VIDEO: Benchmade Griptillian Hard Use Testing

[Ankerson]

Here is the Benchmade Video.

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[Steven Andrews]

I think you would have snapped off a lot more blade is it had been the 550HG model!

 

[JD Mandrell]

And remember folks, a knife is the most expensive and least effective pry bar you will ever own.....................

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

I think you would have snapped off a lot more blade is it had been the 550HG model!

The Spyderhole is naturally a weak point so at least when it breaks off you can have a folding two prong fork!
I'm glad I use my knives how they were intended, to cut, so I don't have to worry about their ability to pry.

 

[Steven Andrews]

I was thinking more of the very thin tip section of the blade.

I also only use my knife for cutting. If I want to pry I'll use my Pro-Bar 30 Halligan tool

 

[freq18hz]

Why do we have to have two separate posts for each one of these videos, one in general discussions, and one in reviews?

-Freq

 

[Humppa]

Hm, its nice to see. But i would not (ab)use a folder in that way. A fixed blade knife would be much better in that kind (ab)usement.

 

[Doc Pringles]

It is an interesting test. However I don&#8217;t know what to make of the results. I appreciate you taking the time and money to beat on a number of folders that most of us would like to try but not dare too.

Because I&#8217;m not a fan of the spine wack test does not mean I don&#8217;t take your results as fair.

Thanks again.

 

[singularity35]

Hm, its nice to see. But i would not (ab)use a folder in that way. A fixed blade knife would be much better in that kind (ab)usement.

That was not using. That was a test to see how much they could take. Of course we all know a good fixed blade can pass a spine whack test so why test it at all?

A test is defined as : an Examination, evaluation, observation, or trial used (under actual or simulated environmental or operating conditions) to determine and document (1) capabilities, characteristics, effectiveness, reliability, and/or suitability of a material, product, or system.

What Ankerson did was a test of how those products would perform. It may not have been a realistic representation of how you use a folder but it was designed to put the folder under stresses to determine it's capacity for "hard use" or "abuse" or whatever else you would like to call the test.

 

[jfive]

I feel sorry for this beautiful knife. I own a Grippy myself and wouldn't even think of abusing it this way.
Like "Bear Claw" said: I'm glad I use my knives how they were intended, to cut, so I don't have to worry about their ability to pry!

However: Thanks for the demonstration!

@Humppa

I seriously doubt that the griptilian fixed would perform much better when it comes to prying. The 154CM steel isn't intended for that kind of use if you ask me.

 

[Sevorius]

I think Ankerson's tests are great, they represent the general mindset of people who like to use folders hard, but he doesn't get ridiculous and beat on it with a steel hammer and such. I wouldn't baton with a folder, but I expect my blade tips to stand up to light drilling/digging/prying. I think that Ankerson covers the bases quite well, and whatever you expect from your knives (everyone has their own standards), his tests should give you some insight into what a knife will and will not do. If you don't think a knife should be used for anything but cutting then why watch a video clearly labeled "Benchmade Griptillian Hard Use Testing"? If all you expect a knife to do is open boxes and letters then why would you want anything that isn't thin, flat ground, and distal tapered? Hell, Mora's and Opinels will out-cut just about anything else on the market and only cost about $10.

On a side note, abusing any product is usually the best way to discover its strengths and weaknesses, and doing so will lead to better products in the future. If no one had ever stopped to think about the dangers of folding knives and how to make them stronger/safer then we would all still be carrying slipjoints and friction folders.