If you want something higher end, then go for the 551-1, or the 556-1. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. heading south. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Plus you’re buying something that will always be on you, unlike many other purchases one might make for that kind of money. The locking mechanism works great. This is my first Benchmade since the MPR was released and just as happy with it as when I got that little beast and before that it was the Sentinel. Have you had any trouble with yours? Before I owned a knife equipped with the axis lock, I was a little concerned about the durability of the axis lock spring. Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2020. I have it in my best EDC knife section because I love the quality and the functionality of it. This is a go-to tactical knife for me and pairs nicely with a smaller EDC blade. Beautiful knife but action is horribly stiff *update to 5 stars*, Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2019, Beautiful knife, and Benchmades great customer service, Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2018. Excellent review here Dan. At first I was worried about the knife slipping out of my hand while in use. As far as ergonomics are concerned, the handle is chunky and covered with texturing. “BM9051BK” “9052SBK AFOII” “14702SBK” “600001OSBK” Am retired Game Warden with concealed carry permits in Florida and New York so I don’t believe buying or owning is an issue. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. I love the blue spacers, very cool. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Benchmade to anyone in the market for a quality edc knife. If I was only going to have one pocket knife, it would be this one. It seems to me that Spyderco excels in ergonomics, and Benchmade does the same in build quality, both are awesome knife manufactures. With that said, the original 551 is still as serviceable as it ever was, and remains one of my all time favorite pocket knives. The plastic handle feels similar to polymer pistols. The other thing, if you’re overly aggressive in deploying the knife, yup, it’s gonna get sticky. Deep carry pocket clip is nice. Another interesting comparison is with the Benchmade Bugout: I like the comparison because in many ways the Griptilian was the original lightweight folding knife, and the Bugout can almost be considered a refinement. This was after years of people complaining about the plastic handles of the original 551. When sharpening, a few passes on a fine ceramic rod and a leather strop should freshen it up in no time. However, now that I am married and have two children I have to worry about what someone else may think. Guys, this is night and day difference. I assure you that there are many more to come. Thank you for stopping by. Depending on whether you are looking at the thumb hole version or the thumb stud version the knife will have either a sheepsfoot blade with a thumb hole or a drop point blade. I know some people don’t care for the Valox handle because it has a lightweight and the plasticy feel. I find myself playing around with the deployment of this knife a lot. I like them both quite a bit. Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2018. The only potential issue is that the black finish will quickly began to wear like mine has. Decided on Benchmade. I have a couple of models in mind. I also concur with Aaron here about the 550 “Spydie hole.”. Thank you very much. Weighting and balance is perfect. But, onto this Griptilian…. Here is a picture of the original Griptilian, the 551-1, and a Doug Ritter Griptilian with Wilkins GRIP aftermarket G-10 handles: The G-10 version is awesome, but it’s also about $100 more than the regular version. Blade release is tremendous, particularly if you find yourself with slippery hands. I finally caved and bought a new one. There is a lot of weight in the blade which makes it easy to really flip the knife out fast and it makes for a solid lockup. Dan, I tend to feel that thumb holes are more practical than thumb studs, but sometimes I choose form over function. Since I went into such detail in that article, I won’t re-hash it here, but it’s worth checking out if you want to compare the 2 knives. Anon thanks for stopping by and offering up another awesome comment. He is recognized as an authority on daily carry knives and has consulted with knife companies on product design. I had a steel leatherman that I dropped on the pavement one time and the clip snapped off. I have no trouble with the thumbstuds, but I know a lot of people vastly prefer the thumbholes (and for good reason). Its an ok knife. My Griptilian came a day early which is always awesome and I spent the afternoon fidgeting with the knife! The axis lock is very smooth, and opening and closing the knife is smooth too. (China) and I will return it because it is indeed cheap. I can’t really answer that, because everyone is different and value is relative. Value, at this price point, clearly exceeds expectations. This post contains affiliate links. This knife is a beauty, and I love carrying it, and will continue to use it for as long as I own it. These dimensions make the Mini Grip ideal for EDC. For me this knife is perfect. I don’t love the grind, but it will do the job. He grew up using pocket knives, and the decision to start the website stemmed from his fascination of all things sharp combined with a deep passion for writing. With the Mini Griptilian, the blade is very substantial and sharp. Last Updated: November 30, 2019 Filed Under: Benchmade, EDC Knives, Folding Knives, Made in the USA, Recommended EDC Knives, Recommended Tactical Knives, Tactical Knives, USA Made EDC Knives Tagged With: 154cm, axis lock, FRN, Mel Pardue. I’ve got a Paramilitary 2 on back order (big surprise! It’s going back. The blade is very sharp and seems to hold its edge better than most. I recommend purchasing the Griptilian from Amazon or BladeHQ. From the video the blade on the mini doesn’t seem too small for my needs but I guess the true test would be to go and hold both to truly know which one but I am seeing the possibility of wanting both becoming a reality! Richard, first of all good choice I believe stepping up to Benchmade! , Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2019. No, no trouble at all with any of my BM’s omega springs. Overall a very professional, friendly, and great experience. One great thing about the Grip as a tactical knife is that Benchmade makes a high quality, factory trainer (blunt practice knife) for the thumbhole version (550T). See all details for Benchmade - Griptilian 550-S30V Knife with CPM-S30V Steel, Sheepsfoot... © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The handle is held together with screws and everything is nicely finished. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. So I called Benchmade and ordered a satin deep carry pocket clip. Best Survival Knives The main reason I bought this knife is for EDC, and to be carried on me while doing my everyday things. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Top subscription boxes – right to your door. Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2020. Dan, After picking up the Griptilian, my view on folding knives has changed, this 551 seems like the ultimate in American made ingenuity! I’d prefer this plastic over steel, which is less durable and less comfortable. Some are either very small, or very thin, and they are nice when you need something that disappears in your pocket. A gateway blade into the world of high end pocket knives. Rich. Learn how your comment data is processed. Although this is an older review, I still carry and use both my full size and mini grip. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Color: Black Nylon Handle/Satin Finish/Plain Edge, Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019, Let me start by saying this. I’m not keeping this thing. Props to benchmade for keeping American manufacturing alive, and for making my money worth it and giving me the greatest knife I’ve ever owned. Best EDC Knives Thanks for dropping by and offering some thoughts, Darren. I have always loved the look of the 551, it has kept me from exploring the 550. I appreciate all of you and your knowledge and experience. The open/close mechanism takes a little getting used to but once you do, it's always a quick one-handed operation. I own two Benchmade knives, the Griptilian and Mini Barrage. The knife's fit and finish was spot on for what your paying for and should get everytime from Benchmade. The handle looks, feels and is cheap. Short Form: There is a very Zen aesthetic to doing something very ordinary and doing it spectacularly well. I don't leave home without it. Please explain to me the pros and cons of the thumb “hole” opening vs the thumb “stud” opening. If you are at all like me, you may be on the fence about whether to get this full size Griptilian or the Mini Grip. Thank you, Darren. 154CM is a proven steel and is a good fit for a working man’s knife like the Griptilian.