Benchmade 550 Griptilian Folding Knife

[Forest fella]

Anyone got one of these knives,As I'm thinking of getting one and would like to know if there up to hard use,it's the larger one with a Plain Edge blade

[sandbender]

Anyone got one of these knives,As I'm thinking of getting one and would like to know if there up to hard use,it's the larger one with a Plain Edge blade

I have several Doug Ritter RSK's (http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk1.htm) which are fairly similar, different blade shape and I think a different steel, but the handle and mechanism are the same and have stood up to a lot of hard use and although it doesn't look it I've found the scales quite comfy for carving the odd spoon and such.

:)

[BOD]

Don't have one but considered buying it for a long time.

Some who have them say that the locking mechanism gets clogged with blood hair silt and sand when used a lot for skinning and butchery or used in some wet environments

[Graham_S]

I have one.
Buy it. you won't regret it.
Fantastic knives. They cut really well and hold a fantastic edge. The lock is very secure and is easy to clean.
Easily my favourite folding knife.

[steven andrews]

I have many Axis Lock Benchmades, including the 550HG Griptilian. You can't go wrong with an Axis Lock.
Do you have your heart set on the 550HG (round hole opener and hollow-ground sheepsfoot blade)? Out of the standard Griptilians I have a preference for the 551 model, which had thumb studs, a drop point and saber grind. My favourite is the 552 RSK Mk1, with an S30V blade designed by Doug Ritter.

The Griptilian is fairly easy to strip for cleaning. You just need T10 and T6 Torx drivers and a toothpick. Here's my walkthrough:

Caveat: Disassembly of any Benchmade knife by any person other than Benchmade’s Warranty department will void the warranty.

Right, let's get on with it.. This knife is a full sized RSK Mk1, or Benchmade 552, commonly known as the Ritter Grip. I carry it in a belt pouch and have removed the pocket clip.

You will need T10 and T6 Torx drivers, a cleaning rag, a matchstick, lubricant (I use Militec-1) and blue Loctite (I use 243):

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/623/gripstrip001lv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

First unscrew the pivot screw with the T10 Torx. While holding the Axis Lock studs back, push the pivot out with the matchstick:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9431/gripstrip002te8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The blade and washers will drop out of the handle. If the washers remain inside the handle, push them out with the matchstick.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5270/gripstrip003da8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Unscrew the screws of the right hand scale with the T6 driver:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/7783/gripstrip004hk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Remove the right hand scale, displaying the liner and lock cartridge still attached to the left hand scale:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6019/gripstrip005nq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Unscrew the single screw of the left hand scale to completely free the cartridge from the handles:

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1421/gripstrip006he9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

With a finger nail, unhook the rear of one of omega springs, freeing it from the tiny hole in the liner:

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9110/gripstrip007ma8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Remove the omega spring from the Axis bar:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7478/gripstrip008ah9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Repeat with the omega spring on the other side of the cartridge.
Drop the Axis bar out of the large cut out in the cartridge:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5826/gripstrip009vl5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Separate the two liners. The rear spacer can be freed from both liners, but I found that the front spacer/stop pin is permanently attached to the right hand liner:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6171/gripstrip010vd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/8435/gripstrip011cp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Clean the parts. Put the liners together with the spacers. Lubricate the Axis Lock bar:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3723/gripstrip013jb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Insert it through the cut out and put it in place in the cartridge. Reattach the omega springs:

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/7189/gripstrip015jo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Screw the left hand scale to the cartridge:

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/1793/gripstrip016zq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then the right. Lubricate the tang and washers. The oil will adhere the washers to the tang:
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2503/gripstrip017wk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Insert them into the handle assembly:

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/3690/gripstrip018kj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hold back the Axis studs while pushing the blade and washers as far into the handle as you can:

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/4825/gripstrip019rr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

While still holding the Axis studs back, centralise the blade and washers by using a circular sweep with the matchstick:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9148/gripstrip020fv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

..still holding the studs back, insert the pivot:
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/9206/gripstrip021pk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Put a tiny dab of blue Loctite on the pivot screw and screw it in:
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/6556/gripstrip022ti0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Adjust pivot tension. You will find the sweet spot where there is zero blade play but the blade glides smoothly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AXqoN0X7bo

[sandbender]

Steven all that work deserved a thread of its own

:You_Rock_

[helixpteron]

Steven all that work deserved a thread of its own

:You_Rock_

+1http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/helixpteron/happy0034.gif

[C_Claycomb]

Excellent tutorial!
One think I found though when I tried doing this a while ago. Benchmade had Locktited the screw that holds the steel liner into the plastic handle and nothing I have been able to do will get it to move. Broke one Torx key and started to mangle the screw head in the attempt. Beware.:(

[Forest fella]

I do like the Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 Knife,and if you could get them in the UK,I would buy one,that's the main reason I'm thinking of getting the 550

[sandbender]

I do like the Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 Knife,and if you could get them in the UK,I would buy one,that's the main reason I'm thinking of getting the 550

Equipped to Survive (http://www.equipped.org/dr_gear.htm#knives) will post one to the UK for you but you will be hit for import duty. I like the blade shape of the Ritter version but I'd imagine I'd be perfectly happy with the 550.

:)

[rapidboy]

Great knives , i worked my way through a few griptillians before i found the Rittergrips, now have a large and a small Ritter - brilliant knives that will take a lot of hard work.

[Forest fella]

Well guy's I finally brought a Ritter Grips mk1 Knife,just ordered it,will let you know,what I think of it when it arrives.
Can't wait to get my hands on it.

[Forest fella]

My Benchmade 550 just arrived and it's a great looking knife,I've made afew feather sticks with it to see how good it cuts and it did a grand job.Also there is no play in the blade,I have read that this can be a problem with Benchmade knives.
but this ones a Great blade and I can only hope the Ritter Grips is as Good.

[steven andrews]

If you buy a Benchmade knife with the Axis Lock it should not have any blade play.
If there is any, it can be eliminated with a combination of lubrication and pivot adjustment as in the tutorial above.
I have lots and lots of Axis Lock knives and none of them exhibit any blade play.

I'm sure that you will like the Ritter. It is my favourite out of the Griptilian range.

[Forest fella]

My Ritter Grip came this morning,And my first impression was how stiff it was to open,and to be honest the edge was pretty dull also,but I do prefer the Grind on it,compared to the Hollow Grind on the 550,I don't like Hollow Grinds that much.
I will give it some stick,literally over the weekend and see what it can do.

[rapidboy]

My Ritter Grip came this morning,And my first impression was how stiff it was to open,and to be honest the edge was pretty dull also,but I do prefer the Grind on it,compared to the Hollow Grind on the 550,I don't like Hollow Grinds that much.
I will give it some stick,literally over the weekend and see what it can do.


They should all be stiff to open, certainly stiff enough to get through UK customs ;)
You can loosen the pivot pin slightly and it will feel lovely again :)

[Forest fella]

oh ok,I will give that a go.And Yeah I didn't think of the Customs view.I know I had to pay £27 to get it delivered,I still don't get how we can fight along side them,but we can't get post off them.go figure
Cheers

[sandbender]

...And my first impression was how stiff it was to open...

Use the supplied torx tool to loosen it, I'm led to believe that Equipped to Survive (http://www.equipped.org/dr_gear.htm#knives) over tighten the mechanism for shipment, just in case it is mistaken for a gravity knife (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_knife) :)

(Edited to add: rapidboy beat me to it) :rolleyes:

[Forest fella]

Yeah half a turn sorted out the issue,

[rapidboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/Videos/th_448_4890.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/Videos/?action=view&current=448_4890.flv)

[Forest fella]

Mine looks like it's about the same friction as yours,just about loose enough to flick open,if one wished to deploy it fast.