CR Umnumzaan...

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One of these days, I'm going to take that Zaan I got almost a year ago back out of the box. I was so frustrated with the sh - er... - grittiness of the "action" that I put it away after I cleaned it. How sad that a company with CRK's reputation sends out $500 knives that don't open close properly until the owner disassembles and cleans the crud out of them. I wanted that knife for a few years before I decided to just buy one...I probably owe it to myself to give it another chance.
 
I have a sebbie and am about a week in with a new inkosi. I absolutely love both but already find myself preferring the inkosi.

I like the thicker blade stock and it feels better in my hand than the sebbie. Also the action is much smoother but don’t know if that’s because of the adjustable pivot or the sebbie still breaking in.

The zaan is next on my list. A few questions, is the blade stock thicker than the inkosi and what type of pivot does it have? I also have concerns about how it feels in hand based off of how it looks. Any info appreciated.
 
mitchnola said:
I have a sebbie and am about a week in with a new inkosi. I absolutely love both but already find myself preferring the inkosi.

I like the thicker blade stock and it feels better in my hand than the sebbie. Also the action is much smoother but don’t know if that’s because of the adjustable pivot or the sebbie still breaking in.

The zaan is next on my list. A few questions, is the blade stock thicker than the inkosi and what type of pivot does it have? I also have concerns about how it feels in hand based off of how it looks. Any info appreciated.
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Same blade stock as the Inkosi but with a deep hollow grind like the Sebenza. Pivot is the same as the Inkosi.
 
ferider said:
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.
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ferider,
Your 2 cents are valuable! I've had the same thumb problem with other knives I own. I'll keep your advice in mind, should I buy a Umnumzaan.
Stay safe, Joe.
 
Blues said:
^^^^^^^

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.
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My 31 is a PDW Wave, I keep it as a collector piece because I discovered the 31 isn't my cup of tea, but the engraving is darn cool. The Umnumzaan I discovered I loved the CRK tanto, and the way it opens is more intuitive for me, but I still have issues with the reach of my thumb while rolling it open given the size of the knife. I've got my sights set on a small plain-jane Inkosi tanto on perhaps being the best of all CRK worlds for me.
 
madcap_magician said:
My 31 is a PDW Wave, I keep it as a collector piece because I discovered the 31 isn't my cup of tea, but the engraving is darn cool. The Umnumzaan I discovered I loved the CRK tanto, and the way it opens is more intuitive for me, but I still have issues with the reach of my thumb while rolling it open given the size of the knife. I've got my sights set on a small plain-jane Inkosi tanto on perhaps being the best of all CRK worlds for me.
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Two of the more wished for unmade models by CRK fans are the Small (or Medium) Umnumzaan and the Large Mnandi (THAT is the knife of my dreams).
 
I quite like the Zaan, but there was still something leaving me wanting to like it a bit more than I did (if that makes sense). I sold mine (along with my 21) 4-5 years ago when I was in a phase of feeling minimalist with my gear. I kept the Inkosi Insingo, if that says anything. I have since bought a 31 and carry it more, but if I were pressed I'd have to say that the Inkosi remains my favorite. I really do admire the Zaan though, and often find myself considering purchasing another. As far as the opening, I was able to get it down pat without too much trouble (see post #25 by Officer's Match above), but there was something I just didn't quite like about the opening method being so different than what I was used to. Still, I'd say it is certainly a knife worth experiencing and seeing for yourself if it jives with you.
 
I think that one of the (many) factors that make me favor the Zaan is the blade-mounted stop bar. It satisfies my mind in both simplicity and (perceived) strength. That the Zaan is held together with one standoff and the pivot (making the action very "tunable") and yet is so stout is very "less is more" comforting to me. And for those that have one to check this out - look how close the stop-bar comes the the scale's guard during the opening motion - makes me grin at how they are showing off in Boise.
 
Will there be blade play in it if you remove the O-rings from the thumb studs?
 
I need to pick up an 'zaan. Unfortunately was being tight with cash when the last batch of lefties came out, so I'll probably have to wait a while.

I did pick up a small Inkosi a while back, and am having trouble with it. I love the size, except for opening. My hands just aren't really made for it somehow, and it is awkward enough that I just two-hand open it a lot. Not quite broken in yet, though. Maybe I'll figure it out. Don't have this problem with my small Sebenza. It mostly seems to be about the angle of the gap between the thumb ramp and the thumb stud, my thumb makes contact a low angle unless i hold it weirdly. Another few millimeters probably would make the difference.
 
I have a few sebenza and Inkosi. They are all great knives. I tried the Zaan several times, it just does not work for me. It’s a two handed operation knife for me. Attempting open one handed is simply painful.
 
Of the three, so far, I prefer the Inkosi best, followed by the Sebenza, and then the Umnumzaan. I say 'so far' because the zaan is a work in progress. It is easier to open now than when new, but still not as easy as the others. I expect it to continue improving as I work at it and get used to the opening action, which is a bit different also. It is a different muscle memory pattern than I'm used to (sliding the thumb up along the blade and then out and around the pivot point, scooping the lug out to open.) That motion takes some getting used to to make it easier (and build up the set of muscles that do it). So, I'm not sure it's so much hard to open as it is just a different movement pattern. As for the blades, the Inkosi has the thicker blade, the Sebenza the thinnest, with the zaan between them. I've posted some comparison photos of these elsewhere if you want to look them up.
 
Blues said:
^^^^^^^

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.
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Just saying, I love my tanto Inkosi
PXL_20230901_154445972.jpg
 
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