CRK Inkosi

H

HDStreetBob

Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
120
Just purchased my first CRK, my grail knife, wanted one for YEARS! It finally arrived, a left-handed Inkosi, I was so excited.

And I am very underwhelmed. Did I just "waste" $400? The quality is nice, but I like my Spyderco PMs better.

What I am overlooking?
 
Can you describe what has been disappointing to you?

It is not because a lot of people like a knife that you will like it …

Popular knives I don’t like (even if I recognize they are good): para3, Shaman, griptilian, SNG, zt0562, small sebenza … just to give and that is just to give a few 😅
 
Therom said:
Can you describe what has been disappointing to you?

It is not because a lot of people like a knife that you will like it …

Popular knives I don’t like (even if I recognize they are good): para3, Shaman, griptilian, SNG, zt0562, small sebenza … just to give and that is just to give a few 😅
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I just don't see anything special about it. If I was comparing to the PM3, it costs twice as much, but I don't see it as twice the knife. Quality is good, but so is Spyderco. So is Benchmade, ZT, etc.

I don't know, hard to explain, just not worth the money. Like going to a fancier restaurant, you leave and it was just so-so and you know you won't be going back anytime soon.
 
HDStreetBob said:
I just don't see anything special about it. If I was comparing to the PM3, it costs twice as much, but I don't see it as twice the knife. Quality is good, but so is Spyderco. So is Benchmade, ZT, etc.

I don't know, hard to explain, just not worth the money. Like going to a fancier restaurant, you leave and it was just so-so and you know you won't be going back anytime soon.
Click to expand...

It took me almost 3 weeks to warm up to my small inkosi.

IMHO CRK is special to those who end enjoying the small details of these designs.
My advice would be for you to carry it for 2-3 weeks straight and then decide if you take it or not.
 
I just got my first Reeves Sebenza 31 in Magnacut Tanto. It was stiff as hell at first, but after a little pivot screw adjustment I have it flipping open...just barely. Im with you, I feel they are bit overrated. There isnt much to them and almost no customizing them to your liking. It did come with the sharpest factory edge Ive ever seen. I mean razon sharp! I am also a huge Spyderco fan and loive their knives as they cost fractions of what the high end knives do. I am also a huge Hinderer fan and that stays true after getting my first Reeves knife. Hinderer beats them all. They are the most customizable and hearty knives available and I love a flipper knife.

Im going to keep my Sebenza for now as I like have nice examples of knives in my collection. I certainly wont be bringing it with me on a bugout!
 
Try taking your Spydercos apart and look them over closely, then do the same with the Inkosi; see what you think then. I really like my Spydies, but I always have to take them apart and deburr and smooth things out before I'm satisfied with them. CRK might need some grease, but otherwise is good to go! Good luck and enjoy.
 
The process of breaking in my crk was what made me fall in love with it. How much it smoothed out and the feel you are left with is quite amazing.

It's not the most fidgety knife. I think this disappoints alot of people who don't research it fully before buying.

Also, twice the cost usually won't mean twice the quality. Once you get over 200-300 dollars on a knife you are getting diminishing returns on quality. It won't stay a 1 to 1. Tolerances can only be so tight, there are only so many quality materials to use.
 
It is not a bells and whistles type knife. They are just well made solid users made with good matterials. Hype can sometimes create too much expectation. I would give it a little time to grow on you, and if you are not sold on it, sell it and move on. They are not everyones favorite knife
 
Take it apart to check it out, it's really, really well done, with a beautifully ground blade, quarter inch pivot with fine thread, smart pivot washers, similar heat treat to Spyderco, etc. I have some Spydercos that are just as nicely built (like my Tuff), and other Spydercos that I use more (like Manix 2 and XL). But to modify my last Cruwear Manix XL to where I really love it, I had to add liner-less TI scales, and the overall package is not much cheaper than your $400.

They are a bit over-rated, true. But other brands are too, depending who you speak to.

They are great in use and easy to sell. Use it or sell it :)
 
Before I got any CRKs, I had (still do) Shirogorov.

Going from a flipper to a smooth slow roll was at first very disappointing but You’ll learn how to hold it and how to thumb flick it open as you develop muscle memory, single handed opening and closing, it’s a well designed simple knife.

You don’t have to give it a chance, but you have it there with you. Now is the time!
 
Not everything is for everyone. You didn't waste anything because you can sell an Inkosi for $400 all day on the secondary market. If you're not satisfied with your purchase don't feel like you have to stick it out because other people like them.

You have also learned a lesson about diminishing returns. Costing twice as much as a Spyderco doesn't mean it's twice the knife, especially since the metrics for determining this are going to vary to each individual. Plenty of people don't think a $200 Spyderco is twice the knife that a $100 Kershaw is, and they might be right depending on what factors determine that for them.

Is a $60,000 BMW twice the car that a $30,000 Toyota is? They both have four wheels and a motor right? If you don't appreciate what you're getting for those extra dollars no one on the internet is going to convince you it was worth it.
 
Keep it a while and see if it grows on you. My small doesn’t get used as much as it used to but I still appreciate its design and build.

My first PM2 sat for over 6 months before I warmed up to it (started actually carrying it)- I now have several!
 
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