Looking to get my first Benchmade... Suggestions?

nelsonmc

nelsonmc

Joined
Jan 14, 2005
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I'm looking to pick up my very first Benchmade, probably on eBay. I was thinking about the Pika or Mini Pika, but I'm just not sure... I'm looking for one around $40 for starters, is that a good idea? Can I get a Benchmade for $40 that will give me a feel for their quality? I've never even held a Benchmade, but I've heard a lot of good things. If I wasn't so damned indecisive I'd just buy any old one but I'm really picky. So any suggestions? :D
 
Spend just alittle more than $40 ($50-$65) and get yourself a Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian...That way, you get the Axis-lock, 440C steel, and an EXCELLENT folder.
 
PLEASE listen to glockman99! just a few more $ and you can get the axis lock and a good blade shape. i have a #555 mini-grip and love it. BM's 440C is great. mine cuts like a champ. did we mention the axis lock!
 
Hmmm I like the hole instead of thumbstud on the 555 but I like the shape of the blade on the 556 better, damnit. I think I'll go for the 556, can't stand the shape of the blade on the 555, but I know the thumbstud is going to piss me off.
 
i was looking at the pika also but decided on a mini-tsek. you can get one for 50 on ebay NIB. i like it better than the griptillian for looks.
 
If you're gonna buy a Benchmade, buy a Benchmade. BTW that means either 710 (preferably HS) or 806D2 these are probably the two finest knives made by anyone, and btw I prefer Spyderco to Benchmade, but not to the 710 or 806D2. Of knives the the price/style range mentioned I acutally think you'd be happier with a Spyderco Delica or Endura, but happiest of all with one of the two BM mentioned. Oh and if what you want is a gentleman's knife go with either the 940 or 921, like I said I prefer Spyders, but these 4 BMs ROCK!!!!!!! :D
 
glockman99 said:
Spend just alittle more than $40 ($50-$65) and get yourself a Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian...That way, you get the Axis-lock, 440C steel, and an EXCELLENT folder.
Click to expand...

100% correct. Step up to the Axis lock -- it's more than worth the extra money.

Also, the thumb studs won't piss you off because with the Axis lock you never have to touch them to open or close the knife. Trust me on this, right Glockman?
 
i retapered the "hump" out of my 555. (at the tip, so it is sharper) looks pretty good to me now.
 
I've had both the Delica and Endura, I like the thumbhole a lot but there was just something about them (the knife as a whole) I absolutely hated, could never put my finger on just what though. I like my current EDC a Kershaw Chive, but well, it's getting old well, it's just something about the Benchmades that even though I've never held one I really want to. I think I'm going with the 556 plain. If the girlfriend finds out she's gonna kill me for spending so much, so it looks like I'll be selling some of my other knives on eBay to make up the difference :rolleyes:
 
Actually I'm getting her a Spyderco Jester, one of those Pink handled jobs. She's in college and student teaching at an inner city school so I worry. I already gave her mace and a gerber lst or whatever they're called, but I figured it was time for a small upgrade.

Edit: Actually I just had a pretty good idea, I'll get her the Mini-Pika and Me the Mini Griptilian! Ex-cellent! :D
 
I got my mini pika on ebay for $27 total. It a plain blade, and I absolutely love it! The clip conceals very well and keeps a scary edge. The only thing I don't like about it is the thumb hole. It can be kinda tricky to get the right leverage when opening, but its not meant to be a combat quickdraw weapon.
 
Another vote for mini-grip. Deffinately worth the extra $.

Also agree with Keith Mayton's claim. Except in the case of near proximity to sheeple.
 
There's a lot of great suggestions up already, so I'll be brief. When you buy your first BM, get one of their USA made knives. This will give you a better idea of their quality. I'm not a huge fan of their Taiwan line, but it definately seems that they are improving.
-KC
 
710 or 806, if you don't go ahead and buy one now, you'll just end up getting both later, trust me, spend more now and save in the long run. Once you get an axis (even a Griptillian, which is a good knive btw) you'll end up wanting the best of the best, 710 or 806:)
 
if you look around on the 'net, for not too much more than what you've said you're wanting to spend, you can turn up a 705

nice blade shape, axis lock...

my second choice in that price range would be the mini Griptillian
 
Wow I didn't expect to get so much imput, thanks a lot guys. I'm still trying to figure out which one I want, and my price range just went up to like $75 after I "found" some money "under the table" today. :p
 
If you want to try a BM, you want an Axis if at all possible. And for $5-$10 more than a mini-Grip you can get a full size Grip if you'd rather have a 3.5" blade and hand-filling knife than a sub 3" that's easier to carry.

If I *had* to recommend a BM under $40, I'd say get a mini-Ambush. A hell of a lot of knife for the money, much better than the Pika and I prefer it to the Monochrome.

Once you've made the jump to the axis, knives above the Grips get pretty subjective. I don't have a single bad word to say about the 710 or 805/806, but a lot of my love goes to the insanely ergonomic and tough-tipped 730/732/735, and in small-but-built the 705 has a fanatical following. (And I just ebayed a nominally used one for $46.) For an axis that cuts big and carries small, the 940, 943, and 921 are all world-beaters, if you like aluminum handles.

On the cheap end - for the same price as a Grip you can get a 530, an axis folding boot/dagger pattern. Very flat, v-e-e--r-r-r-r-y light, excellent cutter. But it's so light that it feels flimsy, and many people prefer Grips for their stiffer, tougher feel. I'd recommend a 530 unreservedly for performance, but based on popular feeling I'm not as sure you'd love the feel of it the way you will a Grip.

The BM I carry most is my 770 GRN/BLK, but all the 770 series are quite expensive. The BM I take when I know I need to *use* a knife is my 730. My 730 is why I no longer own a 551 Griptillian - I liked the Grip, but the only thing it has over the 730 is a lower replacement cost.
 
$75 isn't enough (at regular internet prices) to make the jump to the non-Zytel axis locks - although it can be on Ebay if you're lucky - but it definitely puts you in "which Grip/Mini-Grip/530 do I want" territory, rather than Pikas and such.

And it just lets you look at the Cabela's special Griptillian run in D2 toolsteel, which at exactly $75 is where I'd point you - the D2 mini is $70, the D2 Grip is $80, plus shipping.

(The links are huge - go to Cabelas.com and search "benchmade".)
 
Why not my Benchmade Griptilian? :D My sellers ID on eBay is silenthunterstudios, the knife has never been used and is in great shape. I just had to cut down on my collection, I'm more into Cold Steel and Spyderco, and CRKT.
 
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