Wirecutter

The Mini Griptilian has a steep price tag, but it’s better than the others by nearly every measure. The distinctive blade-locking system and movable pocket clip make this knife fully ambidextrous.

amazon.com

 I think the Mini-Grip really hits on both of those things. While it leans slightly more towards the "hard use" end of the pool, the Mini-Grip comes close to being a perfectly balanced EDC knife. If you're going to exceed the $50.00 range with one knife, I would recommend that it be this knife

 Super impressed. I guess what I'm saying is that even though fit and finish aren't perfect, you may be perfectly assured they'll make it right if you aren't happy. These people are serious about keeping customers, and I don't doubt this is part of that hefty initial price-tag.  Ease of Maintenance:  Another POTENTIAL problem area

 Put more plainly, it will hold a "utility edge" (can't shave with it but still quite useful) for a really, really long time. Easily a competitor to s30v.  Deployment Method: One-handed ambidextrous. Very old school, field-tested-and-approved thumb studs, both average in size and shape

 I won't wear this knife with suits or khaki pants because it will readily tear them up. Even my cargo shorts and jeans wear noticeably after clipping this knife quite a bit. You can cure this by working the clip and sanding the contact point, but from the factory, beware and guard your pants!  2. Discretion - not great here, either

Fantastic EDC but pocket shredder

 My pinkie is hanging off the back of the thing and so it doesn't really feel like its firmly in my hand. Came very sharp. As Far as the Axis lock goes I have a few knives by a Chinese maker that does it better in my opinion .(yes I know they stole it) Could just be that they fit my hand better

) Nice little knife but I wouldn't buy again as there are too many others at this price point that feel better in the hand and are US made.

…..) Nice little knife but I wouldn't buy again as there are too many others at this price point that feel better in the hand and are US made.

Wanted to love it

  The AXIS lock is very nice, and always feels secure with no movement of the blade. I've had frame and liner locked blades feel like they could move, especially if you opened the blade gently and did not get a firm *click* into place, and this is a very good solution with no drawbacks. I had never used one before this purchase, but it is the most quality locking mechanism I've ever felt and my favorite feature of the knife now.  The overall size is exactly what I wanted

 The grip also feels solid and quality, although some pictures seem "plasticy" in appearance. In my focused attempts at twisting or deforming it did not flex or yield in any way. It looks and feels like a quality piece of functional hardware. No frills or decorations, but strong and useful construction

 I work in an industrial plant and wanted a quality knife that I wouldn't be afraid to use when I need it. I have used it for shaving debris off of rollers, cutting various sized air hoses, plastic tie wraps, small cables, gasket materials, etc..

Great EDC choice

 Sometimes it's smooth sometimes its a bit rough. The blade shape is great, the thumb studs are okay although I prefer holes over studs, as far as studs go they are very functional. My main problem with the knife is the distance between the thumb ramp area on the spine and the finger choil. When I hold the knife I keep wanting to put my index finger on the base of the blade because the finger choil area on the handle is too low on the knife relative to the thumb ramp

It's alright. The materials and quality construction/fit and finish prompt me to give it four stars. If construction wasn't so great and all I had was the design to base my review on I would give it three stars.  The knife came fairly sharp, it shaves hair but can't whittle hair in the air

Solid knife

 My mini grip didn't come super hair shaving sharp out of the box like all my Spyderco knives but it was still better than my kershaw / cold steel knives brand new.  Honestly my only main gripe is how the knife feels in hand. It's not bad, but not comfortable for me. Keep in my mind this is just my opinion

good knife, but in my opinion not that comfortable to hold

 Their warranty is by far the best I've dealt with in a long time, no questions asked regarding my issue. They're also taking care of me and are sending out a free deep carry pocket clip on top of it (something anyone with a benchmade can request, there's a few other sweet models to choose from). With my main problem taken cared of and putting the knife through it's paces over the weekend I can safely say I love the thing already. The axis lock is nice when needing one handed operation

 The response was very fast, something not very common with other vendors, and pleasant at that. While they where taking care of me on their side I was also speaking with benchmade via email. Their warranty is by far the best I've dealt with in a long time, no questions asked regarding my issue. They're also taking care of me and are sending out a free deep carry pocket clip on top of it (something anyone with a benchmade can request, there's a few other sweet models to choose from)

Updated review: If you get it, get it from NetRush

 I should note that the 2 Sanremu's are the same size as the Benchmade. Being a bigger guy, I need something with a little more heft.  I'm actually very disappointed right now. I really wanted to like the Benchmade, but when it seems like it's of lesser quality (build/tolerance, not blade steel quality) than the other 2, I can't do anything with it, other than return it and buy something else

 I've collected knives for nearly 40 years, and honestly can't believe the lack of quality in this knife. After seeing many posts in blade forums and Facebook groups, it seems that sadly, I'm not alone. Many others I've spoken with have gotten sub-par quality Griptillians. I can understand getting lesser quality when you buy the lower end knives from any manufacturer, but this is just unacceptable

I guess I'll be the first to give this knife a low rating.

Not much I can add to what others have said. Great size, durable and SHARP. The 154CM steel holds an edge for a good long time. Haven't had to try to resharpen yet so I can't say how that will go

Couldn't ask for more.

  The axis lock isn't the strongest out there but I like how you can flick it open like a normal folder or just pull on the release and swing it open.  The one negative that I have with it is the price. Benchmade still uses 154cm on this model which is a decent steel but I feel as if they should offer a higher grade steel in 2016.

I have to say that it is probably the best folding knife locking mechanism out there for ease of ...

rei.com

bladereviews.com

r/knives

 It also locks shut, which is nice. For the price, you won't find a better pocket knife. Elegant comfort and simplicity.

 I used my Idahone V-type ceramic rod knife sharpener to put a real nice paper-cutting edge on this - it may not be quite as sharp as carbon but it's plenty sharp, and it's pretty easy to sharpen. It's still holding that edge well after a few weeks.  Most people focus on the blade when they buy a knife - what kind of steel is it, etc. That's important, but what's equally important and often overlooked, especially with folding knives, is the handle

I dinged it a star because it wasn't all that sharp out of the box. They offer a carbon steel version, but the steel on this blade is Sandvik, which holds a nice, sharp edge. I prefer stainless because I kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and sail, and because I use my pocket knife to slice fruits and veggies sometimes when I'm away from home eating lunch, etc. If you risk exposing the knife to moisture or acidic foods on a regular basis stainless is much less maintenance

  Most people focus on the blade when they buy a knife - what kind of steel is it, etc. That's important, but what's equally important and often overlooked, especially with folding knives, is the handle. Most folding knives have a squared off, thin handle with relatively "sharp" edges, which makes them somewhat uncomfortable to work with. This knife has a rounded ergonomic handle that feels right in the hand

This is a great pocket knife

 Moreover there's no way this can be used with one hand to open/close. I wouldn't trust this for anything more than light use. If you really want something lightweight that you can trust but isn't expensive, I would spend a little more on a Kershaw or CRKT, or if you really want to be able to trust your knife go for a Spyderco or Benchmade.  These are probably knives I'd pack in a picnic basket, or use to teach someone some basics about handling knives, but I wouldn't really trust them for more of an application beyond that

 If you really want something lightweight that you can trust but isn't expensive, I would spend a little more on a Kershaw or CRKT, or if you really want to be able to trust your knife go for a Spyderco or Benchmade.  These are probably knives I'd pack in a picnic basket, or use to teach someone some basics about handling knives, but I wouldn't really trust them for more of an application beyond that. I don't think I would use a blade with this shape to teach someone how to sharpen though. The value is okay for the money but they're definitely overrated compared to the actual quality/quality control you receive

 Easy to sharpen, but this means the edge probably doesn't last that long.  Otherwise, from a usage standpoint, it's a thin blade and the shape really emphasizes the sudden turn of the belly after the flat part . This makes it a slight bit trickier to sharpen for novices, along with the subtle dip in the flat part of the blade, so one should pay special attention to those spots that 1) you're catching them on your stone and 2) you're not changing your angle on them. In general the characteristics unsurprisingly lend themselves well to cutting food so these make for a better picnic knife

Overrated, poor quality control

  The locking ring is extremely gritty. It feels as if it was used at the beach and got full of sand.  Sometimes it can't be moved all the way round in one go. The grit will make it bind up, and it has to be worked back and forth to loosen it

  Will I return it? No, I want an Opinel, so I have to work with what I've got. I'll hone the blade, sand the splinters of wood out of the handle groove and pop the lock ring off to clean out the grit.  I'm a knife hobbyist and thus capable of doing all of this, but not everybody is, and they shouldn't have to either. I paid for a finished product but received a project

Used to be a $10 with the quality of a $20 knife. Now a $20 knife with the quality of a $10 knife.

 The wood handle shrinks and expands with changes in humidity, which can make the blade stick slightly. It also is less durable than FRN, G-10 or other common handle materials. The ring lock is hard to use with wet, slippery hands. It really ought to be knurled

 BAD: The blade is thin and won't stand up to heavy-duty tasks. It also has a clip-point profile (like a Bowie knife) which tends to make the tip delicate and easy to break off. The wood handle shrinks and expands with changes in humidity, which can make the blade stick slightly. It also is less durable than FRN, G-10 or other common handle materials

Functional, elegant, cheap, light-duty

 As a matter of fact, my only complaint is that it is too difficult to open. I have short finger nails and engaging the groove on top of the blade to lift it out of the body is not easy. The groove should be higher and deeper. I find myself using my teeth (yuk) or a coin to lift the blade out of the body

The best thing about this knife is it's size, weight, and portability. It has only one blade which I like as other tools that are features on other pocket knives don't get in the way. The locking feature is clever but not really needed. This knife will never open by itself

Nice garden Knife but could be improved

 No high-tech, futuristic, open-assist, pocket clipping, combo straight/serrated-edge, seat belt-cutting notch, "tactical" blade here ... just a piece of beautiful history that anyone can afford, or afford to give as a gift to someone who will appreciate such nostalgic, yet practical things

 Inexpensive, dutiful, durable, practical, ingenious by design. The blades are fairly thin and the Virobloc blade-locking ring (patented in 1955) is absolutely brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness. No high-tech, futuristic, open-assist, pocket clipping, combo straight/serrated-edge, seat belt-cutting notch, "tactical" blade here .

Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556 vs Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Pocket Knife

Reviews by Topic

Durability

Weight

QUICK QUESTION!

You might also like