opinions on Griptilian

raindog101

raindog101

Joined
Jan 22, 2007
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OK, I'm planning on upgrading my current Mini-Grip in 154cm to something a little nicer. Got fed up with the mediocre edge retention of 154. Now I'm trying to decide if I should go with the Cabelas D2 Mini, or the Ritter Mini (in S30V). Anyone got any personal experience that can help guide me to a decision? I have a Native in S30V, and like it, but never had anything in D2 before. Also, I'm trying to decide if I want to stay with the Mini, or move up to the full-size Grip. Any input would be welcome.
 
The fullsized Griptilian is a great knife. Solid lockup, smooth action, good handle, good blade steel and it's light enough to carry easily. They're only $70 at knifecenter.com, it's a great buy at that price, and you can get them for $60 on ebay..
 
I've got 2 grips, a Cabela's in D2 and a Ritter in M2. Both are full size. Both hold an edge very well. I find I carry the Ritter more and like it's geometry a little better. Both are very good. I haven't tried the std steel Ritter uses, but I'd bet it's very good.
Bob
 
I have been carrying the D2 mini grip for about 2 weeks. My impression of it, well so far it is the same as the 154cm :) I will say this, the 154 is eminently easier to put a shaving edge on, same impression with S30V. D2 and S30V have great edge retention, the cost is that you will spend more time at the sharpening bench if you want that "razor" edge. I touch my knives up every few days, and to get the edge I want on 154cm and VG-10 is relatively easy. You cannot go wrong with the D2 Grip, just know what you are getting into.
 
I have a set of Grips and mini-Grips in all the steels offered except M2. Of all of them, I prefer the Ritters. I like the blade shape and geometry better and I really like the S30V over 154CM or D2. S30V is a great slicer with a polished edge.

That said, if you do a lot of puncturing and then slicing (think "clam packs" here), the thinner point on the D2 from Cabelas may be more to your likin'. The Ritters are big on belly but not so much on points designed for piercing. They'll do it, but the standard BM blade shape seems to do it a little better, although there's not a great deal of difference between the two blades.
 
:confused:
raindog101 said:
Got fed up with the mediocre edge retention of 154. .
Click to expand...



What???????????????:confused:

Are you kidding????????? :confused:


What are you cutting?????????? :confused:


154 CM is pretty much second only to S30V in edge retention in terms of mid grade stainless or high end production folder stainless, and I think it's close enough that if you had both and didn't know which was which, and were not allowed to look for microchipping, you wouldn't know the difference in terms of cutting.

Are you serious????????//


Is Benchmade making poor 154 cm steel or heat treating it poorly? Did you read:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523775
 
I like my S30V Ritter, only because I like the satin finish of the blade. I really don't like black blades as those found on the D2. I had a Cabela's D2 full size and I could never get it as sharp as it came out of the box. I loaned it to my teacher and he never gave it back so I got the Ritter, LOL!
 
my 154cm mini-grip is one of my favorites, but indeed, the edge does roll a little too easy for my tastes as well. look at it this way, it's a small knife, it sharpens up easily, it carries great, just go with it. see it as a chance to keep honing your sharpening skills

the ritter mini s30v might be an option, but s30v is harder too sharpen

only opt for the fullsized if you really feel you need the extra inch of blade. remember you have to carry it too, and of course, it carries bigger and heavier

to each his own, but i think the 154cm grip is a great bargain quality knife
 
Not to start a Benchmade war, especially about the various steels, but Benchmade's 154CM does seem not so great. What B/Ms I had in 154CM, I no longer have. They didn't seem to hold an edge very long (Admittedly, I didn't do any "scientific" comparisons), but I always seemed to sharpen them far more than B/Ms in other steels. I'm particularly talking about their knives in D2 (I have a 156 FB & had a 710), & S30V (A mini-Skirmish & a Bradley Alias II-made by B/M).

B/Ms D2 & S30V, to me, just seemed much better. In fact, IIRC, my Emerson CQC7 (A '99 model that I still have) held an edge much better than B/M's 154CM.
 
I'd go with Cabela's D-2. I've heard that benchmade has some iffy reports on chipping S30V blades.....
 
CL01 said:
Not to start a Benchmade war, especially about the various steels, but Benchmade's 154CM does seem not so great. What B/Ms I had in 154CM, I no longer have. They didn't seem to hold an edge very long (Admittedly, I didn't do any "scientific" comparisons), but I always seemed to sharpen them far more than B/Ms in other steels. I'm particularly talking about their knives in D2 (I have a 156 FB & had a 710), & S30V (A mini-Skirmish & a Bradley Alias II-made by B/M).

B/Ms D2 & S30V, to me, just seemed much better. In fact, IIRC, my Emerson CQC7 (A '99 model that I still have) held an edge much better than B/M's 154CM.
Click to expand...

Doesn't seem to be much of a war. Looks like it's pretty unanimous, the steel isn't up to snuff. I guess it's pretty hard to beat the good ole lowly Buck 420HC. The grass is greener. Is the Benchmade 154CM worse than the old 440C they used to use? It always had high praises. Why did they change from a good treatment of 440C to a poorly treated 154CM?
 
I moved from a 154cm grip to a Ritter grip, both full size. I like s30v better but I don't think there's much difference in day to day use. They both touch up VERY easily on the Sharpmaker. 4 swipes each side and it is hair poppin' sharp. I like the Ritter Grip better, better blade shape and grind for me.
 
Had a 154 CM full size and a Ritter. Got rid of the Ritter. I liked it but the blade geometry was too wide for my EDC use. Traded it for a Para Military.

154 CM works well for me on the 551. It gets wicked sharp on the Sharpmaker.
 
I have a Cabelas D2 mini and a Ritter S30V mini. The D2 holds the edge a little bit longer, and has a better point. The Ritter version has a better (thinner) blade profile for more efficient cutting.

I carry the mini-Ritter more often, but I have the Cabelas mini in my pocket right now.
 
Hey G,

My EDC is the Ritter mini in S30V, and I couldn't be happier with it. I use it for everything. I did get a *microscopic* chip in the edge (visible from one side only) by accidentally slamming it into a ceramic plate while cutting vegetables (stupid me), but it came right out using only a kitchen steel.

The only thing better is my wife's Ritter mini in M2, which was a limited edition that sold out quickly. Benchmade discontinued using M2 steel in any of their knives as of February 2006:

http://www.benchmade.com/news/STEELUPGRADES-SHOT.pdf

If you like the Ritter design, I'm sure you'd like the S30V version. It's harder than my D2 Benchmade 710 and takes a slightly finer edge in my opinion.

Best wishes,

MC
 
I think, once you get a "better" steel and get rid of "mediocre 154CM", you might find the 154CM isn;t so mediocre after all. Either that or, it's possible you'll decide that S30V and D2, while better in some respects, aren;t so much better as to make 154CM seem mediocre.
 
OK, I see I've stirred up a bit of a brouhaha over 154cm, possibly one that has been discussed of and on for a while? Let me elaborate on what prompted me to start this discussion. I've been EDC'ing a Mini Grip for about 9 or 10 months, my first Axis folder, and fell in love with the design. But we've recently moved, and I've spent the better part of 3 months working on house-related projects, and also breaking down lots of boxes, as you might expect. I bought a Native in S30V, just to have a backup knife in case I left mine somewhere at the jobsite/new house and couldn't track it down. I noticed that I was sharpening my BM about every other day with regular use. When I switched to the Native as my primary, it was lasting closer to a week. That got me to thinking: why am I spending so much more time touching up the Benchmade? I eliminated the angle theory: I sharpen both on the Sharpmaker at the 30 degrees setting. So I figured it was edge geometry, and the Native does have a thinner edge, likely making it a better cutter. I'm sure that helps spare the edge from a lot of wear and tear? But I also thought that the steel itself was a factor. Now after reading many of your comments on 154's edge issues, I'm starting to consider the same knife (Mini Grip) in a "better" steel. Maybe Stretch is right, in that I won't find S30V or D2 to be that much of an upgrade, or even worth the extra trouble to sharpen, but I find I have no difficulty working the edge on my Native, and that's only using the Sharpmaker. So I was naturally curious what all the knife knuts had to say. I appreciate all the comments, and still haven't decided to give up on my little guy just because I sharpen him a lot. I was just wondering if the grass was truly greener...
 
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