Mini-grip or Auto-Levitator?

[Combat-wombat]

I'm thinking I need a small, somewhat politically correct knife just for little cutting tasks. I want something high quality, so I've pretty much narrowed it down to two knives: the Benchmade Mini-Griptillan or the Benchmade Auto-Benchmite/Levitator

The Griptillan is about $20 cheaper, but the blade steel isn't as good. Also, the blade is 2.9 inches long, which means I couldn't carry it on school grounds (blade has to be under 2.5 inches for it to be legal). The Benchmite is just way cool in general, it's automatic (CA legal) which only adds to the coolness factor, has better blade steel than the Griptillan (154CM vs. 440C), and is legal to carry on school grounds.

However, I know many people swear by their Griptillans. What would you go with?

 

[45R]

Combat-Wombat

Auto Levi
Pro's
Lots of cool factor
Small and discrete
Nice metal

Con's
Auto might get you into trouble only due to your age group. Not saying that your immature as my fellow THR member have entrusted you with their toys but one may see a 14 YO with an auto not very PC even if its CA legal.
Price not enough metal to justify the price

Mini-Grips
Pros
Axis lock
440C is very easy to sharpen and maintain
enough blade to get most jobs done
You can find mini grips in D2.
Cons
Cant think of any

Bottom line both will take good care of you. The Mini-Lev is what I call a big little knife. For your school needs the mini lev will be just fine.

 

[Jim March]

Sub-2" autos have been specifically "declared harmless" under California law. But he could still get screwed on school grounds with just about *anything*. Sigh.

 

[hso]

CW,

If your school authorities don’t have a problem with knives of a certain size and smaller and they don’t have a problem with the opening mechanism for CA legal autos I’d take descriptions and specs of the knives you’re interested in to them and ask. Go to the AP and get prior approval of the Benchmite if the Gripi doesn’t meet the blade length restrictions. Take all the relevant regs with you as well so that the AP doesn’t have to look any of it up.

As to which I’d carry under the circumstances? The auto Benchmite!!

 

[Jim March]

Hso, sorry man, but that's bad advice. They'll do an "eeek and freak", tell him "no" *regardless*, and then watch him like hawks the rest of the year.

You don't know California's schools.

 

[Elmer Snerd]

I lurvs my Mini-Grippy. However, if you are limited to blades under 2.5 inches for school carry, you may wish to consider the NON-auto Benchmite. The handle is a happy blue color as well, which may help to appease The Man. I think that Mr. March is right about the school authorities' reactions. Don't get anything "tactical" or too weird-looking. Happy handle colors and "traditional" looks will seem less threatening. As much as I dislike advising you to appease the sheeple, it is and will be a necessary part of your life, especially while you are a minor in school.

A few more short-bladed locking folders:
AG Russell 110 Barlow
AG Russell Pocket Sized Lockback
Schrade Spitfire LTD
Spyderco Meercat or Toad
Al Mar SLB

 

[QuakKillz]

blue mini-grip here,,,,LOVE it!!!!

 

[hso]

Jim,

Is the "eeek and freak" response uniform across California or is it only a problem in the major uban areas (and all of Orange) and ritzy suburban? Aren't there some places that are more rational?

Mike

 

[Jim March]

The odds of said "eeek and freak" range from 99.999995% in the urban areas to *maybe* as low as 75% in the rural .

Remember: the teachers all come from the same basic places in terms of pre-brainwashing.

 

[Baba Louie]

Out of the two choices, I'd opt for the mini-gryp. If school carry is in the cards I'd go with the smallest SAK Army Escort, red-handled inch and a half long pen knife and keep it IN MY POCKET at all times.
http://www.cutleryshoppe.com/product1.cfm?SID=1&&Product_ID=258
YMMV

 

[Combat-wombat]

Look, with all the new suburb-type housing developments popping up here and ruining the area, there's lots of soccer moms to go with them. This community has the anti-gun, politically correct atitude. Maybe not as bad as, say, Hollyweird, but still bad. No frickin way. I could definitely get expelled for on-school carry, during school hours. BUT, the way I see it, the part of the CA education code that says that does not apply AFTER school hours. I mean carry AFTER school hours, which, correct me if I'm wrong Mr. March, only falls under PC 12020.

I know I can get arrested for carrying the Benchmite... and probably can to for carrying my Kershaw Blackout. As long as they have no real charges against me, I really don't care.

 

[Jim March]

I mean carry AFTER school hours, which, correct me if I'm wrong Mr. March, only falls under PC 12020.

Well off school grounds, definately.

On school grounds after hours...hmmmm...dunno. May depend a bit on whether or not it's an organized school function...a dance, say, or optional athletic practice/event for the football team or something.

I DO know this: if you ask a cop "is this knife legal", you'll only get ONE answer: "no". 'Specially if you're a kid. Try the same question with school authorities and you'll get..."eeek and freak".

 

[Combat-wombat]

Yeah, at a school-sponsored event it's definitely a no, but I am on school property a lot, I live right down the street from one. So I think it's okay for just being on school property for no reason.

 

[45R]

So what did you decide to buy?

 

[Combat-wombat]

Well, I had an unexpected paintball game which drained all my money, so it will be a considerable while before I can actually buy it. I think I have decided on the Benchmite though, not only for school grounds carry, but for it's overall coolness factor.

 

[Zer000]

I'd think twice before carrying any knife on school grounds, at any time. (not to say I didn't when I was in high school, but I was aware of the consequences). Even if it is technically OK under state law, most schools Zero Tolerance policies apply whether school is in session or not. I had a friend in high school that got popped for Zero Tolerance while playing a (non-school sanctioned) game of football on school grounds. Getting expelled is no fun at all. All it takes is one blabbermouth that saw your pocket clip on school grounds, and you could be in a world of trouble. If you decide to carry, make sure it stays concealed on school grounds, no matter what the time.

 

[Combat-wombat]

Actually, I'm mainly talking about carrying on the grounds of a school that I do not attend. Therefore, I think the school rule factor doesn't really apply.