Benchmade knives are often the gateway drug to the upper end of folding knives, and the Benchmade Griptilian is
the gateway drug to Benchmade knives. For many, their first handling of the Griptilian is met with disappointment. The Griptilian, although a solid knife, does not have the heft and density often expected as the retail price goes north of $100. In reality a few minutes of use tells a different tail, but the lightweight and nimble mechanics of the Griptilian attest to its popularity.
By Doc Montana, a Contributing Author to SHTFBlog and SurvivalCache.com
Benchmade Griptilian: A Modern EDC Classic
There are several primary choices with the Griptilian including size (regular and mini), blade shape (drop point or
tanto), steel choice (154CM or S30V), and color of scales (black and orange are popular but there are many other colors). From here the choices just continue including handle materials, blade coating, and edge serrations. In Benchmade parlance, each knife model is designated by a number that may or may not ever make sense. The Griptilian family of knives will be variations of 55x from 550 to 557.
What all Griptillians have in common is Benchmade quality and their famous Axis Locking mechanism. For those unfamiliar with the Axis Lock, it is a dual-sided lever bar that slides parallel to a deployed blade. The spring loaded lock is retracted away from the blade allowing the blade to swing freely. With the blade stored, the Axis Lock provides enough resistance to keep the blade in place, but easily lifted out of the handle as desired. However, with the blade extended, the bar of the Axis Lock snaps over a shelf in the blade back securing it to the point it will not fail under normal use, and even a considerable amount of abnormal use.
Also Read: Benchmade Adamas Review
Even better, the Axis Lock can be used in conjunction with a minor wrist flip that deploys the blade with a very 
satisfying snap. After a few practice flips learning to coordinate the Axis Lock retraction and the wrist flip, the Griptilian can go from pocket to action in one clean fast move. Oddly, there is a Griptilian blade style called a Sheepsfoot containing a deployment hole like a Spyderco knife. Personally, I have no need for such a hole with the effectiveness of the Axis Lock. Even so, the other Axis Lock versions have thumb studs for a less overt blade opening.
The Gateway Drug To EDC Knives
And speaking of overt, sometimes carrying an orange handled knife looks much less aggressive than a black or FDE colored handle. With a healthy 3.5 inch blade on the regular sized Griptilian and a just under three inch blade on the Mini, the handle color might affect the attitude of those around you when whipping out your EDC blade at the office.
Related: Tops BOB Knife Review
The company Benchmade offers some services to its customers after the sale. One in particular is what 
Benchmade calls their LifeSharp program. At any time, you can mail your Benchmade knife to the company and they will professionally sharpen it and replace any normal wear and tear on the mechanism, springs, screws, bolts, and replace the pocket clip if needed. More work can be done at a minimal cost including replacing the blade. There is no charge beyond the one-way postage to Benchmade headquarters in Oregon. I’ve used the LifeSharp service many times with many knives, both fixed blade and folding. It always over delivers.
The old saying that two is one and one is none is based on the most likely reasons gear won’t work; loss and failure. The problem with doubling up due to anticipated loss is that many feel prepared by having two half-quality items rather than one full-quality tool. And failure might be closer than it appears since simple tasks under a blue sky take little sophistication for a knife. But once the difficulties start to compound, two 50% quality knives can never add up to more than 50% quality.
Also Read: Benchmade Bushcrafter Knife Review
Enter the Benchmade Griptilian, a high quality tool that plays with the big boys, but has a price point closer to the 
usual suspects. The features of the Griptilian line include a rock-solid blade pivot and locking mechanism, and excellent form-fitting handles of durable and replaceable material. But best of all, a high quality Benchmade steel capable of more than most. Benchmade’s house steel of 154CM is an excellent steel, and easily makes the cut into the realm of so-called “Super Steels.” But there are other options available both at point of purchase, and later should you want to upgrade your Griptilian.
So don’t let the light weight and pretty colors steer you away from the Benchmade Griptilian. It might be cheap for a Benchmade, but its every bit a Benchmade.
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have ever totally consumed skunk, and I mean, not just one bite, but the whole animal! And while we’ve only just eaten the one, we may be considered experts because near as I can tell, there is no other living proof documented of the total edibility of skunk, and how to prepare it for a meal, anywhere! While some historical records from the 1800’s mention skunk in cursory manner, none go into enough detail to properly perform the skinning operation successfully.
bother with a skunk, and it’s a fair question. The simplest answer that I can provide is that in an SHTF scenario, skunk might be one of those few species that remains untargeted, leaving those of us with iron stomachs free reign. In fact, skunks have very few natural predators, and for good reason – they are generally considered unpalatable to anyone unskilled and patient enough to correctly wield a sharp implement to diffuse natures original scent bomb.
may spray and render the operation a failure. You really don’t want them to spray. If you get a docile member of the species, you can sometimes approach with a blanket held in front to conceal your silhouette, move slowly, and cover for transportation. After the animal is dispatched, clean it well. Wash with warm soapy water with rubber gloves, paying attention to the crevices and anal region.
that no liquid is spilled (this is much easier to demonstrate rather than explain so be sure to watch the accompanying video). Be careful not to play around with any of the tissues around the anus anymore than necessary as spilled liquid will end up on the meat giving it that distasteful flavor we associate with skunk – burnt tire and garlic. You’ll get immediate feedback on this as the more you move the tissues, the more smell is released.
think you are home free now, but there’s more. Carefully inspect for any fat tissues that may conceal other scent glands. We found some in the pits of the legs, around the neck and various other locations. These look like small light colored beans. Remove all of these or you may end up with more off flavors. If you’ve deglanded raccoon before, you know how to do this already.
prepared 
BBQ. Except these were hurricanes that disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of residents. Remember the clogged highways of escapees, and what happened to those unwilling to evacuate? Some of them are dead. Why? Because they were ill prepared to weather a storm or have sense enough to heed the advice to leave the area.
and your family, but so far, nothing has happened. Like a diet or exercise (tell me about it) following through can be the tough part just to jump off center.
will need to survive a SHTF. Be it a hurricane, flood, wildfire, tornado, civil unrest, or economic collapse, it is going to take supplies of every description to withstand the downfall. This may be for 72 hours or 72 days or more. Who knows?
might be a chainsaw to remove downed trees or limbs after a storm in order to get down the driveway. It might be gardening tools and supplies to plant your own food producing garden. It could be installing and maintaining a hand pump water well in the backyard. It could be something as simple as a couple fire extinguishers in the house or shop.
comfortable, especially if you were not raised up around them. For others, they often make the mistake of too much emphasis on guns and ammo to the neglect of other critical aspects of prepper survival.
the street, in the neighborhood and town where you live as well as the state. It also means our country and the world. Include in this regular daily monitoring of the local, regional, and national news and weather. Know what is happening around you and you are more likely to be ready for anything.
many viable escape routes and have you traveled them just to inspect the availability of services, and supplies along the way? Have you identified the gas stations, hospitals, police stations, grocery stores, camping areas or hotels? You best know, and have alternatives mapped out as well. Then take weekend trial runs to check them out. Are your Bug Out bags packed and ready to go at a minute’s notice?
prudent, don’t forget the Bug In option. It may become your only option, or indeed the best one available. For us senior preppers, a Bug In may be the only serious option, but we have to recognize the possibility that we may be forced to leave as well. But for now, our home is our fort.
distorted understanding of guns, shooting, and expectations of a bullet; all a good thing in my survival book. As long as potential adversaries are living in a fantasy world, there is a direct and severe survival advantage to a confrontation where Hollywood’s magic has taken its toll. 
And second is the ease at which one can hit a target with a moment or two of actual aiming. Especially moving targets. Aiming a gun takes practice and is a perishable skill so knocking a few cans off a fence post twenty years ago is not of much comfort today. But the opposite is true. Even a little occasional practice can keep your shots in the center of mass rather than in the ceiling.
some truth to the accuracy outcomes of spray-and-pray, but the statistics of sustained auto fire in general directions lean heavily towards something bad happening. The happy takeaway here is that the uninitiated might suspect a positive outcome when hiding behind a telephone pole waiting for your reload.
