Have a Griptilian? Which blade?

S

stwm

Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
957
Thumb studs? Hole? Tanto? Sheepsfoot?
Get a bugout?
I'm suddenly wanting an axis lock. I'd particularly like feedback from anyone who has used the tanto blade. Are thumb studs really evil?
Thanks!
 
Ahhhh YES !
Now that's a knife.
Handle shape, superior cutting performance right out of the box (a rare thing I find), great and easily usable lock/release. This thing has it all and super light.

Thumb studs?
Yes they are fine. Mine has these.

Hole?
I only have one Griptillian so can't say but since this is a fairly wide knife a hole would add even more to the width so I would skip it and my Doug Ritter is the best for me due to the M390 steel and stone washed blade finish so that is partly why I didn't pine for the hole.

Tanto?
Pointless, (pun intended), awful, evil things; I'm holding up two index fingers, making a cross with them and backing away hissing.

Sheepsfoot?
OK but I like some belly in a do all knife. For sheepsfoot I like a smaller slip joint like a Case Swayback or a sailer's knife with marlin spike (spike comes in handy on dry land too) and carry it in addition to a larger do all knife such as the Griptillian

The blade shape on my Griptillian is describe as : Doug's wide-chord and robust drop point blade design. I don't usually go for such a tall blade, I like slender blades more along the lines of the 940 or a Case Trapper or a Spyderco Endura 4

This Doug Ritter designed blade as an actual work knife performed super well though (I would hate a tanto).

Get a bugout?
I don't have one and at this point am not attracted to it. I would by far want the superior handle of the Griptillian. Be warned the Griptillian handle does take up some pocket space though. It's thick. I carry it in a pouch. WORTH IT !

I'm suddenly wanting an axis lock.
Heck yah dude, (I'm nearly sixty but don't act it so I talk like that . . . sorry)
. . . ahhhhhh . . . where was I . . .
. . .
oh yah yes get the knife for the axis lock; good stuff, I just got a 940 just for the superior performance of the axis spring force in that knife (easy to use) and is the same in the Griptillian. Just right.
 
Last edited:
There's nothing wrong with my Ritter's thumb studs and that's coming from a big Spyderco fan.

1BvYZ7E.jpg


Out of all the blade shapes I think the Ritter has a win as well. It's a great all around blade shape. My Ritter mini grip has thee smoothest action out of all my knives(even competes with bearings!). They pop up on the exchange quite often if you keep an eye out. No matter the blade, you'll like the Axis Lock.
 
I have two mini grips the Ritter and the 555-1, which is the Sheepsfoot with hole opener with upgraded steel and scales. Coming from long familiarity with Spyderco products, the hole version seemed like a natural place to start with Benchmade. However, I totally agree with Wowbagger and McFeeli, the Rittter blade in M390 is the best performer here. My Ritter Grip came a nice even grind and an absolutely perfect Axis system. Centering, lockup, deployment, drop closing, etc, all better than any other BMK I've ever sampled. I don't know if the Ritters were given an extra tweak or more love in the manufacturing process, or if that's just luck of the draw. My original intention was to install aftermarket grips, but it's just so sweet as it is, I don't want to mess with it. All that said, I'm pretty tempted to try a Bugout because it's got a little more edge in a similarly sized package (over the mini grip anyway) and it's about an ounce lighter, which matters a lot to me. The Grips are very sturdy knives, though and pretty lightweight for what you get.

If I had to pare down to only a couple of knives, the Ritter would be one for sure (a 940 would be the other).
 
Last edited:
Wowbagger said:
Tanto?
Pointless, (pun intended), awful, evil things; I'm holding up two index fingers, making a cross with them and backing away hissing.
Click to expand...

Tanto

QXsUqPk.jpg


Tan to has a reinforced point, not sure what the pun was? :rolleyes: Tanto's are very useful and user friendly work knives. The Tanto, not american but traditional

Wowbagger said:
Sheepsfoot?
OK but I like some belly in a do all knife. For sheepsfoot I like a smaller slip joint like a Case Swayback or a sailer's knife with marlin spike (spike comes in handy on dry land too) and carry it in addition to a larger do all knife such as the Griptillian
Click to expand...

You do realize that the Case Swayback Jack and Gents knife have Wharncliffe blades which is different than a Sheepsfoot. Just so you know in the future.

Sheepsfoot

U3Obirx.jpg


f8pFYEZ.jpg


Wharncliffe

GUyKGNz.jpg


Hj9zV7o.jpg
 
T. Erdelyi said:
so you know in the future.
Click to expand...
:) :thumbsup:

Sorry to speak so generally. I didn't want to be too wordy with too much stuff for the OP to desipher.
Yah . . . I know . . . first time right ?
Mostly I meant belly for general use good. Straight edge (including tantos ) not as versatile .
 
Wowbagger said:
Mostly I meant belly for general use good
Click to expand...

I only got my 551 this year, I've had an axis lock since the first days and same for BM in general, as long as they've made knives I've had one. The 551 and the mini grip certainly owned up to their reputation as one of the best all around knives out there. You'd be hard pressed to find a better combination of features and price point than the Griptillian series. You're correct it has plenty of belly for general use.

As far as too much info or more info than the OP needs or wants? Accurate is much better than inaccurate or vague. In the end we all just want to help, I just feel that it's much easier to take the time and insure the info I put forth to the OP correct and I can show them why if they need a source. It's so much harder undo misinformation or vague information than it is to start off with the right info, even if it's indirectly related to the post. You agree with that don't you?
 
Just my opinion, but I feel that the Benchmade modified SF is the best designed blade I have ever used for the type of EDC I do. As for Tantos, they have their merits and I like the look of them, but I only EDC them occasionally.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
As far as too much info or more info than the OP needs or wants? Accurate is much better than inaccurate or vague. In the end we all just want to help, I just feel that it's much easier to take the time and insure the info I put forth to the OP correct and I can show them why if they need a source. It's so much harder undo misinformation or vague
Click to expand...

As much as I like to argue, I can not argue with that. :thumbsup:
 
I have a mini grip with the sheepsfoot blade and spydie hole. LOVE IT - not a fan of thumb studs. But to me the perfect combo is the Ritter blade with spydie hole - if I could get it.
 
Oh, I forgot--then you gotta go get scales for all except the 550-1. :rolleyes:
 
The 551 Knifeworks exclusive is probably the Griptilian I personally would buy at the moment since their Labor Day sale drops it down to a very good price. I may just pull the trigger on one--Micarta and m390, hard to beat.
 
I have minis in all the blade shapes. My preference there is :
Ritter, then sheepfoot (the hollow ground 154CM blades), drop point, sheepfoot (sabre grind 20CV and custom shop blades), tanto.

I'm pretty much neutral on studs vs opening holes so the above is more a visual appeal, cutting geometry and even steel type preference - shocking that I'd take hollow ground 154CM before sabre ground 20CV!

My full size preference is much the same save that I have a gold class M4 drop point that I like as much as my Ritters but that's also because of the carbon fibre scales.
 
Personally, I would have to say Ritter is #1, and Sheepsfoot w/hole is second. Drop point places third with the Tanto as the tail.

Above is just my personal preferences, however, I have owned nothing but drop point Grips. I am now down to one in D2 steel with orange scales.:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: vba
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top