Thought I was all settled on the ltd edition kershaw blur with the zdp cutting edge, but recently learned more about the benchmade griptilian online. This has opened me up to a new mindset as to what should I get for a quality edc in tho 80 to 100 dollar range. I would like quality steel, a grippy handle, and a medium size like the blur or grip. I'm also concerned about the steel the benchmade has vs other better steels out these days. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm open to any brand as long as the quality is there.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
trying to decide...
- Thread starter newb87
- Start date
I am hardly a metalurgist, but I would be hard pressed to cast a negative thought towards Benchmade for any metal they use in a blue series knife. Though you have something of a choice if you buy your grip from Cabelas, you can get it with D2 steel.
I am in a similar position as you, currently deciding between a grip or a SOG Spec Elite I. Due to my needing to use Cabelas bucks, I will be getting mine from them, but the Spec Elite can be had online for about $85. If you want the D2 grip, you are pretty much stuck with Cabelas too.
I am in a similar position as you, currently deciding between a grip or a SOG Spec Elite I. Due to my needing to use Cabelas bucks, I will be getting mine from them, but the Spec Elite can be had online for about $85. If you want the D2 grip, you are pretty much stuck with Cabelas too.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 4,271
To get a "better steel", determine what uses your knife is most likely to see and match your steel choice to the probable uses. Steels used by companies like Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco, CRK, Strider and other top end production brands are quality steels that often have specific characteristics that make them very suitable for a certain range of uses and less suitable for other uses.
Spyderco's H1 and BM's X15 are intended to provide corrosion proof blade steels for use in corrosive environments. ZDP189 is extremely wear resistant and has outstanding edge holding properties. That makes it particularly good for pocket (or larger) slicers but maybe less good in corrosive environments or for rough outdoor use in larger knives. 154CM, VG10, S30V, and CPM D2 are all good combinations of edge holding and toughness that make them suitable for most people's EDC cutting needs and they're still pretty easy to maintain. Some of the newer steels like S90V and CPM M4 are reported to be tough enough for heavy use and still have the edge holding of something like ZDP189.
Spyderco's H1 and BM's X15 are intended to provide corrosion proof blade steels for use in corrosive environments. ZDP189 is extremely wear resistant and has outstanding edge holding properties. That makes it particularly good for pocket (or larger) slicers but maybe less good in corrosive environments or for rough outdoor use in larger knives. 154CM, VG10, S30V, and CPM D2 are all good combinations of edge holding and toughness that make them suitable for most people's EDC cutting needs and they're still pretty easy to maintain. Some of the newer steels like S90V and CPM M4 are reported to be tough enough for heavy use and still have the edge holding of something like ZDP189.