CRK lockup

jacobconroy75

jacobconroy75

"Brain Cloud" is real.
BANNED
Joined
Mar 27, 2012
Messages
860
Let's discuss lockup. I've looked but couldn't find any specific thread.

I've managed to collect three CRKs so far, a Mnandi, a large Annual, and a small CF Insingo 21.

The Mnandi's lockup is about 75%, but it's smooth and easy to unlock. I like it. No complaints.

The 21's lockup is 80+ percent. The bar grinds when pushed and you need to push it quite a ways. I don't like it and it needs to be dealt with. The knife just isn't fun anymore.

The Annual is about 20% lockup. Clicks like like a fine watch when opened. Unlocks easy and feels smooth. I approve!

Is it normal for the newer CRKs to have deep lockups? What have you old-timey pros found? Do I need to focus my collection on older CRKs?

I think I'm going to send the 21 in for a tune-up. Everything I've read says that they will take care of it.

Your thoughts would be great. I'm not really complaining. They are all awesome knives and I will keep buying them. Thanks.
 
I am very picky about my lockup and have passed on a great deal of CRK because it was not to my liking or what I perceive to be perfect. Personally I like 50% as that gives the knife tons of time to wear in and to me, last longer. CRK spec used to be in the 50% range. Now its 50-75%. I for one do not like 75%. Its a personal preference and even CRK has said that its fine. I first got into Sebenzas buying the regulars, so for me, thats what I am accustomed too. I am still that way and unlikely to change. I feel the same with the mnandi as well.

In my experience also, CRK Damascus always seems to have lockup near that " for me at least " forbidden 75% area.

For me at least, its strictly a preference. Its what I like and what I look for. I ALWAYS ask for a lockup pic when contemplating a new CRK. Dealers are unlikely to grant such a request, but private sellers on the forums, ebay, CRK BST on FB , etc. can easily ask and get that much desired "lockup" pic.
 
20% seems like the one that has the real issue..I would rather have late lockup than early.
80% may be a concern..but I don't typically notice this unless I am having issues. Send it off to CRK for a spa treatment..Add a note to it about the lockup and feel and your concerns that it seems to be gritty or not real smooth. They will take care of you :)
 
Agreed. I realize that a deeper lockup would be physically stronger, but it doesn't feel good IMO. Since they appear to approve of the 75% lockup, does that mean that they will be unlikely to monkey with it if I send it in? If that is the case, then I may get rid of it. Would be a shame since it was my first CRK.

What about the lock grinding? Is that something they might repair? It didn't grind when I bought it and I'm very gentle with my knives.

In your experience do the older Mnandi's (with old nail nicks, etc.) have "shallower" lockups? If so, I will pursue one to try it out.

If damascus tends to have deeper lockups, then I shall avoid them.

Thanks for all the info. I'm new to CRK.
 
bhyde said:
20% seems like the one that has the real issue..I would rather have late lockup than early.
80% may be a concern..but I don't typically notice this unless I am having issues. Send it off to CRK for a spa treatment..Add a note to it about the lockup and feel and your concerns that it seems to be gritty or not real smooth. They will take care of you :)
Click to expand...

Your reply made me look closer, and I'd say that the annual is maybe 30%. Fun to play with though.

I didn't know that 50% is the ideal. Makes sense.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Agreed. I realize that a deeper lockup would be physically stronger, but it doesn't feel good IMO. Since they appear to approve of the 75% lockup, does that mean that they will be unlikely to monkey with it if I send it in? If that is the case, then I may get rid of it. Would be a shame since it was my first CRK.

What about the lock grinding? Is that something they might repair? It didn't grind when I bought it and I'm very gentle with my knives.

In your experience do the older Mnandi's (with old nail nicks, etc.) have "shallower" lockups? If so, I will pursue one to try it out.

If damascus tends to have deeper lockups, then I shall avoid them.

Thanks for all the info. I'm new to CRK.
Click to expand...

I would send off the 21 to be honest..If the perception to CRK is that it's out of spec,..they will make it right. Call them and let them know your concerns with it before you send it off. They really are good people,..If they don't think it's an issue for the lockup percentage, they may find the "lock grinding" an issue that needs to be addressed. Provided there hasn't been any mods on it,..they will probably take care of the lock grinding, thus fixing the other issue.
 
Thanks Bhyde. I'm convinced and will send it in.

One of the reasons I'm so comfortable with CRK's prices is the support that they have from the fans here on the forum. To have so many loyal fans after 25 years is pretty impressive to me.

That the knives hold their value is pretty impressive to me as well.

I'll email them tomorrow.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Anybody else have CRK lockup concerns?
Click to expand...

I am a little concerned about my 21. It is later than I would like and appears to be around 65%, but possibly more. I'm not real fond of late lockup as I just feel it does not allow for longer life of the knifes lockup. I guess time will tell how fast it starts to move over.

Does anyone know why CRK does up to 75% lockup? Seems kind of strange in my opinion.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Anybody else have CRK lockup concerns?
Click to expand...

Nope. I did when I bought my early Umnumzaan (old pivot, no stabilizer, not Idaho stamp, S30V). That knife appeared to lock up at 80 to 90% (I am not one to measure, and it is tough to really estimate wiht the ball interface). Long story short, I contacted CRK (back when they responded to email very promptly) and they urged me to send photos...I did....they said its normal...and if there is ever a problem, we will take care of it.

That was enough for me. The company that invented the thing, and refined it for almost 20 years (at that point in time) says it is fine, I trusted them.

I gave the knife away to someone that really appreciates it and carries/uses it daily (and has for over 5 years). I see that knife and doo all the maintenance on it (which is nothing really to speak of) and the lock up has not changed in all that time.

I think a lot of folks on the web have a lot of concens based on what they have heard and possibly seen with other lesser knives (lesser in design, execution, and materials). Simply put, I dismiss most of these concerns as ill-founded. When someone shows me a CRK lock face that is worn out I might change my opinion...so far I have only seen mysteriously broken knives with locks that release (and none of these have "late" lock up)
 
Out of all the CRK's I have, there is only one that I don't like and it's not late lock up, rather it's early lock up. I prefer the late lock up, for me, it's an indicator that the lock bar is sufficiently over enough to prevent the lock bar from moving out of place under any stress.
The one with the early lock up does not have the original blade that came with the knife.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Anybody else have CRK lockup concerns?
Click to expand...

Not all frame locks are created equally, and not all wear equally. A poorly designed or built framelock, where very little of the lockbar actually touches the blade tang, will wear much faster than a properly built framelock, where more of the flat lockbar touches the flat(ish) blade tang. CRKs are very well made, and from what I understand they will wear much differently than other manufacturers. My 21 is right around 65%, it was 50% when new, I believe that it wore slightly at first until the flat surfaces were flat against one another then stopped.

I'll use it until there's something wrong with it, like blade movement when locked or it's closer to 100% lockup, then send it in for a few thousands bigger stop pin or whatever.
 
MatthewSB said:
I'll use it until there's something wrong with it, like blade movement when locked or it's closer to 100% lockup, then send it in for a few thousands bigger stop pin or whatever.
Click to expand...

Right on!

I would suspect that it wont be any time soon (or ever). They are sure enough about the design that they say they will fix it if it happens....and I detected a silent skepticism when I was told that;)

I think if you actually use the thing (and hard enough to somehow wear the lock bar) you will probably wear the blade at a faster rate...thus you will replace the BLADE before the stop pin bushing.

Once again, anyone have an example of lock bar wear necessitating repair? I have seen blades worn out, but not lock bars....Id love to see one....
 
I also like the earlier lockup. By earlier I mean 50% range. This area gives me plenty of security as well as ease of opening. I find the latter lockups to be rather hard to open, and they seem to be getting latter and latter. Some of the newer ones I have obtained seem more like 80% than even 75%. 70% I am still good with, but 75%-80% while a solid lockup, seems just excessive to me. This of course is just my opinion and likes. It seems to be easier to find what I like in the older models.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Anybody else have CRK lockup concerns?
Click to expand...

Yes - I have a small Regular that locks up only to about 20%, occasionally less, and frankly I don't really consider that reliably safe. I keep thinking I'll send it in, but you know how it goes... :)
 
Out of all the CRKs I've owned I've never had a lockbar wear any noticeable amount. They usually stay at the percentage they are at. And this is with constant opening/ closing and fondling. So that leaves me to believe and say with confidence that even a Sebenza with a late lockup still has a lifetime of use left.
 
I dislike late lockup and have literally bought Sebbies off the BF Exchange, found the lockup too late for me when the arrived, and promptly re-posted them for sale again that same day. I always go out of my way to note and photo the lockup in my for sale posts as some people dislike (and others appreciate) how late or early the lockup occurs. I don't buy knifes without lockup photos. It is what it is I guess. I cut my teeth on Regulars and Classics and this 70 to 80%+ lockup stuff just ain't where it's at for me. I'm not aware of CRK "reducing" or making the lockup earlier on a knife. At least the two of them I sent in with notes about the late lockup came back sharpened and blasted and exactly as they were before as far as lockup goes. Such is life. I'm sure they are functionally fine, but for $400+ a pop I'll keep what I like and kick the rest loose.
 
XJ-linux said:
I'm not aware of CRK "reducing" or making the lockup earlier on a knife. At least the two of them I sent in with notes about the late lockup came back sharpened and blasted and exactly as they were before as far as lockup goes. Such is life.
Click to expand...

This has been my experience as well. I doubt they adjust lockup position unless the lockbar is hitting the far scale and causing a problem.
 
I never ask to see pic of lockup or centering. I know that it's a CRK and that good enough for me. If there is a problem, I can always send it in. Now I say this concerning basically new or collectible CRKs. If I was buying a beater or user CRK I could see someone being concerned with centering/lockup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top