Ok, so is the Griptilian about the best buy for $60ish?

jfindon

jfindon

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Dec 12, 2006
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This is probably the last thread I'll make until I get my Griptilian unless someone can recommend a better knife for the same money. I don't know of any knives that are similar but I'm sure there are. Thanks.
 
You can find Griptilians cheaper than that on eBay sometimes. Spyderco makes several which are comparable and less expensive--the Native, for instance--but are lock-back.
 
If you don't mind a a bigger (pretty much only when closed) knife, I prefer the Spyderco D`allara drop point to the Griptillian. If you search the reviews section for it, I wrote a direct comparison head to head. In any case, they're both great knives so it'll probably come down to which one looks/feels better (although I think most would agree that VG10 has a bit of an advantage over 154CM).
 
Spyderco Native, S30V, $40-ish from NGK or Walmart. Lockback instead of the Axis, which ain't so hot. Still one hand opening & closing, just not as quick as the Axis. But it's a much more comfortable, usable knife.

There have been a couple of comparative reviews of the Griptilian vs the Native. Try a search (maybe you'll be lucky and it'll actually work). And of course no amount of reading will be as useful as actually holding the knives in your hand.
 
The grip is a great knife. It was my first knife and I still like it. The action is very smooth and fast and the blade size and shape is useful.

The handle feels cheap to me. It is hard to explain, but the plasticy feel and especially the sound of the blade knocking the stop pin is a giveaway that the knife is not premium. Still, those are shallow reasons to dislike the knife as it has never once failed me or let me down.

I carry other knives regularly though - my Manix and Scorpius to name two. Somehow they see more use.

Ramble, ramble, ramble, the grip is a good knife for the money. :)
 
DocWorkingday said:
Lockback instead of the Axis, which ain't so hot. Still one hand opening & closing, just not as quick as the Axis. But it's a much more comfortable, usable knife.

And of course no amount of reading will be as useful as actually holding the knives in your hand.
Click to expand...

I’m surprised the rectangular blocky handle of the Native is more comfortable to you than the slightly rounded handle of the grip.
 
endura 4 I got mine for 56 dollars and I like it much better than either of my 3 griptilians. Unless you get the d2 version from cabelas then the grip might win out.
 
jfindon said:
Ok, so is the Griptilian about the best buy for $60ish?
This is probably the last thread I'll make until I get my Griptilian unless someone can recommend a better knife for the same money. I don't know of any knives that are similar but I'm sure there are. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Not sure if there is any one best buy. Certainly the Grip is well thought of in that price range. There are several knives in that price range with equal quality and performance. Some of them are mentioned in the other posts. The final decision has to be at least partially based on personal preference. That means that what is best for some won't be for others. If it were me, I would buy the Grip. But that would be my personal preference, not a statement that the Grip is the best.
 
Several versions of the Spyderco Endura, Delica and Native can be had for the same or less than the Griptillian. It all comes down to personal preference really. I'd wager that the Grips are BM's best sellers as are the Endura and Delica for Spyderco.
 
Well I don't like the Native because of the blade style. I want half serration, and most of the blade is serrated on its "combo" edge.

I guess I'm still leaning towards the Grip. I like the looks, the material it's made of is nice, and it feels good in my hand.

I don't want to deal with eBay because I don't trust it for new items, but maybe I'll take a look if there are actual vendors that guarantee their products there.
 
kbog said:
The handle feels cheap to me. It is hard to explain, but the plasticy feel and especially the sound of the blade knocking the stop pin is a giveaway that the knife is not premium. Still, those are shallow reasons to dislike the knife as it has never once failed me or let me down.
Click to expand...
jfindon said:
it feels good in my hand.
Click to expand...
+1 on both comments, oddly enough.

A great knife that would be awesome with premium scales.
 
Just a note on something someone about the Native ergos. I agree with the first guy, the Native is one of the most ergonomic knives available for the money. I love finger choils though. I might actually prefer the VG10 Native to the S30V one, I just love wire clips so much more than conventional ones...

The Native isn't going to be nearly as beefy as a full sized grip though, that's kind of a different category of both lock and handle (partial steel liners on both sides on the full sized grip, full on the mini), and obviously axis vs lockback....but the ergonomics are great. I even think Spyderco's FRN handle textures are better than Benchmade's, looks and feel and certainly grippiness.

The D`allara drop point actually has the same FRN pattern as the VG10 Native.
 
Knives I'd consider in this price range:
Grips (any variation)
Drop Point D'Allara
Pacific Salt/Salt 1
Endura/Delica
Endura Wave
Native

My personal favorite of these is the Endura Wave. My current rotation consists of a 552 Grip (large), Waved Pacific Salt & Endura Wave. The Endura is the newest and I like the wave for potential SD purposes. Though I really like the Grips.
 
Griptilian is the best knife in the $60ish range IMO, unless
you need a longer blade. Then my choice would be the
Endura 4.

Also, I completely disagree with the post above that says
the Axis lock ain't so hot. I think that it's the best all-around
lock available today. (But that's another thread that we've had
already...)
 
jfindon said:
I don't want to deal with eBay because I don't trust it for new items, but maybe I'll take a look if there are actual vendors that guarantee their products there.
Click to expand...

There are some very reliable sellers on ebay for new knives; one
I'd recommend highly is "knivesflacowboy".

But I'd personally go with an online dealer, and for Benchmade
I'd recommend www.gpknives.com.

My .02
 
I've become a big fan of the Kershaw Cyclone. I was never a Kershaw fan before, sticking mostly to Spyderco and BM but I liked the look of the big ZT0302. The Cyclone came out about the same time and is sort of a bargain-stripped ZT302.

Due to the success of the Cyclone for me, I ended up with a S30V/G10 Leek as well.
 
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