Ritter Grip vs Griptilian

BlazenGem

BlazenGem

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Oct 19, 2007
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I am looking to buy an axis lock, and the column has thinned down to the Ritter Griptilian and the regular BM Griptilian.

I am wondering why the Ritter is more expensive? aside from the fact that it is S30V...what are some improvements? and are they worth the extra money?

thanks!
 
The only difference in the two knives will be the S30V steel in the Ritter and the blade profile. The Ritter is a high "flat-sabre" grind with a drop point, for lack of a better term. A lot of the blade is flat ground down to the bevel. It's a good slicer because of the grind.

It also has a bigger belly, which should make it a better knife for slicing, skinning, that sort of thing. It may not puncture as well as the standard Grip because the standard Grip will have a finer tip than the Ritter, but I've never had any problem with my Ritters not being able to create a hole when needed.

The handle, liners, and lock are the same in all of the Grips.
 
BlazenGem said:
are they worth the extra money?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Only you can answer that one. For the price difference, I thought the regular Grip was a better value for what I was looking for and that is what I bought and am happy with it. The regular Grip also has a flat sabre grind, but it is not quite as high or thin as the Ritter, but it is a good grind in it's own right.

If you really want S30V instead of 154CM, then the Ritter does offer a good value for a knife with that steel.

Some other subtle differences are that there is a longer area of jimping for a thumb rest on the blade spine of the Ritter, and the wider blade means that it does not fold up quite as small.
 
I've got two of the MKI Ritters. Dale pretty much described the details of the differences. Benchmade does a good job with the S30V heat treat and I love the blade profile and geometry of the Ritter. It's become my favorite general purpose folder and in my opinion is a superior design for an outdooring/survival knife. However, for a self defense knife I would prefer something like the BM Osborne designs with a more acute, robust point design.
 
BlazenGem said:
I am looking to buy an axis lock, and the column has thinned down to the Ritter Griptilian and the regular BM Griptilian.

I am wondering why the Ritter is more expensive? aside from the fact that it is S30V...what are some improvements? and are they worth the extra money?

thanks!
Click to expand...

A working search function would have helped. You´re not the first one to ask this.

Speaking about the 550 and the 551, not the newer 550 HG version: No, you´ll be fine with the standard knife, more than just fine, they are great.

Many ppl. enjoy the Ritter Grippi, but the original knife is greatly unbalanced considering the great performance and material combination to the price.

I have read the advertisement about the Ritter Grip considering Survival. Are there any things you can do with the Ritter, you can´t with the original Grip?

I don´t see.
 
I've got a Ritter in M2 steel, and it is without question one of my favorite folders ever. Cuts excellent, holds an edge very well, and you just can't beat the Axis lock as far as I'm concerned.
 
Well, if the M2 holds its edge "very well" it´s less, than what ppl. should expect;).
 
JerkeeJoe said:
I've got a Ritter in M2 steel, and it is without question one of my favorite folders ever. Cuts excellent, holds an edge very well, and you just can't beat the Axis lock as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: My M2 Grips are my favourite folders ever.

Ritter or Regular? I prefer the Ritter for its blade profile .. but just by a little.
I regularly rotate through all the Grip variants. The 556/551 and 558/552 are superb - but I'm not as keen on the 555HG/550HG as I prefer thumb studs.

Don't forget the Cabela's D2 Grips. :thumbup:
 
Had the Ritter but sold it since I didn't see the justification for the higher price compared with the regular grip. But YMMV.
 
I have the Ritter, live in the woods and use it daily,good blade shape for cutting and slicing,pick your blades for what your going to use them for.
 
I've had both for awhile now, hard to go wrong with either, but the Ritter really is a great folder.
 
what do you all think of the Benchmade Griptilian 550HG? it is the one with the finger hole.
 
BlazenGem said:
what do you all think of the Benchmade Griptilian 550HG? it is the one with the finger hole.
Click to expand...

Yes, and even to my own surprise, it has become one of my favorite Griptilians. I usually prefer thumb posts to thumb holes, but the newer rounder hole on the 550HG works great.

It gets more carry EDC than my other Grip's, with my Buck 301.

550HG301-5.jpg
 
I really liked the Ritter Grips. I just preferred the shape of the blade etc. on the Ritter Grips. I had an M2 & S30V Grips.
 
BlazenGem said:
I am looking to buy an axis lock, and the column has thinned down to the Ritter Griptilian and the regular BM Griptilian.

I am wondering why the Ritter is more expensive? aside from the fact that it is S30V...what are some improvements? and are they worth the extra money?

thanks!
Click to expand...


My favorite is the new round hole 550HG. It's hollow ground and cuts very well and the round hole is nice. I like it better than the 551 because the thumb stud gets in the way when cutting something that needs the full blade length.

I used to have the old 550 and the ritter grip. I found the ritter grip not worth the extra cost and sold it. The old 550 I gave to my brother.

I recommend the 550HG.

Collecter
 
BlazenGem said:
what do you all think of the Benchmade Griptilian 550HG? it is the one with the finger hole.
Click to expand...

I really like the blade profile and round opening hole of the Spyderco (oh...my mistake...;)) Benchmade Griptilian 550HG. :D

Ray :)
 
As far as I know, the Ritter grips are made more or less for outdoor use. Larger belly for doing "bushcraft" and for skinning things.

If you are going to be poking holes then the Regular grip will do just fine.
 
I have owned one 1 S30V and 2 M2 ritter grips, one of the M2 models was a Krein reground model. They were all excellent knives, however, I have sold or traded them all off. The reason being is they are thick in the pocket. If you have it narrowed down then I would always pick S30V over 154cm, but like someone is going to say as soon as I post this, there is not that big of a difference. I will always keep my 440c grips as beater knives because they are so easy to sharpen.
 
After reading this thread I thought the 550HG blade looks so cool I bought one on ebay.
Actually, I got a 555HG since I like smaller knives for EDC.

This adds to my ZDP delica and BM HK 14210.
 
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