CKRT - bang for the buck!

B

Bushman5

Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
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Well my local crack dealer (warriors and wonders) is now stocking CKRT knives. I was hesitant at first to buy another, as i had bad experiences in the early 90's with their knives (poor fit, finish, QC etc).

HOWEVER, the new owner/director of CKRT is apparently young, and quite concerned about high quality control, compared to the former owner.

The ones i bought were on par with some Custom blades i have played with. EXCELLENT finish, design, and high QC, not to mention very affordable (bang for buck! )

So far i have bought five of the CKRT line, with many more earmarked for purchase. with notable upstart knifemakers/designers like McGinnis and Kit Carson, in the lineup, i see many more purchases from them.

the new additions to my collection:

left to right: McGinnis SUMMA flipper (8Cr14MoV stainless steel) , McGinnis TUITION (8Cr14MoV Stainless steel) , Kit Carson M4-02 assisted opener (8Cr13MoV steel) , CKRT Trapper (1085 carbon) , CKRT Texas Toothpick ( 1085 carbon)
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Are they still using garbage steel? I hated my m16 so much I put it in a stump and kicked it in half as I wouldn't even insult someone with it as a gift. It's a shame, because I loved the design.
 
they seem to use a lot of 8cr13mov, 8cr14mov, 440A (this one actually has a decent HT, think the old Kershaws) and they did a sprint run of the M16 in 154cm, cant find one anymore which is a shame

as to the designs i dont mind them to much there are just minor details that bug me and keep me from pulling the trigger except that texas toothpick looks pretty spiffy, hows the steel on that? they seem rather descreet on the details about the steel in their classic line
 
I added the steels used for each knife. These knives came shaving sharp and since i have used them hard i have had no issues keeping them sharp, with a simple strop
 
I like their acuto+ so far. The ripple I bought, itself an excellent value, was the sharpest out of the box knife I've ever had. It's like insane (doesn't hurt that it has such a thin blade too). And it's been my main user for a couple weeks and its edge holding seems quite good--haven't noticed any deterioration yet.
 
230grains said:
Are they still using garbage steel? I hated my m16 so much I put it in a stump and kicked it in half as I wouldn't even insult someone with it as a gift. It's a shame, because I loved the design.
Click to expand...

You can get M16s in AUS8. Never had any trouble with my AUS8 model. Definitely not my go-to steel, but eh, it was $40 new in a brick and mortar, can't really complain for that.
 
I will add there is a LOT of micarta scales on many of their knives now....Its a nice feature at such a low price point.

They only thing i had to do with some of the knives was put a drop of oil in the pivot. The Carson M4 has a torsion bar and adding a drop of oil and working it a bit made it butter smooth.
 
I hate the fact that they use so many crappy/mystery steels, and seem to enjoy misrepresenting them. No way is 8Cr13Mov a "premium cutlery steel choice" when it's the cheapest out there!

That being said, I'm pretty happy with the quality and more happy with the design of my Tiny Tighe Breaker.
 
"AUS 4 high-carbon stainless steel for the blades to give greater everyday utility."
I didn't even know a AUS4 existed!

That said quite a few of there models look nice but the steel choices have always put me off. Kinda a steel snob to some extent I guess. I carry a AUS8 blade to cut extremely damaging materials with like sandpaper and wiring on occasion. Then I use the good stuff for the rest. I wont use anything less then AUS8 though, dulls to quick.
 
I have one of the m4-03 models, its a pretty good knife, well put together, AUS8, seems to hold up fairly well.
 
CRKT's line of production Razels (fixed blade and folding) are all excellent knives. I've been quite happy with them in cases where I don't want to risk my custom Razel.
 
There newer stuff shows that there slowly improving quality in my opinion I've handled quite a few of the new drifters and they seem like fine knives for the money they don't use the greatest steel in the world but 8cr13mov is far from junk.
 
230grains said:
Are they still using garbage steel? I hated my m16 so much I put it in a stump and kicked it in half as I wouldn't even insult someone with it as a gift. It's a shame, because I loved the design.
Click to expand...

They use a wide variety of steels, none of which are mystery like another poster suggested. The m16 uses a really soft steel that won't hold the best edge.
 
I used to love CRKT when they at least attempted to make some solid stuff like the S2 Ti framelock , ATS34. The Apache , Grey Ghost , Mirage. The older M16's prior to the auto'lawks. Viele Wasp ( Ti linerlock and Aus10 )
I had an M16 , it was a great knife which I loved. The design is one of my all time favorites as far as blade configuration. I wished they would have offered a more costly model in a nicer steel.
I have no problem with Aus8 but CRKT seems to make theirs too soft , unlike Cold Steels wonderful Aus8.

Then they developed the gall to use 420J , soft Aus 6 and even softer Aus 4 and call it premium ??

My fiance bought me a ti M16 , the small version for Christmas a couple years back.
( I've told this story before..) this knife was marketed towards military and leo's. The knife was in terrible shape when I opened the box , the pivot was so loose that the blade flexed side to side , some of the screws were loose such as the pocket clip..
There's no excuse to buy a new knife and have it come in that condition. I was gifted an Operation Iraqi Freedom Big Dog , tanto M16 ( I think it was a 16 ) whatever it was it was a huge knife , thick-heavy-beefy blade. The knife was a disaster waiting to unfold with unfixable play and a lock that easily failed because of the play. That knife was destroyed and deposited in the trash when we moved a few years ago.
Too bad..

That is the kind of stuff that turns folks off from CRKT and who can blame them.

IMO CRKT fully deserves the grief they get on knife forums and they have a lot to prove ( A LOT ) before they will be accepted amongst the same quality as Kershaw or Spyderco.


They first need to drop the mystery steel ( hint hint Gerber !! ) , drop the shoddy colorful designs and get real with their pricing.

Nobody minds paying for quality if the quality is there. Quality is making damn sure the RC is what they say it is on blades , not using 420j for a blade steel and calling it "premium stainless" , not using wierd handle shapes and funky looking artsy pocket clips to mask the fact that the knife itself sucks. A polished moosepie is still just that.

That off my chest... Your Kit Carson M4-02 assisted opener looks pretty nice and well thought out.

CRKT has a chance to redeem themselves still , just loose some of those funky designs !

Tostig
 
I'm glad that Jay brought in CRKT as well. So far I've bought the blackblade fixed Hissatsu which is as wicked a design as I've seen. I think I'll also get the folding Hissatsu as soon as it's back in stock. I'm also interested in quite a few other models ,from the tiny keychain model [ the Keysatsi ?] to the huge Hisshou which unfortunately, along with the somewhat smaller Shinbu, are CRKT's only expensive models.
 
They are a user knife, at user prices, I don't see to many people buying $200 and $300 knives and carrying them everyday to cut much more than boxes and the mail (now I'm sure the posts will fly throwing this statement in my face). I've got a new CRKT M16 on the way to replace the one I abused while cutting through a 7/8" coax cable (plastic sleve, copper sleve, foam and a nickle core). Why, because up to that point I never had a problem with the knife as far as fit, finish, or function, and I probably had it atleast 6 years, carried and used it constantly, and it took me using it in a manner NO knife is intended for to hurt it. Guess what I'm saying is I would expect less out of a knife for thier general pricing.
 
I have a CRKT Lake Thunderbolt. It is a TANK! Holds a edge well for a sub $30 EBay knife!
 
I have the crkt Folt's minimalist in both the bowie and wharncliff variations they are fantastic...I think they are turning a corner.
 
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