does anyone have the advanced weapons technology scales for the griptilian or mini griptilian. They look really awesome but I can only find a couple YouTube videos on them. It looks like they could give Wilkins grips a run for their money for a more simplified design and a cheaper cost. I'm most likely getting a set in the next couple months, just looking for opinions and experiences if anyone has them.
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AWT Griptilian Scales/Mini griptilian scales
- Thread starter Mr Krieg
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2015
- Messages
- 23
There was a thread with this same question about a month ago, i'm sure it will answer some of you questions. here is the link.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...dy-tried-the-scales-from-Applied-weapons-tech
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...dy-tried-the-scales-from-Applied-weapons-tech
I put a pair of blemished dark burned bronze AWT scales on my Ritter mini-grip and I've been really happen with them. I replaced some micarta scales from knivesshipfree with these and I like the slimmer profile that the flat aluminum scales give. The anodizing gives good solid grip on the knife and the weight makes it finally feel like a quality piece; serious change from the original scales.
You can see a bit of wear from the knife banging around in my pocket with keys, etc but the was nothing more than a tiny gouge beneath the anodizing in the thumb recess which you can actually see in the pics below if you look closely enough. I'm really happy with the blemished scales given the great price and I'm liking the dark burned bronze though I bet a lot of the colors would look great.
You can see a bit of wear from the knife banging around in my pocket with keys, etc but the was nothing more than a tiny gouge beneath the anodizing in the thumb recess which you can actually see in the pics below if you look closely enough. I'm really happy with the blemished scales given the great price and I'm liking the dark burned bronze though I bet a lot of the colors would look great.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2013
- Messages
- 92
I've carried mini grips with stock scales, wilikins titanium, and AWT aluminum. I'll rank them in a few categories from best to worst to try and help you decide.
Design Aesthetic: AWT - Wilikins - Stock. The minimalist design on the AWT is absolutely stellar in my opinion. The wilikins are cool, and the stock look like turds. Always have, always will.
Brute toughness: Wilikins - AWT - Stock. Lets face it, the Wilikins Ti scales make the grip an absolute tank. They're thick and heavy and solid titanium. The AWT scales are great though and the hardcoat anodizing is actually much harder than any titanium anodizing. I never managed to scratch my AWT scales, even though the cerakoted blade got plenty of scratches (was the M4 limited edition).
Weight/balance/feel: AWT - Stock - Wilikins: AWT were the perfect weight and balance. Right where the mini grip always should have been. The stock honestly aren't bad though. The wilikins Ti were monsterously heavy and made the blade feel like nothing. That's ultimately why I sold them, just too bulky.
Carryability/ergonomics: Stock - AWT - Wilikins. Yeah I said it, the stock scales are actually the best to carry and use. The AWT scales actually introduced a few hotspots for me that weren't in the stock scales. Also I found the coating pretty smooth and lacking the traction in the stock scales. Keep in mind though these are minor issues, I still like AWT better than stock overall. Wilikins were again too heavy. Great traction though with the bead blast finish.
Overall: AWT - Stock - Wilikins. If I could do it again, I would try wilikins micarta. The weight of the Ti was my biggest issue and I think the micarta would be nice. The AWT look the best and honestly aren't bad in the hand, I just think the stock are better for use. My actual favorite by FAR are Benchmade's own gold class titanium scales. I've got a 556-142 on layaway and absolutely fell in love the instant I held it. Looks the best, feels the best, carries the best, and S90V.
I definitely recommend the AWT scales. They aren't perfect, but they do rock. The guys at AWT are really cool to deal with as well, you won't regret giving them your business. They're super popular right now too, so if you do hate them, you'll have no problem selling.
Design Aesthetic: AWT - Wilikins - Stock. The minimalist design on the AWT is absolutely stellar in my opinion. The wilikins are cool, and the stock look like turds. Always have, always will.
Brute toughness: Wilikins - AWT - Stock. Lets face it, the Wilikins Ti scales make the grip an absolute tank. They're thick and heavy and solid titanium. The AWT scales are great though and the hardcoat anodizing is actually much harder than any titanium anodizing. I never managed to scratch my AWT scales, even though the cerakoted blade got plenty of scratches (was the M4 limited edition).
Weight/balance/feel: AWT - Stock - Wilikins: AWT were the perfect weight and balance. Right where the mini grip always should have been. The stock honestly aren't bad though. The wilikins Ti were monsterously heavy and made the blade feel like nothing. That's ultimately why I sold them, just too bulky.
Carryability/ergonomics: Stock - AWT - Wilikins. Yeah I said it, the stock scales are actually the best to carry and use. The AWT scales actually introduced a few hotspots for me that weren't in the stock scales. Also I found the coating pretty smooth and lacking the traction in the stock scales. Keep in mind though these are minor issues, I still like AWT better than stock overall. Wilikins were again too heavy. Great traction though with the bead blast finish.
Overall: AWT - Stock - Wilikins. If I could do it again, I would try wilikins micarta. The weight of the Ti was my biggest issue and I think the micarta would be nice. The AWT look the best and honestly aren't bad in the hand, I just think the stock are better for use. My actual favorite by FAR are Benchmade's own gold class titanium scales. I've got a 556-142 on layaway and absolutely fell in love the instant I held it. Looks the best, feels the best, carries the best, and S90V.
I definitely recommend the AWT scales. They aren't perfect, but they do rock. The guys at AWT are really cool to deal with as well, you won't regret giving them your business. They're super popular right now too, so if you do hate them, you'll have no problem selling.
I don't have any experience with AWT, but because of this thread I just ordered a set for my mini grip - Blems, OD green with black backspacer
The exact same thing happened to me when I saw the last thread on this subject lol. If I stopped reading forums I could save so much money
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2001
- Messages
- 5,442
I must agree (for the mini that is).
I have had several requests for the same style scales (as the Gold Class) but in different materials.
The bottom 2 pictured below are mine.
Awesome handle design by BM, my Ti is perfect.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2014
- Messages
- 1,161
I bought a blemished set about 6 months ago and absolutely love everything about them. Install was easy. There is no instructions, but it is pretty straight forward. Just figure out what screws go where and your good to go.
I have pics of the install if your interested.
I have pics of the install if your interested.
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2013
- Messages
- 394
Do you have to use the backspacer?
the screws thread into the backspacer so, if you wanted to try to omit it, you'd probably need to find, or make, an appropriately sized standoff that was threaded to accept the screws. I'm sure it's possible to work something out if you did some customization but you can't just omit it.
Correction, I just looked at mine again and I believe the screws pass through the spacer and thread into the other sides scale. There are only screw heads visible on one side of the knife in the region around the spacer. With that said, you'd still need some sort of standoff to keep the scales separated the appropriate distance.
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2013
- Messages
- 394
Just wondering. Thanks for the info
I bought a blemished set about 6 months ago and absolutely love everything about them. Install was easy. There is no instructions, but it is pretty straight forward. Just figure out what screws go where and your good to go.
I have pics of the install if your interested.
I just ordered a set. If you could, please send your installation pics to crawf999 at gmail dot com. Thanks, John
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2013
- Messages
- 1,173
Just when I get the M390 Ritter out of sight, out of mind... This thread pops up 
Might just have to pick up a black set with a new Ritter... I like that they will be thinner than the stocky original grips..
Might just have to pick up a black set with a new Ritter... I like that they will be thinner than the stocky original grips..