About a year ago, I bought a Benchmade 806D2 (AXIS AFCK). My two-week review is HERE. I still love that knife. I use it for home and garden stuff and it holds an edge like a champ. I can maintain the edge for a long time with a smooth steel and, despite what some say, do not find the D2 blade difficult to sharpen.
Unfortunately I found out my 806D2 is too long to legally carry in Seattle, so after trying unsuccessfully to buy a Spyderco Calypso Jr. in VG-10 and Micarta, I bought a Griptillian. It has been great. The edge is not as tough as that of the 806D2. I managed to ding it when I hit a nail while cutting the felt pad off the bottom of a chair leg. D2 might not have stood up to that abuse, but would have withstood it better. That said, the 440C blade stands up to most anything I throw at it, is easy to maintain with a steel and is easy to sharpen (it was easy to work that ding out on my coarse Razor Edge Systems stone) 440C is also more rust resistant than D2. All in all, I'd say the Griptillian is a GREAT EDC if you find a decent deal on one.
Could the Griptillian be better? Sure. I'd LOVE to see a limited run with D2 or M2 blades and G10 or aluminum handles. I've even thought about trying to make wood or G10 scales for mine. It looks like you could easily carve or machine recesses on the inside of a pair of G10 scales to accept the stainless steel frame. It would probably be even easier to cast or machine something out of Aluminum.
Unfortunately I found out my 806D2 is too long to legally carry in Seattle, so after trying unsuccessfully to buy a Spyderco Calypso Jr. in VG-10 and Micarta, I bought a Griptillian. It has been great. The edge is not as tough as that of the 806D2. I managed to ding it when I hit a nail while cutting the felt pad off the bottom of a chair leg. D2 might not have stood up to that abuse, but would have withstood it better. That said, the 440C blade stands up to most anything I throw at it, is easy to maintain with a steel and is easy to sharpen (it was easy to work that ding out on my coarse Razor Edge Systems stone) 440C is also more rust resistant than D2. All in all, I'd say the Griptillian is a GREAT EDC if you find a decent deal on one.
Could the Griptillian be better? Sure. I'd LOVE to see a limited run with D2 or M2 blades and G10 or aluminum handles. I've even thought about trying to make wood or G10 scales for mine. It looks like you could easily carve or machine recesses on the inside of a pair of G10 scales to accept the stainless steel frame. It would probably be even easier to cast or machine something out of Aluminum.