CRK.. knives? hmmm

sloth357

sloth357

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Amazingly enough, I don't own one still/yet. At this price point, and the supposed insanely tight tolerances, I figured I should step into one SOON.

Question becomes, which? And not just wondering about style or blade type.. but pivot and lockup... It looks like the sebenzas have an over sized pivot pin, and the umnums have what I'll call the Strider stop pins.. The thumb studs that stop against the scales.

So.. I have an SNG, zero blade play, solid knife.. Second one like it too.. but I understand the thumbstud/stop pin can wear uneven and produce what most call rocklock...

Sooooooo, the umnums have this, yes?? So would this be a potential area for knife play to develop on the umnums?

I really like the umnums... They are a bit longer/bigger (which I like/need), and I like the wilson combat starnum whatever it's called :D

Help me out your CRK freaks! Thanks in advance :)
 
I don't think you'd have any issues with the Umnumzaan or any other CRK for that matter.

If the Umnumzaan tickles your fancy I say go for it
 
The Zaan has rubber o-rings around the studs/stops so it's not metal on metal. The o-ring is wedged between the stud and the scale during lockup.

If that's your only concern with the Zaan then fear not.

I owned a Seb and a Zaan and preferred the Seb. I found the Zaan was not ergonomic and the opening action is weird. Pushing up instead of out on the thumbstud to open just felt awkward to me.
 
I thoroughly enjoy owning & using my large carbon fiber Sebenza 21. I bought it a few months ago. It was my first CR knife. I really like the look & feel of carbon fiber. I like this particular one so much that I actually have no desire to buy any other style Sebenza. I might consider one with the CGG (computer generated graphics) but haven't found a design yet that really caught my eye.

IMG_20131118_221459842.jpg
 
hmmm ok so the rubber o rings.. I don't get exactly... anyone with a photo of that would help.. it sounds like rubber on scale? so there would be some give?? Doesn't sound right O_O

And is the Wilson combat a collab??
 
sloth357 said:
hmmm ok so the rubber o rings.. I don't get exactly... anyone with a photo of that would help.. it sounds like rubber on scale? so there would be some give?? Doesn't sound right O_O

And is the Wilson combat a collab??
Click to expand...

Yes the Wilson Combat is a collab.

This is what the o-rings look like...

maxresdefault.jpg
 
Sid. :D
The Sebenza could be your last folder. Get one.
I just like the SnG a tad more.
rolf
 
My thoughts:

The Umnum is a great knife. No, it will not develop rock lock or blade play--the interface is a ceramic ball that seats on the tang--it is not totally reliant upon the O-rings/thumbstuds. As another has said, the opening of the Umnum is a bit different than that of other folders--some prefer it and some don't. In regards to it being a collaboration--yes, but in the titanium design alone--it is Wilson Combat's signature starburst pattern. The knife is wholly and completely manufactured by CRK in Idaho and is backed entirely by them for service/warranty/etc.

The Sebenza is one of the finest folders made. As Rolf pointed out, he prefers the SnG, but that is just the thing--it boils down to preference. The Sebenza is extremely well made, can withstand hard use, has an excellent warranty, and is quite simply an artistic engineering masterpiece.
 
I like the 25 more than any other Sebenza. The 25 does indeed have a over sized pivot and stop pin and you also get a near flat grind blade. The blade stock on the 25 is also the same thickness as the Umnum. Like others have said, you really can't go wrong with any CRK.
 
The Sebenza is a better-made knife, if you're into all the "tolerances makes this knife the best money can buy" hype. You won't ever regret buying one, because you can always sell it for close to what you bought it for.

I did, to see what all the fuss was about, and moved on.
 
The O-rings cushion the opening, but squish into channels in the thumbstud stop. Remmoving o-rings does not affect the lock up; it just changes the near silent opening into a clack.

Furthermore, the thumbstud stop interfaces with the scales on both sides on the Umnunzaan. Unless I am mistaken, Strider thumbstud stops only interface on the titanium.
 
evanPGH- OK, I'll rephrase.
Sloth- A Sebenza might hold you over for quite some time. :D
 
Get yourself a large Sebenza 21 with plain scales and call it good. It's a workhorse.
 
gooeytek said:
The Sebenza is a better-made knife, if you're into all the "tolerances makes this knife the best money can buy" hype. You won't ever regret buying one, because you can always sell it for close to what you bought it for.

I did, to see what all the fuss was about, and moved on.
Click to expand...

Ain't no hype about it, not the part about the tolerances anyway..
 
Oh, the tolerances are there for sure, don't get me wrong. For me, there's just nothing else about them that makes me want to get another over other knives considering that price point.
 
I much prefer the Sebenza over the Umnumzaan myself. I thought I was going to pick up an zaan back when it made its debut at Blade, but I put it back down pretty quick. I don't really care for the new 25 very much either.
The pivot system of the Sebenza is the main reason, but I also like the thinner .125 blade stock and the handle much more.

The Regular is my favorite Sebenza, followed closely by the Classic, and them the 21. I prefer the slightly weaker detent on the Regular and Classic, but many like the changed detent hole and slightly stronger detent of the 21.
 
I absolutely love my small Insingo, its the perfect blade shape for EDC(aleast for me). CRK makes some of the finest production knives, they can hold their own against pretty much anything you can put it up against. I have 2 Sebenzas and both are perfect I cant think of a single thing bad about them. With the pivot bushing they are incredibly smooth
and you can tighten it down past the point of no blade play and its still buttery smooth.


WH5.jpg
 
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