ZT 0566 or Griptilian?

S

Star

Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
60
Well I'm close to purchasing a new EDC and I was almost 100% on the Griptilian. Now I have my eye on the ZT 0566. I've heard ZT has had problems with their Elmax. Is that still relevant or is it a past issue? Is Elmax hard to sharpen or prone to chipping?
 
I have both. I like both. No problems with Elmax on either of my two ZTs. I have touched up the factory edge once or twice on a Shapton Pro 2K stone. It wasn't particularly difficult. I think the ZT is an overall nicer knife. I like the axis lock on the Benchmade better. I like the blade grind a little better on the ZT.

My BM is the regular 551 in 154cm with the Zytel handles, so I am not comparing it to the newer one with the G10 handles and upscale steel. If I were going to pay the price of the newer Grip, I'd personally go with the Ritter Griptilian for the blade grind.
 
I have both as well and I have had no problems with the elmax on the ZT. It was not difficult to reprofile with DMT stones and is really sharp and takes a good polish. I have not chipped it yet so I cant speak to that. I like the lock on the Grip better but the ZT is overall a better knife and carries extremely well. Thinking of getting the 562cf now.
 
Owned both... prefer the ZT (de-assisted mine)
 
Last edited:
The 0566's overall design makes it a really great knife. It carries really well despite being steel framed (it would be flat out awesome in Ti). It's one of my favorites for sure. No issues whatsoever with any of my Elmax bladed knives.

Thickness of the plastic handle on the full size Griptilian is . . . well, thick. Mini Grip is better proportioned. Even so, it just feels cheap for what is not a cheap knife. Love the axis lock, but mine has seen very little pocket time despite having owned it for a very long time.
 
The Ritter Griptilian has better steel in a lighter knife. Strong lock and surprisingly strong overall.. No assisted opening. It s currently in my edc rotation. This one could be an answer to an "only one knife" question.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vba
Star said:
Are the Doug Ritter ones only in a mini Griptilian platform?
Click to expand...
Ritter Grip is available in regular and mini. The full-sized is $10 more. Exclusive with Knifeworks.com. Current production is in M390 with either black or orange Noryl GTX plastic handles. Lots of people say the standard handles make the knife feel cheap. To me they just make it feel light, which is a plus. I also like the hand-filling handles. It does make it a little bulkier in a pocket though.

I actually like the assist on the ZT, though it does have the drawback of making one-handed closing less convenient. I really love the BM axis lock. Closes as easy as it opens.

So like I said, I like them both, and they each have their relative plusses and minuses compared to each other, but unless you have a really strong preference about one the features, either would make a fine choice. Which is why I have one of each. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: vba
I like the 0566 even more so deassisted but the Griptilian especially the 550 and Ritter are two of the best. The Axis lock is great and the scale mods are endless.

 
I would go Griptilian, however only if you are going with the newer G10 version with the cpm20 blade steel. The regular Grip and Ritter Grip with their plastic handles are extremely cheap feeling. People can say they like it because it's light but really it's just cheap and disappointing that benchmade charges so much for a plastic knife with lower end steel (compared to what's out there now). They could've easily bolted on a couple of basic G10 scales to the Griptilians and used the 154cm steel and still kept the price where it's at. G10 is inexpensive material and they should be able to figure out that $100 is too much to pay for a knife with plastic and 154cm in today's market.

Get your $$$$ together Benchmade. You're pricing yourself above your quality level on this one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vba
Is there any down side to the ZTs frame lock? Other than maybe the ease of opening/closing one handed?
 
Star said:
Is there any down side to the ZTs frame lock? Other than maybe the ease of opening/closing one handed?
Click to expand...

It's easy to operate one handed. The only down side is its stainless not titanium.
 
Nfd538 said:
It's easy to operate one handed. The only down side is its stainless not titanium.
Click to expand...

I'm a newbie when it comes to folding knives. What is the advantage of titanium vs stainless steel for a frame lock?
 
GermanyChris said:
I'd take the Benchmade not for any spec reason more because I don't have a KAI warm and fuzzy
Click to expand...

I felt the same about ZT products, and still do about most, but the 0450cf and 0450 won me over. I still have no interest in any of their other products but the 450 series knives are excellent if you are into smaller light duty edc knives. I wanted something the size, or close to, my small Sebenza and they just fit in the lineup perfect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top