Making a choice: Doug Ritter MINI RSK MK1 Black Blade or D2 Steel Combo Black Blade?

C

chambelona59

Joined
May 4, 2012
Messages
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Greetings all.
I'm making a choice... either a Doug Ritter Mini-Griptilian RSK MK1 w/ Black Coated Blade/Black handle
(black BK1 Xylan® florocarbon a.k.a. Teflon® blade or... as a "stone washed" tumbled finish that helps seal the metal's pores)

Or alternatively:

A Benchmade® Mini-Griptilian in D2 Steel w/ Serrated Black Coated Blade/Olive Drab handle.

I know the difference between the blade shapes and D2 vs CPM S30V.
Use: primarily EDC.
(I don't plan on field dressing a Moose in Central Park, but you never know)

I already own a Grip. 550SBKHGSL hollow ground blade w/ Sky Line Camo handle and also a Doug Ritter Orange Mini RSK MK1 w/ Stone Washed S30V Blade.

Would like to hear anyone's opinion re: either of the two choices mentioned at top of this post.
Thanks, much appreciated!
Mark
 
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Edit the links, we all know what the knives look like. Neither of those stores are paid dealers here.
 
I'm not a fan of combo edges, so I'd go with the Doug Ritter Mini-Grip just from this alone. That being said, I prefer the blade shape on the Doug Ritter version as well as the blade steel (S30V vs. D2). To me, the Doug Ritter version is the better knife all around.
 
JSMcustoms said:
I'm not a fan of combo edges, so I'd go with the Doug Ritter Mini-Grip just from this alone. That being said, I prefer the blade shape on the Doug Ritter version as well as the blade steel (S30V vs. D2). To me, the Doug Ritter version is the better knife all around.
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That about sums it up..
 
I had a similar choice, mine was between a satin mini grip orange handle or a stonewashed mini ritter. I went with the ritter because of the steel choices (S30V over 154CM) D2 is a great steel though, it'd all come down to looks for me with these two choices. Though I don't like serrations.
For typical EDC use though, I don't think you'd notice to much a difference in the steels. Or at least that is what I've heard, I don't have much use with D2. So really just choose the one you like better. If you like both equally, flip a coin?
I don't think you'd be disappointed in either blade.
 
Swoop03 said:
I had a similar choice, mine was between a satin mini grip orange handle or a stonewashed mini ritter. I went with the ritter because of the steel choices (S30V over 154CM) D2 is a great steel though, it'd all come down to looks for me with these two choices. Though I don't like serrations.
For typical EDC use though, I don't think you'd notice to much a difference in the steels. Or at least that is what I've heard, I don't have much use with D2. So really just choose the one you like better. If you like both equally, flip a coin?
I don't think you'd be disappointed in either blade.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input Swoop03, much appreciated!
 
I'll take the Ritter. It has the more robust blade and is uncoated which I prefer. Would make for a nice host for upgraded scales also.

The other one looks nice, I wanted one like that but with a plain edge because of its looks. The olive-drab looks very nice with the rest of the hardware. In the end, I prefer uncoated blades though.

I'd like to see more Ritter variations to come out also..
 
FCM415 said:
I'll take the Ritter. It has the more robust blade and is uncoated which I prefer. Would make for a nice host for upgraded scales also.

The other one looks nice, I wanted one like that but with a plain edge because of its looks. The olive-drab looks very nice with the rest of the hardware. In the end, I prefer uncoated blades though.

I'd like to see more Ritter variations to come out also..
Click to expand...

Thanks FCM415, perhaps un-coated would be better... many photos I see on the net of black coating on Griptilian blades looks rather raggedy after use.
I bought this knife via online auction last week... as soon as I received it, I sent it to Benchmade with the $40.00 required for a brand new blade.
You can see how the blackened blade looked as I received it.

550SBKHGSL-M2_zps826822cb.jpg


550SBKHGSL-M1_zpsd083ea6a.jpg


Thanks FCM415 for the input re: un-coated.
 
Random Dan said:
I'd go for the Ritter. Better blade shape and a gorgeous stonewash finish.
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I think from reading several opinions, I would be better off with a Ritter... the thing is I would like an O.D. handle... but after searching around, it doesn't seem a Doug Ritter Mini Gript. comes with an O.D. handle.

I have a Ritter Mini Gript. Orange handle/stone washed blade.
And a Benchmade Mini Gript. with a Camo handle and black combo mod. sheepsfoot blade.
I'd really like just one more with an O.D. handle and stonewashed blade, then there's no issue of the black on a blade wearing off.
 
FCM415 said:
They do, they might just be sold out for the time being.
Click to expand...

Cool, I'll keep checking... thanks for the heads up FCM415!
I think I prefer the Ritter version too, I don't mind D2 at all, but in D2 it appears to only come with that black coated blade.
Would really like to get the Doug Ritter Orange MINI RSK MK1 Stone Washed S30V Blade (which I ordered Thurs.), but with an O.D. colored handle.
 
I'd also take the Ritter because of the CE on the D2 model. I don't like CE blades on short-bladed knives like mini-Grips. I rarely use serrations and I'd want enough PE to satisfy my uses if I did have serrations on the blade. That'd require a 3 1/2" blade or so. Other than that, I like the shape of the standard Grip blade and I really like BM's D2. I've had both profiles and they've performed very well for their size knives.

Of course, as I've said before in other posts, the Ritter blade profile is my favorite folder blade shape of all the ones I've ever tried, so I'd take the Ritter personally, just for that. If you're really set on an OD Ritter, buy one of each, swap the scales, and sell the black scaled standard mini-Grip (with the appropriate notification that the scales have been swapped by the ELU). I've seen pix of several that have been done this way, so its no big deal. Just make sure you swap the scales instead of the blade.
 
chambelona59 said:
Thanks for your input Swoop03, much appreciated!
Click to expand...

chambelona59 said:
Thanks FCM415, perhaps un-coated would be better... many photos I see on the net of black coating on Griptilian blades looks rather raggedy after use.
I bought this knife via online auction last week... as soon as I received it, I sent it to Benchmade with the $40.00 required for a brand new blade.
You can see how the blackened blade looked as I received it.

550SBKHGSL-M2_zps826822cb.jpg


550SBKHGSL-M1_zpsd083ea6a.jpg


Thanks FCM415 for the input re: un-coated.
Click to expand...

Your welcome, also I want to get a coated benchmade and thrash the crap out of it. I've seen many with the coating wearing and I think it looks great personally. I do have a coated one now, but its a custom 550 white handled full size grip with personal engravings. Not really a user more of a massive gentlemans edc folder. I'd like to get a coated mini ritter, I don't think the finish would last long though. I have a good amount of scratches showing through the stone wash on my current one already. Isn't stonewash there to hide scratches better? I love that thing though, after seeing benchmades axis lock testing videos and a few other youtube tests, I am not afraid to beat the snot out of it. It kicked out all my 8CR13MOV beaters, I went from 20 to 3 knives in my edc rotation, two of which are benchmade now lol.
 
Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated!!

The photo below of the 550SBKHGSL hollow ground blade and Sky Line Camo handle I purchased via online auction last week,
I sent it to Benchmade to have a new blade put on, had asked for the same Modif. SheepsF. combo black coated one... but I just called them and told them to
put on a satin combo instead, which costs $10.00 bucks less.
 
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chambelona59 said:
Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated!!

A couple of things, one of which I hope is alright to mention here, if not, I'm sure a Mod. will let me know.

1- I ordered/payed for a Doug Ritter Orange MINI RSK MK1 Stone Washed S30V Blade from the only online site that sells them.
I've sent several emails to confirm the transaction (only received an auto generated conf. in email 2 days ago), but have received no replies to additional emails.
Today when I called all three (3) company phone #'s listed on the site, I get nothing but a fax machine... should I be worried?
As I never purchased anything from them before.

2- The photo below of the 550SBKHGSL hollow ground blade and Sky Line Camo handle I purchased via online auction last week,
I sent it to Benchmade to have a new blade put on, had asked for the same Modif. SheepsF. combo black coated one... but I just called them and told them to
put on a satin combo instead, which costs $10.00 bucks less.

Hope I don't have a prob. getting the Ritter Orange MINI RSK MK1 Stone Washed S30V.
You know when you don't hear back from a company, you get a bit nervous.
Click to expand...

Have you not read the front page of their website? It's large bold red letters. It helps to be attentive and not rush around sometimes. ;)
 
chambelona59 said:
Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated!!

A couple of things, one of which I hope is alright to mention here, if not, I'm sure a Mod. will let me know.

1- I ordered/payed for a Doug Ritter Orange MINI RSK MK1 Stone Washed S30V Blade from the only online site that sells them.
I've sent several emails to confirm the transaction (only received an auto generated conf. in email 2 days ago), but have received no replies to additional emails.
Today when I called all three (3) company phone #'s listed on the site, I get nothing but a fax machine... should I be worried?
As I never purchased anything from them before.
Click to expand...

No. No worries about them at all. I have quite a few transactions with them over the years, all fine.
 
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