Griptilian 551 plain edge - Benchmade 551 Griptilian Knife w/ 3.5in Blade by Pardue Design

I suppose that I have to be called a "knife nut." I now have too many knives, and keep looking for the "perfect" one for me. I have a hard time understanding that "perfect" is not about to happen, to anyone, particularly when choosing a knife. But I keep trying. Over the last thirty years or so, especially, when the first of the fast-opening folding knives showed up. I used Kershaw a lot; also Gerber and Buck (neither quick-opening), Zero Tolerance,Spiderco, and a few others. Some for longer spells, others for shorter ones. I settled on a Griptilian with a serrated blade a couple of years ago, and have carried it almost exclusively since then. I say "almost," because occasionally I have substituted a Spiderco and a ZT of my liking. Usually for only a couple of days, before I return to my Griptilian. It is just matches my uses too well. I decided that I wanted a plain edge Griptilian because I can sharpen and use the whole blade for slicing (about anything that needs it). I just recently bought that Griptilian from Optics Planet and so am writing this review.

The blade steel is 154CM. It is coated or anodized black. I note on my old Griptilian that that substance is very hard, though it will wear off with time, it is not easily scratched or removed. The blade is hard enough to keep a good edge, and soft enough to still be easy to hone to razor sharp with just a few strokes. I use ceramic sticks for that, where a decade ago I was using a fine black Arkansas bench stone. Using the ceramic sticks is just a lot easier to get the blade angle right than on a bench stone or diamond bench sharpener. The weight of the knife is perfect for my carrying habit, which is to carry in the right hand chest pocket of a flapped, two-pocket shirt. It is extraordinarily fast to access with either hand and easy to open either with the thumb stud or with the unlocking mechanism and a flick of the wrist. It will not open accidentally, even if it is dropped, unlike many knives, even good ones. It can be opened, but also closed, with a single hand, unlike some other knives. It is a totally one-handed tool, if one desires it to be.
There is jimping in all the right places; on the top and bottom of the scales and the upper edge of the blade. I locks up absolutely positively; no risk of accidental closure. It is totally stable when opened, that is, there is no sideways play in the blade, a characteristic of only good knives. It's opening resistance is very small.
I've found that it is just about perfect (if anything can be perfect). I keep coming back to the Griptilian. Of course there is the reputation of Benchmade for making the very best knives in the USA, and this knife is made in the USA, by the way. That's saying a lot, for there are a few knives still made in the USA that are superb. Even those made in Taiwan and China have been getting much better, and of course are cheaper.
I just recently bought the plain edge Griptilian and put the serrated one away because I decided I don't need a serrated blade, no matter what I might be cutting. And a plain edge is easier to sharpen. A strong, razor sharp plain edge blade will do all that needs doing, so I went back to that, my old standard.

A wonderful knife. Maybe you pay a little more than some, but not as much as others. But the fact is that the Benchmade Griptilian is a very high quality knife, Made in the USA, and a treasure to me and likely to the lucky grandkid or his or her grandkid, should it survive that long without being lost. When you buy this one, you buy it for life. My view, anyway.

USMC retired.