Well, I would recommend the mini grip, but that would be depending on what blade style you get it in. 555 series is a big no no.

Recently I went to a Cutlery shop and talk to one of the guys there, who I know personally. I questioned him about the mini grip tanto. I actually at that time wanted another Grip to replace my nearly dead beat up larger grip. He told me that one of the buyers of a mini- grip was able to gut and clean a whole deer with just that knife. At that moment I got pretty excited but ultimately thinking back on what happened to mine I didn't get. The other drop point and tanto would be a much better choice than the 550 series. Their saber ground rather than the thinnes hollow grind you can possibly get.

My verdict (and Cloak's) on the 550 is that the blade is way to weak for the lock. The lock is extremely strong. I've stood on it, thrown it into trees with the blade facing up (aerial spin), and the lock is still as smooth as day-1 with no play. I still use the sucker but it's quite near it's last leg.

Other than that I would actually recommend Lahar. Good hanle materials, flipper, VG-10 steel.

You might also look at the AG Russell Sting Titanium Framelock . The seconds (which are just cosmetically defect but fully capable) run for 75 dollars. 75 for titanium and 154cm ain't too bad of a deal. Blade size is within you margin at 3 inches.