Benchmade 551H2O Griptilian
Review by Coy Starnes
Unit provided by Benchmade for testing purposes
Benchmade 551H20 side view with clip showing
The Benchmade 551H2O Griptilian is basically a more rust resistant version of the standard 551 Griptilian. In other words, a medium sized folding pocket knife, I’ll provide more information on the blade steel further down in the report. It comes from the Benchmade Blue line of knives. In looking at the hierarchy of the knives, it looks like the Blue class is second only to the Gold class. They describe it as “Our Blue Class represents the heart of everything that is Benchmade. These USA made products are designed and built for the individual who appreciates the difference that a high-quality cutting tool can make. Made in USA.”
The blade on the 551H20 is a modified drop point but I’m not sure what the difference is between it and the standard drop point. All I know is that this is a classic general purpose blade shape. The knife I’m testing is a plain edge blade but can be had in the partially serrated version. Here is a side view of the blade. The photo also demonstrates the nice palm filling size of the 551H20. Click on any image for a full size view.
The knife fits in my hand very well
Benchmade list the following key features for the 551H20:
Premium AXIS® Function
Highly Corrosion Resistant Blade Steel
Ambidextrous Thumb-Stud Opener
Grip Textured Molded Orange Handle
The specifications for this knife are:
Weight: 3.82oz.
And now for a closer look at the extra rust resistant steel in the blade of this knife. And since I’m a little lacking in my metallurgical knowledge, I took the liberty of quoting the Benchmade website for a more detailed look at this interesting steel they chose for the 551H20.
“X15: This French steel was developed for the aircraft industry for jet ball bearings, as well as the medical industry for scalpels. It has the ability to resist rust in the worst of conditions while maintaining ample edge retention. The capability behind this steel is in the way it is manufactured, resulting in the finest steel for use in harsh environments such as salt water. The edge on an X15 T.N blade is easier to maintain.”
I was initially concerned that the special qualities of this steel might make the knife harder to sharpen but I did notice that the blade hardness is rated at 58-60HRC which is the same as what is listed for the154CM Stainless Steel used in the standard Griptilian, as well as many other well respected knives. I find this hardness steel does take a little work to sharpen, but If the blade holds an edge anywhere near as good as 154CN I will be thrilled. I will find out soon enough. Oh and by the way, the knife is very sharp right out of the box!
The rest of the knife is not any different than a standard Griptilian, or at least I don’t think so. The grip material is not listed but it looks identical to the grips on my standard Griptilian. Each side features a diamond like pattern that protrudes up just enough for a very secure grip. The edges of the grips have other raised places in strategic locations to further aid in keeping the knife firmly grasped. This may not seem like a big deal but I sure don’t want my hand slipping down over the blade when using such a sharp knife.
The color of the handle is also rather unique. It is not a bright orange, but it is not what I typically expect in a knife handle color. However, I like the color and can see several advantages. Mainly, it should be easier to find this knife if I lay it in the ground while doing some chore. Well except maybe in the fall when the leaves are about the same color as the knife. I have heard others mention that an orange colored knife does not seem as much a weapon like say a black knife might. I’m really not all that concerned with what others think of the color of my knife but if they feel less threatened then that’s good.
The AXIS lock is another unique feature of Benchmade knives. I have used other Benchmade knives with the same lock previously so I am already familiar with how the lock works, but in a nut shell, the AXIS lock is very easy to operate. To open the knife I can either push on the thumb stud with my thumb, but even easier is just to flick the knife downward and put a slight twist and sudden stop at the end of the movement. However, I advise just opening with the thumb stud when around others because even though unlikely, the knife could slip when flicked open in this fashion. When ready to close the knife, just slide the AXIS lock back towards the tip end of the handle Check out this video for a quick demonstration.
The clip on the 551H20 is positioned so that the knife is carried tip up. If I keep it in my right pocket the knife comes out in the naturally held position. However, if I carry it in my left pocket, it comes out with the blade side in my palm (the back side of course). The above video demonstrates the left and right pocket carry nicely. The clip can be moved to the other side of the knife but the knife would be on the outside of the pocket and easier to loose or be stolen. Here is the 551H20 carried in my right hand pocket.
pocket clip on the 551H20
That pretty much covers the basics so I’ll end with a few more photos of the knife.
the other side of the knife
AXIS Lock and Thumb Stud
another AXIS lock view
Stay tuned for my next update which should follow in approximately one month.
It cut through this pipe with ease
Carrying this knife has proven to be easy as long as I wore jeans or overalls. However, with the hotter weather I have been wearing gym shorts more and more lately, especially when not at work. I found it was not quite as comfortable when worn clipped over the waist band of the shorts compared to clipped to the inside of a pocket on my jeans. This was mainly a problem on several of my day hikes when I was wearing a pack without external pockets (other than water bottle pockets). I managed by clipping the knife to the waist belt on the pack but I was never real confidant it would stay put due to the skimpy nature of the waist belt on this pack. My other day packs are much better for carrying a knife and even cell phone in that they offer much easier accessibility to my gear and also have much more substantial waist belts.
not the best knife retention...but it works
After all the use I wanted to see if the knife was still as sharp as when I first got it. It still feels really sharp but I did find it did not shave the hairs on my arm without using quite a bit of pressure. I would have to say it is not quite as sharp now. However, I did open a lot of boxes and cut into several plastic packages etc. It still cuts well enough that I don’t feel the need to sharpen it but I may do that before my last report just to be able to tell that goes. I’ll try to work the knife a little harder for the next several weeks. So be sure and stay tuned for my last update which should be fielded in about 1 month from now.
Benchmade 551H2O Final Update: August 8, 2011
One of the more fun uses of the 551H20
I did notice that the knife was not real sharp by now. Well, not from cutting the steak, as it went through it like hot butter, but it would no longer shave the hair on my arm. I suspect all the cutting in the sandy ground had dulled it more than anything. Anyways, a few days after getting home I finally got around to sharpening the knife. I used my favorite sharpener, my 4 inch red (fine) DMT sharpener. It took me about 10 minutes to get the edge back into shaving form. I actually could have used a blue (coarse) DMT first but I don’t have one.
I recently obtained a Kelly Kettle and wanted to check it out. I used the 551H2O to whittle off some shavings for starting the fire. It did just fine. The wood was mostly from a nearby downed pine but also a mixture of other limbs I found laying around. This picture shows my woodpile but I’ve already used most of the shavings getting the fire started.
using the 551H2O whittling some shavings for fire building
Overall, I am very satisfied with how the Benchmade 551H2O has performed. It stayed pretty wet during most of the canoe trip because I wore it constantly and my shorts were usually wet from the frequent swims I took. There is no hint of rust on the blade and the best I can tell, none down in the lock mechanism. This is the kind of knife that is ideal for outdoor use when I will be in and around water a lot. Of course it works fine in dry conditions too.
About the Author: I am from northeast Alabama where I spend a lot of my time divided among several hobbies that include backpacking and day-hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and just getting out enjoying nature.
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