The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
420J2 is a marginal blade steel for edge retention if one is generous in making the assessment.
Yes, and save your friends a lifetime of inferior cutting edges! I'll say what I've always felt. If you actually use your knives, a Spyderco Sharpmaker pays for itself really quickly!The advantage of 420J2 and AUS4 is they are very easy to sharpen.
And non knife-knuts need an easy shapener.
I gave a AUS4 and a 420J2 to two friends.
They love them.
Both of them tell me when the knives get dull and they sharpen them with a kitchen sharpener.
And that works for them.
What tell them to buy a $40 sharpening system!!!!!!
For as little as $25, you can buy a far better knife!So CRKT knows its market.
They are well made.
They look fancy.
There are lots of different designs to choose from.
And the people buying don't know for $50 you can buy a far better knife!
The advantage of 420J2 and AUS4 is they are very easy to sharpen.
Many people consider those soft tough steels very difficult to sharpen because of the difficulty of getting rid of the extremely tough burr. It's like trying to sharpen Play-Do.
Many people consider those soft tough steels very difficult to sharpen because of the difficulty of getting rid of the extremely tough burr. It's like trying to sharpen Play-Do.
I recently bought a model 6204 alaska bwana and I didn't even see it pictured in the new catalog. It's an older model designed as Russ Kommer's personal carry knife. It has AUS 6M and has a great handle feel, the most comfortable thing I've ever held. It's made as a skinning knife but it works great on everything that I've put it up to. It really surprised, me especially after I found out that it wasn't at least AUS 8. I was bummed at first, but it just takes a touch up here and there from my diamond rod. I would agree with other posters that they should at least make ALL of their knives out of AUS 8, and that being the lowest possible steel. I do realize that they are very affordable knives (which attracts me to buying one here and there), but just knowing that they have better steel would make me feel better. Anyhoo, here is a pick of my Alaska Bwana.
It's always puzzling to see users complain about the materials of CRKT knives. One must realize what kind of company they are and what they are trying to sell, this is not a full-line high-end company. They offer a lot of custom maker models that otherwise would be inaccessible to the general public and have several interesting locking mechanisms that are produced nowhere else.
I like CRKT for the different designs they offer. They may have some lower-end steel but seeing all the cool things they make with good fit and finish makes up for it. I'm excited about their expanding multi-tool line the most, interesting form factors and such. They really need to work on being more lefty-friendly with their knives, some go above the beyond like the M1 Lightfoot with 4 carry options, 2 pocket clips, 2 sets of screws and a wrench to swap them out but other models are completely lacking.
I have a 3Cr13 blade on my Zilla-Tool and in all honesty it works very well for being so soft.![]()
I recently got an M16-03Z. The quality of the construction is excellent but the blade doesn't hold its edge. Out of the box, the edge was razor sharp but after a day of opening boxes, no more sharp edge. Quite easy to sharpen though.
I love the feel of the knife in my hand and the smooth action of opening and closing it. I'll definitely get another CRKT but I learned my lesson, this is the last AUS 4 for me.