Lost Benchmade Griptilian - Need Recomendations for a Cheaper EDC

Surprised no one's mentioned Kershaw Skyline or Spyderco Tenacious.

 

Buck 830 is a great knife, Kershaw Knockout, The new Cold steel's are great but over $100 look for an aus 8 code 4 or American lawman, I had one for sale but it's gone. Also the Rat one, the Utilitac II are great, I find the cryo to heavy for it's size. Blur's can often be found at a good price but the s30v ones usually go higher. I have video's of all these but the 830 is extra cool and fairly reasonable I think?

 

If you really liked the Griptilian, get another one. You list your high end of pricing at around $60, and if you look around online, you can buy a new one for about
$20 more... It sounds like the knives you picked are a compromise for you compared to the Griptilian, so wouldn't it be worth it to spend just a little more and be happy with your knife ? It would be different if you didn't like the knife...

You can pick up a good buy in the exchange too and save some money if you aren't in a hurry...

 

Endura 4 ffg gets my vote.

 

I was going to suggest the OKC RAT 1.
Reason: 1095 carbon steel blade. Gets wicked sharp, holds an edge, and eady to sharpen in the field without special equipment.

 

Get the Endura and get MMans to pimp it

 

Not a fan of the recurve blade on the blur, which is an otherwise great knife. I would suggest the Kershaw Volt as just about impossible to beat at in the budget EDC category, with assisted opening. Without AO, the Kershaw skyline and the RAT 1 are great choices. The skyline is very slim in the pocket.

 

Maybe it's just me but I have been really impressed with 14c28n as good as 154cm maybe not but I'd bet most people couldn't tell the difference. Certainly I would say both are far better than any of the 8cr13mov (or 9/14) steels coming on the made in China stuff.

 

If that's the case, I agree with some of the other guys, go ahead and get another griptillian. You know you like it, so you're not taking a risk on spending money on something you don't like or spending time trying to get rid of it. Like you said, you'll be carrying this knife for years as long as you don't lose it. What's 70 bucks compared to 90-100? (Not to mention, I'll take an axis lock system over a lockback anyday.)

 

This↑↑↑↑↑

Benchmade is where it's at.

 

Agree with the Cyro in G-10. Not bad at all for something on the less expensive side.

Rat 1 is a good choice.

If you want to have a camp knife, get a Buck 112 and a Rat 2 and you'll be in budget...

 

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1333249-Benchmade-Price-Drop!!!!

Used 551 for $65

 

+1
I have the Knockout and it's really nice, but I think you would be just as pleased with the Link, especially the new version with FRN handles like your old Griptilian. Hard to beat $34 (on Amazon) for a USA-made knife!

 

My approach to carry knives is to purchase two minimum, this way losing one doesnt mean I cant carry it... just saying.

Btw CRKT gets a bad rap on occasion HOWEVER, I personally recommend them. Check em out- as well as Kershaw - AVOID modern Buck, Gerber, Schrade as they are all made in China from relatively low quality steel copies. (my opinion but then I test knives quite thoroughly and I would put an Opinel @ $12 apiece against any Buck, Gerber or Schrade post 2003 all day any day and win the bet)


This being said, I have two Benchmade CRQ7 Emerson folders (wont buy Emerson now) one in the box still and one that I carry regularly- and Spyderco PM2 times 4 (I like different colors on occasion) I would suggest those models


OR just spend 120 dollars and get 10 #8 opinels which will work perfectly, are safe to carry and basically legal around the globe!

 

I'm curious what a $12 Opinel can do better than a Buck Vantage Pro with S30V blade??

 

I'd like to know also!

 

^^this.


This post above makes the most sense. I'd much rather have a knife I really liked than to settle for something less desirable over 20 bucks.

For what it's worth, we're issued Griptilians at my unit. I've seen guys absolutely push beyond what one would use a knife for with these workhorses - do things that would make many blade forum members cringe and angrily type "that's the wrong tool for the job!" on their computers. Things like cutting sand and salt embedded lines, trimming non-skid, cutting oil soaked boom, scraping, cleaning, prepping metal, all kinds of things. While I can't say that one has never failed, I've never seen or heard of it happening.

It's a tough knife where the only two complaints I'm aware of are its two best factors: the "plasticky" handle is impervious to oil and greases, and it's handle is fat. Impervious is crucial if you need it (you'll know if you do), and that fat handle is designed to be worked - it's where the 'Grip' in 'Griptilian' comes from.

All that being said, I only carry mine when I'm on duty. If you really don't work the knife hard, I'd guess it makes sense to maybe go a bit cheaper. In that case, Spydercos are hard to beat.