CIVIVI vs. CRKT for budget value

[Yo Mama]

CRKT can't seem to make it into the good steels without a high price point. CIVIVI caught my eye with China D2 on a few models at the same price point as most CRKT knives. Sparked my interest to look more into CIVIVI lineup, some of their models look pretty nice to me.

On the CIVIVI end, the Statera and Isham Anthropos are both probably my favorite in the aesthetic looks category, a ton of value, D2, ball bearings, carbon fiber, nice finish. The Backlash and Praxis both look nice, cheaper with 9Cr18Mov, but still ball bearings.

Now admittedly CRKT has the game on many infinite more models to choose from. There are just most that don't pull at me. Some of it is the steel choice, but also the edge geometry has never seemed very cutting to me. The newer Avant looks nice, and comparable to the Statera from CIVIVI, but the Avant has 8cr14mov instead of D2. Deadbolt is cool, but out of the price comparison for this thread, it's pricing more than budget value folder for most. The Homefront is sporting Aus8, so it's a no go again because of the price/value to me.

So does CIVIVI put pressure into this space for the price as an alternative to CRKT? On my end I keep looking at the CIVIVI, not so much ever at the CRKTs.

 

[DrRollinstein]

Well Civivi is far above crkt in terms of everything except price. So I'd say they put quite a bit of pressure on them.

 

[marrenmiller]

I don't think CRKT is competitive even in the low end side of the market. If I wanted a lower priced folder, I'd start with Civivi.

 

[Rykjeklut]

The only thing going for CRKT in this comparison is fun designs.

 

[taste.blade]

CRKT knives look great online but tend to be a let down in-hand from my experience.

 

[dirc]

civivi & kershaw & ontario & buck are the best budget value companies imho

 

[Fire Beard]

Civivi by a mile. It’s not even close. I’d put CRKT below Chinese produced Kershaw. At least as far as quality goes. Which is too bad, because (and I know I’m beating a dead horse here) they have some really cool designs. And that deadbolt lock is pretty interesting. But if I’m going for budget I don’t even put CRKT on the list to consider. Too many comparable-priced knives offering WAY better value/materials/F&F, etc.

 

[Mo2]

Crkt is junk.

 

[DocJD]

In a more perfect world : CRKT licensed designs built to Civivi/ We standards !

 

[Comeuppance]

CRKT doesn’t belong in the same sentence with the word “value”. They put out a $120 folder with 1.4116 stainless.

Kershaw is the domestic budget king. Spyderco brings higher-end steels to affordable price ranges. Civivi, Kizer (Vangard), and Stedemon make very nice knives with mid-range steels and good prices.

CRKT uses trash metal and charges absurd amounts for their folders.

 

[PirateSeulb]

I will defend CRKT a little here I had and really enjoyed my Swindle in 8Cr14MoV it actually held a good edge and the Swindle design was very comfortable to use. But really for the price of that knife it doesn't seem like the materials used fit I think if they didn't over charge for the design aspect they wouldn't be treated so poorly.