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- Aug 27, 2004
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I wanted to take time to post this for my friend Kevin Wilkins, http://www.wilkins-knives.com/start_e.html and also give my review of this fine upgrade for one of the more popular folders among end line users out there.
I've been asked more than once to do this upgrade myself for end line users and even just recently once again and speaking from past experience I know what a challenging project this model or the mini Griptilian can be, as is any folder with nested liners. Kevin is knocking out a wonderful product for us here and its well worth the time to turn some onto it. This is the way the folder should be offered from BenchMade IMO, at least as an option for end line users since doing so as a standard production would probably cause the folder to lose some sales potential. I think one of the reasons this folder is so popular is the value and bang for the buck at the current price point.
I am sure I don't need to talk much about the BenchMade 551 folder which I own here. It speaks for itself and is certainly one capable folder as it came from BenchMade. So, lets look at the upgrade in detail.
Seen here we have the folder as I was in the process of putting it back together once the new scales arrived from my friend Gary Moore at http://www.knives.cx/store/index.php
We can see from the scans I took up close and personal that the machining work by Kevin is top shelf here. These fit right on and you would be hard pressed to tell they were not factory made looking them over. I bought mine from Gary in textured black G10. My folder was black to begin with so that sat well with me.
So lets look at the plus side. On the plus we have a more quality feel and overall a slightly thinner folder once these are installed. The folder no longer seem so plastic or 'cheap' in the hand. In fact its a whole new ball game now!
The cost to me is a plus. This price of $150 shipped to your door for a set of pre-made ready to install quality scales (stateside) is more than reasonable IMO and less than I'd want to do this same modification I can tell you that!
So its a plus. I will be able to refer out anyone asking me about this upgrade from now on.
Ok seriously, another big plus in my mind is that the lock buttons are more concealed by the handle scales with this upgrade. This to me makes the lock far less likely to be accidently disengaged during use particularly in tactical or defensive situations and it does not really make the lock mechanism any harder to use the way many folks like to use their Axis lock folders, IE by flicking it open and closed by controlling the button pressure on the blade.
Are there any cons? I would say that with any modification the immediate 'con' to come to mind for most is the warranty issue. As with many modifications, and yes even with ones done like this that are not permanently modified and done professionally, the warranty is voided after you mess with it. This is the case with BenchMade and if you take any BenchMade apart you void the warranty as per the paperwork that comes with the BM folder regarding the warranty. So that would be one con/negative for the upgrade. Perhaps to some the added weight gain would be a con also. According to the Benchmade web site the 551 folder as seen here weighs in at 3.25 ounces from the factory. After the upgrade install my folder weighs in at 4.7 ounces. So she gained some weight. To me this is a plus though because the folder has a far better balance now than it did before the upgrade. To be precise each scale from the factory weighs .4 ounces. Each new scale shipped to me weighed .7 ounces.
To some the other con of the upgrade is the loss of the lanyard hole. Note on the new scales there is none. I have written Kevin with my idea on how to easily solve this. If most are like me this is of little concern but since many that love this folder are of the bushcraft/survival ilk it may be enough to keep them from purchasing it. There are options for this but we'll leave that for a later time.
Know this, you will not regret upgrading you Griptilian folder with the Wilkin's Grip. You can also read about this in the Jan. 2009 issue of Tactical Knives Magazine. Lastly you might also note that as of now, the name listed in that article for these scales has been changed. This upgrade will from this day forward be referred to as the "Wilkin's Grip" folks! Please make note of it. That information comes straight from the horses mouth.
Kevin if you read this. Great job. I really like these and I am certain that this Griptilian unlike its predecessor will end up seeing a lot more use thanks to your artistic creations to upgrade it.
STR
I've been asked more than once to do this upgrade myself for end line users and even just recently once again and speaking from past experience I know what a challenging project this model or the mini Griptilian can be, as is any folder with nested liners. Kevin is knocking out a wonderful product for us here and its well worth the time to turn some onto it. This is the way the folder should be offered from BenchMade IMO, at least as an option for end line users since doing so as a standard production would probably cause the folder to lose some sales potential. I think one of the reasons this folder is so popular is the value and bang for the buck at the current price point.
I am sure I don't need to talk much about the BenchMade 551 folder which I own here. It speaks for itself and is certainly one capable folder as it came from BenchMade. So, lets look at the upgrade in detail.
Seen here we have the folder as I was in the process of putting it back together once the new scales arrived from my friend Gary Moore at http://www.knives.cx/store/index.php
We can see from the scans I took up close and personal that the machining work by Kevin is top shelf here. These fit right on and you would be hard pressed to tell they were not factory made looking them over. I bought mine from Gary in textured black G10. My folder was black to begin with so that sat well with me.
So lets look at the plus side. On the plus we have a more quality feel and overall a slightly thinner folder once these are installed. The folder no longer seem so plastic or 'cheap' in the hand. In fact its a whole new ball game now!
The cost to me is a plus. This price of $150 shipped to your door for a set of pre-made ready to install quality scales (stateside) is more than reasonable IMO and less than I'd want to do this same modification I can tell you that!
So its a plus. I will be able to refer out anyone asking me about this upgrade from now on.
Ok seriously, another big plus in my mind is that the lock buttons are more concealed by the handle scales with this upgrade. This to me makes the lock far less likely to be accidently disengaged during use particularly in tactical or defensive situations and it does not really make the lock mechanism any harder to use the way many folks like to use their Axis lock folders, IE by flicking it open and closed by controlling the button pressure on the blade.
Are there any cons? I would say that with any modification the immediate 'con' to come to mind for most is the warranty issue. As with many modifications, and yes even with ones done like this that are not permanently modified and done professionally, the warranty is voided after you mess with it. This is the case with BenchMade and if you take any BenchMade apart you void the warranty as per the paperwork that comes with the BM folder regarding the warranty. So that would be one con/negative for the upgrade. Perhaps to some the added weight gain would be a con also. According to the Benchmade web site the 551 folder as seen here weighs in at 3.25 ounces from the factory. After the upgrade install my folder weighs in at 4.7 ounces. So she gained some weight. To me this is a plus though because the folder has a far better balance now than it did before the upgrade. To be precise each scale from the factory weighs .4 ounces. Each new scale shipped to me weighed .7 ounces.
To some the other con of the upgrade is the loss of the lanyard hole. Note on the new scales there is none. I have written Kevin with my idea on how to easily solve this. If most are like me this is of little concern but since many that love this folder are of the bushcraft/survival ilk it may be enough to keep them from purchasing it. There are options for this but we'll leave that for a later time.
Know this, you will not regret upgrading you Griptilian folder with the Wilkin's Grip. You can also read about this in the Jan. 2009 issue of Tactical Knives Magazine. Lastly you might also note that as of now, the name listed in that article for these scales has been changed. This upgrade will from this day forward be referred to as the "Wilkin's Grip" folks! Please make note of it. That information comes straight from the horses mouth.
Kevin if you read this. Great job. I really like these and I am certain that this Griptilian unlike its predecessor will end up seeing a lot more use thanks to your artistic creations to upgrade it.
STR
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