between those two, the Native felt more ergonomic. Plus, I was used to having the choil, and I was afraid I'd forget when carrying the Delica and cut my finger choking up on it.
 
Well, I'd say yes and no.

The lock on the minigrip is a good one.

I'm not a huge fan of the way Benchmades customer service is run, but that's my personal issue. They generally make a good blade. Their asking price is a little high IMHO, but that's also a personal issue.

The axis lock is butter smooth (I have a grip), and easy to operate. If Benchmade would change the way they dealt with customer service issues I'd be a huge proponent of their stuff, but at the price point they ask what they provide is a little lacking.

I'm kind of a spyderco fan, and the Manix 2 has a very good lock as well. The PM2 compression lock tops them all, IMHO. It's easy to use, strong, and flicks open like it wants to be open, and upon release the blade just drops back to the closed position. My grip does this too.

In this sense, "better" is in the eye of the beholder. You are looking at a high quality knife, and I can't really give you a better option that isn't more costly. It's a good knife, I'm just not a fan of the people who made it given that I don't really want to deal with their customer service situation.
 
r8shell said:
I just got a mini-grip, and I really like it a lot.
I had a Delica, but sold it. There was nothing wrong with it, but I was alternating between it and a Native frn, and between those two, the Native felt more ergonomic. Plus, I was used to having the choil, and I was afraid I'd forget when carrying the Delica and cut my finger choking up on it.
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the native is a bigger knife than the delica?
 
I love my native, never had a problem with it. You might consider a para 2.
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I have a mini grip, frn native, and a delica. That is also the order I would rate them. I like the axis lock better than a back lock and I like the 30v of the native over the vg10 on the delica. That being said they are all about the same size but all feel different in the hand. Everyone gets a different feel for a knife so to say which is better for you is almost impossible.
 
I don't have a specific answer by way of comparison, but I've had a mini-grip for nearly 8 years. My wife and I keep it in a kitchen drawer and use it for everything (except food prep). After all that time, it's still smooth as silk opening and locks up tight. No blade wiggle in any direction. Scales still look good too. I never carried it, so I can't talk about how it rides in the pocket. I will say that about two weeks ago I thought it was time to get a new one...took the old one out and realized getting another would be a waste of money. Took some "glue gone" to the blade and sharpened it...just like new. Hope that helps a little.
 
i saw on one review and looking at the spyderco native, they use a pin rivet instead of a screw closer to the blade. Is that a small issue for you native owners?
I'm not sure because if the knife developed any blade play, you wouldn't be able to tighten it.
 
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Gargs said:
I don't have a specific answer by way of comparison, but I've had a mini-grip for nearly 8 years. My wife and I keep it in a kitchen drawer and use it for everything (except food prep). After all that time, it's still smooth as silk opening and locks up tight. No blade wiggle in any direction. Scales still look good too. I never carried it, so I can't talk about how it rides in the pocket. I will say that about two weeks ago I thought it was time to get a new one...took the old one out and realized getting another would be a waste of money. Took some "glue gone" to the blade and sharpened it...just like new. Hope that helps a little.
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absolutely. every little bit helps. thanks
 
Maddogg774 said:
I love my native, never had a problem with it. You might consider a para 2.
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Para2 isn't really comparable in price given they're hard to find outside of the secondary market where they go for their full MSRP most of the time. You're talking 130-150 vs 80 or so a mini grip goes for. It's also way bigger in the pocket.
 
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