Looking for new knife suggestions

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Whiteknight

Joined
Apr 27, 2007
Messages
13
Greetings, I've been lurking for a while and I just recently registered. I'm in the market for a new EDC knife and I'm hoping to get some help in narrowing down my choices.

Right now I carry a stainless, fully serrated Delica. It suits me just fine but it's a little heavy and only clips tip-down righty. I'm considering several Benchmade models, including the 550HG, 555HG, 551, 556 and the BM H&K 14210 and 14205. As I said, this will be my EDC knife. I work as an engineer, and use my knife for general purpose duty, such as box cutting, occasional "semi-precise" material cutting, and although it is a definite long shot, limited self defense use. I also work on ships occasionally for my job, so I'm leaning toward getting a partially serrated blade to aid in working with lines and for emergency use.

I've read through lots of threads about these knives on the forums, but I haven't seen too much direct comparison between the normal BMs and the H&Ks. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place.

Clearly I'm interested in an axis-lock, and while it's not mandatory, I'm attracted to the G10 handles on the H&Ks. When it comes to the Griptilians, I guess I'm not really sure whether I'm better off with the 550/555 sheepfoot or the 551/556 drop point. I like the circular opening hole on my Spyderco just fine, but I have no particular objection to the thumbstuds. I suppose another option is the Rittergrip, but I've been a little put off by the reports of chipping in the S30.

Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
Welcome to BF! The only one in your list I have experience with is the Grippie. I have the Cabela's version in D2 and I like it a lot. It's a good knife but the handle just wasn't my taste. It sounds really hollow and cheap even though it's not.
 
I sounds like the Griptilian is just the knife you're looking for. They're outstanding knives and feel great in the hand. Whether you pick up an early model with a 440C blade or a new one with a 154CM blade, the Griptilian will not disappoint. I prefer the modified sheepsfoot blade over the drop point simply because I find it more versatile. Mine has an oval hole with a 154CM blade, but I'll probably pick up one of the new ones with the round "Spyder" hole.
 
You could get an FRN Delica 4, those have a four-point choice of clip attachment, tip up or down for right and left side. AND you could get it waved. That would be a lot lighter than the steel one, would resolve your carry issues, improve the blade steel, and you already know you like the design.
 
I was also going to suggest a FRN Delica 4. Or perhaps a a little something from the Salt Series.
 
Thanks for the Delica suggestions, but I really like the BM axis-lock. Are H&K knives carried at most BM dealers, or are they considered specialty items?
 
I have the 556 in D2 from cabela's and I love it. It's my first axis lock and I'm very impressed with it's strength and reliability. The D2 has also done a great job at holding an edge.
 
check out the BM 707 Sequel. Basically is is very similar, functionally, to the minigrip but in a slightly more upscale package. With aluminum scales with G10 inserts, and IMHO a smoother axis lock than the grips, its hard to go wrong. Blade length is 2.95" about 6.75" overall. They can be found for about $100 if you look around.
 
Can anyone comment on how the BM knives (grip, minigrip, 707, etc) compare in handle thickness to the Endura and Delica? Looking at the specs, it seems like the grip and minigrip are pretty thick for folders.
 
I have a mini-grip 556 drop point and the HK 14210. The 556 is lighter and more compact, while the 14210 has thicker liners and more heft. If I remember, the handles are technically about the same length, but the 14210
handle allows your index finger to sit closer to the blade so my pinky finger is more on the end of the handle. The 556 handle keeps the index finger a little further back and so my pinky is slightly off the end of the handle. No real deal breaker, just an observation. Both blades are 154cm, but for some reason, I find the 556 easier to sharpen on my sharpmaker.

I love both, the 556 is so practical and utilitarian it ends up in my pocket more often and, for my purposes, feels better for edc. I liked the mini-grip feel so much, I bought a Cabella D2 version. Both the mini-grip and the 14210are well made, they open and close easily and the axis lock is a nice feature. I don't think you'd be disappointed with either. If you're like most of us here, you'll probably end up with both anyway.
 
If you have any large weapons shows in your area, for the price of admission, you will likely be able to handle a variety of knives. I have been very impressed every time I attend one. Nothing better than holding a knife in your hand to tell you if it's a keeper or not.
all da best,
rats...
 
JohnnyR, you wouldn't happen to have a Delica or Endura on hand, would you? If so I'd really appreciate some side by side shots with the 556 and 14210, particularly regarding the thickness of the handles.
 
The Delica is much thinner than the 556. Also lighter.

Have you searched for a Delica generation 3? They are still around and to my preferences a better design than the new ones.

To each his own. But I'll take the Gen 3
 
Whiteknight said:
JohnnyR, you wouldn't happen to have a Delica or Endura on hand, would you? If so I'd really appreciate some side by side shots with the 556 and 14210, particularly regarding the thickness of the handles.
Click to expand...

Whiteknight,
Sorry, no I don't. Hopefully someone else may have.
 
I have several D3s, D4s, and mini-Grips. All are, or have been, users for the same type of cutting that you are talking about. The best thing I hve found so far is my mini-Grip in D2 from Cabelas. It's the one I currently carry as EDC in a warehouse setting, so I'm cutting very heavy zip ties, other strapping material, cardboard, plastic, light electrical wiring, stuff like that. The handle is a bit more ergonomic for me because of it's rounded sides. With my arthritis flat-sided knives are kinda hard for me to hold.

At home it opens everything from dog food bags to mail. I even mowed part of the back yard with it (I'd already put the mower up and I saw a short strip that I missed).

My wife carries a ZDP D4 as her work EDC and I gave my sister both a D4 and a 154CM mini-Grip. She's an EMT and uses the D4 at work and carried the mini-Grip as personal EDC.

How about two EDCs? A Cabelas D2 mini-Grip in PE for normal work and a fully serrated Spydie for shipboard stuff?

Sorry... just noticed your question about handle thickness. The BMs are somewhat thicker than the Spydies, but for me, this is a good thing. They are not too thick. I started out carrying a Buck 112. That's thick and heavy. Honestly, I don't notice the mini-Grip in my pocket any more than I do my D4 when I carry it, and the ergos of the mini-Grip handle do work better for me than the D4.
 
What a difference arthritis makes. Mine makes the shorter BM556 uncomfortable and the Spydie just right. Gotta TRY em.
 
I carried a Spyderco Endura fully-serrated for ten years. I recently bought a Benchmade 520 Presidio in Black Ti, partially serrated. Now the BM is the only thing I carry! The only thing I prefer on the Spyderco I used to carry over the BM is the thumb hole. Other than that, the Presidio is, in my opinion, a better knife. Axis lock-tough. Solid, meaty handle. One "Hooah" of a knife!
 
I own both a mini grip (556) and the 558 (ritter mini-grip) as well as a delica 4 wave. As you have mentioned, the mini grip is more thick than the delica4. For this reason, I carry my delica 4 around the house in basketball shorts. When I wear jeans/khakis, I carry the mini-grip in the front right and the delica 4 wave IWB.

As far as the HK14210, its basically the same size/ general shape as the mini grip. It is in g-10 which is suppose to be more grippy. I've handled the14210 at many gun shows/knife stores and I still havent bought one. I dont like the fact that it doesnt have a lanyard hole and that to me personally it is no where as near grippy as the grip series. Also many people say that the Hk isnt as well rounded off meaning that there are alot of pointy spots on the knife that can catch on things.

One thing that I like about the grip series is that it comes in many different styles and blade configs/steels. You can get 440C (Old version) 154CM, d2 and S30V. Not to mention different colored handles (Ie Od green, black, blue, pink, yellow). A bad thing about the mini-grips is that the handles are a tad bit small and will not fit the whole hand like the delica. Your Pink will be half way on/off depending on hand size.

Sorry for the bad pictures, Im not very skillful with a cammera. The first pic shows a ritter mini in od scales, d4 wave, bm 556. You can see the slight differences in the blade profiles. *Note both blades are moddified to have the wave feature which was done by me so dont mind that. The 556 is in 154cm and the Ritter is in s30V. The delica is a bit more thin, and doesnt bulge out from the sides like the grips do, so naturally the delica 4 feels better in hand.








 
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