Anybody else looking at the CRKT Ikoma Carajas?

BenLong1018

BenLong1018

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Apr 12, 2012
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Just saw it recently and thought it was kinda cool and a decent price. I'm not sure about CRKT's though. It seems like their quality control is very shotty and I wish they could make some knives in the USA it would really attract more people.
 
BenLong1018 said:
Just saw it recently and thought it was kinda cool and a decent price. I'm not sure about CRKT's though. It seems like their quality control is very shotty and I wish they could make some knives in the USA it would really attract more people.
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In terms of quality, CRKT exists on a level slightly above SOG. Some crap, some meh, and a fair amount of decent products. The Ikoma, if it is made in Japan or the ROC, will probably be a solid knife. If it is PRC made, quality might be hit or miss.
 
I like CRKT IKBS knives, for that price it would be a tough call between the carajas and the sampa. I hope Flavio Ikoma stays on with CRKT for a while, him and Ken Onion seem to have positive effects on each other.
 
I just got one a few days ago along with the Swindle by Ken Onion. The Carajas flips great is well made and a very good lock up. The blade is sharp out of the box. I am pretty impressed and if the quality holds up I would recomend it highly. The Swindle is also well made and has a good lock up for factory frame lock. I also own an Eros and they all have the IKBS system which is smooth and fast. The flipper on these are as fast anything I have used.

RKH
 
I just got one a few days ago along with the Swindle by Ken Onion. The Carajas flips great is well made and a very good lock up. The blade is sharp out of the box. I am pretty impressed and if the quality holds up I would recomend it highly. The Swindle is also well made and has a good lock up for factory frame lock. I also own an Eros and they all have the IKBS system which is smooth and fast. The flipper on these are as fast anything I have used.

RKH
 
I got mine in the mail the other day as well. I really liked the blade shape so I took the plunge on the Carajas and ordered the 2013 Ripple as well. I am still on the fence with the Carajas. I really like the blade shape, and the centering and lock-up are good. The flipping action is smooth but if you don't "preload" it can be quite sluggish. I dislike the jimping on the flipper, it just isn't needed and the SS version of the Ripple doesn't have it. Not sure why they put it there. The milled G10 is also not finished very well and some spots are actually fairly sharp. It is very grippy though, so some people might like that. Finally, the handle is also a little too small for my taste.
 
I'm a sucker for ball bearing flippers, so I'm interested to hear about the new CRKT models. The Swindle is the one that calls to me, style-wise, but the funky side clip is a bit off-putting.
 
I am considering getting a Carajas eventually.

I have the Sampa and like it quite well.
 
i'd rather it have stand offs than that crappy plastic backspacer, the scales are ugly and the lanyard hole is useless but other than those minor things, it's highly impressive, ergonomic and will make a solid edc blade.

the latest ripples are excellent as well.

nice to see CRKT putting out some good products.

no knife is perfect but these are pretty impressive (for the cost especially).
 
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I wasn't impressed with my recent foray into CRKT products, the Eros I got had a very uneven edge bevel and was badly off center.
 
NeverMore1701 said:
I wasn't impressed with my recent foray into CRKT products, the Eros I got had a very uneven edge bevel and was badly off center.
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in their defense, that's fairly common in most production companies..

i've had plenty of spydies and kershaws with those slight imperfections.

i feel your pain though, AFAIK the eros is pretty expensive too.

the higher price tag should equal better F&F which doesn't always happen.

bummer.

i can definitely recommend the carajas and the new gen ripples. F&F was damn impressive on both models (for the price).
 
I haven't had a Benchmade or Kershaw that had anything approaching this level of imperfection, and that includes many knives that were a third of the price.
 
we live in different worlds then brother because i have had more lock fails on kershaws and blade play in benchmades than any other knife company.

just a gentle tap (not a spine whack by any means) on my zing and it would pop free 9 out of ten times.

the NRG, chive and scallion did the same. my blurs all had vertical play and uneven bevels..

most of the axis lock knives i've had developed vertical play after minimal use.


not that im defending crkt, i'm just trying to prove my point..knife companies sell imperfect blades.

it's really a matter of what draws the line.

if your eros was horribly off center than i dont blame you for being upset but i wouldnt rule out future models based on that alone...

just my 2
 
All we can go on are our experiences. Mine with Benchmade and Kershaw have been near perfect, over a couple dozen different examples.
 
NeverMore1701 said:
All we can go on are our experiences. Mine with Benchmade and Kershaw have been near perfect, over a couple dozen different examples.
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you're right. spydies have done really well for me overall.

i'm kinda surprised that your eros was badly off center though.

usually when a bearing system is installed in aligns the knife dead center almost always.

does that knife feature bearings?

i think but im not sure..
 
i haven't handled one but i think i recall it was the little titanium flipper with a unique clip..

i wouldn't steer you in a bad direction, i can vouch for both the carajas and larger model new gen ripple..

you'd love them.

i have several of each and they're all solid, centered and smooth.

got them for reasonable prices also.

i've heard good things about the sampa as well.
 
Picked up a Carajas this week. Haven't owned a CRKT since the good old days (Apache, S2). Blade is nice, flipper works fine. Dimension-wise ergos are fine, but that handle is one of the sharpest I've ever held. My $35 Kershaw Injection has much better fit and finish. This $60 or so CRKT has multiple sharp edges, may not bother some, but it bothers me. I'll either sand things down with a sanding block, or put it up for sale on BF. Seems like, for me, CRKT always produces stunning knives with one glaring, deal-killing flaw, be it steel quality, over elaborate locks, or, in this case , a rough and sharp handle.
 
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I wonder Why crkt has not made more forays into a little nicer steel. Some of their stuff looks nice and feels good in hand and I would pay a premium for it. They just seem to be stuck in a niche that I kind of look down on. Russ
 
I've seen more and more models with AUS 8, which is good, for them. I would like to see some ATS 34-type steels like they used to do. My old Apache was a workhorse.
 
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