Jumped back in on a new Benchmade......and well...I'm a little disappointed

Check out some Spyderco's, Kershaws, etc.
Benchmade makes a good knife, but a lot of the models just don't do it for me.
I really love Spyderco's and Kershaw's.
The Sebenza though, is an excellent knife.
There are some great Spyderco's though with similar quality: Sage 2, Techno, Chokwe, Etc.
The Spyderco Gayle Bradley Air is also just a great little knife.

If you want something similar to a Sebenza in design, feel, and materials in a cheaper package, check out the Bradley Alias 1(Larger) or Bradley Alias 2(Smaller).
 
I find it easy to ignore the cheap feel of the large Griptillian, I know it is a robust knife. The handle shape fits my hand well.

I have yet to find a knife that has everything I want.
 
I feel that "feeling cheap Griptilian scales" is probably one of the most banal platitudinous topics in this whole forum! I do not know what people expect from Griptilian: why should it feel any more "expensive" than some FRN handle from Spyderco? It is a cheap knife: if you buy some limited run or buy it from more expensive source it does not change the fact: it is pretty much a basic low cost knife built for function. I agree that it could have been even cheaper if it was manufactured in China, Taiwan or Japan, with a simple lock, or with a blade of cheaper steel - but I do not believe the difference would be so great anyway. And if I wanted something really cheap, with cheaper steel and some basic liner or back lock: BM would certainly be not my first choice!
So please do not get the wrong idea about Griptilian's scales: they are not there to impress anybody! Not even close!
 
RevDevil said:
I do believe the lack of full liners and the hollow sound makes the knife feel much worse than it is. The Grip in mini form is one of my favorite small knives, especially in D2.
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^THIS. I agree 100%, I was just going to comment this myself.
 
The griptillian is a great knife with a strong but 'cheap' feeling handle. The cheap feel messed with my head and I had to let it go. Benchmade has a strong line of production knives of which several should appeal to you. I own 11 BM's. You should be pleased with the 943. Sounds like your folding knife adventure is about to take off. Hold on. You're in for one helluva fun ride. Enjoy!
 
Gosdent said:
^THIS. I agree 100%, I was just going to comment this myself.
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:thumbup: my full size 553 sounds like a party favor when I pull the lock back and flip it closed. Blew me away the first time I heard it, I thought the handles were cracked. One thing about the grip, it doesn't have much flex at all due to the design on the internal ribs of the handle. Mr. Wilkins makes some mighty nice and high quality handles for them too.
 
Poez said:
I feel that "feeling cheap Griptilian scales" is probably one of the most banal platitudinous topics in this whole forum! I do not know what people expect from Griptilian: why should it feel any more "expensive" than some FRN handle from Spyderco? It is a cheap knife: if you buy some limited run or buy it from more expensive source it does not change the fact: it is pretty much a basic low cost knife built for function. I agree that it could have been even cheaper if it was manufactured in China, Taiwan or Japan, with a simple lock, or with a blade of cheaper steel - but I do not believe the difference would be so great anyway. And if I wanted something really cheap, with cheaper steel and some basic liner or back lock: BM would certainly be not my first choice!
So please do not get the wrong idea about Griptilian's scales: they are not there to impress anybody! Not even close!
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I don't know if you've priced knives as of late, but it probably would not be any cheaper if it were made in Taiwan and especially not Japan.
 
Free2game said:
I don't know if you've priced knives as of late, but it probably would not be any cheaper if it were made in Taiwan and especially not Japan.
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Sure. I'm learning that as I go. I'm finding out that it's not a bad value necessarily, but my expectation for a $100 knife might have been a little out of whack after not buying one for a while. based on what people are saying, I could be looking at another $50+ to get what I was looking for.....
 
I recently purchased a Mini-Grip with BK1 blade coating and Olive Drab handle. Nothing about this knife feels cheap to me. I watched a guy on youtube baton the full-size Griptilian and there was no visible damage to the handle. Another advantage to the handle is it makes this knife extremely light. The 145cm blade came sharper out of the box than any knife I own. All in all for the 75.00 it cost me Im quite satisfied.
 
Hey bud,

I have been a benchmade user for a long time, and the older models were well made and lasted. But honestly you only buy their stuff for the guarantee. The stuff they produce now seems to be terrible. Id go with a skirmish or ti handled knife with a framelock, my preference, or similar from them. If you want a true quality knife, I would pick up a custom and make sure its one that you only need to buy once.

Custom/Production I have found to be excellent: CRK (Expensive for what you get), hinderer (Expensive), Dalibor, Direware, Alan davis knives (Very nice work), etc. List goes on and on.
 
Terrible? This new 810 I bought is one of the most perfect B/M's I've ever owned. I can't find anything wrong with it at all. Blade is centered closed, there's no blade-play, it opens smoothly, workmanship is flawless. Plus it has M-4 steel, a chrome clip, came hair popping sharp all for 140 shipped.

21bn4le.jpg
 
The Griptilian is a favorite and obviously a source of pride to Benchmade's senior designer, custom knifemaker Mel Pardue. I met him some weeks back at Mark's Outdoors in Birmingham when he was delivering some of his knives. I met him again last Saturday, another ~200 mile delivery run up north on I-65 for him and his grandson to deliver more knives to Mark's - and bring 'my knife' for our trade. His custom work is exquisite. Sadly, I nearly broke his heart when I told him my least favorite of my Benchmade Mel Pardue designs was his Griptilian. He asked me if it was the 'plastic' (my word) handle - I said no - it was the dull 440C blade mine had new in the box. I bought it locally - I had no excuse. He was a proper gentleman - and diplomatically told me I should be able to sharpen my knives. I agreed - and told him I corrected that fault shortly after buying my second Benchmade - a 201 Activator+ fb of D2 - by mail - and it, too, was dull. No longer afraid of a new knife's as-delivered sharpness, thanks to a Spyderco Sharpmaker, I started buying Benchmades with abandon. Thirty plus more later - and not a one of them came less than sharp!

Back to the 551 Griptilian. The handle is meant for medium and larger hands - and is a 'handful'. The glass filled moulded nylon handles are skeletonized - somewhat hollow - to minimize weight. They have SS liners, required to align the AXIS lock. They emanate, above and below the pivot and just proud of both scales, with eased jimping for a secure hold, said jimping continues along the end of the blade. The choil has enough curve to protect your forefinger - and the thumb assist stud is symmetrical for LH/RH use. It's a 'working knife' - when sharp. I still don't like it very much... it was a bundle, at the time - some years back at a lgs it was $64 w s/t. I guess it's my current stash of Benchmades just render it quite pale in comparison. My first-ever Benchmade, it has a home. There are a lot of folks who love it. I like the Benchmade 'Bone Collector' series a lot better than the Grips - same price range plus a few $ - worth a look. If you are unhappy with a particular Benchmade model, check with the dealer for an exchange first - then take advantage of Benchmade's great lifetime warranty. I'm certainly glad I gave them a second... then third... chance!

Stainz
 
Have a feeling I'm goin to be semi-alone here but... I like the handles on the Grip and the sound they make. It is probably my most addictive knife to flip open and closed. Can't do it just once. :o

I have a full size orange handle h2o Grip and it feels like the great water-resistant option I bought it to be. Other Benchmades get more pocket time for sure but I think it's definitely a great budget knife. :thumbup:
 
I have been EDC'ing a BM 941 since they came out. It is the best folder I have found so far, for my needs.
 
You sound identical to me many years ago. I agree with your assessment about the plastic feel and the hollow sound. In addition, it is quite light. All of those things combined had me believe that the knife felt cheap and I was also disappointed. I think I even made a similar post many years ago...

Now though, that damn knife has seen some miles. It sharpens up nicely, and has taken a greater beating than any other knife I own. The plastic feel is still there, but instead of feeling like that contributes to a cheap feel, I now love it for it's solid grip. The lightweight makes it a great running knife and I wear it on my waistband on the small of my back. It still has rock solid lockup and I have done very little to care for it. For the money, the griptilian has become one of the best overall knives I own. Weird how my perspective changed over time. Maybe yours will too.

That said, my spyderco sage is every bit the knife the grip is, but without the cheap feel. It is actually thinner, just as light(when I am running) and cuts like a laser. I think the axis lock is a bit better overall than the liner lock, but the sage still has a good lockup. It is a worthy contender for your money and solves all of the perceived issues with the grip. It costs more though, and isn't quite as...grippy...
 
jazub said:
Have a feeling I'm goin to be semi-alone here but... I like the handles on the Grip and the sound they make. It is probably my most addictive knife to flip open and closed. Can't do it just once.
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you're not alone... and a few thousand dollars later on "higher quality" knives, the large Grip is one of my most carried work knives.
 
I think my most expencive knife is around $750 and my cheapest is around $40. I still carry my $100 mini-grip with me 9 days out of 10. I love those little workhorses.
 
unfmba said:
.... I bought a new blacked out Griptillian special edition from GP knives (normally I don't go for coated blades, but this one looked pretty cool). I was very exited to get it, but then letdown. The scales felt like....how do I say this kindly.....inexpensive plastic and it was not that sharp.



I think I've been spoiled by all the nice kitchen knives I've accumulated (and a recent trip to Japan).
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Well....since we're comparing apples to wheelbarrows, let me say this:




My new hammer has damaged every screw that I've used it on.

:D
 
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