ZT 0566 or Griptilian?

So is Elmax tough or will it chip? I don't plan on any crazy batoning but if I'm on a hike and wanna do some whittling will it chip or roll if I make a mistake?
 
For EDC the ZT0566 may be a more pocketable knife.
ZT's elmax is good, no big problems to sharpen it.

It may be good to find an opportunity to handle it because the difference with the griptilian will be noticeable

I think that overall the griptilian is a better design but if you go with the plastic handle on the large grip I think you will be disappointed

I moved to the small griptilian doug Ritter because the feel of the plastic scales on the large griptilian was just a no-go for me.

Now the new G10 versions have been released but the price is higher
 
I think I'm the odd man out. I honestly don't mind the plastic scales on the Griptilian, and don't see them as a deal breaker. I have used plastic on a few different weapons M16/AR15, Glocks, polymer stocks on various all weather rifles. They are what they are. I feel that the Grip scales are a heavy duty polymer, and should stand up to some abuse. Honestly.....you should go to a knife store, and handle one in person. You'll know immediately if they are for you. Good luck.
 
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scottyj said:
I think I'm the odd man out. I honestly don't mind the plastic scales on the Griptilian, and don't see them as a deal breaker. I have used plastic on a few different weapons M16/AR15, Glocks, polymer stocks on various all weather rifles. They are what they are. I feel that the Grip scales are a heavy duty polymer, and should stand up to some abuse. Honestly.....you should go to a knife store, and handle one in person. You'll know immediately if they are for you. Good luck.
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The ergonomics of the Griptilian are actually wonderful and the knife has a great feel. Honestly the OP would be smart to save a few bucks more and find a like new G10 Griptilian on the exchange. I literally just sold one about 2 weeks ago for $120 that was unused. Between the G10 Griptilian and the ZT it's no question that the Griptilian wins that one in every catagory.

As for using plastics on weapons I can't deal with it. I sold my polymor carry guns and replaced them with a Sig P938 and a P238, and my AR15s don't have any plastic aside from the pistol grip, but even that is the Magpul with the rubber coating on them so they don't have that plastic feel. I personally just prefer to avoid any type of plastics on weapons whenever possible.
 
mjpgolf1 said:
I would go Griptilian, however only if you are going with the newer G10 version with the cpm20 blade steel. The regular Grip fand 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.
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Yup. When you can get a Manix2 with G10 and S30v for the same price as the Grip with plastic and 154cm, the grip becomes tough to justify.
 
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19-3ben said:
Yup. When you can get a Manix2 with G10 and S30v for the same price as the Grip with plastic and 154cm, the grip becomes tough to justify.
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People are basically buying a $50 knife and paying $100 just because it says "Benchmade" on it. Spyderco definitely has more bang for the buck in more models in that $100 (give or take) range. Para2, Sage 1, Manix 2, just to name a few. Better steel, better handle materials, the only thing Benchmade has going for it that I would say is better is the axis lock. Aside from that they need to pull their head out of their $&@ and get their entry level product either priced accordingly for a plastic knife with lower end steel, or they need to make it with upgraded materials and keep the price the same. A G10 handled Grip with S30V blade steel for $100 shouldn't be unattainable for them to make and be profitable.
 
How's the m390 on the Doug Ritter? Im interested in the ZT but I've seen alot of videos where the framelock fails or is unstable.
 
Don't think if seen one specifically on the 0566 but some ZTs in general. Makes me want to shy away from frame locks.
 
dc76f39debbf44392d250f47dfd2b4d9.jpg


Incase you are interested in a g10 griptilian


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NycEric said:
dc76f39debbf44392d250f47dfd2b4d9.jpg


Incase you are interested in a g10 griptilian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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That's a good looking knife. Those are aftermarket scales right? I'm going to try and stop by an outdoors store tomorrow where I've held the Spyderco PM2 and 940 Osborne. Maybe they'll have the Griptilian and 0566 so I can feel them out before making a decision.
 
Star said:
That's a good looking knife. Those are aftermarket scales right? I'm going to try and stop by an outdoors store tomorrow where I've held the Spyderco PM2 and 940 Osborne. Maybe they'll have the Griptilian and 0566 so I can feel them out before making a decision.
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They are Allen putman g10 scales. About 75$. To be honest, for the money a griptilian and scales will cost, you can get a 551-1 with 20cv & g10. It's a personal preference.

On the other hand, for the same money, you can get an 0350 m390 kW edition. I absolutely love that one.


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Shane at applied weapons sales an awesome griptilian and a mini grip with machined scales I have a set of the smooth and hive scales I love the mini grip with the hive scales and red backspaces. You can purchase the knife and scales here is a pick of my mini grip with hive pattern
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Here is the other mini grip with smooth scales and blue spacer


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I also had benchmade send me a couple of deep carry pocket clips. I favor the scales that have the hive pattern over the smooth. I also like the thumb hole better than the stud on the blade. My blades are not Ritter blades but they hold an edge very well I use my knives on a daily basis to Rope open boxes and Whittle wood I'm always using them for something or another and they stay sharp I think the key is to sharpen evenly at good angle and any steel with hold its own my knives are sharp and I touch them up on a leather hone about once every two weeks it's fast and easy. I sharpen about once every 2 to 3 months and love them as for the ZT knives I have never used one but I am sure they are great just need to remember the harder the steel the longer it takes to sharpen not sure the trade off is worth it since a good skill needs to be used and practiced if it is to be perfected my granddad uses to sharpen his knife every evening weather it needed it or not just to stay in practice as I got older I realized h was sharpening it so much so he could wear it out and get a new one
 
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I love the griptillian, so much so that if I could only have one knife it would be a large griptillian

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mjpgolf1 said:
People are basically buying a $50 knife and paying $100 just because it says "Benchmade" on it. Spyderco definitely has more bang for the buck in more models in that $100 (give or take) range. Para2, Sage 1, Manix 2, just to name a few. Better steel, better handle materials, the only thing Benchmade has going for it that I would say is better is the axis lock. Aside from that they need to pull their head out of their $&@ and get their entry level product either priced accordingly for a plastic knife with lower end steel, or they need to make it with upgraded materials and keep the price the same. A G10 handled Grip with S30V blade steel for $100 shouldn't be unattainable for them to make and be profitable.
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I don't know that I'd take it as far as you are. 154cm is not a lower end steel. IME, it's pretty good stuff (maybe my all-around favorite steel) and comparable to the VG10 that Spyderco uses. In fact, I see the Grip as a competitor for the Delica and Endura, with comparable steels, and FRN grips. The only difference is the Axis lock, and about $30 uncharge for the BM.

I definitely agree that in the $100 mark, Spyderco whoops BM up one side and down the other and that BM ought to be able to pull off knives that compete with similar materials at similar price points.
 
Star said:
How's the m390 on the Doug Ritter? Im interested in the ZT but I've seen alot of videos where the framelock fails or is unstable.
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Benchmade seems to have pretty good m390 steel from my limited use and from what I ve read. 60-62 rc.
 
With the map pricing policy, most Benchmades have gotten a little expensive relative to much of the competition. The Ritter Grip is a bargain for m390 steel, one of the few bargains that Benchmade makes.
 
Both are great choices, owned both.
Assisted vs Axis, I de-assisted mine and lot happier.
Zt is heavier and has more heft to the knife. The size on both are pretty good.
Most likely cannot go wrong with either. I personally love the grips, and have a few in the collection.
 
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