Are two CRK folders one too many?

[Stainz]

I am serious... it's not just the shock over what I spent last year on knives. My first CRK folder, a WC StarTac 'zaan, was purchased 9/2010 to commemorate my first SS retirement deposit. I initially didn't feel worthy of such a purchase... but that passed. It's a keeper. A Nyala as a Christmas 2010 gift from my wife was well received - it's a keeper, too. I knew I wouldn't be a CRK collector, however - too many other interests. Last summer found me buying a MicroTech Ultratech and Benchmade 480-1 Shoki on the same day - just a few weeks before my birthday. I got to the corner before I realized I had spent within a fast food lunch's cost of what a small plain Sebbie would cost - and turned around - and 'lucked out'. They had just gotten in a few plain small Sebbies - made in late June - S35VN.

The salesman smiled - and traded even - not even charging me the difference. The small Sebbie was/is, as expected, perfect. I ordered a clip blank for it - and got a leather CRK sheath, too. Sadly, of the several times I've carried it, it made a liar of me twice. "Let me borrow your knife!" was met twice with "I don't have one... sorry!". I lied - the plain small Sebbie was sheathed in my pocket. I didn't want to loan someone - even my b-i-l at the dinner table - my expensive knife. I really don't feel 'worthy' of such a knife. It aint 'me'. I also hate that I stooped to become a liar over it. To be blunt, maybe it's not being 'unworthy' - maybe the knife is just evil. Should I trade it in on some more Benchmades... or, gasp, sell it? Maybe I just need a good stiff drink or two? Pepsi Max will have to do...

Maybe I just need to also tote a sacrificial knife... a Buck 110! The problem is simple - I love the 'zaan - don't know why I bought the small Sebbie. Oh... last summer - a few weeks after I traded those two knives for the small Sebbie found me opening birthday goodies - and there were the two knives I had traded - my wife had them put back for her. She also let me know he gave her better prices!

Maybe I'm not a CRK-guy and two is one too many?

Stainz

 

[Jan I]

Two is a good start. The sales guy smiled because he knew you would be back. Why have a small and a large? Put the small in your front pocket and the large in a back pocket. For small tasks ... and when whipping out a larger blade may frighten herds of sheeple, use the small one.

I also have a -1 Shoki and like it lots.

PS: trade knives if you enjoy trading, but your wife sounds like a keeper

 

[Rav3n]

I think IMHO you are overcomplicating things. Chris wouldn't like to hear someone not very willing to use his knives hard - in fact he would stop making them immediately, because they stop being knives and start becoming shrines the moment you hesitate to use them.

I have also found that you appreciate the one knife you have more than the 100 knives you think you need. YMMV, but I would stop worrying about other knives, love and use the great ones I have and feel blessed to own such nice tools.

Again, my opinion.

 

[Toyz]

I carry a victorinox sak in my rr pocket next to my wallet - it is my "loaner" knife. I can easily replace it with no remorse if someone screws it up.

I never loan my umnumzaan or large sebenza, which during the work week is in the pouch in my rf pocket.

My only problem with owning more than one CRK folder is the mental anguish I go thru trying to pick which one to carry.

I say use them. Sounds like you have the right combo - a small sebbie and an umnum.

 

[Haze]

I have a few folders but only really use 3 of them, the Umnumzaan is my EDC and is carried every day, the Mnandi is for those occasions when the Umnumzaan is not suitable and I have a large Regular that gets used when I feel like a change. I have back up Umnumzaans of an 09 vintage incase the worst does happen and I have a Mnandi or two spare just because I like them.

I see no harm in having a few extra knives or perhaps something unusual or specific to ones self in a collection. I also never loan a knife to any one, if you don't have a knife you don't get to cut stuff.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

On the loaning knives part-I don't loan my knives to anyone. Anyone I would possibly let use my knife, would already be carrying one. Anyone else is not going to treat it properly. Not going to lend someone my $400 knife and have them use it as screw driver( for that matter even a $30 knife makes a poor and expensive screw driver) or bounce it on the pavement a few times. So my advice is don't lie just say no.
I will be glad to cut what they need cut for them.

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

'Nuff said.

 

[Chris_Himself]

I don't have a knife that I use in favor of the CRK ever... not matter how menial the task. I eat with my folders and that includes CRK. I was at Black Angus carving up my beautiful 16oz prime rib with it... the next day I had to break down boxes from all the USPS christmas presents haha...

No job too big or small for CRK. I see a lot of user Seb's whose lockbars haven't migrated at all in years after the initial settling in!

 

[Stainz]

I carried the short Sebbie last night to dinner. It's been used so infrequently, the grease was still 'stiff'. I fondled it - and several others I have thought of saying good-bye to - as I watched CSI/NY & Blue Blood on CBS. I don't remember much of the shows' plots, but I know I like these knives - especially the small Sebbie. Rav3n is correct - I am/was blessed to be able to afford the knives I have - and really do feel humbled by most of them. Blame my panic on the shock of what I spent last year - or a discontinuity in 'the force'. I am back to appreciating my knives... including the small Sebbie.

Of course, my wife is a keeper, even if she left the room to play a computer game... she cannot stand Tom Sellick!

Stainz

 

[jackthedog]

I've got two CRKs, a Large 21 and a Large Micarta Insingo as well as a bunch of Spydercos. I tend not to carry the CRKs, just because they are somewhat larger than I need on a daily basis. However, at home, one of the CRKs is almost always my go to knife.

In the past few months I've really downsized my collection, including a Small Regular. Basically, if the knife isn't going to realistically going to be used, sell it. But if you enjoy the knives, keep them and use them and don't worry about it.

Glad to hear that your back to enjoying the knives. If the money spent isn't a problem, enjoy them!

 

[nyefmaker]

When I first started buying knives, I bought the Buck 110's, Puma Folders, Schrade Folders. I even paid $60 for a Kershaw 1050 from a good friend that has now passed. I could not believe I spent so much......Years later, I so wanted a hollow handle survival knife and scoffed at the prices at the time. After I got divorced years ago, I was working 7 days a week and making pretty good money. I looked at CRK for years and read everything I could find on them. I finally buckled under the wanting and bought my first CRK, a small Shadow III. It was the cheapest one piece knife at $175 at the time. I quickly fell in love with it. My second CRK was a Tanto I. I remember getting it in the mail and pulling off along the road at a truck pull off so I could open it up, I could not wait. I built up my OPR collection to 17 knives before I decided to try a CRK folder. And even then, I could not believe paying so much for a folding. A BUCK 110 cost $30 at the time and now I was considering paying close to $300 for a CRK folder. Well, one night before Christmas many years ago, I was on ebay and lucked out and happened to win a large regular sebenza, later found it to be BG-42 for $280 including shipping. When I got it, the response was simply WOW....It was worth every cent. I cant remember what my second CRK folder was, but I have never looked back. The most CRK I ever had at one time was 37. I have sold a few since then, but I still have several. Do I feel bad or guilty, no way. I have sold off most all my other knives to buy more CRK. I sold Buck, Case, Schrade, Benchmade, etc. to buy just one CRK. I am sure Chris Reeve just loves guys like me...lol. So my advise. Use Them AND Enjoy Them. I never enjoyed using a buck, schrade, benchmade, spyderco like I do my CRK. Use it and enjoy it for what it is, the Rolls Royce Of Folding Knives.
Here is a pic of some of my sebenzas for you to enjoy, maybe you will feel better about having two.......Enjoy !!

2 are BG-42; 2 are S30V.......I also have another S30V on the way.......Yes I love the plain large regular.

Eyes is S35VN, Stars & Stripes, Native American, Custom CRK NCIS Engraved Sebenza are all S30V

And last but not least, my remaining Umnumzaans's The true CRK workhorse folder.

 

[RubiconSS]

As far as "loaning a knife" was already said best, "Never" cut what they need cut for them, IF they don't have a knife they sure as $h!t don't need to be handling your prized possession.
As for the "Is two too much", I get it. That's called Guilt and Yours (ours) preoccupation with that feeling is generational. Means you were raised right.
Hey, You worked hard, Life is Short. Enjoy a couple "fruits" of your labor. Coulda been worse. You could be wasting your $$ chasing a small ball around a really nice yard yelling at Birds and bragging that you can count to Four....
Sounds like you gotta a great Gal too. Congrats!

 

[Confederate]

I really wish those who purchase and carry such knives the best and am happy they can afford them. I think these ugly little knives would be much nicer if they were polished, but they're not. If I could afford a CRK, I'd buy a nice revolver; however, size is another reason I don't much care for the CRK. I always carry a 4-inch blade (a Cold Steel Voyager), and I carry a 3-inch Voyager as well so I won't have to lie to people when they ask to borrow my knife! It's surprising a 4-inch blade will terrify people, but they do. (One woman who reported me to the female boss thought nothing of using a 7-inch bladed scissors!) When my boss asked me to see the offending knife, then I lied and produced the 3-inch version. So if I had unlimited funds and could afford a CRK, I still wouldn't buy one because I just don't care for them; however, if I did like them, I'd carry a large one close to my heart and a smaller cheaper knife for those who wanted to borrow one. But it wouldn't be a CRT. I agree in not loaning one of them out, but I would carry a knife I could loan.

I have a CRKT S-2 (Large) and I originally didn't much care for it for the same reason I don't much care for the CRK, and that's because I like highly polished blades -- and maybe Mr. Reeves will polish blades on request, I don't know -- but I polished my S-2's blade and replaced those teflon bearings. For those who love the look and feel of the CRKs, like I said, I'd go with the larger blade every time (like Nyefmaker's polished CRKs). And, honestly, I'd keep it in a safe. So YES, two CRK folders is one too many.

 

[nyefmaker]

I really wish those who purchase and carry such knives the best and am happy they can afford them. I think these ugly little knives would be much nicer if they were polished, but they're not. If I could afford a CRK, I'd buy a nice revolver; however, size is another reason I don't much care for the CRK. I always carry a 4-inch blade (a Cold Steel Voyager), and I carry a 3-inch Voyager as well so I won't have to lie to people when they ask to borrow my knife! It's surprising a 4-inch blade will terrify people, but they do. (One woman who reported me to the female boss thought nothing of using a 7-inch bladed scissors!) When my boss asked me to see the offending knife, then I lied and produced the 3-inch version. So if I had unlimited funds and could afford a CRK, I still wouldn't buy one because I just don't care for them; however, if I did like them, I'd carry a large one close to my heart and a smaller cheaper knife for those who wanted to borrow one. But it wouldn't be a CRT. I agree in not loaning one of them out, but I would carry a knife I could loan.

I have a CRKT S-2 (Large) and I originally didn't much care for it for the same reason I don't much care for the CRK, and that's because I like highly polished blades -- and maybe Mr. Reeves will polish blades on request, I don't know -- but I polished my S-2's blade and replaced those teflon bearings. For those who love the look and feel of the CRKs, like I said, I'd go with the larger blade every time (like Nyefmaker's polished CRKs). And, honestly, I'd keep it in a safe. So YES, two CRK folders is one too many.

I am probably the poorest CRK owner out there. I do have way more than most, but its pretty much the only thing I buy. I sold nearly all my other knives that I acquired over the years that don't have a sedimental value to fund CRK's. I sold a ton of other stuff on ebay and such to buy more. Its kinda my only vice. When I am working ( laid off now ), I work 7 days a week, so when I do happen to buy one, its well earned. I never got one as a gift and I KNOW I never will...lol. Mine are all just run of the mill CRK, for me splurging was getting the sebenza engraved with the NCIS engraving and getting double studs. As far as polished ones, I wish the "eyes" had an all stonewashed blade, I don't like the polished hollow grind. Not everyone likes CRK and thats just a personal preference. I really don't like Striders due to more than several reasons that I will not get in too and thats my preference. I don't like CRK because they are high end, I just like their designs and they just fit me. I had a little spyderco pro grip that I had for like 10 years and when I got divorced many many years ago, my ex threw it away because she knew how much I liked it. It was a cheap $40 from SMKW. I used it daily until it got pitched. We just like what we like, price is not always the driving point.

 

[tacdriver22mk2]

to me i never lend out a knife that i like i think i may have lent out a knife or two but always to my dad and once to my mom (cheapo she wanted to cut some weeds and out of the two cheapos i had at the time i gave her the crapyer one)

however i always give my dad mediocer knives and i know he is good for it if he effes it up

 

[au5t3n5]

@OP

Use it. It is a run of the mill CRK. If you destroy it, well, you can replace it. But by the time you destroy, you would have saved enough to buy several replacements. They really are work horses. Heck, I use my small classic mammoth ivory sebenza, and I can't replace that even if I wanted to. I say buy em, use em, be happy.

Or sell it and buy a used one. Then the work is already done for you. Haha.

@Lone_Wolfe

Middle row, far left...why is that sebenza missing the assembly hole in the handle? Is it is P/H model? TELL ME MORE!!! I simply must know.

Edit: I am fairly certain is it an H... Please tell me you EDC this like a super awesome person.

'Nuff said.

 

[schmuk]

I like the question on this thread, and has "happened" to me to be able to buy an Umnumzaan recently, and I'm still waiting His arrival.
I've thought that, in my ingenuity, if I had to get only one CRK the best might be a 'Zaan.
I'm reading a lot of info, and looking at what Sebby owners says, I'm almost convinced, but I need to at least be able to "touch" once my 'Zaan to finally understand.

Until then... let me make an hypothesis: if a "strange" law will unexpectedly put a denial to the possibility to own more than "ONE" knife, will the 'Zaan be your first choice? Imagine: one knife for the duration of your very, very long life. What do you pick up?

PS:I've never even thought before to the horrible eventuality to loan my knife. And this possibility is creating nightmares in me.
I'll never give my knife to someone else. Period. I agree with Haze: If you don't have it, you don't cut anything, pure and simple. Get you own knife!

 

[Jan I]

Looking for forums to talk trash about things one does not like ... while wishing the poor, misguided folk who do like said something to be happy in their delusion ... what a sad way to spend one's time.

Stainz, it is your life, your money and your knives. Life is too short to worry about what other people think.

 

[Stainz]

Call it guilt... delayed sticker shock... or an epiphany considering what I could have spent that much on... probably equal parts of all at work here. The old year's end always leads us to self reflection. I'm over it. Yep, it cost what my pair of ZT-0551's did (I got a deal on them!) from the same store last year. I carry one of the ZT's quite a bit - usually, back-pocket - my front pocket is usually for keys and a BM 755 MPR - the back pocket gets a sheathed CRK - now. I have a third ZT - a ZT-0301 - it was $189 shipped - and my most expensive knife for quite a while. The StarTac 'zaan still has 'the record'... it won't be broken! (Famous last words...)

Stainz

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

@Lone_Wolfe

Middle row, far left...why is that sebenza missing the assembly hole in the handle? Is it is P/H model? TELL ME MORE!!! I simply must know.

Edit: I am fairly certain is it an H... Please tell me you EDC this like a super awesome person.

It's a Barry H carbon fiber scale on a common SV30 small. I don't carry it at all because I hate that scale. It's too smooth and slick for my tastes, like the scotchbrited Sebbies I have. I've since put the stock ti scale back on and the only reason I don't sell it is I'm overseas.

Here's a couple of better pics of it.