Anyone else impressed with CRKT?

colobbfan

colobbfan

Joined
May 31, 2000
Messages
651
After the Customs C.R.A.P., I've picked up several CRKT models to support them - the KCC, the Carson M14. But the one that I'm super impressed with is CRKT Viele!!! Saw them in the A.G. Russell catalog and ordered two one plain edge, one partially serrated. Both the larger model.
I'd like to see a review but I can write one after I get them if necessary.
John
colobbfan

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A day without Spydies is like a day without ... WELL, Spydies!!!
 
I don't think you can go wrong with the CKRT Viele. I think it is the best quality knife that CKRT has ever produced including the titanium and ATS-34 S-2 models. The fit and finish on the Viele Wasp is excellent and the blade comes quite sharp. The blade style is essentially a Wharncliffe and is quite handy for general utility. I have the large model and I think it is a great size for EDC. The OAL is 7.25" and the blade measured out on my ruler at exactly 3" although it is advertised as 3.13". The steel (ACUTO 440 or AUS118) seems to hold an edge at least as well as ATS-55 which is fine with me. The only major structural fault with the Wasp is its flimsy clip. It can bent very easily which lead to losing the knife if you are not careful. One other thing I don't care for is the thumb stud placement. It reduces the slicing edge from 3" to 2 3/8" because it is place so far up on the blade. Although I don't care for this cosmetically, I don't believe that it negatively affects the general usage of the knife. Overall, I think the Wasp is a great gentleman's knife but the construction is so sturdy that it could easily be used as a heavy duty work knife. To top it off, it has that great Viele style going for it. It is a great deal IMHO.
 
I agree that the new CRK&T knives are very nice indeed. I think I will pick up the Ryan model. I like big knives.
 
Pity so many are made from 6M. They are fantastic value for money though. I was looking for a good quality large folder for a mate of mine. Appearance as well as build quality and lack of mantinace were top of the list. I considered many blades and for the kind of money he wanted to spend £30, I chose the Commander series. Well made, cheap and tough as old boots! So the steel is a bit poor, but for him a great knife!

The quality of CRKT blades constantly amazes me, I own several and like them all.

W.A.

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"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
 
The only things I don't like about CRKT knives is the bead blast finish on the blades, and the made in Taiwan print on the blade.
The Taiwan thing is just my personal prejudice, as I equate "made in Taiwan" with cheap knockoff, wich CRKT knives certainly are not. I really prefer no printing at all on my blades, although something engraved or stamped doesn't seem quite as bad.
The bead blast finish is the real issue for me, as it seems to rust very easily.

Having said all that, I will probably have to get one of the Ryan Model 7's, and try my hand at polishing the blade, thereby killing two birds with one stone.

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mikemck@austin.rr.com

[This message has been edited by mikemck (edited 01-28-2001).]
 
mikemk- I took most of the worthless blasted finish off my large model Carson M16-04 with a 4 ounce tube of cheap auto polish. Easy to do with even just a paper towel. No more rust spots/stains since, and the blade has a stylish new sheen...
smile.gif
 
Impressed? Yes and No.

I think they have done a wonderful job bringing fully featured and carefully designed knives to a price point and population that would otherwise never be introduced to a quality knife of any level.

But to do that they have to make compromises I don't want in a serious knife. Granted all knives have to make compromises in the design and execution.

So for me, CRKT is a test bed manufacturer. When I want to learn something about a different style or feature of a knife, CRKT is a manufacturer I look into to see if that feature is in any of their knives. The knives are inexpensive enough to afford to test on, and well made enough for you to evaluate the feature.

Once I have some experience with the feature, I can then make some more informed decisions about that feature in a more expensive and usually but not always better knife.

So I am very happy to have CRKT as an option but no knife of theirs has lasted beyond a week in my carry rotation.

Phil
 
I for one am not bowled over with CRKT thus far. I've got the mid-sized Kit Carson and the Mirage Grey Ghost Wharncliffe. The AUS-6 steel CRKT favors just doesn't make the grade for me. The AUS-8 on the Grey Ghost is supposed to hold up somewhat better, and I think that's true. Beyond the issue of steel, I just don't find the thumbstuds provide anything remotely close to the crisp deployment I get with the Spyderco hole. I believe that's in part because I'm a lefty, and the CRKT clips on the models I've used interfere just slightly with getting a good deep purchase on the thumbstud from the left side.
That being said, I remain ever the optimist and now will have to check out the CRKT Viele in light of the good things people have said about it here.
 
CRKT is a company that is, IMHO, "Doing It Right". Sure, they don't have pieces that are on a level with Microtech or Chris Reeve - but for a relatively new knife company I feel that they have been a real shot in the arm for the knife industry and have done a lot to help keep everyone on their toes.

Cool Designs. Affordable Prices. High QC. Famous makers. What more could you ask for?

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
CRKT is a company that is, IMHO, "Doing It Right". Sure, they don't have pieces that are on a level with Microtech or Chris Reeve - but for a relatively new knife company I feel that they have been a real shot in the arm for the knife industry and have done a lot to help keep everyone on their toes.

Cool Designs. Affordable Prices. High QC. Famous makers. What more could you ask for?

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Colobbfan,

As I have said on another thread, I like CRKT, I think they are trying to push up the quality of low cost knives. They make good solid knives mostly, their collaborations seem to be getting better, and I like their prices.

Steve-O
 
Good knives at a good price. What more could you ask? Collaborations, yup, got those.

I think the Taiwan issue is overblown. I don't know where Comrad Chang is anymore, but he had some good points about Taiwan not being a third world country. When I was young, "Made in Japan" was a joke, then when I was older "Made in Korea" was a joke. Now folks say the same about Taiwan. Take a good look at these knives and I think you'll see quality.

I've had a Mirage Wharncliffe for several months. It's a very good knife - smooth as silk to open, and it only cost $17 + shipping.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Columbia River has for us in the future.

Dean
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mikemck:
The only things I don't like about CRKT knives is the bead blast finish on the blades, and the made in Taiwan print on the blade.
The Taiwan thing is just my personal prejudice, as I equate "made in Taiwan" with cheap knockoff, wich CRKT knives certainly are not.
</font>
Click to expand...

I have to second the above thread. Your discomfort with the "Made in Taiwan" label is a bit paranoia as you admit.

I used to feel the same way when I was into stereos and believed the best audio equipment was made in the USA, or England.

First of all, Taiwan is in no way close to being China, or India. They are industrialized, and have high-tech facilities. They are rich with capital.

Second, the assembly is done in Taiwan, but the designs and specs are -- of course --from North America.

Third, CRKT reps and the Taiwanese plants do an excellent job of maintaining Q.C. which is more than one can say from some of the knives made in North America like, say, Emerson. You see, quality is not bounded by borders.
 
In the low end Knife market CRKT is definately THE STUFF! When our Apache 111 comes in from SMKWs we'll have three of them, more then any other brand. The quality is for above the price level. Hey has anybody else gotten there Apache in yet. Got my order in the mailbox last Sat. on the 20th.
 
Full Tang Clan,
Taiwan is sending an ever increasing amount of work to mainland China due to rising labor costs. What you said was true up to a year ago. Just like Japan was forced to send much of it's assembly work to Korea, Taiwan is sending it's assembly work to China. China has the cheap labor force, Taiwan has the distribution channels and the investment capitol. I laugh when I see comments about the US and China fighting over Taiwan. The real truth is that Taiwan and the US are more likly to fight over who gets China.

About the CRKT line. Nice stuff, but also I feel bad about their use of AUS6.I'm going to pass on some nice stuff from them becasue I don't care for AUS6 in a working knife. They should switch to at least AUS8.

[This message has been edited by Hal (edited 01-30-2001).]
 
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