I am choosing between these two knives. My choice is obviously informed by price, as they can both be had for around 70, + or - 5$. I love the tanto of the griptillian, but I would be swayed by the Speedform ii if they ht the elmax properly. As I understand it, elmax at ideal ht (around 62 hrc iirc?) is an extremely impressive steel. I have concerns about a production knife's ht though, and I understand that 154cm is hard to botch. I am asking people for their opinions of Kershaw's HT in general, and the speedform ii in particular. if anyone has done testing of this particular model's hrc, I would be particularly interested. Kershaw doen't publish this information on this model, and I have scoured all of the many tubes that make up the interwebs to no avail for this information.
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Kershaw Speedform vs Benchmade Griptillian
- Thread starter Rsq
- Start date
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- Nov 1, 2005
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- 1,592
In my experience Kershaw's heat treats have been quite good, and they use elmax on a number of different models in both their kershaw and zt lines so I would assume their elmax ht is pretty good. With that said, I have seen a couple rope cutting edge retention test videos where elmax actually did quite poorly, so keep that in mind. ELMAX is very tough an& corrosion resistant however so that's a plus if that's what you're going for.
Personally though, between those two choices, I'd go griptilian every single time regardless of blade steel. The griptilian platform is just an absolutely fantastic user/edc choice, and if you decide you like it enough to drop another $100 or so on it, a set of custom scales turn the grip from a really good knife to a stellar, truly world class knife.
Personally though, between those two choices, I'd go griptilian every single time regardless of blade steel. The griptilian platform is just an absolutely fantastic user/edc choice, and if you decide you like it enough to drop another $100 or so on it, a set of custom scales turn the grip from a really good knife to a stellar, truly world class knife.
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I highly recommend handling a Speedform II before you ever buy one. If I had done so, I would not have bought it. I find it to be an awkward design.
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- Jul 12, 2011
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The Speedform II is one of my most often carried Kershaws, and i was able to get a 2nd one for pretty cheap. It's excellent for delicate work, very smooth, and the elmax takes a very nice edge while being easy to maintain. The griptilian is a decent EDC but it felt cheap, never liked the plastic feel, and I gave it away to my nephew. Except for the sharply cut axis lock, my Enlan el-02 felt better than the grip. Of course you can spring for better scales but then for the overall price, you might as well get a ZT550.
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2006
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- 5,611
I too like the Speedform 2. Only complaint is it's too small. Function and details are excellent.
Elmax is a great performing, very clean steel that I have yet to find an inclusion or bubble in. I have used it from #325 grit up too #8,000 grit with diamond strop. It does well at both low and high polish, with no sign of chipping at numbers like 30 degrees inclusive.
I like it. I'm not a stainless type guy but this is one that's near the top of my lists of stainless alloys, right behind S110V, BG42/CTS -B75P, S90V, M390, CPM 154, S30V, and ZDP 189, VG10, and 154cm/ats34.
Joe
Elmax is a great performing, very clean steel that I have yet to find an inclusion or bubble in. I have used it from #325 grit up too #8,000 grit with diamond strop. It does well at both low and high polish, with no sign of chipping at numbers like 30 degrees inclusive.
I like it. I'm not a stainless type guy but this is one that's near the top of my lists of stainless alloys, right behind S110V, BG42/CTS -B75P, S90V, M390, CPM 154, S30V, and ZDP 189, VG10, and 154cm/ats34.
Joe
I'm looking for an edc in Boston, where I believe 2.5 is the maximum length (at least in cambridge, where I often go), so I might end up shortening it a bit anyway. That said, I have never in my life been in a situation where anyone would see a knife that I carry and have reason to comment on the legal length, so I would be ok with the 2.8-2.9 of the benchmade. What I'm saying is that small is a necessity for where I am...
It seems that the opinions are split...but the reason I'm quoting you, Joe, is that you said that elmax is behind 154cm in your experience. Would you kindly elaborate on that? I ask because that is rather directly at the heart of what I'm asking. If your experience with elmax is limited to, or at least influenced by, the Speedform, this tells me that difficulty of the elmax HT, vis a vis that of 154cm, makes any extraordinary advantages elmax at "optimal" HT moot in a comparison between production knives.
@mkjellgren, RandomAyes, Char9919, Gooeytek: I am hoping to eventually fabricate some scales for my edc myself, so the handle is less important to me than the blade. I like to personalize everything that I carry with me every day. I made my own wallet, iphone case, key fob, etc. I would do the same with my knife.
I love the tanto shape on the griptilian, but I am interested in trying out elmax at this price (I have had 154cm knives before, and obviously I have no complaints). It would only be worth doing, however, if the HT were near optimal and would offer real advantages over 154cm.