Presidio II or Grip also D2 vs S30V

R

RedWolf4

Joined
Oct 20, 2019
Messages
181
Hi all,

There's a wicked deal on a presidio II near me, I can get it for the same as the D2 plastic scaled griptilian I've been eyeing.

I personally like the grip's look more, but with the Presidio I get better steel (s30v), better scales (carbon fibre) and more knife.

Is it a no-brainer to get the Pesidio, or should I go with what I like aesthetically more (the griptilian)?

One other thing that's been holding me up is D2 vs S30V. I've heard so many mixed things about both steels in regards to toughness. This is important to me as this will be a beater knife that I'll use roughly. I've heard many times that D2 is either brittle or tough. I cannot get a definitive answer. S30V seems to be more consistent with people saying it's tough enough, but can be chippy. D2 or S30V, which is less the less chippy, more fracture resistant steel?
 
Having had several Griptilians and Presidio 2’s over the years, I still have a Presidio 2. I prefer the size, shape, and the full liners which make it a more robust knife overall in comparison. My Presidio 2 is my favorite hard work knife.

I have never personally had any performance issues with S30v, it has always done everything I’ve ever needed a knife to do. For me, I live in a humid area, so I generally pick stainless steels over non-stainless steels like D2, but have no argument against well done D2 other than it being more susceptible to oxidation.

You mentioned the scales of the Presidio 2 being carbon fiber, I hope that’s not what you’re expecting. It is not the same as the fancy milled woven or shredded carbon fiber sheets in epoxy resin we that we typically refer to as “carbon fiber” as a knife handle material, but a material Benchmade calls “CF Elite.” CF Elite is a plastic polymer impregnated with carbon fiber strands, which makes it more rigid than plain polymer, and it presents very much like polymer or plastic in appearance and tactile feel. That said, it holds up very well and feels better to me than the hollow sounding polymer grips of the standard Griptilian, especially with the Griptilian’s partial frame; however, versions of the Griptilian do exist with G10 or actual carbon fiber grips…. or you could get aftermarket grips, which are plentiful for the Griptilian.

Lots of options, but I think the Presidio 2 is an overall better model.
 
Thanks for the response. And interesting I thought they were classic carbon fibre handles. Will take this into consideration
 
I would love some actual carbon fiber scales for the Presidio 2… but preferably Micarta… It would be nice to see ANY customizable aftermarket options, really.
 
I'd grab the Presidio if you can get it that much cheaper. S30V is superior to D2. The Presidio will be heavier but also a bit more robust given the full steel liners. The Griptilian is a fantastic knife though with excellent ergonomics and it is lighter.
 
I was left with this choice yesterday, and I went with the Presidio II for reasons that have already been mentioned. Also, I don’t like the unfinished “nibs” on the handle ends of the Griptilian. It’s a small thing, but it just screams “cheap” to me.

I paid $117 for the Mini Presidio II (575-1).
 
Im kicking myself I didnt pull the trigger on the presidio and the sale ended lol. Not only that but I like it more and more now that I didn't buy it. Oh well.
 
I wonder how well the bead blast finish on Presidio hold up against scratches. I have a full size presidio but have not used it. The finish looks fine but I highly doubt its resistance against scratching, as compared to finishes like DLC and stonewash.
 
sharp_edge said:
I wonder how well the bead blast finish on Presidio hold up against scratches. I have a full size presidio but have not used it. The finish looks fine but I highly doubt its resistance against scratching, as compared to finishes like DLC and stonewash.
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It holds up as much as to be expected of beadblasted S30v steel. Why would it matter on a work knife? It’s not meant to win any beauty contests. That said, it wears just fine in my opinion.
 
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Centermass Centermass has the right of it, but here's my 2 cents: recently picked a Presidio 2 on sale, having wanted one for a long time. Very useful knife, and I prefer it to the Griptilians I have owned. It balances nicely and carries smaller than you'd think. I expect to use it a lot.
 
Presidio II w/ cf elite scales fits my large size hands perfectly and I like larger folders. The 570-1 is a bargain in Benchmade’s product line. A great blade with full liners and the scales have plenty of grip in my opinion.
 
It’s all subjective, buy whichever you are jonesing for. For EDC, I prefer a more pointy blade, so it’s a grip for me. Plus soooo many variations of steel and scales over the years.
 
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