BenchmadeGriptilian 551SBK-S30V EDC Knife with Black Handle (551SBK-S30V)

The problem with most pocket knives now days is millennials are designing them for their fragile small hands. This means the rest of us normal hard working people who use real tools are left with pocket knives that you can't get a good grip on or don't fill the hand. This handle is perfect size for a pocket knife, (stop using the term EDC or every day carry people. This is not a pistol.) It's not too small and it is not too big for your pocket. It is also pretty light weight, where it rides nice in the pocket, but not cheap feeling and still has a little weight to let you know you have a knife in your hand. Well the blade is small, it is not too small and works surprising well at every day tasks. I would not want a blade any smaller for a pocket knife. I had one of these for many years and lost it. I was so happy with it I just bought another and now they are made with even better steel, SV30.If you've handled the bugout and thought, "this is just a little small for my hands and feels like my hands would slip up on the blade under heavy use", then try this griptilian before they are gone. It is the perfect size for office use to warehouse use, and will even work for some bigger jobs. Benchmade is not making these anymore, to my knowledge.This pocket knife will last and is quality build. (just don't loose it or you won't be able to find another)

I have found the perfect EDC blade for me. The s30v steel is a great balance of good edge retention and ease of sharpening. The fit and finish were perfect out of the box. Dead center blade positioning with zero play side to side or up and down. The clip is firm and rugged and easy to pocket and to deploy. Ergonomics in a knife are a very personal thing.What feels comfortable to one user may not work for another. So many hand sizes and shapes, it's like finding those gloves that fit perfectly. You can't be certain until you try them on and use them. The plump handle fits my large hands like that perfect glove. The handle material is glass filled nylon...kinda like plastic on steroids. But don't let that sway you. This handle is plenty rugged enough for daily tasks and more and it reduces weight substantially. It disappears in pocket and carries extremely comfortably.The action on this knife is as smooth as butter...fast and flicky. A pure joy to open and close one-handed.The axis lock system is amazing. After you deploy the blade using the thumb stud, your thumb is already in postion to access the axis lock with no repositioning required. It's a fluid and natural motion. Your fingers are never in the path of the closing blade.I carry a knife every day and have done so for over 5 decades. It's a tool. A tool for cutting stuff. I have carried many brands and models. After a while, it becomes an extension of your soul. I have found my newest soulmate.

I hadn't had a decent pocket knife in awhile so I started my research. SO many choices to choose from but it's easy when you look at longevity and reputation. There are other knife companies that have been around a bit longer but Benchmade has certainly made a name for themselves in the years they have been around.All the reviews I saw convinced me to give them a try and what a great choice that was! My first Benchmade was the mini Griptilian with the serrated blade. It was a great tool but I decided to try this version with out the serrated edge and now this is without a doubt my favorite pocket knife. It's very easy to open with a push from your thumb, and with locking release button, it's very easy to close.The clip on the side is very sturdy and you can clip it right into a pocket and it will stay secure and not go anywhere until you grab it for use. I like the all black including the blade and just has a very nice look to it. Strong but small enough to carry without noticing you even have it with you. It's an amazing pocket knife and I've purchased a few others as gifts. I used many other knives but Benchmade is rapidly becoming my favorite. If you are on the fence, buy this and you won't regret it.

This is my first higher end EDC knife let alone my first Benchmade. I can tell you, this will not be last Benchmade either. Not because of anything wrong with this knife because everything about this knife is pure perfection. I’ve had several other brand knives from Gerber, SOG, and Hershaw to name a few and they don’t hold a candle to a Benchmade. S30V steel, this thing holds an edge that’s razor sharp. The Griptilian 551 is smooth in blade unfolding and folding. The locking mechanism is great and easy to use one handed. The weight is great! Lighter than my Hershaw. Comparing this to my Hershaw is easy, it’s just better in every way. My Hershaw I had to sharpen 1-2 times a week, the blade just wouldn’t hold an edge and the burr would roll pretty easily where you could even see it looking down the edge. The Griptilian, I’m on two weeks of normal usage for me, and I have had to sharpen it yet. I can still take a piece of paper and it still goes through it like it’s not even there. I’m now a huge Benchmade fan!

It's not a flawless knife out of the box. The lock when I got it was very stiff, edge was Dull, and the opening was hard. To the people who give it a 2 star for this just fix it yourself it isn't difficult, this knife is an investment, you can easily keep it for your entire life. So I took mine out of the box, cleaned it, lubricated the action, used a proper sharpener to out a razor edge on it, and played with the lubricated action for about an hour to loosen it up. Then after some time it was a flawless, perfect knife, people forget these are hand made, sharpened and assembled by a dude on a bench in a warehouse. Any issues you might have can easily be resolved because the guy putting it together isn't perfect, so make it perfect for yourself when you get it. The blade holds an edge amazing and sharpens pretty easily. Great knife