Benchmade and Blade HQ Revive the Griptilian in Super Steels
The Griptilian is the knife that made Benchmade's reputation with a generation of buyers, and it has been coasting since its 2019 update. Blade HQ and Benchmade just fixed that with a surprise-launched exclusive that Gear Patrol is calling the biggest upgrade the design has ever received — priced at $175 across three handle colorways: teal, green, and purple.
The headline is the steel. The standard Griptilian has lived on 154CM and S30V for years, and the exclusive moves it into super-steel territory. That is not a cosmetic change. Better steel means better edge retention between sharpening sessions, higher corrosion resistance, and in most cases improved toughness at higher hardness — the trio of properties that separates a knife you enjoy using from one you resharpen monthly.
Everything else stays deliberately familiar. The AXIS Lock crossbar mechanism, the ambidextrous thumb studs, the deep-carry clip, and the molded handle shape are all intact, which is what existing owners wanted. Exclusives that redesign a classic usually alienate the people most likely to buy them; this one upgrades the internals and leaves the feel alone. The eye-catching blade finishes are the only concession to novelty.
The exclusivity is also a real consideration. Blade HQ exclusives on this scale tend to sell through in weeks rather than months, and popular colorways go first. Resale prices on Blade HQ Griptilian exclusives have historically run above retail once the run ends, so waiting is not neutral — you either buy at $175 or you buy later at a markup, or not at all.
At $175 the competition is stiff. Benchmade's own Bugout sits in the same range with less steel for the money, and outside the brand a MagnaCut folder from Kizer or WE Knife can be had for under $150. The Griptilian's case is the AXIS Lock, the US-made build, and a design that has survived two decades of real use. If that is what you want, this is the version to buy. Browse the Kizer and WE Knife lineup if you would rather spend less and get a different lock entirely.