Need help choosing EDC

C

Cwork

Joined
Sep 5, 2016
Messages
11
I am going to purchase my first high end edc and can't decide between 3 knives. The knives I have narrowed it down to so far is the BM 551-1, BM 940- 1501 and the BM 15031-2(really like the wood handle). I will be using the knife for edc task along with camping, hunting and hiking, but I do not plan on skinning or gutting any animals with it as I have a seperate knife for that. This will not be my main camping knife but will be used for small camp chores such as cutting cordage and some work with wood. Obviously the 940 is a popular choice but never worked with a blade style like it and didn't know how well it would handle small camp chores.
 
Honestly I think the Griptilian is the best choice out of those three for you. Personally I don't like small blades, so the Hunt blade isn't something I would like to carry. The 940 is an exceptional blade as you know, but if you don't feel comfortable with the blade shape the Grip might be better. I personally would take the 940 as it is really slim, light and the best looking IMO. You can't really go wrong with any but like I said the small blade of the North Fork might not be the best for EDC/camping.
 
Cwork said:
I am going to purchase my first high end edc and can't decide between 3 knives. The knives I have narrowed it down to so far is the BM 551-1, BM 940- 1501 and the BM 15031-2(really like the wood handle). I will be using the knife for edc task along with camping, hunting and hiking, but I do not plan on skinning or gutting any animals with it as I have a seperate knife for that. This will not be my main camping knife but will be used for small camp chores such as cutting cordage and some work with wood. Obviously the 940 is a popular choice but never worked with a blade style like it and didn't know how well it would handle small camp chores.
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Any 3 would be nice. You won't go wrong with either one of them. Honestly I would go for the 551-1 or the north fork. You get a wider blade. Then 940 is great but also extremely light. I like a little heft in my knives so I wasn't a fan but I know a lot of people that like super light knives. How important is weight and blade side to you?
 
I guess I'm the lone dissenter. Of the three knives you've listed, I think the 940-1501 is the best choice. You've said you already have a second (I assume fixed) blade for heavy tasks, and the 940 is one of the best EDC knives you can get. The 940-1501 brings G10 (blue/black, hope you like it) and 20CV steel. People assume the 940 is light duty, but some of the most abused knives I've ever seen have been 94X models. Don't get me wrong, I love Grips. I have 5 and have given them as gifts, but for sheer elegance of form and function, it's hard to beat the 94X.

I'm still kinda undecided if the -1 Grips are the best Grips. When you break down price and features, the -1 models certainly seem to be a winner. I think MAP pricing has been unkind to vanilla Grips; at $80 they were awesome, at $120, not so much. The -1 Grips add weight and take away texture...I still can't decide if that's better.

I don't have any experience with the North Fork, but with a sub-3" bade, I have to wonder how outdoor EDC friendly it will be?
 
Weight isn't a big factor for me because most of the time I am wearing cargo shorts or jeans so I can't really feel the weight and blade size isn't super important because I have carried anywhere from a 2.5" blade to a 4.5 inch blade with no problem and they all seemed to do what I needed them to do but 3-3.5 seems to work best which is why i went with the full size grip and not the mini grip
 
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Thats what I was thinking about the 940 as I normally carry 2 fixed blades with me in to woods and it will only be used for light work but just couldn't find much on how they performed in the outdoors.
 
One thing I have heard about the northfork is that the recurve in the blade makes it harder to sharpen and me being new to sharpening and not very good to begin with was worried about that. If anyone has any experience sharpening them are they that much harder to sharpen or do they just take longer.
Also just wanted to add that my first responece was to Lord_Balkan and the second was to Hackenslash, sorry I am new to blade forums and just found out how to add the quote at the beginning
 
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I'm not a huge fan of recurves because I suck at sharpening, :barf:

No worries, Cwork. These fora can be kinda daunting at first but at the end of the day you'll find your opinion is the most valid one for you ;)

There are lots of folks around here who know WAY more than me, so just enjoy the ride and have fun!
 
Hackenslash said:
I'm not a huge fan of recurves because I suck at sharpening, :barf:

No worries, Cwork. These fora can be kinda daunting at first but at the end of the day you'll find your opinion is the most valid one for you ;)

There are lots of folks around here who know WAY more than me, so just enjoy the ride and have fun!
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After going back and re-reading what you said earlier I think I have decided on the 940 because I also carry fixed blades with me so I don't need something heavy and there are times that I like having a lighter knife on me. But I change my mind a lot so things may change. Anyway thanks for the advice it atleast knocked one off my list(Northfork) and maybe helped decide completely.
 
I'd go for the Griptilian based on the aftermarket custom options. Several people on the forum make custom scales for the Grip and you can make it "Yours", unlike anything you'll likely see out there! But all three are good choices.
 
Ravenbrook said:
I'd go for the Griptilian based on the aftermarket custom options. Several people on the forum make custom scales for the Grip and you can make it "Yours", unlike anything you'll likely see out there! But all three are good choices.
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Thanks for the information, I knew a couple companies made scales for it but wasn't a big fan of them. I didn't realize that there was more people making them. Customization isn't very important to me as of right now but will keep this in mind when I do get a grip or if I decide on getting it now.
 
I would recommend getting the best looking (to your eyes).

You have more than enough knife with you. Weight isn't a consideration. These knives have more in common than they do differences.

It will come down to something like a choice on shoes. Which will feel better in your hand? Which will carry better for you? Which handle basic tasks more naturally for you? And most importantly, which will make you happiest when you look at it?

I think it's easy to under-appreciate the value of how a knife looks or makes you feel. I also think we often get off track when we try to feel good by trying to choose the "technically best" out of a pool of good knives. We're scared of sounding like a noob when in reality, at some point, the technical differences starting sounding like angels dancing on pins.

Follow your gut.
 
pinnah said:
I would recommend getting the best looking (to your eyes).

You have more than enough knife with you. Weight isn't a consideration. These knives have more in common than they do differences.

It will come down to something like a choice on shoes. Which will feel better in your hand? Which will carry better for you? Which handle basic tasks more naturally for you? And most importantly, which will make you happiest when you look at it?

I think it's easy to under-appreciate the value of how a knife looks or makes you feel. I also think we often get off track when we try to feel good by trying to choose the "technically best" out of a pool of good knives. We're scared of sounding like a noob when in reality, at some point, the technical differences starting sounding like angels dancing on pins.

Follow your gut.
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Definitely agree with what you said, how the knife feels in my hand is the most important thing to me and the reason why I am having such a hard time deciding is because I don't have any knife stores near me so that I can see how I like each of them. Does anyone on here know of any kife stores in central ohio that have these knives that I could look at and handle them, preferably in Columbus or east of Columbus?
 
River's Edge Cutlery in Hilliard probably would have every knife you're considering in stock. I've never done business with them but they look to be on the up and up.
 
Thanks for that, just realized it's further than I thought but still the closest I have found. Heading there soon and will hopefully make a decision.
 
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If you get the 940, make sure to post pictures.
i wouldn't have recommended it because the blade seems too long and thin, but I know myself well enough to know that a good review with great pictures can change my mind about nearly any knife! :D
 
Ccc said:
If you get the 940, make sure to post pictures.
i wouldn't have recommended it because the blade seems too long and thin, but I know myself well enough to know that a good review with great pictures can change my mind about nearly any knife! :D
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Definitely will post it sometime after I get get it and have some time to test it.
 
I too would go with the Grip, but in the sheepsfoot/spydiehole blade.
 
How about the Ritter Griptilian?

Many people feel it is the best of the Grip series.

I would also recommend the Presidio series. Very similar to the Griptilian. I like the scales on it better than the Grip. Entry models are priced a little nicer but, not by much though. Entry models do use a different steel than the 154CM found in low level Grips. It is all good though. Benchmade puts out a decent steel.
 
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