Wishful thinking

rexromic

rexromic

Gold Member
Joined
May 28, 2011
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5,229
Anyone missing M390 Benchmades 558 and 552 Ritter Griptilian?
Phenomenal knives with hope that eventually be manufactured again.Great stonewash,amazing blade steel and phenomenal blade shape.With 940,710 probably my most favourite Benchmade ever.
Anyone else agree with this.
Cheers.
 
It would be nice, but I think that BM and Doug did not part in the best of terms, so I sincerely doubt a collaboration will happen anytime soon.
 
As popular as the Griptillian model is I'd like to see a different blade shape offered that has the higher grind of the Ritter Grip blade. While there is no doubt they could not reintroduce a similar blade without probable copyright issues, I'm sure a 3rd blade style, or modification on the existing 2 could be possible.
 
The Freek blade is similar but a better shape imho, I think BM should stonewash it upgrade the steel and offer non Versaflex scales, that being said I’ve been carrying my mine Freek a load and it kills the Mini grip stone dead (I’m not a mini grip fan)
 
godzilla78 said:
The Freek blade is similar but a better shape imho, I think BM should stonewash it upgrade the steel and offer non Versaflex scales, that being said I’ve been carrying my mine Freek a load and it kills the Mini grip stone dead (I’m not a mini grip fan)
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Ya, I'm a little cool towards the mini grip myself. As a matter of fact, I relegated mine to my "spare knife" folder. I have passed on the Freek/mini Freek so far, but may have to take a closer look, now that my local knife store has them back in stock.
 
The only reason I don't replace my Ritter Grips with my Freek in my rotation is because of the finger bump (and guard moving even more rearward). Most of the ways I grip the Freek place my pointer finger and middle finger right on the points of the scales. Note: I wear large gloves but have slender fingers.

I just don't feel like paying an extra $100 for custom scales, and then having to grind those areas to my liking when the Ritter Grip (also customer scales) works without these distractions.
 
Doug Ritter has a knifeworks exclusive coming out soon. It won't be a benchmade which is good (cause of the poor qc issues, and increased map pricing) but no one knows who it will be made by.
 
The 940-1501 I really like. Knifeworks exclusive w/ 20cv & G10. Not exactly m390, but I also have the 810-1401 (another knifeworks exclusive) w/ m390. I can say the steels act very similar, but I actually think the m390 edge retention is a bit better and is slightly easier to sharpen (on my wicked edge system and amateur experience). Love both of them either way and if you catch a Knifeworks sale, I think I got the 940 for $169 and the Contego for $159? Still surprises me, holding them next to each other, that the Contego is less expensive (even at standard prices)... BIG piece of steel on that sucker! But yeah, would like to see more options in either of those two steels. 940 in custom builder, please!
 
Mo2 said:
Doug Ritter has a knifeworks exclusive coming out soon. It won't be a benchmade which is good (cause of the poor qc issues, and increased map pricing) but no one knows who it will be made by.
Click to expand...

I’m curious how this *NEW Doug Ritter* 2018 model will look. I suspect it’ll have certain aspects of what makes his RSK famous, even though he and Benchmade parted ways. It should be out any week now.
 
I was thinking about getting a 552 in M390, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Not sure if I'm going to.

I called Benchmade about a month ago, and was told that they had about 15 or 20 full-size Ritter blades in stock. So once those are gone, you wouldn't be able to replace the ritter blade for $30 since they aren't making them anymore. I'd imagine that they would have no problem giving you a standard blade, but then you wouldn't have a Ritter Grip. You'd just have a Grip. I guess I'll just have to live with my 551-1.

I am thinking about getting it reground. In terms of slicing performance and geometry, my understanding is that the main difference is in the height of the saber grind. The Ritter grip has a much higher grind. If you took a 551 and did a re-grind, I'm thinking that you'd have the same performance as the Ritter blade.
 
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