Chris has left.....quality is down a bit.

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clockman

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From the comments I've read recently some members aren't happy with the f/f of their new CRK's.

Does anyone think there could be any connection between the fact Chris isn't at CRK anymore and the changes I've read about that CRK

is making that overall out the door quality, f/f, etc. may be slipping a little.

Am I the Lone Range on this, does anyone else feel the same?
 
To soon to tell. Volume goes up every year, so even if mistakes are at the same level(per 100 or 1000) there will be more.
One thing for sure though was that Chris was obsessive about the quality of his product.

It also should be noted that there at least was an un-written rule on the forum, that if the problem wasn't of a nature that the forum members could help solve, you didn't start a thread until after you gave CRK a chance to fix it
 
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I saw one thread about an off center blade... have there been that many others to say quality has slipped?
 
Do you know what my Large Inkosi came with a little tiny bronze burn mark on the spine at the very tip of the blade. Clearly the steel was burned while grinding. Now since it was at the very tip and only a tiny burn I just said "whatever" and lived with it, atleast it wasn't on the edge. I'll just consider it differentially hardened. Another member started a forum about his spine having a rather large burn.
 
Im not even concerned or worried if their quality has "slipped", because their warranty is still there. It shouldn't even really concern someone to be honest. I highly doubt Anne is skipping steps or taking out a QC process that was there "just a few short yrs ago" and now the market is flooded with out of spec CRK's...lol, ok.
 
kidcongo said:
I would say quality has improved.
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These threads come along ever so often. People begin to dogpile and a problem becomes bigger than it actually is. Changes within the company then cause people to assume that it's caused some kind of chain reaction without knowing there is. Remember correlation does not equal causation.

CRK has increased their output which means that may also increase their mistakes. From what I've read there implementing new systems to help ensure that the customer gets the best product. But they are a production company and the occasional miss will slip through.

I've owned 11? CRK's over the past few years and everything about them has been exceptional. If I do ever have a problem I will either send it back to the dealer or let the team in Idaho get it right.

I'm gonna go cut an apple up with my Inkosi now. :)
 
bluemetalchurch said:
These threads come along ever so often. People begin to dogpile and a problem becomes bigger than it actually is. Changes within the company then cause people to assume that it's caused some kind of chain reaction without knowing there is. Remember correlation does not equal causation.

CRK has increased their output which means that may also increase their mistakes. From what I've read there implementing new systems to help ensure that the customer gets the best product. But they are a production company and the occasional miss will slip through.

I've owned 11? CRK's over the past few years and everything about them has been exceptional. If I do ever have a problem I will either send it back to the dealer or let the team in Idaho get it right.

I'm gonna go cut an apple up with my Inkosi now. :)
Click to expand...

^^^this^^^
 
bluemetalchurch said:
These threads come along ever so often. People begin to dogpile and a problem becomes bigger than it actually is. Changes within the company then cause people to assume that it's caused some kind of chain reaction without knowing there is. Remember correlation does not equal causation.

CRK has increased their output which means that may also increase their mistakes. From what I've read there implementing new systems to help ensure that the customer gets the best product. But they are a production company and the occasional miss will slip through.

I've owned 11? CRK's over the past few years and everything about them has been exceptional. If I do ever have a problem I will either send it back to the dealer or let the team in Idaho get it right.

I'm gonna go cut an apple up with my Inkosi now. :)
Click to expand...

Pics of cutting the apple or it didnt happen.


J/K
 
I'm not seeing this as a dog pile or a "preceived" problem..there have been multiple reports of similar issues.. Uneven/burned edge bevels are one. Off centered blades another.

Doesn't seem like anyone is panicing or doubting CRK CS...but you can't paint it as a non-issue..

Didn't stop me from keeping the Inkosi I have w/ an awful, uneven edge bevel w/ slight discoloration at the tip from over heating..and inlays that are not quite tight...or ordering a new 21 late last night.

small things maybe..no need to start shaking...but a few things could be tightened up..like the new kid on the sharpening machine for instance.

And in no way am I suggesting this is due to the old man not being there...This happens ..just needs to be addressed.
 
lemmuhj said:
Im not even concerned or worried if their quality has "slipped", because their warranty is still there. It shouldn't even really concern someone to be honest. I highly doubt Anne is skipping steps or taking out a QC process that was there "just a few short yrs ago" and now the market is flooded with out of spec CRK's...lol, ok.
Click to expand...

The last new CRK I bought was three years ago, so I have no experience and subsequently no opinion on any recent quality issues. But, I could not possibly disagree more with what you said about the relationship between quality and warranty.

Just because a company (any company, not specifically CRK) will take care of a problem does not mean it's ok for a new product to be delivered with problems. The probability of a certain product, a knife in this case, having an issue right out of the box should concern EVERYONE. And to be honest, I'm pretty sure it does concern most people, especially those buying $400+ knives online.
 
I was just thinking this today. Maybe its me and maybe its because I consciously know that Chris is gone, but I feel like there has been more threads started lately than in the past about fit and finish issues. I for one received a small inkosi that has some lock rock and blade play about 3 months ago. I immediately returned it to the dealer I bought it from. I should note out of the two dozen or so CRK's I have owned in my life that was the first time I had issues with one. It surprised me but instead of waiting for a trip to the spa the dealer took it back right away. That said, I know mistakes happen (though I forgive them more easily on less expensive knives) and it wont preclude me from owning more CRK's in the future. With that said, the fact that I even was thinking about this subject today is not something I probably would have thought about years ago. Not that this is the case, but I for one would rather a company spend more time on fit and finish and less time on trying to increase production.
 
Chris was absent from the day to day running of CRK for many years before the announcement of him officially no longer being an active member of the company. No-one noticed because they did not know. The quality levels have not changed since that announcement.

CRK consistently maintains one of the highest quality levels in the knife industry. This is proven almost every year with manufacturing awards at Blade.

Any product will have it share of problems. It's how the company handles it that counts.
 
I would suggest if someone has an issue with their blade (as Icky mentions above) it is important to bring it to CRKs attention. By not reporting it they don't know of the issue(s) and can't address.

I'm not saying they are perfect, quality issues occur, but making a blanket statement that quality may be slipping because Chris is not involved in the company... and based off of others posts and not your experience... borders on being troll'ish.
 
Smooth_Operater said:
Pics of cutting the apple or it didnt happen.


J/K
Click to expand...

The world will never know... :)

Ickythump said:
I'm not seeing this as a dog pile or a "preceived" problem..there have been multiple reports of similar issues.. Uneven/burned edge bevels are one. Off centered blades another.

Doesn't seem like anyone is panicing or doubting CRK CS...but you can't paint it as a non-issue..

Didn't stop me from keeping the Inkosi I have w/ an awful, uneven edge bevel w/ slight discoloration at the tip from over heating..and inlays that are not quite tight...or ordering a new 21 late last night.

small things maybe..no need to start shaking...but a few things could be tightened up..like the new kid on the sharpening machine for instance.

And in no way am I suggesting this is due to the old man not being there...This happens ..just needs to be addressed.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying things don't happen. I'm saying that things do happen but someone starts a thread about it and then everyone piles on. Some with actual experience and sometimes not. I don't feel that starting a thread here does anything other than let a person vent. Call your dealer and or Chris Reeve. There lies the power for true change.

Steven65 said:
Chris was absent from the day to day running of CRK for many years before the announcement of him officially no longer being an active member of the company. No-one noticed because they did not know. The quality levels have not changed since that announcement.

CRK consistently maintains one of the highest quality levels in the knife industry. This is proven almost every year with manufacturing awards at Blade.

Any product will have it share of problems. It's how the company handles it that counts.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Iron City said:
I would suggest if someone has an issue with their blade (as Icky mentions above) it is important to bring it to CRKs attention. By not reporting it they don't know of the issue(s) and can't address.

I'm not saying they are perfect, quality issues occur, but making a blanket statement that quality may be slipping because Chris is not involved in the company... and based off of others posts and not your experience... borders on being troll'ish.
Click to expand...

Spot on.
 
I am sure they don't want any poor quality products to get out in the 1st place and try to be vigilant to prevent this from happening, but I would think they keep track and learn a lot from what shows up for repair. If you don't send it in, you remain unhappy and they don't learn of the problem.
 
Iron City said:
I would suggest if someone has an issue with their blade (as Icky mentions above) it is important to bring it to CRKs attention. By not reporting it they don't know of the issue(s) and can't address.

I'm not saying they are perfect, quality issues occur, but making a blanket statement that quality may be slipping because Chris is not involved in the company... and based off of others posts and not your experience... borders on being troll'ish.
Click to expand...

Agreed

I had made the decision to use the knife until I was to send it in for spa..My contribution to this thread was only to confirm that there does indeed seem to be some consistent issues of late..And not mere "perceptions" or an opportunity to dog pile. From what in this thread there doesn't seem to be any disrespect or outlandish claims..even the OP doesnt seem to be border on troll'ish.. Seems like an honest observance of facts, not at all unreasonable...presented as a question for discussion.
 
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