Looking for a starter benchmade....

I

ivan_yulaev

Joined
Oct 20, 2003
Messages
284
Well, I'm in the market for a nice utility knife. I've got around 50$ to spend, so we're looking at the low-ends here. I'm only gonna do light-end stuff with it (boxes, maybe a little bit of wood cutting, plastics, etc), and I've been recommended Benchmades everywhere I go.

Specifically, I'm interested in the Mini-Ascent II's, with the Oval Thumbhole. Anyone have any recommendations for a good starter knife?

Other brands are welcome as recommendations as well.
 
Add $10 and get a Griptillian. It is a really sturdy and slick knife. If you like fast and smooth opening, you'll love the axis lock.
 
I have a mini-Ascent and it is one of my favorite knives. It is light and narrow and it rides well next to my wallet. With the clip it rides deep in my pocket or in the waist band. I like the zytel handle due to the grip and the lightness. It will also open very quickly with the spydie drop.

It is so light that I have carried it in my shirt pocket. It is so light that I hardly know that I am carrying it.

At the Benchmade website it is scheduled to be discontinued. If you plan to get one, get one soon. :)
 
So, Griptillians are good then? But the Ascents (with thumbholes) have 154CM as their material, while the mini griptillians have 440C...is there a big difference? It's only 1 in rockwells, but this is NOT a knife I want to sharpen often.

My preferences are small, nice shape (spear, drop-point are nice and traditional), and a decent opening/closing mechanism. I don't like the point on the thumbhole Griptillians.

Then again, the Griptillians have an AXIS lock...which is supposed to be very, very nice...
 
154CM has better edge holding, but 440C is easier to sharpen and more rust resistant. Since you wan the knife for light work, 440C should work just fine.
 
For that price, you can get a mini TSEK. This is essentially an AFCK, only with a thumbstud instead of the hole.
 
Griptillian here ! Very fast opening & closing,(lotta fun factor), and the steel is going to hold an edge just fine.Benchmade heattreats 'em well. The handle fills your hand for good grip on hard work. Cabela's has em for a little more $ in D2. That's what I got, so even better edge holding.
 
Edge holding-the 440C does fine. A few months ago I tested several of my knives on the same cardboard, cutting thin strips. It was not a heavy cardboard, but typical of the type you see used in boxes (two ply).

The Mini Grip cut 100 linear feet before it lost the ability to cut hair on my arm. Mind you, this was going from very sharp to scape cutting to not cutting hair, but even then it was still sharp and cutting the cardboard well. A few strokes on my EF DMT and it was plenty sharp again.

The 440C will not come close to Buck's BG-42 (also tested on the same cardboard), but it still does well.

If you don't like the point on the thumb hole mini grip, get the thumb stud version. The almost full liners on this knife make it quite sturdy.
 
I have a beautiful blue Griptillian and it alternates days in my pocket with the spyderco delica.
The Griptillian is a great little guy that has stood up to heavy duty jobs and is very comfortable in my hand. That is important!
 
Well since "Other brands are welcome as recommendations as well." I will throw the trump card in and recommend a Spyderco Delica, FRN handle and VG-10 is the best steel you will get for the money.
 
For this price you can buy a spyderco Delica with VG10 steel...much better than any 440 C steel whatever the fabricant...
 
also partial benchmades, love axis lock,hard go wrong with benchmade even without axis lock; also from what I understand cust svc top notch.
50.00 range spyderco good choice; check out the native s30v $45-50 range.
back benchmade; walter over at spoon river cultry has closeout on bm720bt 79.00 NIB, little over 50.00,but a real nice all-around knife(normal retail $100-120).as of last week I think he still had a couple left
 
I have a Cabela's mini-grip in D2, very nice knife, this one I use alot.

Also.....listen to anthony.

Mike
 
Go for either a 555 or a 556 in whatever blade material you like (I'd go 440C) and never look back.

440C is great for light use. In my experience it is also great for heavy use, regardless of its relatively low ranking in the steel strata.
 
GRIPTILIAN and nothing else. AXIS lock, good steel, great choise of blade shape clip or sheeps foot, best bang for buck.
 
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