I think that a knife is one of the most essential elements to any wardrobe. Personally, I would no more forget to put on pants in the morning than forget to put a knife in my pocket. While fixed-blades certainly are far more durable and easy to use, they are often bulky and awkward to carry. As such, most of us will rarely carry anything more than a folding knife. A knife that is to be carried everyday must fulfill some basic requirements. First, it must be comfortable to carry, it must be sharp, and it must comfortable and safe to use. For me, this means that it must have a strong lock and a sturdy pocket clip.
The Benchmade Griptilian meets many of these requirements. My model is the tanto version, or 553, while the drop point one is called the 551. The tanto Griptilian has a blade length of 3.45”, which is just about right to be useful for most everyday tasks, yet long enough to be utilized for self-defense if the case should require it. The blade is made of 145CM, which is one of my favorite steels for its amazing edge-holding ability, yet it is still a very corrosion-resistant steel. In every case I have seen, 145CM trumps AUS8, the most popular knife-making steel today.
The 553’s blade is wicked sharp, while still being quite thick for durability. This is one of my favorite features of the tanto blade design, that it has a thick, sturdy blade, but still retains a needle sharp point. The Griptilian’s blade is VERY sharp, and the serrations which run half-way up the blade are of the ideal dimensions for cutting fibrous material like rope. Mine is no longer shaving sharp, as I have now used it for several years, but I am certain that with little effort I could return it to the state that I bought it in. The blade is opened with dual thumb-studs, which are well sized to not interfere with the carry of the knife, but large enough to be easily used to snap the blade open.
The Griptilian uses Benchmade’s proprietary AXIS lock, which I believe is far stronger than a traditional liner lock, and allows the blade to be closed with either hand. The handle is made of plastic and fills my hand almost perfectly. This makes for a rather wide cross-section, making the Griptilian difficult to carry in tight areas, like the waistband (or at least my waistband). True to its name, the Griptilian’s scales (handle pieces, to the uninitiated) have a diamond pattern in them and also posses strategically placed ridges on the front and back to give the fingers purchase. The clip, which carries the knife in the tip-up position, is strong and does not interfere with the hand when using the knife. There is also a provision to change the clip to the other side of the handle, making this a truly ambidextrous knife, with the ability to open, close, and carry the knife with either hand.
The Griptilian has long been one of my favorite do-it-all knives, which can handle chores on the farm or protect against thugs equally well. There are many variations of it available, from the plain drop-point non-serrated 551 at $105 to the black-coated, serrated tanto 553, priced at $120. Although some may find these prices a little steep, one must pay for quality, and that is exactly what you will get with this knife. Besides, they can usually be found for at least $10-20 less than the list price at a sporting-goods store, especially during sales. I picked up mine for $75 at a store that was closing. I would give this knife a 9 out of 10 score for everyday carry. Its thickness is the only thing keeping this knife from a perfect score.
