My new Benchmade Griptilian BM551

I'm glad to read you are happy with it so far... I have a feeling you will like it even more, after carrying it, and using it for awhile.

It was nice reading someones first impression of the 551, and not reading, " It feels cheap " :D

So many times that is the first response, after getting a Grip... Typically the large versions get an even worse review in that department, because they don't have full liners like the Minis do. You already bypassed the first hurdle, so I have a feeling you will have this one for quite awhile :D
 
Well I couldn't wait, I had to put my own personal edge on it so I spent about 20 minutes on my DMT Duo-Sharp with slow & steady strokes then about 10 minutes on my black surgical stone which is almost glass smooth then 58 to 60 strokes on my leather strop and let me tell you it is wicked sharp!!! It's been a long time since I was able to get that kind of defined edge. Now that I have my profiled edge it will be simple for touchups. Im liking 154CM more and more everyday! I've been cutting stuff all day long and I thought for sure it would need to be sharpened but it was still shaving hair but I love to sharpen blades so I did it anyway! My edge is about twice as sharp as when it came out of the box. I'll give it hell again tomorrow and see how it does! So far it's been excellent! See ya'll tomorrow.....
 
Well i purchased this knife for two reasons. One the Benchmade name & two the 154CM blade material. As far as it feeling cheap all you have to do is read the description of the knife and it tells you what the handle material is as well as all the other specs so they can't blame anyone but themselves! You are right about liking it more everyday, im always using it for something be it cleaning my fingernails or stripping wire or whatever. Always got something for it to do. So far it's still an excellent knife!
 
I appreciate the information about the Griptilian but mine is perfect as is! Like i said before, this is my first Benchmade so I started at the low price range. So far it's been an excellent knife. I've had S30V blades and to tell you the truth I think 154CM holds an edge longer. I use all my knives in the same manner cutting as in thick mudflaps, boxes, small gauge wire just anything I need to cut and the S30V holds up well but to me it seems like the 154CM just last longer. That may all be in my mind but I've give this knife hell and just like the video you mentioned, it will still shave hair with ease even after cutting several big truck mudflaps in half. So overall im sold on Benchmade! I don't care what they say about the handle feeling cheap because all the pressure i've been applying to mine hasn't affected it at all.
 
Well it's been awhile since my last update and my Benchmade Griptilian is still going strong, but I recently purchased what I've always wanted and that is a Zero Tolerance 0566 with the ELMAX blade. Oh is very nice!!! I always thought ELMAX was very hard to sharpen but it isn't a problem at all for me. It's as easy to sharpen as 154CM or even AUS8 or 440HC. I was surprised at how easy it is to get it shaving sharp. All this time I was holding out on getting ELMAX because of that reason. The ZT I purchased is a little different from the standard 0566, this one is ultra-polished on the clip side. Looks exactly like your looking in a mirror it's that polished! But don't get me wrong, I still love my Griptilian, it is the easiest knife to open and close but now I have two killer blades to carry.
 
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