21/31 Feeback

BP_

BP_

Platinum Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2015
Messages
2,897
They’ve been out a while now. We all have them, we all use them. How are the 31’s stacking up (in your opinion) to the 21’s? Like them better? Don’t like them as much? Equal amounts of love for both? How come? What made you decide?

I like my 31. It’s a good knife, and I feel like they were trying to expand on an already successful platform. It’s smooth smooth smooth, my goodness. I also like that they got rid of the hole on the Ti slab. That said, I’m just in love with my 21. My Lg 21 Micarta is the one knife that I’ll never let go of, no matter the circumstances. Just clip it in my pocket before you put me in the ground. I’ve even strongly considered (and still might) getting rid of my Lg 31 Micarta to get another Lg 21 Micarta, but I’ve never even entertained the idea of getting rid of a 21 to get another 31. So I guess my opinion is that after a couple months of carry, and trying my very best to connect with it on multiple levels, I still strongly prefer my Large 21 Micarta. And I think I always will.

Curious what the masses have to say about it.
 
Don’t have a 31, but I do have one on order. Love my 21s and my Inkosi’s. The 31 seems to mix a little of both together so I’m looking forward to receiving mine, whenever that mite be
 
I had 2 21's and loved 'em, then got a StarTac and loved it, loved my next 21, loved the 2 25's, then loved the 2 Inkosi's. I'll get a 31 in the foreseeable future and my guess is I'll probably love that too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BP_
patrickguignot said:
Could you please explain why?
I have a large 21 micarta and I'm thinking of buying a large 31 micarta so I'm curious about your experience.
Click to expand...

The vertical play/lock rock annoyed me... there's a huge thread on it in the CRK sub forum... basically, contacted CRK and was told it was normal and ok - I'm kind of a perfectionist and it bugged me so I moved on. Had that not been the case I would have preferred it over the 21 I think... the 31 has a better detent and smoother action and was a very nice knife but the 21 has a more solid feeling lockup and at the end of the day, that is what won out for me.

To be clear, there is a lot of variance it seems like and it doesn't bother some people at all... so it's more of a "know yourself" situation... if you are buying it looking for a great EDC and little details don't bug you, you will love it... if you buy it and expect it to be flawless, you will be annoyed IMO.
 
nyefmaker said:
Love the Regular. Like the 21. Dislike the 31.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree with you more. I have a 98 regular that truly defines that bank vault feel with the solid thud when the lock engages and the satisfying feel / sound when unlocking and folding the blade closed. This is what makes a Sebenza a Sebenza.

The 21 doesn't have quite the same feeling as the Regular but is somewhat on the same lines. Regardless a fantastic knife.

Now I don't have a 31 but if I liken it to my Inkosis (which I absolutely love and are buttery smooth even more so than my Sebenzas) minus the pivot bushing I would think the 31 loses the feel and nature of the regular and 21 but would like to confirm this for myself. Add to that the controversy of the unwanted movement a number of people have reported, makes me want to steer clear of the 31 and cancel my order with CRK.

Just my two cents here.
 
I feel like I’m a person who appreciates the finer details in life. It’s one of the reasons why I am a CRK guy. My 31 is a Sm Micarta and my two 21s are Sm & Lg PJs. I also own Lg micarta & Sm PJ Inkosis. I’m also the kind of goofball who greatly prefers the older Hinderers no lock bar insert/no Tri Way pivot. I like simplicity & minimalist design. So most of the changes to the 31 from the 21 are not something I felt the design was needing. I liked the locating hole but am not married to it. I liked the more flowing clip placement of the 21. I liked the male/female/stop pin sleeve construction there.
But the ball lockface is a major upgrade IMO. There maaaayyybe a little sponginess in the lockup if I press on the spine of my locked open 31. It does not feel at all unsafe. To be 100% honest, if I were the first person to notice it and I contacted CRK and they said “hey, I know it is a departure from what we’ve seen/felt in frame lock lockups but the geometry of the (pivot/stop pin/lock face) triangulation of the 21 creates a fulcrum that wedges the lockup toward the pivot. It feels different but the interface has been thoroughly tested to exceed the standards set by the bench mark that is Chris Reeve Knives.” I would believe them and move on.

They reeeeeally effed up with their responses to customer inquiries. Whoever was doing those replies needs to be let go. It was bad form at best and complete lack of knowledge of the product at worst. I believe it is both. I don’t believe there is an issue with the 31. I believe they are indeed a little different but they needed to have an explanation on deck. The issue is with communication so far. I don’t believe there has been a 31 sold that has been shown to actually have an unsafe lock.

Finally, if I woke up tomorrow CRK-less the first one I would buy would be a Lg PJ 31.
 
I’ve never even held a regular, let alone owned one. I don’t have that knowledge/experience to compare it to the 21. But, the more time passes, the more responses I read.. the more I’m going to end up doing a 31-for-21. I echo the above statement about the 31, no question. I still just can’t connect with mine. Something about the 21 that is just perfect for me. I think the 31 will end up making a trip to the spa so it can be re homed in favor of a 21 :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 353
I have yet to own the 31, but I love the 21's MM Classics , and regulars so much that it would be very hard to sell me on any major changes. I went through loads of high end productions and customs making notations before realizing the Sebenza (prior 31 ) was the knife I was looking for. It is sacrilege IMO to change it, but I would still like to check out the 31 at some time. I am not going to pay $500 just to see if I get one with more or less play, but likely will pick one up off the exchange. This should result in a price I can get mostly back and a better chance of getting one of the more solid ones(since I can ask ?'s). From what I am reading either the knives are inconsistent in the amount of movement or the owners opinion of that movement is.
I personally wish they had left the Sebenza 21 alone or brought back the regular, with just small tweaks-maybe some blade metal offering to enhance sales, and produced a completely different knife model for their 31 ideas. Then let the chips fall where they may and let the market decide which they prefer.
 
no question about it, I feel my large Micarta 21 is probably the best I own, I have a inkosi and my thought is the 31 is just not much of an upgrade on ether of these! maybe some would call it the new improved 21 sebenza! but that's not how I feel, but most likely maybe its going to make the 21's more collectable .
 
Just got 31... it’s awesomely smooth. I’ve always been Regular fan, then I’ve almost skipped 21 (used some Classics) and switched to Inkosi (Large Inkosi exactly) directly. Mainly due to smoothness of locking / unlocking and overall mechanics and sturdiness.

Seb 31 seems to have a good blend of features of Sebenza and Inkosi and should serve me well as true edc. I checked lock and I can’t see how it could fail on me in any circumstances.

Also fyi - if I forsee and hardcore cutting or chopping tasks then I put a fixed blade on my belt. There’s no better lock than a full tang fixed blade!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top