I just got a Benchmade Griptilian knife. On a scale of 1 to 10, this knife is hot.
This blade from Benchmade features a lightweight molded handle, ambidextrous thumbhole, a combo edge and a sheepsfoot blade shape. The blade shape is gorgeous, with a gentle belly and and a good cutting front edge that’s easy to control.
This knife has swiftly become a favorite of mine for everyday carry. It’s extremely lightweight and comfortable, and the black clip actually fades against pants or jeans making it less noticeable than bright stainless clips. The edge retention is outstanding, despite lots of rough cutting and use, from carpentry pencils to box opening to cutting rope. I’m extremely pleased thus far.
I did have one big problem with it. I took a spill off my bicycle on my morning commute to work, landing on my right hip and sliding a bit. My body was largely undamaged except for a good scrape on the knee, but the knife took a bad hit. The clip and part of the Black Glass Fill Noryl GTX®/Color Valox® Handle Scale broke off, exposing the blade tip on one side. I was very surprised to see this break occur. I wouldn’t have expected the handle scales to be that brittle, especially since the knife was padded on one side against my hip.
I was also a little surprised when my email to Benchmade went totally un-answered. I visited their website and in the “contact us” section was a web-form to fill out and send an email. I received no reply to my request for service, and after 5 days I called them directly. The customer service rep I spoke restored some of my faith in the legendary Benchmade service reputation. She was courteous, solicitous, and concerned not only about the quality of the product they had made, but also about my condition post-accident. I thought that was very sweet. :)
I’ve sent in the knife, and been assured that they will repair or replace it. I haven’t heard any communication from the repairs department (it’s been about a week) but I expect everything to turn out all right. I will update this post when I get the knife back.
In regards to customer service, I am reserving judgment on Benchmade. Their rep was outstanding on the phone – but communication has been slow and needed to be initiated by me each time, and I like to know what’s going on.
As far as the blade is concerned, I think this is a fantastic knife. At a price point of $100, the Griptilian isn’t cheap exactly, but you’re getting a lot of knife for your money. Light, sturdy, beautifully designed and with an outstanding 154CM Stainless Steel blade, this is a knife that should last a lifetime. So long as you don’t fall on it. 
If I were forced to give it a numeric rating between 1 and 10, I’d call it a 7. (Would have been a 9 without the handle failure and slow communication.) If you’re looking for one to pick up yourself, I’d look at The Blade Shop – they have it available for $75 right now, $25 less than the recommended MSRP.
UPDATE:
The knife arrived today (8/18.) It looks brand new – not sure if they replaced the handle scale only, or if they actually replaced the whole knife. If they just refurbished it, they did a hell of a job making it look new. 
Note: Dylan Tweney from WIRED had a nice roundup of a couple different folders, including the Griptilian this past June.
Knife Details (from the Benchmade website):
| Blade Length: 3.45” Blade Thickness: 0.115” Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel (550T: 440C) Blade Hardness: 58-61HRC Blade Style: Hollowground Modified Sheepsfoot; Ambidextrous Thumb-Holes Weight: 3.25oz. |
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Clip: Tip Up, Reversible, Black Lock Mechanism: AXIS Overall Length: 8.07” Closed Length: 4.62” Sheath Material: Sold Separately Class: Blue |
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