Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

BLACK

Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black

$89.95

(16)

Item # 737698

REI Members get back an estimated $ 9.00 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

The REI Member Dividend

The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.

Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.

Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.

Learn more

This item may be available in your local REI store.

FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more

More videos

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Incredibly easy to use, this extremely sharp knife has a partially serrated blade, lightweight handle and a smooth AXIS™ locking mechanism.

154 CM stainless-steel combination blade is strong and sharp enough to slice through food, wire and ropes with ease
The strong, spring-loaded AXIS locking mechanism adjusts smoothly for ease of operation
Ambidextrous blade is keenly unleashed with a simple push of the thumb-stud openers
Molded nylon handle is lightweight and easy to grip
Reversible pocket clip makes storage and carry easy--just clip it on your pocket or belt and go!
Silky carrying sheath included

Please Note: This product is not able to be shipped to addresses in New York.

Made in USA.

Item 737698

View all Benchmade products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black

4.6

(based on 16 reviews)

88%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Sharp blade (15)
Comfortable grip (14)
Durable (13)
Smooth locking mechanism (13)

Cons

Best Uses

Camping (13)
Survival (11)
Home (7)
Hunting (4)
Backcountry camping (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (7), Casual/ recreational (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 16 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Oct

2009

(8 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great all around blade

By Alex the gryptianer

from Leesburg, VA

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
Sharp Blade
Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Best Uses

Camping
Home
Hunting
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

A knife is a cutting tool. If you bend or break your knife because you are prying something with it, then you lose. This knife is made of very high quality 154CM steel. Which is something that REI is very bad about advertising. They are not doing knife manufacturers any favor by listing their knives simply as "Stainless Steel." There are a wide varieties of steels available for multiple purposes, and plain stainless steel is junk all around. 154CM is a good quality steel, but no steel edged tool is designed to stand up to being used as a pry bar.

Mar

2009

(7 of 33 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Snap.

By Been

from SoCal

See all my reviews

Pros

Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

The mechanism to open this knife and close it one handed is fantastic, as well it really feels like it locks in place with hardly any shifty (but I've experienced better). The grip, for my type of usage was horrible, although very durable and laid in the hand nicely. However, if you're doing any considerable work with this knife, it quickly starts causing significant discomfort.

Beautiful knife, if you just want something in your pocket that you can get the blade out quickly. However, if you're looking for something durable, as you'd expect it to be by the thickness of the blade, this isn't it.

My experiment with this knife ended when considerable length of the blade snapped clean off as I was pry/splitting a very light weight bit of kindling. This is an extremely brittle blade, and not something you want with you in the back country.

Feb

2010

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

I MAY OF GOT A LEMON

By Deadhorse

from North of you

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Sharp Blade
Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Fragile

Best Uses

Culinary

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

I was in love with everything about this knife and still am to some level, because I accept that I might of just got a lemon. It opens very smooth and closes securely. It has a very sturdy grip that allows you to move the belt clip to the other side if you are left handed. My problem was that a very improbable part of the blade fractured out a half moon while doing something I have done thousands of times with other less impressive and thinner knives; shaving a stick into a stake. This made me look to see if there was a [*]label on the blade somewhere.Because of REI's fantastic satisfaction guarantee I am going to try a replacement out. It just won't be the only knife I carry until it proves it isn't as allergic to work as the last one.

Jan

2008

(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

My "Go-To" blade.

By Mike8946

from Hermiston, OR

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
Sharp Blade

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

I carry this knife everyday "just in case". It is light-weight, high quality and very durable. It is my "go-to" knife when the going gets tough. Well worth the investment.

May

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Our family favorite!

By Hardcore camper

from Anchorage, Alaska

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
Sharp Blade
Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Best Uses

Camping
Home
Hunting
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

I bought the family's first Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife for my Father for Father's Day. I bought the second 551 for my Brother for Christmas. After listening to how they both LOVED their knives, I bought one for myself.

I purchased the 551 mainly to be an all purpose knife; something that I can wear everyday in my front pant pocket. After owning the knife for about 2 weeks, I can honestly say that don't know how I went without one for so long. It is a fantastic knife in both quality and design.

It is extremely "quick to draw," very smooth and the locking engagement mechanism is very well built.

Furthermore, I like the overall shape (length, width..etc..) of the 551. It is the perfect size to fit in the front pant pocket and is light enough to not make it uncomfortable.

Last, but definitely not least...It is made in the U.S.A (A HUGE factor in what I purchase).

The knife is extremely sharp when it first arrives, so definitely be careful.

Absolutely no complaints so far and 5 stars from me.

Service and delivery comments:

REI has never let me down since I began online ordering with them in 2004. They have been flawless in both their email notification and shipment dates. It honestly doesn't get any better than this. The unsung "heroes" that make handle REI's shipment process get a standing ovation from me! :-)

Sep

2010

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

BENCHMADE KNIFE IS WELL MADE

By SeattleJeff

from Seattle

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
Sharp Blade
Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Best Uses

Camping
Home
Hunting
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

I JUST GOT THIS KNIFE AND I KNOW IT IS WELL MADE AND REI STANDS BY EVERYTHING THEY SELL!

Dec

2009

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good outdoor knife

By No Tango

from Santee, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Sharp Blade
Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Best Uses

Camping
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

Very good/safe locking mechanism and very smooth easy deployment. This folder is really like a full size fixed blade with fat handle and blade length. Blade is a bit long for handy everyday use. I have both sizes of the Griptilian and I much prefer the Mini. The Mini feels perfect, the full size is like a full size fixed blade.

Jan

2008

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Naked with out it!

By happydan

from Salt Lake City, UT

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
Sharp Blade

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Day Trips
River Trips
Road Trips
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

I like this knife a lot, it was first given to me ba a member of the slc swat team. that knife was stolen, but i have purchased another because i like the way the knife fits into your hand. I carry it every day and use it all the time.

Sep

2007

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

worth it

By Tient

from Minneapolis MN

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
Sharp Blade

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Day Trips
River Trips
Road Trips
Survival

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

solid knife extremely sharp and stays that way. "Tient proof", practically indestructible, I know I bust nearly everything. Easy smooth truly ambidextrous operation.

Jun

2011

5.0

One smooth opening & closing knife

By urnojfk

from St Paul, MN

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Durable
One-handed operation
Sharp Blade
Smooth Locking Mechanism

Cons

Best Uses

Camping

Comments about Benchmade 551 Griptilian Serrated Locking Knife - Black:

This is a spectacular knife. So glad I read a number of reviews prior to selection as they were spot on. Has remained extremely sharp over 5 camping trips and many others I have camped with have remarked on the simple one-hand operation.

I actually didn't know the Benchmade name prior to purchase (had typically bought less expensive knives prior), but it looks like this knife will be a long-time survivor - perhaps even a hand-me-down to my scout son one day.