Recommendation? 21 new vs LNIB

Joined
Dec 30, 2002
Messages
97
Hi,
Firs time posting here. I've been on the fence for years wrt owning a CRK folder. I have many others from the regular big name companies plus a handful from Trevor Burger and other SA custom knife makers.

I am looking at a large pj 21. There are many for sale on the secondary market for around $370 but they do not seem to be moving. These are supposedly in good condition never been sharpened with a couple of snail trails. Maybe others are thinking (as I do) that for an extra $80 one can still get a new one from a number of the dealers making $370 for a used one a bit high?

I am probably answering my own question. I guess by new at $450 for adding to the collection and wait for a real good user deal to stick in the pocket.

What is the consensus out there?
 
get a new one as I did, it took me years before i pulled the trigger on my large 21 but glad I did one of the best prediction folders out there.
 
I bought my PJ new for the reason you mentioned. The unique graphics and limited run CRK are a different story. The secondary market is the only option and in some cases the knife has increased in value.
 
I usually look for about a 15% discount on used or I'd just buy new. $370 is a good price if it is LNIB. There are probably other dynamics at play, like the 31 coming out.
 
You could also message the person that is selling for 370 and offer what ever you feel is a good price for you.
 
If it's your first(yes I'm implying there will be more in your future)go new. Your first initial experience should be unhindered by the variables a second hand knife can offer such as possible abuse by previous owner, poor sharpening, bad take down and assembly, all instances you'd have nothing to compare to by not having experienced a pristine example of a 21.

Just my .02
 
Buy new for your first one at least. Most times I would rather may $100 give or take for new as you know it hasn’t been messed with. With the recent fascination of drop shut folders like Shirogorov, people are tweaking all makers knives to drop shut like them. Polished washers and the like. CRK is NOT Shirogorov, sebenzas have a hydraulic feel and resistance when opening/closing. Polishing and tweaking just screws things up because people feel they know more than the makers. Then they pass it off as LNIB, I have gotten screwed over a few times and had to send them in to CRK. So from experience, Buy NEW. It’s Worth It.
 
All great advice thanks. A new one it will be.
I have never carried any of my higher end ($250 plus) knives and where possible have bought users of the same models to carry adding the others to the collection.
I recently picked up a couple of sprint run ZT's (my first ZT's) and followed up with a user (ZT0452CF) to experience the build quality more.
I have a damaged right thumb so struggle with button or hole openers favoring flippers instead. If the new 21 I get opens easily enough for me then maybe I look for a user as well. to carry.
 
I actually would go with the secondary market. Since there are a bunch for sale I would make a slightly lower offer. New is great, but the buyers of the new knife take the biggest hit if it is sold. You can buy the used, see if you like it and if you don't sell it for little if any loss.
 
I'm from the different camp... if you can't get one in hand first; buy LNIB... that way, if you don't love it, you can probably sell it for the price you paid. If you purchase a new one & don't like it, you're looking at a 15-20% loss.
 
Now two camps both making perfect sense!!! I guess if I'm going to stick the 21 in the collection it doesn't really matter if I like it or if I can open it easily.
Having said this I see that there are some BNIB available for around 380 which makes users at 350-370 even less appealing.
I'm wondering if the announcement of the 31 is driving the demand on the 21 down?
 
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Its simple really. Take the new price subtract 25 % Thats all you really want in a used one. Badly or poorly resharped are even less .


Jake
 
Now two camps both making perfect sense!!! I guess if I'm going to stick the 21 in the collection it doesn't really matter if I like it or if I can open it easily.
Having said this I see that there are some BNIB available for around 380 which makes users at 350-370 even less appealing.
I'm wondering if the announcement of the 31 are driving the demand on the 21 down?

I am going to guess you are seeing these on instagram or facebook, since I have seen very few for sale on the exchange recently. Be careful of the BNIB term-some use the term fairly loosely. Such as BNIB other than pounding it with a rock :)
 
All great advice thanks. A new one it will be.
I have never carried any of my higher end ($250 plus) knives and where possible have bought users of the same models to carry adding the others to the collection.
I recently picked up a couple of sprint run ZT's (my first ZT's) and followed up with a user (ZT0452CF) to experience the build quality more.
I have a damaged right thumb so struggle with button or hole openers favoring flippers instead. If the new 21 I get opens easily enough for me then maybe I look for a user as well. to carry.

I cut the end off of my right thumb off in a meat slicer many years ago and also can’t really use Spyderholes. I also can’t use the stock CRK thumbstud all that well its to small and to close to the scales so I eventually got REK to replace it with one that is larger so I can get some purchase even when my hand is wet. If your damage is like mine I’d probably get a used one and make sure the knife is for you before going full price.
 
Chris, sorry to hear about your injury and how you've had to adapt.
In my case the joint at the base of my thumb was shattered taking out the nerves and tendon too. This does affect my dexterity at times.
My main intention would be to add the 21 to my small collection, specially seeing that it has been discontinued. If I'm able to reliably open it, given my disability, then it may tempt me to EDC one as well.
 
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've had all positive experiences buying on the secondary market. I just bought one of the last large carbon fiber lefty 21s new from KnifeArt. I also wanted a small, but they were all gone and I'm guessing it will be a long time before CRK makes a left handed CF 31, if they ever do. So... I looked on eBay and was able to find exactly what I wanted. A lightly used small lefty CF insingo. In my case there was no difference in quality between my 4 week old "new" large and the "used" small. A lot of people don't dare use their Sebenzas, since they are so costly and then when they eventually sell them someone gets a good deal.
 
The two listed in my area as stockists don't have any CRK products at all.
Yesterday one of the very active users on a CRK group put up some NIB 21's at great prices. Shortly after contacting him his listing and all of his previous posts disappeared!
Seems to have disabled his account.
 
I prefer to buy used, that way I feel way less stress about using it since it probably already has some wabi sabi.
 
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