My First Knife

chamenos

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after holding back for more than a year, i finally decided to take the plunge and scratch that itch that I've been having :)

i was initially set on getting a spyderco of some sort after doing some online research, due to it's "user" qualities (e.g. simple and rugged construction) and it's distinctive styling.

a few weeks ago i paid a visit to the local gadget shop, sheares. after handling a few models, i decided on the spyderco endura, because of it's affordability and ergonomics. i ruled out the smaller models like the delica, because i was unable to open them one handed, and they were too small to have a secure grip. models like the military and persian were too expensive for me to justify as a user/EDC knife. however, the only endura left in the shop was a tan-handled combo-edge model, but i wanted a black one so i decided to wait on the next shipment to come in.

fast forward to last week, and i went down to sheares again. they'd received a new shipment of spydercos, but the enduras were backordered, so the only endura in the shop was the same tan-handled endura in the showcase.

i had a bit of time to spare, so i played with offerings from the various brands on display, whilst taking to the guy behind the counter about the various steels, blade styles, and locking mechanisms. he mentioned that he'd just got a batch of benchmade griptilians in, so he brought out the 550s and 555s for me to peruse.

on opening the blue boxes, the first thing that struck me was the impressive packaging, like the foam inlay and the little drawstring pouch that each knife came in. i removed the 550s first, since i'd earlier decided against the more compact folders like the delica.

first impressions on the 550s were the ergonomics and build quality which were just superb. the chamfered edges of the thumbhole afforded my thumb enough purchase on the blade without whittling my thumbnail, and the blade slid open ever-so-smoothly. on pushing out the blade fully, the axis lock engaged the tang of the blade with a subtle click, without hesitance or any detectable binding of the blade prior to lock-up. all this with one hand.

i was impressed, to say the least. i also noticed full metal liners running the length of the handles unlike the spydercos, and the clip which is more securely held in it's orientation relative to the handle with three screws, instead of the cut-out in the handle like the spyderco endura/delica. i'd earlier handled a user spyderco, and noticed some side-to-side play in the clip which i wasn't too enthusiastic about, when clipping it to my pocket.

i was giving the 550s some serious consideration, when i decided to check out the 555s, just to see what it was about. now i was TRULY amazed! on seeing it's dimunative size, i expected delica-esque ergonomics but on handling it, i was proven completely wrong. i was still able to open it one handed comfortably, perhaps even more so than the 550s. in fact, the 550s now felt large and cumbersome in comparison! i spent 15 more minutes handling the mini-griptilian, before i wrote off the endura and walked out of the shop with my brand new 555s, which i've been playing/EDCing since then :D

right now i can open my 555s in a variety of very fast methods, and the 440C blade has stood up well to my sweaty palms and the humid climate here, with no signs of rust spotting whatsoever. the blade is came razor sharp, and i'm considering getting myself a sharpening kit (spyderco's tri-angle sharpening kit) so i can maintain the blade myself, as opposed to using sheares' free sharpening service. now that i've seen and experienced the axis lock for myself, i don't think any other type of lock mechanism would ever suffice ;)

i really hope this newfound hobby doesn't become a money-sucking pit though :p
 

Cmoore

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Excellent choice! I was a knife nut long before I got into flashlights; be careful, knives can drain your wallet even faster than lights,
 

Malpaso

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Great choice. I really like Benchmade knives, especially since they're made in the US.
 

sniper

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Good Choice! Same one I made. I was at the local Cabela's, considering the Gerber Air Ranger, the Strider and the Kershaw AR 3.00, but the Mini Griptilian won out. My kids had given me a gift certificate, so the cost wasn't too bad. While I was there, I showed the kid behind the counter and a customer how to use the Spyderco sharpener. It took a small folding Buck clone from dull dull dull to shaving sharp. They were impressed. The Griptilian is light, comfortable in my hand and unobtrusive, unlike the CRKT my co-worker just got from a local discount place. About like the ubiquitous Swiss Army Knife for low profile and not riling the natives & fern fondlers. I love mine.
 
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flashlight

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Hi Winston, sounds like you got yourself a great knife!

I'm another knife newbie & I'm hoping to get one of the Mini-Griptilians like the Benchmade Mini Griptilian, Drop point, Combo edge, Blue handle BM556S-BLU or Yellow Handle BM556S-YEL. Did you notice if they have any of those & if yes how much they're priced at? How much did yours cost?

Expect knives to cut a big hole in your wallet (pun intended). :D
 
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Tony2001

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My first knife was a Ken Onion plain edge blacked out Chive, small, one hand quick opening, hefty for its size & razor sharp. I loved that little knife, ended up giving it to a friend who lost it :(
 

buba

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chamenos said:
i really hope this newfound hobby doesn't become a money-sucking pit though :p

Bwahahahahahahahahah. Just wait until you discover the really really really good stuff, custom made and limited productions. Big $$$$$$$$$ just like flashlights.
 

G1ZM0

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IIRC only the mini's have full liners,the full size on has 3/4, but still there good knives. I've been a spyderco fan for a long time and I just recently started looking at BM's. I also picked up a D2 mini grip from Cabela's and it's been my EDC for the past two weeks.

You probably made the right choice on the Endura. There's an updated model due out at the end of the year. Full steel liners,adjustable pivot and an upgraded blade profile are just a few of the updates. They're also updating the Delica in a similar way. And as an added bonus there's a ZDP Delica in the new design due out early next year. If my ZDP Calypso Jr. is any indication it's going to be a great knife.
 

simbad

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My first "real" knife was a Spyderco Delica S.Steel plain edge, very comfortable for the pocket. I just have four knives and my favorite is my mini Griptilian 555 sheepfoot blade 440C.
I like small blades for EDC like 3in. max. and made of a light material like titanium. A small sebbie?
 

Jumpmaster

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Friggin' MORE COWBELL!!!
I bought an OD green Griptilian (full-size) with black blade at my local PX...GREAT price too -- packaging was just the plastic clamshell type, but that's ok. I've been very happy with it. I also have the military issue Benchmade automatic and it is even better.

Good choice there...

JM-99
 

Wolfen

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I gave a combo edge full size D2 Griptillian to a friend who is a US Marine. He took it with him to Iraq and he said he used it everyday. It came back in one piece (but dull) while a lot of his knives (S&W "brand" his dad bought for him) and other gear didn't.
 

Thertel

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Yeah, I love my Griptilian too, I bought it at the PX for 49.99 or so with no tax and i've had it for a year or so and while I've worn some of the finish off the blade its still sharp as hell (lifesharp is an awesome thing) with regular sharpening at home. I"ve even abused the knife quite a bit while camping and deep sea fishing, its been a prybar a flat head and a hammer and still works and holds up very well. Though I finally bought a Gerber LMP II ASEK for hunting, camping, and fishing.

Thomas
 

jpfaff

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My first knife was given to me by my grandfather. It was an original Cammillus Cutlery Boy Scout Knife. That's all it took. When I got that knife I treated it as though it were an HDS EDC UT 85. I still have that knive and many, many more. Whatever you choose keep 3 things in mind. A knive is only as good as it is made. A knive can only cut as good as it is sharp. And finally, A knive is only good as the person who cares for it.
Jason
 

GadgetTravel

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buba said:
Bwahahahahahahahahah. Just wait until you discover the really really really good stuff, custom made and limited productions. Big $$$$$$$$$ just like flashlights.

Im not into knives yet (although I fear I am getting close ;) ) although when I was a kid (50 now) I had a few pocket knives I really liked (Boy Scout knife and some others). I really took care of them, cleaning, sharpening and such. But I was at a sporting good store in New York (Paragon Sports) getting yet another Surefire when I took a look at the knives in the cabinet a few feet away. Saw one that looked real nice and looked at the price, $1200 - holy crap. One next to it was $2000. Cheapest one in that case was $900. Geez. They did have other cases with other knives, including lots of Benchmades if I recall correctly, which looked very nice. I'll have to give the Benchmades a closer look now that I see how highly people think of them. Just what I need..... ;)
 

chmsam

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Paragon is a VERY high end knife store -- lots of nice custom made knives. Rather like going to look for a new family car and walking into the Bentley dealership.

As for Benchmades, I've been buying them for many years and have never been disappointed, regardless of the price range. Very good choices of steel. They hold an edge and are easy to sharpen. Easy to keep the pivots and locks clean, too. Good choice of grip materials and I really like the number of blade designs they offer. In fact, the combo edge Mini-Griptillian is the only serrated edge I bother to carry.

Now, have you heard about their balisongs?... :naughty:
 

RA40

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One of my earliest memories was wandering the California Custom Knife Show back in '88 or so (It was at a hotel near LAX at the time.) I was taken by some knives by a guy named Earnest Emmerson. Back then his locking liners were $500 and that was a shocking price to pay for a knife.

Feeling rejected, I bought a Spyderco Centofantes. It is still with me wbut well worn. The tip has been broken, the rubber inserts are gone, the lock bar goes all the way to the opposite side...:(

$500 is still plenty of $$$ but I see the craftsmanship a whole new way these days.

I still would like a Benchmade.
 

chamenos

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thanks for all the encouraging comments!

it's been about two weeks since i got my mini-griptilian, and i'm still 100% satisfied with it. there's nothing i'd change on the knife, at least not for my intended use. it's not often i can say something like that about stuff i buy, since i tend to be pretty anal about all the little details :thumbsup:

the only maintenance i've done on it so far is cleaning some sticky residue off the blade with paint thinner (from opening the packaging for my black A2 :D ), rinsing it under tap water, and oiling the pivot and lock mechanism. i know benchmade recommends miltec, but i've been using some break-free CLP that i have. so far so good!

i must say that i really, really like the axis lock. so much so that i don't think i'd ever buy another knife with a run of the mill lockback or liner lock, at least not for EDC or hard use. the axis lock has all the dynamics and tactility of a ball-detent mechanism, yet it's design is so elegantly simple and fail-proof that i dare say it's almost as safe as a fixed-blade knife!

my 555s usually rides clipped on my waistband, and it's so slim and lightweight that i sometimes forget it's there; i nearly sent it into the washing machine on a few occasions, and i carry it with me even when i sometimes leave my EDC flashlight at home!

g1zm0, in view of your post i'm glad i didn't decide on the endura. there's nothing i hate more than having something i just bought become obselete. i might have to check out the updated endura when it gets released :)

right now i'm already eyeing the benchmade model 42 (why yes i HAVE, chmsam! :naughty: ), spyderco persian and civilian, though of course they're all still on my wish-list. i guess you guys were correct, and i spoke too soon in my first post! the benchmade model 42 is right at the top of that wish-list though ;)

gadgettravel and ra40, do check out the benchmades if you haven't done so already. compare benchmade's offerings with their competitors, and you'll see what the hype is all about. i'm quite sure you won't be disappointed! IMO it's all the little details that add up; e.g. torx screws instead of steel rivets, pivot washers, practical choice of blade steels & heat treatment, overall fit and finish, ergonomics, and last but not least the fantastic axis lock! (at least on the models which are offered with it)

flashlight, i'm not sure if sheares had the blue-handled 556 in stock, as bernard had them in the store room, not on display. i'd call before going down personally though.

what do you guys think of the spyderco triangle sharpmaker set? are there any other kits i should consider? keep in mind i'm a newbie, and an average user at that, so nothing too fancy or expensive :)

anyway, back to playing with my new EDC toy!!! :D
 

03lab

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Great choice, the 555s was also my first *real* knife. I sold it to get a large Doug Ritter Griptilian though. ;)
 
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