Photo Review of the Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian Knife>>>>>>>>>

Status
Not open for further replies.
BTW, I am on the lookout for another Benchmade. It's a shame the 960 is discontinued - love that red!
 
Nice review and looks like a nice knife. I was actually just looking at this knife and comparing it to the SOG Vulcan Mini. I love american made products and Benchmade is only a few hours from me but I'm going to give the Vulcan Mini a shot and I have to have a SOG Tomcat 3.0 if for nothing else just as a safe queen haha. They are both made in Seki Japan which they are well known for making great knives so I'll make an exception this time :). But ya good review and next time I'm in Benchmades area I'm gonna stop by and check this mini griptillian out. Might have to add it to my ever expanding collection lol.
 
jkulysses said:
Nice review and looks like a nice knife. I was actually just looking at this knife and comparing it to the SOG Vulcan Mini. I love american made products and Benchmade is only a few hours from me but I'm going to give the Vulcan Mini a shot and I have to have a SOG Tomcat 3.0 if for nothing else just as a safe queen haha. They are both made in Seki Japan which they are well known for making great knives so I'll make an exception this time :). But ya good review and next time I'm in Benchmades area I'm gonna stop by and check this mini griptillian out. Might have to add it to my ever expanding collection lol.
Click to expand...

I've got my eye on a SOG Stingray - the one with the MOP inlays. But right now I think I'm trying to talk myself into a Sebenza. :o
 
I got a 556 Mini-Grip in a trade with another forumite a month or two ago, and I too am very pleased with it. The AXIS lock is easy and reliable to use (yes, and fun), the size is perfect, and the quality is there. I pair it with a multitool for edc, and I feel like I can rule the planet with that combo!
 
Very nice review. The BM mini-Grip is one of my favorite knives. I completely agree the grips feel "cheap". I wished BM would make G10 grips. If I could afford it, I would buy a set of Wilkens grips.
 
Fantastic review Bro. VERY Professional. You should do many more. Yep, the mini-grip is a great EDC IMHO. Take a look at the 558 Ritter version. Worth every penny of the up charge from the 556. :thumbup:

-- Steve
 
Brules1 said:
Very nice review. The BM mini-Grip is one of my favorite knives. I completely agree the grips feel "cheap". I wished BM would make G10 grips. If I could afford it, I would buy a set of Wilkens grips.
Click to expand...

Apparently the Benchmade 930 Kulgera does indeed have G10. It's on my list of consideration. :cool:
 
Klingsteve said:
Fantastic review Bro. VERY Professional. You should do many more. Yep, the mini-grip is a great EDC IMHO. Take a look at the 558 Ritter version. Worth every penny of the up charge from the 556. :thumbup:

-- Steve
Click to expand...

Hi Steve - thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed the review.

I sure wish they made that 558 in red or blue! :(
 
Truth be told, I’d love a Chris Reeve Sebenza. But that would be a roughly $400.00 proposition which I’m not sure I can justify.
Click to expand...

Ehhhm, your credibility on that one is a little low. ;) You should consider giving the limited run M390 556 a try, for a substantial steel upgrade. There are also large and small Ritter-blade Grips out there in M2 and CMP-M4 (you'll have to source them in the secondary market).

If you haven't tried a Sebenza, you should. I'd suggest one of the inlay versions with some flavor of wood inlay. :thumbup: I predict you will become a believer. :D
 
Last edited:
Very well-written review and nice pictures!

I too am concerned about the "plasticky", almost "clicky" feel of the scales, but the knife is so well done for such a good price that one "almost" can;t complain. I was a little surprised by your desire for a little "higher quality" steel. Surely, there are better steels out there for varyng purposes, but 154CM, through my lens anyway, is a superior blade steel....near or in the elite class, if there is one.
 
JNewell said:
Ehhhm, your credibility on that one is a little low. ;)
Click to expand...

Uhmmm....why? I don't understand.

You should consider giving the limited run M390 556 a try, for a substantial steel upgrade. There are also large and small Ritter-blade Grips out there in M2 and CMP-M4 (you'll have to source them in the secondary market).
Click to expand...

Had I been aware of the M390 when I bought mine, I likely would have purchased one - not that much more expensive. Of course, that wouldn't solve my issue with the handles though. :(

If you haven't tried a Sebenza, you should. I'd suggest one of the inlay versions with some flavor of wood inlay. :thumbup: I predict you will become a believer. :D
Click to expand...

I'm working my way up there. I have a Bradley coming. :o
 
StretchNM said:
Very well-written review and nice pictures!

I too am concerned about the "plasticky", almost "clicky" feel of the scales, but the knife is so well done for such a good price that one "almost" can;t complain. I was a little surprised by your desire for a little "higher quality" steel. Surely, there are better steels out there for varyng purposes, but 154CM, through my lens anyway, is a superior blade steel....near or in the elite class, if there is one.
Click to expand...

I suppose my judgment on the 154CM could be premature. I've had a couple of VG-10 Spyderco knives which were considerably sharper out of the box than this knife. My assumption here is that either manufacturer has the equipment and know-how to produce equally sharp knives out of the box - I've certainly read and seen (vids) many testimonials about Benchmade out of box sharpness, so again, my assumption here is that Spyderco doesn't have a "leg up" in the out of the box sharpness capability, given equal materials. So logic suggests that the materials in the 556 could be a factor. Of course, with a sample size of one, it's hard to make any real conclusions.
 
I prefer Benchmade knives, but I believe Spyderco has a better reputation for NIB sharpness. I only own 3, and all came acceptably sharp!. I own at least 3 times that many Bencmades and one or two have come....well, sharp...but disappointingly so. The others have been fine.

I think BM sends their knives out straight from a 150 grit belt or grit covered wheel. That's what a dealer told me anyway. How Spyderco does it I haven;t a clue.

VG10 is probably harder than 154CM, but I can;t swear to that. I've heard alot of positive about the VG10 steel, but you'll hear the same about 154CM. I think once you get to sharpening it, you'll appreciate the edge you can get from it. Too bad it didn't come that way from Benchmade.
 
StretchNM said:
I prefer Benchmade knives, but I believe Spyderco has a better reputation for NIB sharpness. I only own 3, and all came acceptably sharp!. I own at least 3 times that many Bencmades and one or two have come....well, sharp...but disappointingly so. The others have been fine.

I think BM sends their knives out straight from a 150 grit belt or grit covered wheel. That's what a dealer told me anyway. How Spyderco does it I haven;t a clue.

VG10 is probably harder than 154CM, but I can;t swear to that. I've heard alot of positive about the VG10 steel, but you'll hear the same about 154CM. I think once you get to sharpening it, you'll appreciate the edge you can get from it. Too bad it didn't come that way from Benchmade.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that insight. As you say, I was much more impressed with the knife and the knife steel after I sharpened it. I'm the furthest thing from a good knife sharpener, but after a round in the Spyderco Sharpmaker at 30 degrees, the edge was appreciably better, and much closer to an out of the box Spyderco.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top