Opinions on the Ritter MK1 Stone Washed M390

redwood25

October 12, 2015 20:43

Well you're not gonna like it much but I first bought the Mini Grip Ritter this past summer. Didn't care for the scales, bought some custom G10 scales from Igor. It became one of my favorite knives.

In fact, I like liked it so much that I bought the full size Ritter Grip, too. Sadly, I dislike (ok, hate,) the stock scales, so I have a set ordered from DOAT-due in any day-that I'll use.

The Ritter blade is great. My
Number one knife (the one I'd keep if I could only keep one, is my Ares 730-1303, but the Ritters are really up there. Y
mini is definitely my favorite smaller knife.

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shepherd

October 12, 2015 21:02

I have a mini ritter in m390 and it is one of my favorites in my edc rotation. Like Redwood25, I hate the stock factory handles and replaced mine with CF scales from Igor. I have no complaints from this knife, as it has performed well in all tasks I have asked of it.

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bm-butterfly

October 12, 2015 21:04

I need someone to talk me into it!

Keyman makes this Critter Ritter look awesome.

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patryn

October 13, 2015 01:03

I'm apparently one of the strange ones. I have no problem with the factory scales on my Ritter. I have a Mk.I from the original run with S30V blade and I have no complaints at all about it.

It's a 'cheaper' knife at a specific price point for a reason. It's 100% capable of doing whatever you ask of it, within reason of course. The handles will stand up to damn near anything, and I don't give a crap if I scrape it up or scratch it up if I'm not putting it on a shelf to be admired.

Now, I have no problems with people that want to bump up a 'budget' knife into the price range of a regular knife. That's a valid option, but as is it will perform admirably.
I kinda view people that hate the handles as 'handle snobs', much as people look down on perfectly good older steels are considered 'steel snobs'. Once something is no longer the latest and greatest, it gets dismissed out of hand even though it will do great for years and years to come.

Sorry for the rant. I just hate seeing this great knife being thrown under the bus so often when it's still better than so much out there for the same price.

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painstakinglymeticulous

October 13, 2015 05:25

quote:

Originally posted by Patryn:
I'm apparently one of the strange ones. I have no problem with the factory scales on my Ritter. I have a Mk.I from the original run with S30V blade and I have no complaints at all about it.

It's a 'cheaper' knife at a specific price point for a reason. It's 100% capable of doing whatever you ask of it, within reason of course. The handles will stand up to damn near anything, and I don't give a crap if I scrape it up or scratch it up if I'm not putting it on a shelf to be admired.

Now, I have no problems with people that want to bump up a 'budget' knife into the price range of a regular knife. That's a valid option, but as is it will perform admirably.
I kinda view people that hate the handles as 'handle snobs', much as people look down on perfectly good older steels are considered 'steel snobs'. Once something is no longer the latest and greatest, it gets dismissed out of hand even though it will do great for years and years to come.

Sorry for the rant. I just hate seeing this great knife being thrown under the bus so often when it's still better than so much out there for the same price.

I also own the large S30V version and a mini 556-1303. Love the larger MK1, dislike the mini solely because its way too small. There’s nothing wrong with it, I just like larger knives.

With the mini out of the way, I’ll start with the scales. Noryl GTX is very wear resistant to - everything lol. I just don’t like the feel and the hollow sound (due to the partial liners). It gives off the allusion that the scales are fragile in some way, shape, or form - when in reality they are very durable to everyday elements. Basically, I don’t like the plastic feel. To each his own. I’d prefer G10 at a base level. More weight and a different texture.. It’s about feel for me not material snobbery. I like/prefer how textured G10 feels compared to textured Noryl GTX. I love how the smoothness of CF feels compared to smooth G10.. And weight plays a factor for me as well.

In regard to the steel, that’s the game. There’s always going to be an newer, younger player.. S30V is great and you could happily use it for the rest of your days.. However, I would still like to compare, analyze, research, and use the newer stuff.. That’s the fun for me, otherwise I’d get bored lol and stop playing the “game.”

I just see all the scale design possibilities including the stonewashed M390 and get excited

940 or MK1 decisions, decisions

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archer

October 13, 2015 09:25

The standard Ritter even with the S30V steel and stock scales is one of the best all around knives you can get, practically and economically.

I've upgraded mine with G10 scales from DOAT and I have the newer M390 secretly stashed away

, just to have.

I get the part with the cheap feeling and sounding scales, I actually like them including the "clack" it gives off.

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agony

October 13, 2015 12:52

I have one of the original S30V large Ritters. It's a decent knife, but it is relegated to kitchen duty only. The thinness of the blade makes it a wonderful food prep tool, but I find that the edge chips a lot easier than other knives so I don't use it much for anything else.

I personally don't think it's worth the extra scratch. And I think it's ugly as sin.

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po

October 13, 2015 14:42

Well, PM, if you just need someone to tip you over, I'll do my best...

I've never been a huge fan of the Ritter blade profile. I've tried them different times, and don't find them to be significantly superior to the original Griptilian blade grinds in any way. They do have a unique and interesting look though, kinda woodcrafty.

Having said that, the Griptilian design is one of the best ever, regardless of blade variation, so a M390 Griptilian is gonna be the $hi+. A M390 Ritter in a custom handle would be one of the best custom knives you could own. Go for it!

I think the stonewash finish is good. I've seen it on other Ritters, and other Benchmade models, and I think it is a little more refined than the usual satin finish, It's a great finish for a working stainless blade.

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geocyclist

October 13, 2015 16:38

The mini Ritter is my EDC. I have four of them I rotate through. All of them have AL Wilkins scales. I like the OEM plastic scales fold holding the knife, great grip, traction and feel in hand. They are too thick for in pocket carry.

I can say the M390 does not get dull and can take more abuse. The S30V dulls much more easily. I have mirror polished, 15° per side edges on all of them. M390 and CPM-M4 will handle 15°. The S30V I had to take back down to 18°. It couldn't handle 15 without the edge constantly rolling on off camber cuts and hitting the cutting board etc. At 18 it still razor sharp, easy to sharpen and cuts great.

I have a full size Ritter in M390. Swapped the the S30V blade and sold it. I carry it only the weekends, it is too large for me in the office. I have not sharpened it it. It was razor sharp out of the box.

I love M4 but don't carry it raining days, so M390 is great for that. Almost if not equal to M4 but completely stainless.

The stone wash finish is beautiful. The Ritter designs are hard core slicers, period. You will either love or hate the shape, but no one can argue they can't slice. Functionally I like the blade shape over a full flat ground since there is a little bit of square edge on top for clamping into the Wicked Edge sharpening system. Much easier to clamp a square edge than an angled edge.

Talk you out of it. I think the only downside are the factory scales. If in doubt try any grip out in a store.

If I could only have one knife it would be a mini Ritter.

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bigdaddyw20

October 14, 2015 02:55

The large Ritter with m390 has been one of my favorite purchases. I also picked up up a set of G10 scales from DOAT. The stonewashed finish does show any scratches even though I've used it a lot. I plan on getting a mini too at some point.

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dj

October 14, 2015 03:03

The Ritters are great cardboard box slicers ........I have custom scales on all my grips , weather Ritters or otherwise.

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painstakinglymeticulous

October 14, 2015 21:00

Do you guys know if KW is going to keep M390 as the base model for this knife now? Or is it back to S30V once they run dry?

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bmkjason

October 14, 2015 21:29

quote:

Originally posted by Painstakingly Meticulous:
Do you guys know if KW is going to keep M390 as the base model for this knife now? Or is it back to S30V once they run dry?

Do you really want to risk it? You probably better go get one or nine.

Muahaha

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painstakinglymeticulous

October 14, 2015 22:36

quote:

Originally posted by BMK Jason:
Do you really want to risk it? You probably better go get one or nine.

Muahaha

Pssshh, it was only 5 810's, nine would be extreme now...

I'm going to pass on this one, I have the S30V version already and it always gets overlooked for other fav's

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mobilefirelord

October 16, 2015 04:02

Yup, I wanted G10 & M390 RSK.

Here is my 552GrBk-1401 fusion.

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