Limited Edition Grip

southernknives

southernknives

BANNED
Joined
Sep 30, 2012
Messages
922
Has anyone picked up the 551BK 1302 or 551 1302 yet?

I'm really contemplating picking one up. I like the handle color and steel.
 
Last edited:
You should there awsum for what they are.
You should also look into the 551-1303 .............. get both.
 
theres a run of black m4 bladed ones I'd rather have for the same price, but they do look pretty good. I'd still probably rather OPT for a ritter though, because of the blade shape.
 
My M4 one should come in tomorrow, I'm super pumped about it. Probably the best beater knife ever created for that price.
 
I just received mine this week. I really like the knife (light gray scales with black liners/hardware, black oxide arrow clip, and S30V blade steel). Not sure what finish is used on the (bare) steel blade....possible bead/sand-blast? Finish is uniform with fine grind/tooling marks still visible. Mine had a blade that was slightly off-center but lock-up is solid (no play) and fit/finish is excellent otherwise. Edge grinds are even on both sides and blade came sharp (not scary but definitley usable). I'm considering buying another: it would cost about $30 more to buy this knife from Benchmade directly with the S30V option (and the gray scale color isn't an available option).

....looking at the M4 variant also.
 
I only see the M390 version. Are there any limited runs of the 550? I prefer the thumbhole.
 
Man oh man that m4 full size is awfully tempting...can't go wrong with a m4 grip for $112. I've been carrying my M4 ritter mini quite a bit as of late and have been enjoying the heck out of it. The only problem being that ive been spoiled by custom cf micarta scales and I don't think the standard noryl gtx handles would cut it for me anymore meaning I'd need custom scales for a new m4 grip as well making the whole package not so affordable anymore.
 
My CPM-M4 version came in today, here's some initial impressions:

- Pivot came oiled and cranked almost all the way down from either Benchmade or GPKnives
- Very even grinds and came six year old phonebook paper slicing sharp (the stuff pretty much falls apart if you look at it wrong so that means the knife is super sharp)
- The blade came very badly offcenter, and even after adjusting it's still not perfect. No perfect centering/blade play ratio on this one, you either have one or the other. Oddly it came offcenter towards the presentation side.
- The plastic handles on the full size Grip feel a little bit less cheap and hollow than on the Mini Grip. I had a Mini Ritter and I couldn't stand the handles, ended up selling it because it didn't feel like a $120 knife.
- The blade is pretty thin and it is ground quite thin, about a month or two ago that would have bothered me but I now find myself gravitating towards better slicers.

Mine's #11 out of 300, if that helps.
 
The plastic handles on the full size Grip feel a little bit less cheap and hollow than on the Mini Grip.
Click to expand...

Interesting you say that since the full size grip actually has hollow handles with only partial liners where as the mini actually has full steel liners and by almost all accounts feels far more solid and less hollow than the full sized version. If you compare the two side by side I think you'll see what I'm talking about. The full size feels more hollow than the mini because it IS more hollow than the mini. I do agree that the small size of the mini combined with the cheap feeling scales make it feel a bit toy-like though, which is why I chose to go with some custom scales for my grips. A m4 ritter mini with custom scales is hard to beat as far as a small edc knife goes.
 
mkjellgren said:
Interesting you say that since the full size grip actually has hollow handles with only partial liners where as the mini actually has full steel liners and by almost all accounts feels far more solid and less hollow than the full sized version. If you compare the two side by side I think you'll see what I'm talking about. The full size feels more hollow than the mini because it IS more hollow than the mini. I do agree that the small size of the mini combined with the cheap feeling scales make it feel a bit toy-like though, which is why I chose to go with some custom scales for my grips. A m4 ritter mini with custom scales is hard to beat as far as a small edc knife goes.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, I didn't even notice the partial liners! I guess my observations are contrary to logic, and based more on my reactions to knocking on the handles with my knuckles. I'm looking to replace the stock scales as quickly as possible anyway, the Swimming Pool green G11 scales from Kevin Wilkins are calling my name :D I find that I much prefer the full sized Griptilian to the Mini (even for EDC), I really dislike when I can't get a full four finger grip on a knife. It just kills the whole experience for me.
 
Misanthropia said:
Oh wow, I didn't even notice the partial liners! I guess my observations are contrary to logic, and based more on my reactions to knocking on the handles with my knuckles. I'm looking to replace the stock scales as quickly as possible anyway, the Swimming Pool green G11 scales from Kevin Wilkins are calling my name :D I find that I much prefer the full sized Griptilian to the Mini (even for EDC), I really dislike when I can't get a full four finger grip on a knife. It just kills the whole experience for me.
Click to expand...

I suggest you jump on those swimming pool green wilkins grips asap then because according to Wilkins, the material went out of production and there very well may be no more of them ever made. Once they're gone they're gone. I missed out on a set of minis and have been kicking myself for it. That said, if you don't mind a bit of wait time, cuscadi does some spectacular work and since they are truly custom, you can choose from a nearly endless set of material, milling, and finishing options. Either way, custom scales really transform the griptilians into an absolutely world class knife. The standard scales are fine, and the noryl gtx handles, while cheap feeling, are actually very tough and durable, but a grip with m4 and custom scales is in another league.
 
mkjellgren said:
I suggest you jump on those swimming pool green wilkins grips asap then because according to Wilkins, the material went out of production and there very well may be no more of them ever made. Once they're gone they're gone. I missed out on a set of minis and have been kicking myself for it. That said, if you don't mind a bit of wait time, cuscadi does some spectacular work and since they are truly custom, you can choose from a nearly endless set of material, milling, and finishing options. Either way, custom scales really transform the griptilians into an absolutely world class knife. The standard scales are fine, and the noryl gtx handles, while cheap feeling, are actually very tough and durable, but a grip with m4 and custom scales is in another league.
Click to expand...

amen to this, just sold mine to afford a mnandi with mammoth inlays and I miss the knife already
 
Haha, aquaman67, I feel your pain. Fortunately I have a 551 in 154CM which is perfect in every way, including heat treat. When BM does 154CM right, there's little reason for me to spend more for better steel.
 
Got my M4 551 in today, here it is next to my M4 Ritter.

Picture004-1.jpg

Picture003-1.jpg
 
I just got the Gray scale/s30v... I'm thinking about getting the black/m4 and switching one of the scales for gray/black scales just for kicks.
 
FCM415 said:
I just got the Gray scale/s30v... I'm thinking about getting the black/m4 and switching one of the scales for gray/black scales just for kicks.
Click to expand...

You know what would be AWESOME?

Call and see if you can get the matching serial number!

Beg if you have too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top