2014 Gear Of The Year: Benchmade 551 Griptilian Knife

Owning a pocketknife is like owning a truck – you never realize how much use it will get until you use it on a daily basis. It is hard to explain to people to that do not carry a pocketknife. We suggest you just start carrying one, and then you’ll understand. If you carried a pocketknife for two weeks it would soon become a lifelong companion when you realize how useful it really is.

Finding the perfect EDC (every day carry) can be overwhelming, especially if you are a newbie. With all of the different steel options and opening mechanisms, where do you start? Don’t worry, we have you covered – you can’t go wrong with the Benchmade 551 Griptilian. There’s a reason it won a Gear of the Year award from us, and is the knife you need to look at for the perfect EDC.

The Benchmade 551 Griptilian Knife is special for many reasons. This knife takes the top features from the finest knives available and offers them in one stylish package. The axis lock with ambidextrous dual-stud opener is very impressive, letting you open and close the knife without putting your fingers in the blade path. You have a few different blade options that are all 3.45″ 154CM stainless steel. This American steel offers a great edge, making it easy to sharpen and resistant against corrosion. The handle has skeletonized stainless steel liners for an easy grip that wont chip and wear. There really isn’t anything bad to say about this knife, which is why we love it. Benchmade even gives you the option to customize this knife in many different ways. What more could you ask for?

Price: $130