CRK owners-- what is your favorite production knife under $200???

Just got my first mini ritter and it is a pretty incredible knife. I got a M4 version from an early numbered run that was very lightly used. It can with ranger green Wilkins grips, and while this combo will cost more than 200 dollars, I would choose this over any small Seb. It just feels better in my hand than a small seb...go figure, heh.

That being said, I would not hesitate to recommend the small or regular Ritter Griptilian as a sub-par 200 dollar knife as a companion to the Sebenza.

My favorite production knives under $200 are now:

Ritter mini Griptilian.
Spyderco Paramilitary 2.
Victorinox Scientist.

I am also very interested in the Spyderco Techno, and ever since I got the Ritter mini, I have been interested in the BM Ares M390 and the BM mini Presidio.

Nothing holds a candle to my Large regular Seb (had to throw that in here, sorry).
 
humblerodent said:
I have a very hard time believing that the Techno has better fit and finish than a CRK. And I personally love the Taichung Spydercos, I think they are the best full production knives available. But they simply aren't set up to achieve the type of tolerances that CRK regularly puts out. Do me a favor, take out the pivot from both your Techno and a Sebenza, I mean completely remove it....

Sorry, I mean no offense, but the term fit and finish gets thrown around with little context.

EDIT: so that I'm not completely derailing the thread, my favorite <$200 production knife is the Spyderco Chokwe.
Click to expand...

You are probably right on all counts, but I look at it like a huge, well deserved compliment to spyderco more that disrespecting CRK. The fact that there is even a comparison is proof of what skilled craftsman with the right tools are capable of. Also, for production companies to aspire and come moderately close to achieving the perfection that Mid techs and customs are capable of means we all win!
 
I'm no expert, I'm just reporting what I see.

I'm sure I'm going to get flamed posting this, but anyway.

I have two small Sebenzas.
Only one of which I use.
They have no blade-play and are solid and well finished.
However they are both quite stiff to open, even after being opened and closed a lot.
They start to open smoothly, but about 3/4 open they start to feel sticky.
One is much worse than the other.
The one I don't use isn't that bad, I wish my user one was more like the one I don't use.

I wish I could send it in to be checked, but unfortunately there are a couple of factors which make that difficult for me.

You can break down one box with it, but not two.
By the second box, cardboard will ball up instead of cut and the blade is going all over the place.

The screws in my Sebenzas are a little rough and unfinished looking.

My Techno opens very smoothly and easily.
The lock-up falls in the same place every time, even if you open it forcefully.
Everything is finished nicely.
The screws are stonewashed to match the scales.
There is nothing engraved on the scales.
All the logos etc are laser engraved on the blade, keeping the clean look when the knife is closed.
However I don't like the blue back spacer on the Techno.

Nothing against the Sebenza (well except for a couple of things which I'm not going to mention).
I'm not getting rid of them.
I'm just digging the Techno more.
Maybe the design of the Techno is not as durable in the long run?

Maybe I'm getting tricked on the feel, because the Techno is so beefy for its size?
I'm guessing a large Sebenza would feel more solid, but I don't like big folding knives.
 
Favorite folder under 200... gotta go with the Para2.. or the Sage2.

I have an absolutely perfect Sage2, I mean, I can't find ANYTHING wrong with it. I've had incredible luck(?) with the stuff coming out of Taiwan..
 
Mike V said:
I'm no expert, I'm just reporting what I see.

I'm sure I'm going to get flamed posting this, but anyway.

I have two small Sebenzas.
Only one of which I use.
They have no blade-play and are solid and well finished.
However they are both quite stiff to open, even after being opened and closed a lot.
They start to open smoothly, but about 3/4 open they start to feel sticky.
One is much worse than the other.
The one I don't use isn't that bad, I wish my user one was more like the one I don't use.

I wish I could send it in to be checked, but unfortunately there are a couple of factors which make that difficult for me.

You can break down one box with it, but not two.
By the second box, cardboard will ball up instead of cut and the blade is going all over the place.

The screws in my Sebenzas are a little rough and unfinished looking.

My Techno opens very smoothly and easily.
The lock-up falls in the same place every time, even if you open it forcefully.
Everything is finished nicely.
The screws are stonewashed to match the scales.
There is nothing engraved on the scales.
All the logos etc are laser engraved on the blade, keeping the clean look when the knife is closed.
However I don't like the blue back spacer on the Techno.

Nothing against the Sebenza (well except for a couple of things which I'm not going to mention).
I'm not getting rid of them.
I'm just digging the Techno more.
Maybe the design of the Techno is not as durable in the long run?

Maybe I'm getting tricked on the feel, because the Techno is so beefy for its size?
I'm guessing a large Sebenza would feel more solid, but I don't like big folding knives.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:
 
flipe8 said:
I think the Techno feels so solid, in large part, due to its' compact size. You have a knife that is very stout in a smaller package. The lock-bar is much shorter than that on a full size Sebenza, yet is wider at the cut-out. As result, it makes for a very solid feeling lockup. I'll say again that I believe the Techno will have to put in months, if not years, to be able to be compare to a Sebenza in terms of longevity, but it certainly feels as solid.
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Probably the Spyderco Bill Moran drop point fixed blade. If a folder, then perhaps the old Benchmade Vex
 
IMG_0843[1].jpg

BM Mini Bone Collectors, in both black/green G10 and in walnut. Flat-ground D2 blade steel at ~61RC, Spydie hole, great ergonomics, Axis lock -- what's not to like? It can be had for under $100. At the moment, it's getting a lot of pocket time.

Prof.
 
I've only just got my sebenza so these others may not see much carry time any more but the Spyderco sage in Cf is beautifully smooth with good ergo's and blade geometry. Ive also enjoyed carrying the Kershaw composite blade leek its a bit thin and slippery but a nice discreet little knife that works well.
 
My EDC is now a Startac Umnum but before that I carried a ZT0350. Fantastic knife for the money.
 
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