Mini Grip opinions

J

JD Bear

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Aug 4, 2015
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Hey guys, I don't currently own a Benchmade, but I figure this is the best place to get some opinions. First off, I like to carry traditional knives in pocket and in a sheath. I also always carry a modern one handed opening blade in my back pocket. It's usually a Kershaw Cryo, Rat 1, Buck Vantage, etc. You can get the monetary range I usually stay in when it comes to modern blades.

That being said, I want a higher tier knife and I think the mini grip would be good for me. I have been looking around at different companies and styles and I just think it's a classic look and seems dependable. I think Spydercos are pretty ugly except for the PM2, which I may get some day but I don't think I want the size (similar to the Rat 1). So I think I can rule them out.

If anyone can offer an opinion about the mini grip for basic EDC tasks that would be great. Keep in mind it won't be the only blade I carry, but I want something I can depend on, looks good, and isn't a beast in my pocket....
 
I currently have 3 mini grips that I rotate as my EDC (drop point, sheepsfoot, and ritter). They are by far my favorite EDC knives. They are light weight, durable, and can handle pretty much any light to medium duty task you can throw at them. The axis lock is also very popular and if you have not tried one I highly recommend doing so. It is definitely a much smaller knife than the ones you have mentioned ie. Cryo, Rat 1 and Vantage. Probably pretty close in size to the Cryo but the Cryo is much heavier and beefy feeling. As long as you are ok with the size and weight I do not think you will be disappointed. The only complaints that I hear about the mini grip is the handle material which feels a little cheap for the price but it does keep it light and provides excellent grip. After market handle scales are available and several fellow forum members make them.
 
The Mini Grip is my favorite. Has been for years... I bought my first one right after they were released which was quite a few years ago, and I have ten various flavors of the Mini currently, and carry one every day.
I carry it in the watch pocket of my blue jeans. It fits perfectly and I usually forget it is there.

The complaints of feeling cheap is mostly directed at the full size Grip, not the Mini. The Mini has full liners, while the full size doesn't.
The "plastic" scales some people complain about are one of the strongest handle materials used on knives. These knives are tough... If you do a You tube search, you can find videos of people trying to destroy the knives, and that will give you a good idea of how strong these knives really are...

You can get them in different colors in standard production form with 154CM steel. You can buy a Doug Ritter Mini which has a different blade design and is currently being done in M390 steel. These knives are a little more money, and you can only get them from Knifeworks, unless you buy pre-owned...

Another option which is very cool is, you can go to Benchmades website and custom build your own Mini . There are more colors that you can choose from that aren't available in regular production, and you can pick the blade and steel you want. You can even have engraving done, and choose from various colors of blade finish
 
Exactly the type of feedback I was looking for guys. I really appreciate it. Any thoughts on the D2 steel?
 
JD Bear said:
Exactly the type of feedback I was looking for guys. I really appreciate it. Any thoughts on the D2 steel?
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The Cabelas exclusives are one I forgot to mention... The D2 steel is great. I have a Cabelas Mini Grip sitting next to me that is D2. I've been carrying this one every day for about 6 months. It has held an edge very well. It is coated, so you don't have the corrosion concerns you might have with an non-coated blade. You can order D2 from the custom build program and you can get it coated or non-coated...
 
338375 said:
The Cabelas exclusives are one I forgot to mention... The D2 steel is great. I have a Cabelas Mini Grip sitting next to me that is D2. I've been carrying this one every day for about 6 months. It has held an edge very well. It is coated, so you don't have the corrosion concerns you might have with an non-coated blade. You can order D2 from the custom build program and you can get it coated or non-coated...
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That's exactly the way I was going to go. I want the OD handle with black blade from Cabelas. That about seals it. You guys have made an easy decision even easier and I thank you. My wife may not, because it sounds like it may not be the only one I get...
 
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It's a great knife. I'm carrying it right now. But there are a couple negatives I have with it. I wear xl gloves and I can just barely get 4 fingers on it. I didn't have this issue until I started carrying a rat 1 and I got spoiled by big knives. Keep in mind its size. This is just my personal preference but I wish I had gotten the full size now.

Second thing is blade play. I would handle one before you buy it. If you loosen the pivot enough where the blade falls from gravity when disengaging the axis lock, there will be blade play. I've tightened mine up to a happy medium between blade play and ease of opening/closing. I was told this is common with the axis lock. The mini grip was and still is my most expensive knife. It's also a little thicker than my delica.

I say all those things to say I still love the knife. But I just want you to know the things I didn't when I was in your shoes 3 weeks ago.
 
firefighterguy said:
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It's a great knife. I'm carrying it right now. But there are a couple negatives I have with it. I wear xl gloves and I can just barely get 4 fingers on it. I didn't have this issue until I started carrying a rat 1 and I got spoiled by big knives. Keep in mind its size. This is just my personal preference but I wish I had gotten the full size now.

Second thing is blade play. I would handle one before you buy it. If you loosen the pivot enough where the blade falls from gravity when disengaging the axis lock, there will be blade play. I've tightened mine up to a happy medium between blade play and ease of opening/closing. I was told this is common with the axis lock. The mini grip was and still is my most expensive knife. It's also a little thicker than my delica.

I say all those things to say I still love the knife. But I just want you to know the things I didn't when I was in your shoes 3 weeks ago.
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Those are some of the things that cross my mind because this would be the most expensive knife for me as well. I'm kind of used to the Cryo 2 now and I think the size is ok. I've always dug the Kershaw oso sweet for some reason and that's around the same size. I have bigger hands too and it's hard to find a perfect size. I've been carrying the Rat 1 and even though it feels great, it's just more than I need on a daily basis. I think I'd rather go a touch smaller. I always have a bigger blade with me in my truck and in my pack, so I think the smaller size would be ok. It's cool to know someone was in the same boat so recently...
 
Yep. I've got medium-sized hands and I can just get all 4 fingers on mine. But the full-sized Grip is too big for me. So I put with the fact that the Mini is just a smidge too short. The offset is the ease with which I can deploy the blade. It's hard not to love the Axis lock.
 
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338375 said:
The complaints of feeling cheap is mostly directed at the full size Grip, not the Mini. The Mini has full liners, while the full size doesn't.
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Yes, I myself am not a fan of the full sized Grip for this exact reason, but I do like the Mini. Even aside from the liners, the smaller texture the Mini uses feels much less plastic-y than the full sized.

If you don't like Spydercos - thereby eliminating the Delica from contention - the Mini Grip is a fantastic smaller EDC knife.
 
calc said:
Yes, I myself am not a fan of the full sized Grip for this exact reason, but I do like the Mini. Even aside from the liners, the smaller texture the Mini uses feels much less plastic-y than the full sized.

If you don't like Spydercos - thereby eliminating the Delica from contention - the Mini Grip is a fantastic smaller EDC knife.
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Yeah, not on board with Spydercos. All the models I like are out of my price range right now. I just love the look of the Grips. Besides, if I had the money for a nice Spyderco, I'd probably get a BM 940.
 
Get a Mini-Grip. They're one of Benchmade's most popular knives for a reason. :)
 
JD Bear said:
Yeah, not on board with Spydercos. All the models I like are out of my price range right now. I just love the look of the Grips. Besides, if I had the money for a nice Spyderco, I'd probably get a BM 940.
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Gotcha, they're not for everybody. I myself strongly disliked them until I got a Salt 1, and then a Delica, and now I believe my entire folder lineup is comprised of Spydercos. So I'd definitely recommend you eventually give the Delica a try.

But, the Mini Grip is a really nice knife. I'm not a huge Benchmade fan, but I do like the Mini Grip quite a bit.
 
calc said:
Gotcha, they're not for everybody. I myself strongly disliked them until I got a Salt 1, and then a Delica, and now I believe my entire folder lineup is comprised of Spydercos. So I'd definitely recommend you eventually give the Delica a try.
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Agreed. It took me forever to come around to Spydercos. Now I've got several. You have to try them yourself to really appreciate them. But they're addictive once you lock into them.
 
calc said:
Gotcha, they're not for everybody. I myself strongly disliked them until I got a Salt 1, and then a Delica, and now I believe my entire folder lineup is comprised of Spydercos. So I'd definitely recommend you eventually give the Delica a try.

But, the Mini Grip is a really nice knife. I'm not a huge Benchmade fan, but I do like the Mini Grip quite a bit.
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I'd probably really like a Spyderco if I tried one. I'd really like a PM2. I'm just more into having a Buck 112 or Case trapper with me and the Mini Grip would be along for the ride. I think they have a really classic look for a modern folder. Sometimes less is more and I like that it's not different for the sake of being different. If the makes any sense
 
bld522 said:
Agreed. It took me forever to come around to Spydercos. Now I've got several. You have to try them yourself to really appreciate them. But they're addictive once you lock into them.
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Exactly, I hated them right up until the moment I had one in hand. Only then did it click.

JD Bear said:
I'd probably really like a Spyderco if I tried one. I'd really like a PM2. I'm just more into having a Buck 112 or Case trapper with me and the Mini Grip would be along for the ride. I think they have a really classic look for a modern folder. Sometimes less is more and I like that it's not different for the sake of being different. If the makes any sense
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Sure, no reason to take a chance on a knife you might not like when you know you like another. You can't go wrong either way, if you end up getting a Mini Grip you'll be happy. I enjoyed having one in my rotation for a while even after I was a fan of Spyderco, and I even got my father a custom as a personal thank you a few years ago... he enjoys it too.
 
I'm sure I'll end up taking your advice and give the Delica a try. I can't ignore all the Spyderco fans and the positive reviews they get. I think I might wait for a bit and go for the PM2. But I'm sold on the Mini Grip. Thanks again for the advice and feedback everyone. Feel free to add more :)
 
I'm another fan of the mini-Grip. I've owned one in CM154 for quite a while and recently picked up the Ritter version with the taller blade profile in M390. Its in my pocket right now and is most days. I love the feel of it and it's wonderful that there are so many aftermarket handle options.... if you ever get bored with it, you can swap out the handle materials for something else.

I have a stack of Benchmades including an old ATS-34 710, new M390 710-1401, a 940-1 in v90s with carbon fiber handles, and the Ritter mini-Grip is the one that ends up in my pocket. Incidentally the old CM154 bladed mini-grip found a home in the center console of my car so I've always got a decent folder wherever I go.

I highly recommend the mini-grip in any style but if you can stand to spend a bit of extra coin, the Ritter is nice for the improved blade shape as well as the M390 "super steel."
 
Yet another fan of the mini-grip. Its a great knife for the price and the only folder I have that I always want to carry. It's size makes it disappear in your pocket, with clipped or without the pocket clip. The scales are indestructible and the CM154 is great from Benchmade. I lost my original and never regretted dropping the cash to get another as soon as possible.
 
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