CR Umnumzaan...

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birdave

birdave

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Never mind...found the answers I was looking for on the Chris Reeve website.

Except for one...how do you Umnumzaan owners like the model?
(I don't own any CR knives..............yet)
 
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They’re extremely comfortable to cut with. Mine took a lot less time to break in than a Sebenza/inkosi and was very smooth. Even with the issues I had below I would recommend it in either blade shape.

A few take always - the studs are close to the frame and are smooth so it’s not the easiest of their models to get used to/i couldnt manipulate it in gloves at work. The rubber bands are also silly to me and but can be removed

this is their “harder use” knife and it cuts amazingly well but it’s a hollow and was prone to chipping pretty easily for what I use a knife for.

Also if you don’t own any crk’s the clips are great but easy to catch on anything you walk past

Hope that helps and like most of us you likely won’t be let down by any crk
 
I have two. Love the knives, but the clip placement was terribly uncomfortable for my hands due to prior injuries and minor nerve damage in a couple of fingers. Took the clips off and now they're just right. I don't have issues with the clip placement on any of my Sebenzas...Regular, 21 or 31. Just the 'Zaans.

They're great knives.




Umnumzaans.jpg
 
I have never had a knife that I put more effort into sincerely wanting to like.
I love the fit, finish, blade design, machining and the overall look and feel in my hand. This company builds some serious knives with the warranty, spa and overall support to allow you to enjoy the knife for many many years if not a lifetime.
If you like the frame lock design, you probably are hard pressed to find better. I don’t like it. Getting the knives started opening from the closed position is a PITA. My natural grip puts my fingers in direct conflict with the lock bar and detent so that gripping the knife to open the blade adds additional pressure and drives the ball deeper in its closed and resting hole. Even knowing that, I occasionally grab it your in my natural manner and have trouble opening it.
The lock bar was also very stiff when trying to close it. The Zaan did break in to be the smoothest blade action once it started moving of the 3 I have owned.
I’m not brand specific in my likes so When I give somewhere in the $500 range for a knife, I expect to be able to easily open it. A pleasurable experience from the start. I don’t expect to have to learn the trick or condition my thumb or build new muscle memory in order to use a particular tool. I think it speaks volumes that there are specific instructions on how to open this knife that are unnecessary with other designs.
Mine is being delivered to a new owner today because of these issues.
Some people absolutely love them. The level of joy once you get one really tells the tale.
Like the song: should I stay or should I go 🎶
 
Terry M. said:
I just had to come back again and mention how disappointed in birdave birdave that you haven’t owned a CRK yet. For shame…….. 😂
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My Bad, Terry ;) !
I've seen so many here in BF post pictures of their CRK knives that It's seems to be sticking with me (no pun intended with "sticking").
I may have to check out a 'zaan at some point.
As I prefer a larger/longer blade length, the 'zaan will be my first choice.

Thanks to everyone who has weighed in.
All of the advice and comments are appreciated!
Stay safe, Joe.
 
dialton said:
I have never had a knife that I put more effort into sincerely wanting to like.
I love the fit, finish, blade design, machining and the overall look and feel in my hand. This company builds some serious knives with the warranty, spa and overall support to allow you to enjoy the knife for many many years if not a lifetime.
If you like the frame lock design, you probably are hard pressed to find better. I don’t like it. Getting the knives started opening from the closed position is a PITA. My natural grip puts my fingers in direct conflict with the lock bar and detent so that gripping the knife to open the blade adds additional pressure and drives the ball deeper in its closed and resting hole. Even knowing that, I occasionally grab it your in my natural manner and have trouble opening it.
The lock bar was also very stiff when trying to close it. The Zaan did break in to be the smoothest blade action once it started moving of the 3 I have owned.
I’m not brand specific in my likes so When I give somewhere in the $500 range for a knife, I expect to be able to easily open it. A pleasurable experience from the start. I don’t expect to have to learn the trick or condition my thumb or build new muscle memory in order to use a particular tool. I think it speaks volumes that there are specific instructions on how to open this knife that are unnecessary with other designs.
Mine is being delivered to a new owner today because of these issues.
Some people absolutely love them. The level of joy once you get one really tells the tale.
Like the song: should I stay or should I go 🎶
Click to expand...
dialton,
I know what you mean about where your fingers are placed, regarding the lock-bar issue.
I have to remember where to place mine, with the CKF Sukhoi 4.
However, I like that knife enough, to not want to sell it at this point.
Thanks for weighing in, it's appreciated.
Stay safe, Joe.
 
birdave birdave - I only got into CRKs a couple of months ago, and I started with the Zaan. Wasn't easy in the beginning:

i-PDWjjGD-X2.jpg


But once I figured out how to use it (you need to use your thumbnail), and after break-in it is the easiest CRK to use for me, with either hand (compared to Inkosi and Sebenza). Since I like larger and strong folders (and the Zaan is just the sweet spot - similar length to a Buck 110), I'm happy to have started with it.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Roland, I will disagree in part. My first 'Zaan was difficult enough early on that I needed to use my thumbnail to get the blade moving. But once I figured it out after trial and error, and especially since removing the clip, I simply use the front and pad of the thumb with no thumbnail involvement whatsoever.

I find the placement and angle of deployment is more critical in getting a smooth opening...but both of mine work really well without the use of the nail.

Just a FWIW, because, clearly, we each have different mitts and I know your paws are larger than mine. So that may enter into it.
 
Between a brand-new Zaan and brand-new 31, which is harder on the thumb when breaking in?
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Between a brand-new Zaan and brand-new 31, which is harder on the thumb when breaking in?
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Good question.

My 31 tanto, which was my first of two 31's, gave me a pretty sore thumb breaking it in. (I didn't take it apart, but I did apply some Slip 2000 EWL with a needle applicator, which I use on firearms.) So, I can't say the 31 was a picnic. However, once I broke my thumb in and got used to the 31, when I bought the second one a few weeks later, an Insingo, it was good from day one.

The 'Zaan also frustrated me at first...but it's different enough that direct comparison isn't really applicable. They are different iterations of the same thing, more or less. The thing to remember is that while similar, the openings are variations on a theme and so what you do for one, is a bit different than the other.

My thought is this...they are worth the initial struggle and investment in time, frustration and a bit of sore thumb. It passes relatively soon, imho, and you are left with some great knives...and, of course, a thumb which is the envy of the neighborhood.

(In the end, the action of the 'Zaan, imho, is somewhat smoother than the 31.)
 
Blues said:
Good question.

My 31 tanto, which was my first of two 31's, gave me a pretty sore thumb breaking it in. (I didn't take it apart, but I did apply some Slip 2000 EWL with a needle applicator, which I use on firearms.) So, I can't say the 31 was a picnic. However, once I broke my thumb in and got used to the 31, when I bought the second one a few weeks later, it was good from day one.

The 'Zaan also frustrated me at first...but it's different enough that direct comparison isn't really applicable. They are different iterations of the same thing, more or less. The thing to remember is that while similar, the openings are variations on a theme and so what you do for one, is a bit different than the other.

My thought is this...they are worth the initial struggle and investment in time, frustration and a bit of sore thumb. It passes relatively soon, imho, and you are left with some great knives...and, of course, a thumb which is the envy of the neighborhood.
Click to expand...
Have you tried the Inkosi? I have tried the 31 and now the Umnumzaan and I feel like I'm getting warmer. The 31 is very difficult for me to open because the one angle you have to roll it open at is awkward for the size of my hand - I have to shift my grip a fair bit to open it. The Umnumzaan is a big improvement except for how easy it is to put pressure on the lock bar and make it hard for myself. Kind of wondering if third try won't be the charm and the Inkosi will be the one I end up loving.
 
^^^^^^^

I plan on trying an Inkosi just to satisfy the curiosity that has developed since some people, (I won't name names but they know who they are), have pounded me into submission and ground down my resolve.

That said, I won't be giving up the other CRKs no matter how much I like the Inkosi. Well, at least not my favorites or the ones with special meaning.
 
I’ve got my first Zaan on the way, it’s a user so I hopefully won’t have too much trouble. I tried a new one at blade show and couldn’t believe how dumb I felt trying to open it in front of like 10 people at the CRK booth hahaha. That said the Inkosi is way smoother than the 31 at least from my examples.
 
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