The Benchmade Griptilian is practically a household name in the knife world. It is one of Benchmade‘s most popular designs and it appears in countless variations. And for each of these variations I know there are countless reviews, but this knife has some sentimental value to me so I cant resist express my opinions on it. The Griptilian was one of my first “real knives” when I got into owning higher grade production blades. Years later and it still remains among my favorites to this day.
Purpose
Personally, the Griptilian gets pocket time when I want a larger utility knife or folding tactical blade in my pocket. I’ll occasionally EDC the full size Griptilian, sometimes paired with a smaller knife, sometimes by itself – it just depends on what I have going on that day. Benchmade also has the incredibly popular mini-Griptilian which is a shrunken-down version of the knife perfect for EDC.
General Dimensions and Blade Details
The full size Griptilian has an overall length of 8″, a 3.45″ blade and a weight of 3.25 ounces. This isn’t a small knife, but Benchmade has managed to keep the weight down (mostly due to the handle design which I will cover below). It is the perfect size for my hand, and I really like that. The Mini-Griptilian has a a 2.9″ blade, an overall length of 6.78″ and a weight of 2.56 ounces. I actually purchased a Mini-Grip first, but I ended up swapping it out for a full size because I wanted something with a full size handle. I know a lot of people who prefer the Mini-Grip for EDC – it’s all a matter of preference.
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. Both blade shapes come in 154CM stainless steel and both blade types will have a long hollow ground edge with plenty of belly. The drop point edge is very attractive to me, so that is what I ended up purchasing. It has a swedge that finishes in a fairly stout tip – good for piercing tasks. The knife was extremely sharp out of the box, which is what I would expect from a Benchmade knife. All in all this is a very nice blade which is great for EDC tasks, and 154CM is a proven steel that wears well and stays sharp.
Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip
The handle of the Griptilian is currently made of Valox, which is a fancy type of plastic resin. I know some people don’t care for this, but honestly this is a very lightweight and durable material, and I have no problem with it. The Griptilian has 420J stainless steel liners that run 3/4″ of the length of the handle. Again, no problems. What this does is give you a knife with a wicked ~3.5″ blade and a very light weight.
I will say that the handle is of closed construction (versus open or pillar construction) which makes the knife a little harder to clean. As far as ergonomics are concerned, the handle is chunky and covered with texturing. It feels good in the hand and really has some grip. However, with a handle thickness of .64″ this may be too thick of a handle for some. I don’t have a problem with it, again it will come down to your personal preference.
The pocket clip is steel and is a great no-nonsense design that is held in place with 3 small star screws. It is ambidextrous and allows for tip up carry only. All in all this is one of my favorite clips. It has great retention, buries deep and looks normal. The only potential issue is that the black finish will quickly began to wear.
Deployment and Lock
Whether you opt for the version with thumb studs or the thumb hole, the Griptilian deploys with alarming speed. Seriously, this is one of the fastest deploying and smoothest opening knives I own and it’s one of my favorite features of the knife. I’ve taken mine apart for cleaning a couple times, and Benchmade has installed some of the biggest phosphor bronze washers that I have ever seen on a folding knife. No doubt this is part of the reason why deployment is so smooth.
The Griptilian uses Benchmade’s axis lock which I have written about quite a bit in the past. It’s an excellent lock and it really works well with the Griptilian. 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. Also, the axis lock gives you a variety of ways to open and close the knife. I find myself playing around with the deployment of this knife a lot. It’s a durable locking system that allows the knife to easily be open and closed with one hand.
Full Size Griptilian vs. Mini Griptilian?
Ok, so you have decided that you want some sort of Griptilian. Often the hardest part is choosing between a full size and a mini. Well, I made a detailed comparison video for you to help make the decision a little easier (although if you aren’t careful, you will end up owning both like me. 
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Benchmade Griptilian: Final Thoughts
The Griptilian is considered to be a modern classic, and I feel that this reputation is well deserved. Benchmade started with a very functional design, and created a well made knife that is lightweight, fast, and extremely well finished. The thickness of the handle, and choice of FRN will be turn offs for some, but personally I love how the the knife feels in hand, and have no problems with the choice of handle material. My Griptilian has seen years of use, and it still finds a lot of time in my pocket. And really, that is my strongest form of endorsement. This a folder that has truly stood the test of time for me, and I totally recommend it if you are in need of a larger EDC knife, or a lightweight tactical folder.
I recommend purchasing the Griptilian from Knifecenter. They list this knife for $89, but if you fill out their price inquiry form they will offer you the knife for $73.50! After hunting around I can safely say that is the best deal you will find on this knife.
Benchmade Griptilian – $73.50
Retail Price: $105.00
You Save: $31.50
from: Knifecenter
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Classic knife with an awesome lock. I don’t love the grind, but it will do the job. FFG or high hollow grind would be better than the Grip’s low primary grind. As for the secondary grind, it is very clean, but I always think Benchmade makes them too shallow.
Your Griptilian is the thumbstud-equipped Model 551. I think the version with a Spyderco-like thumb hole (Model 550) is the best overall choice. Between the thumbhole and the multifariously “flickable” Axis lock, you get amazing deployment options for a manual knife.
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). I’ve played with one, it’s excellent.
There used to be a thumbstud version trainer too (551T); don’t know if it’s still being made.
Anon thanks for stopping by and offering up another awesome comment. My Griptilian actually got some pocket time today. This is a go-to tactical knife for me and pairs nicely with a smaller EDC blade.
I agree, the secondary grind on Benchmades are typically too thin for my taste. I had to send my Grip in for their lifesharp program and they put a nice fat secondary bevel on it – thing cuts like a laser now.
I agree that the thumbholes are slightly more practical, but I love the look of the thumb studs on this one and the knife is the smoothest, fastest deploying blade I own. I have no trouble with the thumbstuds, but I know a lot of people vastly prefer the thumbholes (and for good reason). I did not know they made a trainer, that is a big plus if you are serious about using this kind of knife to it’s fullest capacity.
Excellent review here Dan. I also concur with Aaron here about the 550 “Spydie hole.”
Thanks Drew! I need to give the 550 a chance. I have always loved the look of the 551, it has kept me from exploring the 550. I’ll have to fix that down the road. I tend to feel that thumb holes are more practical than thumb studs, but sometimes I choose form over function.
Thanks for reading.