2018 CRK

Rhah said:
Thank you, Mick. I very much appreciate your clear and honest input on the matter.

You're right, human errors will always remain a possibility. I just got the impression, from listening to other's opinions, that the chance for these errors happening had significantly increased eversince Chris has (either forcefully or voluntarily) distanced himself from his company. But I simply don't know how valid these claims are.

It is also things like the below, which, according to the maker of those pictures, caused issues in the balance of the knife after sharpening that had me more worried. Because these look to be more rigorous discrepancies that obviously aren't that easily fixed... if at all.
And said person therefore made the claim that he noticed a clear and significant decrease in the quality control and thus perfection of current CR knives compared to their older productions.

In the end, what it comes down to for me is the reason why you'd want to buy a Chris Reeve knife, and why you'd be willing to spend that amount of cash on a pocket knife, is because you want to experience the best of the best; the excellence that is Chris Reeve Knives.
But when I then still have to deal with faults or errors, how small they might be, that kind of goes out of the window...

Though I admit that, since we're dealing with a man-made product, that is perhaps a little unrealistic to expect in the first place.
Perhaps I'm just not entitled to expect the amount of excellence that the hype surrounding this brand has led me to expect.

Or what do you think? Have the knives indeed experienced a clear decrease in their perfection due to poor(er) quality control, or are you convinced that I will still be buying an excellent knife that will meet my (admittedly high) expectations?

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I have bought several Chris Reeve Knives manufactured in 2016 and 2017 and they have been perfect in every way. This concern about Chris Reeve being retired is unfounded. Ann and Tim (Chris’ son) have things well in hand. The product is still worth every penny.
 
supply and demand rules the market place... at some point the supply will surpass the demand unless CRK becomes more innovative than what they currently are...
 
I have/had 150+ CRK and honestly I can’t tell the difference in quality from sebenzas I bought 10+ years ago to some I bought late last year. To me, the only differences are visual between now and then. Slight changes to bevels, jumping, washers, etc. The quality is still there, trust me.

I also don’t take micrometers to my sebenzas to see if they have a 00000001 difference. Blades are hand ground, yet I have noticed no differences as of late. I do have an old original Sebenza that was made many years ago and it is noticibely ground off and that’s when Chris Was there. Shit happens, but I know if shit does happen, CRK will make it right. I simply cannot say the same for other brands I have purchased over the years.

I also have never experienced blade play in any direction on any CRK I have ever bought. I just simply have not had issues some have mentioned and I have bought lots, Both new and used.

So with any regards to diminished quality.....I say there is none. CRK is now just as it was then....the best knife $$$ can buy, especially at this price point.
 
Thanks for your kind comments everyone! I'm pleased to say that my faith has been restored.

And yes, I'm not a fan of their designs either, but that doppler pattern is real nice!
 
I like CRK designs but the last new knife designs to come out (to the best of my knowledge) were the ti lock in 2011 and the impofu in 2014... Is there some kind of writer's block going on at CRK for heaven's sake.... LOL
 
tank sniper said:
I like CRK designs but the last new knife designs to come out (to the best of my knowledge) were the ti lock in 2011 and the impofu in 2014... Is there some kind of writer's block going on at CRK for heaven's sake.... LOL
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Ti lock production started in 2010. Inkosi is the most recent folder model. I think that came out in 2015. I know it is based on the 25 but I think it is definitely a different platform.

I would like to see something that replaces the Ti Lock. I am happy to see they are doing the Insingo on Inkosi models. Maybe they could do more CGG or UG on Inkosi but that isn’t my thing nor would it be innovative.
 
The inkosi is hardly a new platform just because of a few minor changes to the 25 ... I am hoping that CRK will do something new in 2019
 
I have thought about the "come up with a new knife" comments and I am not sure I agree. For starters, what could they do differently?

They already have the Sebenza and Inkosi. With each model, you can choose between a large and a small size, you can choose between several blade shapes, and you have a handful of stunning inlays. With the Sebenza, you can get into Unique Graphics and CGG designs that change annually. Then you have the Umnumzaan (2 blade styles and Wilson Combat versions). Need something smaller and more elegant, how about the Mnandi and all of the inlays you can choose on that? Oh, you need a fixed blade - they have those too (currently producing 4 different models, again all with some design choices you can choose from).

If you really think about it, for the size of their company and damn impressive quality, their lineup is substantial! And that is just current production models. Want something different, dig back a few years and look at the models that are out of production but available on the secondary market. I didn't even talk about those.

I will end with two things.
1. At this price point, with this quality, you can call them up and have a Sebenza customized with your own unique graphic, CAD, or engraving. Yes, you have to wait because they cannot produce it overnight, but it can be done.
2. If you do something and do it very well at a competitive price, you really do not need a lot of models in your lineup. I would rather own one CRK than 4-5 models of brands with less quality. With that said, as I explained above, I think their lineup is a lot more varied than people think at first glance.
 
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To add on the 21 variations are probably in over a thousand at this point, the Mnandi has had maybe 20 different wood variants (not sure just spitballing), 25/Inkosi already seen some new variants considering they are somewhat newer in their lineup. HOWEVER, the Umnumzaan has only had OP and standart pivot with regular and WC version and Drop point/Tanto Version. I feel that out of all the folders the Zaan has had the least variants and could benefit from a new handle pattern as well as a slight variant in the drop point blade and possibly a smaller size version (not for me but plenty who would love it).
 
Thin-Slice said:
To add on the 21 variations are probably in over a thousand at this point, the Mnandi has had maybe 20 different wood variants (not sure just spitballing), 25/Inkosi already seen some new variants considering they are somewhat newer in their lineup. HOWEVER, the Umnumzaan has only had OP and standart pivot with regular and WC version and Drop point/Tanto Version. I feel that out of all the folders the Zaan has had the least variants and could benefit from a new handle pattern as well as a slight variant in the drop point blade and possibly a smaller size version (not for me but plenty who would love it).
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Now, that would be something to think about.
 
Thin-Slice said:
To add on the 21 variations are probably in over a thousand at this point, the Mnandi has had maybe 20 different wood variants (not sure just spitballing), 25/Inkosi already seen some new variants considering they are somewhat newer in their lineup. HOWEVER, the Umnumzaan has only had OP and standart pivot with regular and WC version and Drop point/Tanto Version. I feel that out of all the folders the Zaan has had the least variants and could benefit from a new handle pattern as well as a slight variant in the drop point blade and possibly a smaller size version (not for me but plenty who would love it).
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I would buy a smaller Zaan in a heartbeat. Something a just little bigger than a small 21 and just a little smaller than a large 21.
 
A Lil' 'Zaan probably won't happen. I still really wish the large Inkosi would have been smaller than the large 21 in the same way that the small Inkosi was smaller than the small 21.
 
I agree that the number of models they have now is extensive. What I would really like to see is the large regular Sebenza, with an Inkosi blade, and ceramic ball integrated lock to fix the problem with the lock stick. I feel like the old regular Sebenzas have a classic look to the slabs and like the jimping and the heaviness of the Inkosi blade. And maybe do some old school millwork on the slabs similar to the LCD9 (Robertson). Instead of all the crazy graphics.
 
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