Buying New vs. Secondary preferences? And why?

aleforme

aleforme

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Feb 21, 2013
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I'm sure this has been discussed before but wanted to ask now that are so many different places and ways to buy a CRK. Just curious about everyone’s general buying practices? Do you only buy straight from CRK, buy new online or local, buy on the secondary market, knife shows or maybe a little from each source? I suspect it’s a little bit of each but mainly wondering what’s your main way of buying?

Personally, I think I have maybe bought two CRKs brand new from an authorized dealer. A PJ Damascus and a Spalted Beach if I remember correctly? Everything else (50+) has been bought solely on the secondary market whether it be here or on other knife related sites. Never bought a knife directly from CRK but just haven’t needed to so far.

For me, I just like the variety available on the secondary market but I also think the sense of community and “the hunt” is what really draws me to this buying preference. I like dealing with fellow CRK enthusiasts and have made some good online friends in the process.

So, what’s your preference?

Aleforme
 
Might be obvious, but my goal is to get lowest price possible with like new condition on the knife. Some authorized dealers will give a 10% discount, free shipping, and no sales tax. In lieu of that, look for lnib items from this forum or r/knife_swap.
 
I have purchased a couple new(One from CRK), but most are from the secondary market. Price break is of course one reason, but also the availability of discontinued models. It is where I browse, so it is what I see as available-I don't check out the dealers sites often and usually when I do the item is out of stock.
My 1st was a very planned out and researched buy, but now I buy a lot spur of the moment. Somebody puts something interesting up for sale and I go for it.
 
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So far all of my CRK have been the secondary market. Variety is the way to go. Just have to be careful on the secondary market with the fakes out there. One of the best things buying from members here is that if something doesn't seem right someone probably has seen it before and can comment. I feel pretty good buying from the forum (only twice so far) for this reason alone. But I do have 4 on order from CRK. :)
 
I have bought so many Sebenzas, I don’t recall which was from a dealer and which was from the secondary market off the top of my head. If I go through them individually though I remember. While I have bought tons from dealers, I probably bought more from Secondary market, especially in the beginning.

Desired Model & Secondary Price are what grabs me 1st. Condition and such I look into if interested. Just wanna make sure it’s not abused.

I will say one thing that is an Automatic No Go is when I see the videos and they do the finger flicking. Sebenzas are supposed to be hydraulic. I want them as close to original as possible. When people polish bushing and shit to achieve that, that is fine for Them, but when resold causes issues. Last thing I wanna do is buy a new to me Sebenza and have to send it in and wait 10+ weeks to get it back because somebody screwed with it. I have been super picky in recent years, probably why I don’t buy as many as I used too.

As for what I like, it’s no secret. UG & CGG.
 
I prefer buying on the secondary and saving a few bucks, but condition is very important to me.
I don’t mind a few minor snail trails or some wear on the thumb stud. That’s just normal handling and it saves me the hassle of doing it myself. Blade condition, centering, & lockup. are paramount for me, however.

My last CRK purchase was from a retailer, as I wanted it to be absolutely perfect, it’s a model that’s infrequently posted, and the secondary price tends to stay relatively high. I don’t have time to stalk the Exchange these days either.

My next CRK will probably be direct from the manufacturer, depending on what the new CGG’s look like.
 
I only want new knives from an AD. Whether it’s guns, knives or whatever. If it’s used, there is no telling what’s been done to it and I don’t want it. If I mess it up then ok, I’ll pay to fix it. At least I know what’s been done to it. I don’t want other people’s unwanted stuff that’s had who knows what done to it.
 
I'll buy from a authorized dealer or from a member here. Not just anyone that has one for sell, but from someone that is active in this sub forum and is forthright about the CRK they want to sell. I've only ordered two so far directly from CRK. Being left handed, it's rare to find a double lug Sebenza on the market. Several of my collection came from one person that ordered with double lugs. The only way I could get a "We The People" in Damascus was to order direct. It was worth the years wait.

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I'm always up for a bargain so I primarily buy on the secondary market. I've only purchased directly from CRK once (maybe twice?...i can't remember) and that was when the Umnumzaan was brand spanking new and I had to have it.

Everything else has been from here. I suppose knowing that it's not in pristine condition helps me not feel guilty about putting it to use. My most recent CRK purchase was from the exchange - Large Inkosi. When I recieved it I didn't realize that it was on the border of used and abused. The titanium looked like it had been carried in a pocket full of keys, there was buildup around the pivot and stop pin, and the tip looked like it had been dropped on a rock. I disassembled it, cleaned it, and sharpened the blade and now it looks great with some character.

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I’ve owned at least 25 CRKs and I think 2 of them have been secondary. I 100% prefer to be the original owner. It’s not a deal breaker but I just like to know 100% what a knife has seen. It’s only really because I like data and it cancels out some unknowns.
 
I have bought a couple CRK’s directly from CRK/dealer but I have purchased more from the secondary market here on BF. I prefer the secondary market here for the fact that the knives are described accurately and a better deal. The CRK’s that I have bought on the exchange were in very good to almost new condition and at a fair price.
 
Most of mine were bought new, but a couple are from the secondary market. The two big issues for me are 1) being able to clearly see the edge (I cannot believe the crappy "professionally sharpened" blades I have seen), and 2) the unknown aspect of whether it has been someone's fidget/flicking toy, which negatively affects the lock. The former is easy to see if there are decent pictures, but there is always a gamble on the latter. Snail trails are OK as long as I know beforehand what they are.
 
Most of mine have been purchased new, either from a authorized dealer or direct from Crk. I try to buy from smaller online dealers. I have no problem buying secondary but being a lefty they’re not as plentiful. When I have been looking for a specific model I have stalked the exchange hoping it would pop up, or post in the WTB forum. If it goes too long in the search and a dealer has it new I’ll
usually pull the trigger
 
Great responses. I'm a little surprised at the number of mainly "new from a dealer/CRK" responses.

As a couple have mentioned, the secondary is a gamble sometimes. I have learned to really ask specific questions about knives and always want very detailed photos and even video. So far, I haven't really been burned with a CRK secondary buy but have been on a couple other knives by other makers. Photos are so important. Not just things like the edge, lockup and other things but photo angle, lighting, focus, etc. I bought one knife that based on the photos showed a slightly used and snail trailed up knife but when I got it, it was heavily used with major marks on it and a detent that was incredibly strong. The detent it hard to judge based on a video but the wear and edge on the knife was clearly and deliberately concealed by the "right" camera angle and lighting. Has to spend another $150 on the edge and detent work.
 
Argle said:
I only want new knives from an AD. Whether it’s guns, knives or whatever. If it’s used, there is no telling what’s been done to it and I don’t want it. If I mess it up then ok, I’ll pay to fix it. At least I know what’s been done to it. I don’t want other people’s unwanted stuff that’s had who knows what done to it.
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I agree. The price difference between new and used isn't enough given all the jackasses that tell you how they have "improved" their Sebenza by sanding/polishing the washers, running oil as a lubricant rather than grease, bent out the lockbar for better action...

I bought mine new at GPKnives while driving across country. They are right off I70 just east of St Louis. Got to hand pick my CG small ("don't buy no ugly knife") and assure it was perfect. Scratched the lock bar side on the seat belt buckle within 300 miles though :)
 
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I've picked up a couple on the exchange here and a couple from an authorized dealer. I picked up my first one off the exchange to see what the CRK experience was all about. It was a PJ model 21 drop point. Of course I was blown away by the blade and was hooked (I work in steel / heavy manufacturing so CRK tolerances and F & F are right up my alley).
I plan on picking up a micarta inlay 31. I imagine I'll buy that from Mike @ Ye Old Cutlery.
 
I tend to buy new where possible. I'm in Canada and most used knives are coming from the US. By the time you factor in that its used, the currency conversion, shipping, weird customs rules that are difficult to properly estimate, etc., it typically ends up being less than $100 bucks savings best case scenario on most models with potential it could cost much more in a worst case scenario. I prefer to just buy new and save myself the hassle.

That being said, I would still buy used and have bought used for other knife makers without issue. Things like GEC models with short runs and other "out of production" stuff. In that case, I know what I'm getting myself into and its more about getting the exact model I wan't, rather than saving a buck.
 
I bought only one and its from here the Exchange. The seller rightly revealed the lock stick but that lg 21 left me a just so-so 1st impression of CRK (again it is not the sellers fault). Looking back, I should have given my 1st try to a new sebenza.

I think I am now ready to give CRK another try. I am mainly looking at large Sebenza with cf, wood, or micarta inlay (in that preference order). If you more knowledgeable folks could suggest which dealer to go with, I would greatly appreciate.
 
sharp_edge said:
I bought only one and its from here the Exchange. The seller rightly revealed the lock stick but that lg 21 left me a just so-so 1st impression of CRK (again it is not the sellers fault). Looking back, I should have given my 1st try to a new sebenza.

I think I am now ready to give CRK another try. I am mainly looking at large Sebenza with cf, wood, or micarta inlay (in that preference order). If you more knowledgeable folks could suggest which dealer to go with, I would greatly appreciate.
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For CF, you really only have two choices. Knife Art for full CF slabs and Blade HQ for CF inlays. For wood or micarta, I really like Knives Ship Free. The photos for each knife are of the actual knife being sold so you can really get an idea of the wood grains, richness, etc. Same for micarta. Each one is a little different.
 
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