Q&A on Benchmade Griptilian

marthinus

marthinus

Joined
Dec 10, 2006
Messages
5,891
Hallo everyone

Can anyone help me on the folowing question? Does anyone have a Benchmade Griptilian with 154CM steel? Are you happy with the knive and the type of steel? The reason I ask is becuase I am considering buying the 551 model. As far as I know about 154CM is that Mr. Emerson uses it so it can't be a crappy steel can it?

Thanks
Marthinus
Mag God ons Vader ons seen en beskerm
 
It's very decent steel. Easy to sharpen, holds a pretty good edge, and is strong enough to be sturdy, but not strong enough for you to worry about chipping.

Also, I don't know what it is about Benchmade's steel, but I find it pretty hard to scratch, blemish, or stain the steel they use.
 
I have a 551 in 440C and 556's in 440C and 154CM. The 154CM holds an edge a little better than the 440C and seems a bit more scratch resistant as well. There are better steels out there, but it isn't bad. You might want to look into the Ritter Grips as well. IIRC they are available in S30V which is much better than the 154CM.
 
I was looking at the Ritter, but it was out of my price range. (Living in South Africa and being a student knives around the $100 mark is quite expensive) But stil maybe one day I will buy a ritter and a emerson. The 551 will be my first Benchmade and I hope I won't be dissapointed.

Marthinus
Mag God ons Vader ons seen en beskerm!
 
Hi Marthinus
I bought a Griptilian in 440C (plain edge) from Sharp Edge (Sandton, Jhb) about a year ago and although IMHO it does not look as 'cool / sexy' as some other knives and the handle material may feel and look somewhat 'cheap' I've found it to be a great little knife. It's size belies it's usefulness. Mine is constantly in use. It's just been cleaned after use at the braai. Enjoy it! God bless.
 
154CM is a very good steel! I've got a 550 Griptilian with a 154CM blade that's one of my favourite folders, the steel is great and the blade geometry is also pretty good, which helps performance as well.
 
I have a BM 555 Mini Grip with Sheepsfoot blade 154CM steel. Great knife.
You won't go wrong with any of the Grip series. Good knives for the money.
 
What does everyone think about the D2 grip from cabelas. Im thinking about ordering one but wanted opinions first
 
If you like the knife, don't worry about the steel. All steels used in the 550 series will work without isues...
 
dano said:
If you like the knife, don't worry about the steel. All steels used in the 550 series will work without isues...
Click to expand...

Wow. You could almost copy and paste this line into almost every thread posted about knives and steel.

We get so caught-up in the technical aspects of this steel and that (I do it too!!!!) that we forget, for most applications the steel that a reputable maker (i.e. Benchmade, et al) puts in a knife is going to be just fine.

If I bought a Benchmade folder with 154CM steel, I would think it was the best steel around and it would do everything I asked of it.

If instead of the 154CM, I got S30V, I would think it was the best steel around and it would do everything I asked of it.

If instead of the 154CM or S30V, I got D2, I would think it was the best steel around and it would do everything I asked of it.
 
its a very nice knife igot one for my brother and he loves it but the guys are right the ritter gripper is a little nicer ive bought two one i use and one is in case i lose the first one the blade looks like a flat ground sebbie and it is s30v steel and has bronze bushings a nice knife for around 115.00 but for 60.00 bucks you cant go wrong with the outher have fun with your purchurse
 
Lazydog1 said:
Hi Marthinus
I bought a Griptilian in 440C (plain edge) from Sharp Edge (Sandton, Jhb) about a year ago and although IMHO it does not look as 'cool / sexy' as some other knives and the handle material may feel and look somewhat 'cheap' I've found it to be a great little knife. It's size belies it's usefulness. Mine is constantly in use. It's just been cleaned after use at the braai. Enjoy it! God bless.
Click to expand...

Hey Lazydog1

Stan Gordon from Sharp Edge is handeling my order for my Griptilian (have to wait a while becuase it was placed on a back order :( ) . The store realy gives great service to its clients. I always buy my knives from them. I am not that concerned for looks of the nife than function. It has the right type of handle I wanted and offers great grip. I will use it in quite wet areas and my CRKT has anodized alliminium that does get slippery when wet. I was just wondering of the steel because I mainly know Kershaw knives with AUS-6 steel.

Thanks everyone for the replys.
Marthinus
Mag God ons Vader ons seen en almal beskerm
 
marthinus said:
Hey Lazydog1

Stan Gordon from Sharp Edge is handeling my order for my Griptilian (have to wait a while becuase it was placed on a back order :( ) . The store realy gives great service to its clients. I always buy my knives from them. I am not that concerned for looks of the nife than function. It has the right type of handle I wanted and offers great grip. I will use it in quite wet areas and my CRKT has anodized alliminium that does get slippery when wet. I was just wondering of the steel because I mainly know Kershaw knives with AUS-6 steel.

Thanks everyone for the replys.
Marthinus
Mag God ons Vader ons seen en almal beskerm
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to talk you out of the Grip, I just want to make you aware of another option. You can get the Spyderco D'Allara Drop Point, which is very similar to the Griptilian in function, profile, and use. It uses VG-10 steel, which takes a sharper edge than 154 CM, and has similar edge retention. It is a very good steel that is fairly corrosion resistant in my experience and easy to sharpen, and a lot of people (myself included) like it better than 154 CM, though most people probably wouldn't notice a difference in use. The ball bearing lock is similar to the axis lock in user function (pull back on it to unlock), and it feels smoother than the axis lock to me, though the axis lock is is easier to disengage with just the thumb. The D'Allara is more comfortable in my hand (and is made of similar, non-slippery materials), but it carries a little wider in the pocket. Now that Benchmade has gone to using the round hole and a hollow grind on this years Griptilians they are extremely similar to the D'Allara, but if you are set on the Benchmade I doubt you will be disappointed with the Grip. I just wanted to let you know of another option.
 
I own 6 variations of the Grip and as you can see, I really like the design. All of the ones I own are of 440C steel, and I have no complaints. I may someday like to get a 154CM or S30V version, but I don't really need to. In past decades, very experienced knife users accomplished amazing things and made do quite well under harsh circumstances with steels we would probably consider "soft and inferior" nowadays.

Although I suppose the 440C may need to be touched up a bit more often, it's probably not by much, and it takes and holds a wicked edge very well. Also, another thing I like about the Grip is the fact that it ISN'T a really pretty design. Because of that, I have no hesitation in using it for whatever a knife is meant to do. It won't bother me if it gets a little scratched in use. And the knife holds up, either the large or small versions. Some feel the handles feel really cheap and fragile, particularly the larger versions (whose steel handle inserts are smaller than the mini-Grips' in relation to its size), but the knife is very stable in cutting, even some heavy jobs.

Also, the Grips' opening/closing action is super-smoothe.
Jim
 
I like 154CM. It's reliable, sharpenable, takes a very good edge and holds it.

Never had (or heard of) any issues with it.

Benchmade, Camillus, A.G. Russell, Buck, and other knives I have/had
in 154CM are/were all excellent.
 
gunmike1 said:
I'm not trying to talk you out of the Grip, I just want to make you aware of another option. You can get the Spyderco D'Allara Drop Point, which is very similar to the Griptilian in function, profile, and use. It uses VG-10 steel, which takes a sharper edge than 154 CM, and has similar edge retention. It is a very good steel that is fairly corrosion resistant in my experience and easy to sharpen, and a lot of people (myself included) like it better than 154 CM, though most people probably wouldn't notice a difference in use. The ball bearing lock is similar to the axis lock in user function (pull back on it to unlock), and it feels smoother than the axis lock to me, though the axis lock is is easier to disengage with just the thumb. The D'Allara is more comfortable in my hand (and is made of similar, non-slippery materials), but it carries a little wider in the pocket. Now that Benchmade has gone to using the round hole and a hollow grind on this years Griptilians they are extremely similar to the D'Allara, but if you are set on the Benchmade I doubt you will be disappointed with the Grip. I just wanted to let you know of another option.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the heads up on the Spyderco.

Damn shame the store did not have the knife (out of stock) would have liked to compare the two! Any maybe my next knife:rolleyes:

James Y said:
I own 6 variations of the Grip and as you can see, I really like the design. All of the ones I own are of 440C steel, and I have no complaints. I may someday like to get a 154CM or S30V version, but I don't really need to. In past decades, very experienced knife users accomplished amazing things and made do quite well under harsh circumstances with steels we would probably consider "soft and inferior" nowadays.

Although I suppose the 440C may need to be touched up a bit more often, it's probably not by much, and it takes and holds a wicked edge very well. Also, another thing I like about the Grip is the fact that it ISN'T a really pretty design. Because of that, I have no hesitation in using it for whatever a knife is meant to do. It won't bother me if it gets a little scratched in use. And the knife holds up, either the large or small versions. Some feel the handles feel really cheap and fragile, particularly the larger versions (whose steel handle inserts are smaller than the mini-Grips' in relation to its size), but the knife is very stable in cutting, even some heavy jobs.

Also, the Grips' opening/closing action is super-smoothe.
Jim
Click to expand...

Jim what do you mean by the STEEL HANDLE INSERTS? I also like the fact that its not so much of a WOW knife. I like form, function, ergonomics and it feels right in my hand. Thats the most important for me! I feel for the money its a good knife.
 
Marthinus:
Instead of "steel handle inserts," I probably should have said steel liners. At the time the words escaped me.:o
Jim
 
I might also add that I do use and carry some higher-end knives with different steels (i.e., Sebenza, BM 710, etc.), and although I do not mind really working the Seb, oddly enough sometimes I'm a bit iffy on scratching up the BT2 on my 710(?). Don't ask me why, I don't know. But I have no qualms about using the Grip as a "beater" knife, yet it's still a knife that, although not fancy, you can still be proud to own and use.
Jim
 
Jim

Thank you for the reply. I have a CRKT M16-14Le that I use as my "beater". The Grip will be my proud possesion because I am a student and I can't really afford anything higher up like a seb.

Thanks
Marthinus
 
I have a Mini Griptillian and several other knives with 154CM steel. It's by far my favorite steel. Very rust resistant, holds an excellent edge, and is easy to sharpen. I have Microtech, Emerson, and Benchmades in this steel and I feel that it's the best steel in all areas of use.
 
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