CFK Knife update and company history

[Confederate]

The thing about CLP is that it's light and it keeps steel from rusting. Thus, you can apply it and not have to worry about getting anything gooey on your hands. If you leave CLP on steel for a time, it actually sets and leaves a protective film that is dry. In the jungles of Southeast Asia, CLP was a great boon; however, it can attract grit and dust. But in the world of knives, I believe it can protect the blades in the sheaths without too many problems. On one blade, I've not tested an area to see if it would rust, but so far its held up.

I've purchased nine CFK knives so far and the quality is excellent. My only criticisms are that 1) the power tools used to screw in the hex screws securing the grips sometimes buggers the screws; more annoying is that the tool leaves circular marks on the grips just around the holes. There's also frequent marring on the grips like scratches and tool marks. Also, 2) the logo stamps are inconsistent in their hits. These are merely cosmetic criticisms and do not affect the quality of the knives. As far as sales go, I can no longer get the knives I want because people with deeper pockets are now bidding aggressively for them. (I used to be able to get the knives I wanted by waiting until the last minute, then bidding high, but enough people are buying them that you need to be persistent and aggressive now, because demand is growing.) I still can't guarantee that the knives being advertised as D2 Tool Steel are what they claim; however, the knives are so impressive (and sharp) that I don't think most people care anymore.

One of the knives I did manage to get my hands on was a "Handmade Custom D2 Hunting and Tactical Bushmaster." It's a beautiful knife, but heavy -- very comfortable in the hand and solid. It has a sharp edge, though it needed a few dozen whacks on an Extra-Fine set of ceramic rods to get a refined edge. The balance and feel are exceptional, but the strength of the knife came at a price, and that is weight. It felt more like a .357 revolver than a knife, but one could baton to his heart's content of that was his wont. The blade is thick and unyielding, much like the blade in my S&W Homeland Security survival knife. So one would have to determine whether the weight is worth it.



The swords they're making are attractive, well made, and most were made of a little better quality ( bearing the CFK brand rather than the iPak). Many of the new swords are made with the iPak stamp and the newest ones are being advertised as 420HC rather than D2. This would make sense given D2's hardness, not to mention that 420HC is likely a better choice for chopping blades. Whatever steel they use, the knives are solid and available in configurations that are not generally available at any price. I'm glad I got mine while the going was good, and I wouldn't be surprised to see CFK establish itself for quite a while.




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[crufflers]

The thing about CLP is that it's light and it keeps steel from rusting. Thus, you can apply it and not have to worry about getting anything gooey on your hands. If you leave CLP on steel for a time, it actually sets and leaves a protective film that is dry. In the jungles of Southeast Asia, CLP was a great boon; however, it can attract grit and dust. But in the world of knives, I believe it can protect the blades in the sheaths without too many problems. On one blade, I've not tested an area to see if it would rust, but so far its held up.

Well that's good for me. I think I have a lifetime supply of CLP, hahah. It goes a long way unless you soak gun parts in buckets of it.

I need to get some logs and wood to do some chopping with the CFK's. I have some Scrap Yard knives and Ontario to test along side them too.

 

[crufflers]

The thing about CLP is that it's light and it keeps steel from rusting. Thus, you can apply it and not have to worry about getting anything gooey on your hands. If you leave CLP on steel for a time, it actually sets and leaves a protective film that is dry. In the jungles of Southeast Asia, CLP was a great boon; however, it can attract grit and dust. But in the world of knives, I believe it can protect the blades in the sheaths without too many problems. On one blade, I've not tested an area to see if it would rust, but so far its held up.

I've purchased nine CFK knives so far and the quality is excellent. My only criticisms are that 1) the power tools used to screw in the hex screws securing the grips sometimes buggers the screws; more annoying is that the tool leaves circular marks on the grips just around the holes. There's also frequent marring on the grips like scratches and tool marks. Also, 2) the logo stamps are inconsistent in their hits. These are merely cosmetic criticisms and do not affect the quality of the knives. As far as sales go, I can no longer get the knives I want because people with deeper pockets are now bidding aggressively for them. (I used to be able to get the knives I wanted by waiting until the last minute, then bidding high, but enough people are buying them that you need to be persistent and aggressive now, because demand is growing.) I still can't guarantee that the knives being advertised as D2 Tool Steel are what they claim; however, the knives are so impressive (and sharp) that I don't think most people care anymore.

One of the knives I did manage to get my hands on was a "Handmade Custom D2 Hunting and Tactical Bushmaster." It's a beautiful knife, but heavy -- very comfortable in the hand and solid. It has a sharp edge, though it needed a few dozen whacks on an Extra-Fine set of ceramic rods to get a refined edge. The balance and feel are exceptional, but the strength of the knife came at a price, and that is weight. It felt more like a .357 revolver than a knife, but one could baton to his heart's content of that was his wont. The blade is thick and unyielding, much like the blade in my S&W Homeland Security survival knife. So one would have to determine whether the weight is worth it.



The swords they're making are attractive, well made, and most were made of a little better quality ( bearing the CFK brand rather than the iPak). Many of the new swords are made with the iPak stamp and the newest ones are being advertised as 420HC rather than D2. This would make sense given D2's hardness, not to mention that 420HC is likely a better choice for chopping blades. Whatever steel they use, the knives are solid and available in configurations that are not generally available at any price. I'm glad I got mine while the going was good, and I wouldn't be surprised to see CFK establish itself for quite a while.




°°°

Nice post. Good looking knives. Please post your whole collection of CFK's. I have about as many. The swords do look interesting. I'd imagine it would be more chance for the grind to be off though. IIRC I have one that is off a little and it bothers me quite a bit. I have a 10.5" Ontario RTAK II, a SYKCO 511 and SYKCO 911 to test with the CFK's as well as a Rodent 6 and new Steel Heart shipping someday. So far the "kitchen" CFK's chop meat and weeds just fine.

Here's some of mine I haven't posted.

 

[crufflers]

 

[Confederate]

I'm not sure this is all of them. Seems I got one or two tantos. Some people report they got a break on shipping, but I got a message telling me CFK doesn't combine shipping. Perhaps they've changed their policy. If you can get a discount on shipping, it can save you.

You said the grind was off on one or two of your knives. That may be, but I wouldn't be too bothered. You're just not going to get production quality knives from an operation like CFK, nor should you expect it at the prices that are being offered. In fact, no two knives are going to be exactly alike. And if the steel is D2 as advertised, it's quite a deal. But even if it's a good grade of stainless, they're still good knives for the prices. If these knives went for $275 apiece, one might expect perfection. But then, I couldn't afford them.

BTW, nice photos.


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[crufflers]

If these knives went for $275 apiece, one might expect perfection. But then, I couldn't afford them.

So you have more like 16, not 10? That's probably $800 in CFK's so you could afford other brands, just not a dozen. I think more than anything people do not believe any USA business could make money selling a bone handled 7" polished D2 steel blade with a nice leather sheath for $40 shipped. That's the key here. People just want to know where they come from and what steel it is.

 

[Confederate]

Yeah...kind of got carried away. I plan to give some as gifts and perhaps sell any I don't like. But in the event I like them, I'll keep them. The way they're selling now, I'll probably never get another shot at one. I wonder if all the discussion here might not have spurred some sales. What do you think about the D2 thing? I've always liked tool steels, but they've always been very expensive and tend to chip along the edge if used for chopping dense woods. There's a YouTube video where a guy batons into maple 🍁 and his CFK doesn't chip at all. But knives are made for cutting, so I'm going to try out one of mine.

Since this is a Knife Review and Testing forum, I'd be interested in hearing the thoughts and opinions of others who have bought these knives.

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[Hale Storm]

They wouldn't have to succumb to pressure. It's their prerogative, but I won't buy their knives because of it.

With all due respect to the company and those that enjoy the knives, I don't buy their story. I don't point to evidence other than material and labor + shipping costs. Beyond that I just have a bad feeling about the story. Gut instinct I guess. Couple that with the possibility that the company doesn't want to prove anything and I'll pass.

Knife manufacturers don't have to tell us anything. The ones I respect do though. In the realm of custom knives I've never had a maker that wasn't eager to point out the materials, ht and any other information I'd care to ask about. Without exception the maker was happy to tell me the steel, their process for ht, cryo or sub zero, method of final sharpening, etc. Usually they give more information than you even ask for. I don't necessarily see this as more honest, but more enthusiastic? Absolutely. I want the knife maker to be super proud of their hard work and with that, from my pov, comes the information that this company has thus far shied away from providing.

Again, it doesn't make them wrong, but it doesn't trip my personal "feel good" meter that I really enjoy either.

When I have a customer ask anything at all about my materials or processes it makes me happy to provide them with anything at all that they might be curious about. I'm enthusiastic about my work. I'm proud of it. I want my knife maker to feel the same way.

Well said Mr. Alms. I'm just a single man in a small shop I built in my garage to produce custom kydex sheaths (and a few holsters). I only do it as a hobby and make an extra buck or two for my outdoor and knife pursuits. I feel the way you, and many others craftsman feel. Since I do mostly custom work, I deal directly with my customers. Many times through email and/or phone calls, I get asked many questions about myself, my materials, my processes, etc. I have never had a customer ask a question that I wasn't willing to answer or explain.

The mere fact that these companies and individuals won't just come right out and answer to where and how their knives are made is enough for me. I won't buy based simply on the, "where there's smoke, there's fire" ideology, and the fact that this thread still exists.

It all seems simple to me. If you started the company in 2005 (or whenever) and made some mistakes, only to realize you needed to make some changes, then that's okay. I know from my time here that BF members, for the most part, are a forgiving bunch. I also know they can get past quite a bit if someone is just honest.

This is just my $.02 and that is all. Apparently, CFK and iPac have found a market for their knives and could care less about what we have to say here. Good luck to them I guess. My dear mother used to say to me when I was a child that if I was dishonest, it would catch up to me at some point and I would have to face those I had deceived. Time will tell with these guys.

 

[crufflers]

Yeah...kind of got carried away. The way they're selling now, I'll probably never get another shot at one. I wonder if all the discussion here might not have spurred some sales.

Those are not your pics are they? I don't see them selling much different than when I first discovered them. I imagine threads like these are pretty neutral, maybe negative. It isn't changing the company line or enlightening us about how a $40-$60 knife is handmade. Auction items I have watched end up with pretty similar action - it varies as usual. I tried to get a bone handled knife and a stacked leather at the price I was after for a while with no luck, but recently I got them easily, so it is all from the individual's perspective. Unless you have some kind of inside info on sales numbers?

There are plenty of options that are proven. I was curious about CFK so I got some. If you want a decent chopper, you can buy a $80 10.5" Ontario in 1095 or a BK Kabar or a Cold Steel Trail Master, Esse's, etc... If you want something nicer that will actually hold its value and then some, there's Busse, SR, SYKCO, etc...

If I discover anything new and interesting I will post.

 

[Confederate]

Yes, but though it's nice to be able to stand on such principles, the fact remains that people buy the product, like it, then buy more. I'd bet that the overwhelming number of knives sold by CFK are to repeat customers. The fact remains that three months ago, I could get almost any CFK knife I wanted for well under a hundred bucks. Of particular interest to me are the short swords and various daggers. There's a definite "cool factor" in the knives, granted, but there's also a utiliy factor as well. The short sword, for example, is superior to the machete in many ways. It's stronger, lighter, can be used to thrust and is better for self defense. These knives are increasingly being advertised as being forged of stainless steel (420HC) rather than D2. But some are still being marketed as being made of D2. (Again, the ones marked CFK are usually a bit better finished than the ones marked iPak; however, finish aside, all of them appear to be well made.) There are a number of knives sporting the iPak brand that are sold as "seconds" and are classified as "Used." I've bought one or two of them and though imperfect in some minor ways, they're fully functional.

The short sword is very nice for a number of reasons. One's packed in my bugout bag, in fact. It's great as a self-defense knife, but tough enough to clear small areas of brush and other chores. A similar knife would cost almost $200 if you could even find one. These CFK knives have longer blades than a Buck Hoodlum (and more notches), yet are much more affordable. They also have all the advantages of a sword without the weaknesses of a machete. Unfortunately, we won't know how strong they are until one is tested to destruction. But I don't think these knives would be selling like they are if people didn't like them.




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[Stargater]

Those are not your pics are they? I don't see them selling much different than when I first discovered them. I imagine threads like these are pretty neutral, maybe negative. It isn't changing the company line or enlightening us about how a $40-$60 knife is handmade. Auction items I have watched end up with pretty similar action -- it varies as usual. I tried to get a bone handled knife and a stacked leather at the price I was after for a while with no luck, but recently I got them easily, so it is all from the individual's perspective. Unless you have some kind of inside info on sales numbers?

I log in almost every night about 8 p.m. and see what's available, and I can assure you that the CFK knives now are much more difficult to get than they were. I won a lot of auctions I'd bid for and forgot about just months ago. Now that doesn't happen. Many of the short swords are selling for $85-$105 (including the shipping charges), whereas I had paid totals of about $70.

There are plenty of options that are proven. I was curious about CFK so I got some. If you want a decent chopper, you can buy a $80 10.5" Ontario in 1095 or a BK Kabar or a Cold Steel Trail Master, Esse's, etc... If you want something nicer that will actually hold its value and then some, there's Busse, SR, SYKCO, etc...

Granted, but they're a bit rich for my blood. The Ontarios are great bargains, but they tend to be heavy. My Marine Raider is good for chopping, but it's hard to lug around. The Ka-Bars are well made, light, versatile and inexpensive, but they don't have the reach of some of the CFKs. In the end, you go with what you like and what's comfortable and effective.

If I discover anything new and interesting I will post.

Thanks. I appreciate that!

 

[hermit dave]

I have neither the patience or desire to read through this entire thread. I do own 3 (soon to be 4) CFK knives. I am very pleased with all my purchases and feel they sell great knives for the money.
You simply can't achieve a feedback rating that high, with that many transactions, without selling a quality product and standing behind it. PERIOD!!
Yes, their knives aren't perfect, but the pics they take are detailed and they always mention any "defects" that may not show up on the photos. Every knife I've purchased
looks better in person.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I have neither the patience or desire to read through this entire thread. I do own 3 (soon to be 4) CFK knives. I am very pleased with all my purchases and feel they sell great knives for the money.
You simply can't achieve a feedback rating that high, with that many transactions, without selling a quality product and standing behind it. PERIOD!!
Yes, their knives aren't perfect, but the pics they take are detailed and they always mention any "defects" that may not show up on the photos. Every knife I've purchased
looks better in person.

Some of the biggest crooks on eBay have 100% ratings, including the biggest assembler of Frankenknives on the net.

Glad you are happy.

 

[hermit dave]

Some of the biggest crooks on eBay have 100% ratings, including the biggest assembler of Frankenknives on the net.

Glad you are happy.

Ok, I'll bite. Name one.

 

[Thomas Linton]

damascusedge-1
azzuroknife12
sportcolbs (I see he has fallen to 99.8)
maroverb

 

[hermit dave]

As a crook, they would have to be misrepresenting their product and charging far more than it's worth. How could they be receiving 100% feedback if they are
selling garbage?

 

[Thomas Linton]

As a crook, they would have to be misrepresenting their product and charging far more than it's worth. How could they be receiving 100% feedback if they are
selling garbage?

Lack of knowledge of relevant facts. Every one, like CFK, says their knives are "custom." Baloney. They are cranked out in quantity. Many imply they are made by a particular maker with a Western name.

Go to ePrey. Search damascus custom knife. Thousands. Now separate out all the sellers who admit the knives are from India, Pakistan, or China. Still not custom but at least they are honest about where the knives are made.

Sportcolbs does not mention that many of his knives are put together from spare parts, creating combinations of blades the manufacturer never offered.

 

[338375]

Lack of knowledge of relevant facts. Every one, like CFK, says their knives are "custom." Baloney. They are cranked out in quantity. Many imply they are made by a particular maker with a Western name.

Go to ePrey. Search damascus custom knife. Thousands. Now separate out all the sellers who admit the knives are from India, Pakistan, or China. Still not custom but at least they are honest about where the knives are made.

Sportcolbs does not mention that many of his knives are put together from spare parts, creating combinations of blades the manufacturer never offered.

Sportscolb has come under scrutiny for awhile now. Bernard Levine always said, if a seller uses red backdrops for their pictures, they probably shouldn't be trusted
In the past I had emailed Parker asking questions about particular knives. The answers I got didn't exactly clear up my confusion and curiosity...

 

[hermit dave]

I have to agree that the words "custom" and "hand made" are abused all over Ebay. And yes, CFK is inconsistent on their description of where their knives are made. I was sceptical of CFK until I purchased a skinner from them. The fit and finish was outstanding and the edge held up to a lot of abuse. I'm also very pleased with their customer service. I requested a return on one of their knives and promptly received a return shipping label and was refunded every penny (including return shipping)

 

[Thomas Linton]

HINDERER XM-18 blue anodized titanium folding knife Sweden sandvik 12c27 blade '

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