Wife laundered my Mini-Griptillian. New Knife?

[Jason_G]

For the short story: Wife put knife in washer. Wife put same said knife in drier. Wife made brand new Benchmade look like poo-poo. The blade's all dinged up.

My question: Any suggestions for a new knife?
I liked that knife, but I think I prefer liner locks to the axis lock. Something about the same size would be nice.

For those poor bored souls interested in reading the whole story: I teach school and wear slacks everyday. I got home and felt like putting on some comfortable jeans (feels like putting on pajamas, for those of you that don't have to wear dress clothes to work) to get out of the slacks. Since I was at home and just sitting around, when I took them off later to take a shower, I put them aside instead of throwing them in the dirty clothes hamper. They were still clean and I planned on wearing them again later or maybe the next day. I left my knife clipped to the pocket and the wife washed and dried the jeans and the Benchmade.

What's bad is that she loves gimmicks, and she bought these hard plastic blue balls (I teach high school so there's no joke you can insert here that I haven't already heard some derivation of) that go in the drier to soften clothes. The balls have little spikes all over them that soften clothes, and also, as it turns out, beat the hell out of knives.
My beloved knife is trashed. If it weren't late I'd post a pic. It looks like it got ran over by a Mack. The black finish is all rubbed off of the blade, and the handle's all gouged and scratched. This knife looked brand new beforehand. I was amazed at what a great job those things did at destroying a $80 knife.
I just got through putting an edge back on it, removing a whole bunch of steel in the process, but there's spots where the edge is chipped out. It'll take some filing to get it back to a good edge all the way down the blade.

It may be time to just get another knife...

Jason

 

[Roswell 1847]

Well now that its pre-disastered you'll never fear damaging it in use.

Also I suspect that if you sent it back to the maker explaining what happened to the finish they might give you a break on refinishing it.

Feedback on such disasters can be useful in developing better products.


PS
My pretty knives seldom see daylight, but I have a collection of knives I've found that people had left under the hood after scraping battery terminals on cold days and lost when they made a corner. Some were mighty rusty and scarred up when I found them, some still in good shape and one in a nylon case with no damage at all.
Those get a lot of use.
My favorite is a Shrade cattleman my nephew found while mowing a yard. It looks pretty good now but was a mass of rust when he gave it to me.
Another is a Cherry German Eye found inside a chair. It's in near new condition so I never use it.

 

[hso]

I'd send it to Benchmade with the sad tail (I'd also wonder what those things are doing to the clothes!) and see what they do. It will only cost you postage.

What do you want to spend on the replacement knife?

 

[rugerfreak]

Did that with a Spyderdo Delica---came out without a scratch.

The Axis lock simply blows away any other lock---you might want to spend some more time with it and practice a bit.

The Delica is secondary blade---that's why I forgot it in the pocket---primary is a Benchmade.

 

[Bendutro]

Yeah, Axis > > > Liner lock.

You'll like the upgraded steel in the newer knives too. D2, S30V... all good stuff.

 

[rnr4me]

Send it to me,I'll give you $5 for it.

But a liner lock over an Axis??? Dunno about that. At least go frame lock.

 

[Spiggy]

dunno... if it didn't survive a little run through the washer and drier, it hardly seemed to be a good knife to carry...

maybe it was for the better?

 

[Macmac]

I'll go with Spiggy, The knife is or was maybe still is junk. Now I might buy all that handle and grips stuff, but no way am I buying the blade bit , not at all...

If hard plastic killed that edge then the knife was for crap in the first place.

Oh man if you bought one of my knives in the first place, you would need new pants, and a new washer and dryer. Yer wife would have never bothered to dry them slacks either.. They would have been fit for rags at the last rinsee..

No doubt yer wife would have been yelling a screeming the washer is leaking at the top of her lungs!
SEND it back with a note. The note should read "That's not a knivph!" in yer best down under accent.
Thanks for the warning...

 

[Ringer]

My Mini-grip has been in my pocket for several years. It has been through the washer and dryer at least once that I know of. There were no dryer balls involved though. Anyway, mine has held up great. Does show use marks.

Did the blade come open in the process? I'm assuming it must have. I'm quite surprised it didn't hold up better. I'd defiently send it in or give them a call to describe what happened.

 

[highorder]

The Axis lock simply blows away any other lock---you might want to spend some more time with it and practice a bit.

+1,000,000,000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y6AKZsApqo

not me, but it makes the point. any knife opens fast, but one handed closing is the real trick!

having said that, Benchmade lifesharp will take care of you. The will probably send you a new knife with a little letter that shakes a finger at your carelessness. (firsthand experience)

 

[Jason_G]

dunno... if it didn't survive a little run through the washer and drier, it hardly seemed to be a good knife to carry...

maybe it was for the better?

I'll go with Spiggy, The knife is or was maybe still is junk. Now I might buy all that handle and grips stuff, but no way am I buying the blade bit , not at all...

If hard plastic killed that edge then the knife was for crap in the first place.

Blade was 154CM. I don't know how Benchmade heat treats or tempers, but the blade seemed fine as far as holding an edge, etc., under normal use. The thing that killed it was those hard plastic balls and the metal agitators in the drier. I've had several knifes of inferior construction compared to this one go through the washer and drier unscathed, but those drier balls weren't involved. Also I don't think that the others opened up in the wash. This one obviously opened.

Jason

 

[sm]

I had a wife once...whups...I mean twice.
First one actually did some laundry *surprised me too* and my Boker Tree Brand Stockman with Carbon Steel Blades and Rosewood Handles survived being washed with the , Dawg beach towels.
(Bath time and they had their own beach towels )

Later Boker survived being washed with the .410 hulls, best to do this when the wifey ain't home.

Wife number two, was making sure washer still worked after coming home to my surprise (I thought she worked that day) and my Case Slimline Barehead Trapper, yellow handles and CV blades was still in the Washer.

At least I got one load of 28 ga hulls washed before she come home un-expected.

Maybe these newfangled knives with locks and hi-tech steels don't do as well as old fashioned , hand crafted, Slip Joints with CV blades...

My Peanut , YH, with CV blades gets "cleaned" from time to time, even gets out the Mustard and BBQ stains.

I use Scent Free, Dye Free, All liquid detergent btw...*snicker*

I do not use (never have) any dryer sheets or any "dryer" stuff.
Risk for fires.
The chemicals in the sheets "can" clog up the screen where lint is trapped, and get too hot.

Take your screen to sink and run water over it.
If it "holds" water, then your screen is full of dryer sheet chemicals and I suggest hot soapy water, and cleaning and rinsing real good.

Toss the dryer sheets away, or use for Emergency Fire Starters.

Use the money saved not buying dryer sheets to get a new knife...

 

[Macmac]

Jason, My best guess is that blade was screwed from the get go.. I guess it happens. I had and now lost a Ken Onion which I liked, and it got washed a few times less what ever those balls were, and it became open in the wash, which I got chewed out for, and more than once, but not much happened to the blade.

Every so often I feel like I "need" a store bought knife to have something like other men have.

Like I said had it been a blade from my hands your washer would have lost. Now maybe my scale grips would have been beat up and bad, plastic spikey balls and all, but I would bet the price of a blade that yer washer would have met it's last day in the basement alrighty.

Once a man differed on my asking price at a rondee voos where you can get some very good blades by the way on public days.

Pretending to be angery, I grabbed a pot hook, and hacked one side up using the entire blade as separte wacks, flipped the pot hook over and shaved off a bunch of slivers, and then handed him both.

Well that was awhile ago, but since then I haven't seen a wallet produce money that fast since.

As a blade maker myself, I would be very upset if something like that happened to any of my blades.

ANother instance is I made a Moon Camp Knife based on the Rio Grand Camp knife, based on Bill Moran's Rio Grande Camp Knife that went to the Moon.

Bein' dyed in the wool as I am doing buck skinner things, The one I made was forged from O1 as a horse shoe rasp and looked all snake skin like on both sides. I did make an error. I used Moos leg bone for a grip as copper rivetted slab sides.

It was sold to a friend of mine. Well on day down in Ct., out behind his garage, he decided to chop down sumac trees with that big knife.

Some how he missed seeing a truck leaf spring in his jungle sticking more or less straight up out of the ground. When he hit that the grips blew to pieces, and the rivets cut him up pretty well.

He gave me this blade back for new grips and there was no damage what so ever to that blade. I installed fire wood maple grips, and will never again use bone on a large as that sort of blade.

I can't tell if you got the 1 in 1,000 bad run blade or they are all bad blades...

I can tell you that blade is a bad blade and I would send it back. I have my doubts they will test it, and I do believe it is too hard.

My guess is the edge bit into these balls, and the balls were pulled every whichy way but loose, trying to get loose. When they did they took a chip of that steel, and to me that is too hard, and too brittle and for a smaller blade it just is unacceptable.

But then I expect a certain value when I drop 80 bucks.

I hope you don't teach English.... ouwwww

 

[Jason_G]

I think it just had a very thin edge, and just got dinged all up in that metal tub. Some of the edge was bent over, so I don't think the blade was too brittle, I just think it took one hell of a beating from those balls. I really don't think it's the fault of the steel, it seemed to be the about the right hardness when sharpening. I make knives too, mostly fixed blade skinners, and I can generally about how hard they are by how tough they are to sharpen with certain stones. I would guesstimate between 57-59 Rockwell for that blade. But I could be wrong. The blade is not beyond repair or anything, I was just ticked that it got so messed up after I had been so careful to keep it in good shape. It's about 98% after I resharpened it, but it just has a few really small chips in the edge. Almost all the damage is cosmetic (finish, etc.). Oh well, it was never that comfortable in my hand anyway.

As far as the Axis being better than liner locks, I guess. I am just alot faster with the liner locks, and I know exactly how much pressure the knife is closing with. I took the fingerprint off my index finger closing that Benchmade when I first got it, because I wasn't used to having the blade snap shut with such little pressure. I don't have any problems with the integrity of the lock or anything. I might give Benchmade another try, but I think it'll be a different model next time.

I hope you don't teach English.... ouwwww

Naw, chemistry and physical science.

Jason

 

[DZL HOG]

Ive had a Benchmade Griptillian for about 3 years. Its in pretty rough shape now. The blade finish(aka black paint) was crap to start with, most of it came off with the first piece of insulation board I cut, the first day at work. Theres very little black left on it now. A co-worker broke the tip off, Ive chewed up a few of the serrations, and the edge as some good gouges also. Most of that was misuse. Its got mud and green corrosion on it from battery acid also. But I still like the knife, and love the Axis-lock, esp being left-handed.
Probly the strongest knife Ive ever had. Of course Ive never paid $85 for a knife before either. I was planning to buy a new one like it, they wanted $120 for it at Gander Mtn. They still got it too. LOL

Anyone have any experience with CRKT AutoLawks knives?

Matt

 

[Don Gwinn]

Seriously, my brother, you OWE us pictures now. Um, you know, please.

To be fair, there's a difference between using a knife to cut or chop a softer metal as a demonstration and allowing it to be pounded against a softer metal over and over from every angle for, what? Half an hour? An hour? Bad juju.

My 550 has stood up to every task I've set it and has handled sweat and solvents with aplomb, but only what it's encountered as I used it. It's never been put through the dryer, and it doesn't have a coated blade. The black coating on the clip is coming off as if itwere finger-painted on with Tempera paint, though. I don't really care about that, but I have noted it with annoyance.

I'd also like to second the guy who pointed out that your clothes are getting a pounding from those spiked balls. I'm sure they make the clothes softer, but they do that by pummeling them and wearing down the fibers. It's the same principle as your great-great-grandmother used when she beat her family's clothes against rocks in the river.

 

[stevemis]

Sorry about the knife. Have you given any thought to what those "softener spikes" are doing to your clothes after seeing the destruction they caused to a knife?

It sounds like those dryer spikes operate by literally beating the fibers into submission... that can't be good in the long haul.

 

[rugerfreak]

You don't have to pay $80 for a Griptilian----try Ebay first----then New Graham and Grand Prairie.

 

[highorder]

as an addendum, the newer Benchmade pocket clips are poorly painted. with a little looking, its easy to source the old style parkerized clips!

I have one on my hip right now that looks great for its age.

to reiterate, send your knife back to Benchmade. they will likely replace it for a small fee if you tell them what happened.

http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/lifesharp_service.asp

 

[Macmac]

Don, This is the sole pic I have on line, of my work under blades. Most of these were sold some time ago. All I have left now belong to my wife. These 2 would be both the double edge daggers as she designed the smaller one, and I liked it so well I made big brother to it.

This isn;'t the best of pictures under terms of quality. sorry.. The larger of the 2 daggers has a reflection at the bolster, because that blade is a Gold straw left from the tempering. I just liked it.

Unfortunately you can't see the file working between the scale grips in these angles. All but one have white tail deer antlers as grips. That will be easy to see.

I no longer use exotic woods, and much prefer fire wood scales from my NH. USA fire wood pile passed thru the band saw, so I forget what kind of red wood that is.

I do not solder any parts to a blade, and so every part mounted to any blade I make is riveted wether or not you can see the rivets.

Before I sell any blade I make it gets some hard use on a 55 gallon steel barrel. If it breaks I have it, and so I am sort of protected in name.

I have none for sale now, and I am not to sure when I will. I would like over summer to set up my forge, as we moved recently and I am sure all you guys know how that works..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mac_muz15/1515379187/in/set-72157602316185780/

 

[Sl2squeeze]

Try the Cold Steel Ti-Lite

 

[asknight]

If those "blue balls" will ruin a blade, just think about what it's doing to your expensive clothes!

 

[MarshallDodge]

sm, have you ever tried a Benchmade?

The several that I have are top quality including a 556 Griptillian and they are made in the USA.

I use mine to cut soft materials, wood, plastic, etc. and it has held up over three years of pocket carry. It has also been washed several times.

I would second sending back to Benchmade and see what they have to say.

 

[Don Gwinn]

MacMac, I was talking to the Knife Launderer, but I like your work!

SL2Squeeze, a Ti-Lite? Really? Has that been pretty durable for you? Maybe I've underestimated them, but they just don't seem all that sturdy to me. Not really a criticism; they're basically folding stilettos and it would be hard to make a hard-use knife with that blade geometry.

 

[Jason_G]

Have you given any thought to what those "softener spikes" are doing to your clothes after seeing the destruction they caused to a knife?

If those "blue balls" will ruin a blade, just think about what it's doing to your expensive clothes!

Funnily enough, they don't really do anything to the clothes. Since then, they have changed their product to a much softer plastic or maybe it's a stiff type of rubber. The older ones that beat up the Benchmade were very hard plastic. The new ones are soft enough to squeeze.

Seriously, my brother, you OWE us pictures now. Um, you know, please.

Don, This is the sole pic I have on line, of my work under blades.

MacMac, I was talking to the Knife Launderer, but I like your work!

LMAO! Maybe that should be my new screen name .
I'm figuring out a way to get some pictures up. My camera sucks at close-ups, and there's no way to see the damage without getting close, other than the finish. I'll post some pictures in a minute, one way or another.

Jason