CRK Sebenza 31 or Reate K-2?

CRK Sebenza 31 or Reate K-2?

  • Seb

    Votes: 60 82.2%

  • K-2

    Votes: 13 17.8%
  • Total voters
    73
el gigantor

el gigantor

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Messages
1,663
Firstly, I'm not concerned at all with country of origin. I'm just looking for a titanium framelock folder that is built to last. These two models are offered for roughly the same price from the retailer I order gear through, and I'm curious which knife you'd recommend. Unfortunately I won't be able to handle either knife, and I absolutely cannot afford to buy both. Fit and finish and value for money are what I'm after. This is going to be my ride-or-die blade for the next few years. What are your thoughts?
 
Never handled a 31; but, I doubt it's been reshaped to the point that it will feel better in hand than the K2.
Do you like flippers or thumbstuds?
(I prefer thumbstuds, and the K2 still owned my pocket for about a year and a half after I got it)
Resale will be better on the 31, at least in the short term...but I've seen more 31s on the exchange than K2s. (Decide for yourself what that means)
I had posted a k2/inkosi comparison shot for somebody a while ago - I'll see if I can dig it up for you.
Found them. Again, this is an inkosi, not a 31; hopefully it will be helpful.
View attachment 1397259 View attachment 1397260
 
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I've never had a Reate, own multiple CRK's. What I think about buying an expensive knife is the customer service and ease of sending the knife in for service work.
I've never had to send any of my knives in for service/repair other than a couple of CRK's for a spa treatment.
The one time I did send a knife back, it was a Kershaw that I screwed up and got the knife back without any issues.
 
el gigantor said:
Firstly, I'm not concerned at all with country of origin. I'm just looking for a titanium framelock folder that is built to last. These two models are offered for roughly the same price from the retailer I order gear through, and I'm curious which knife you'd recommend. Unfortunately I won't be able to handle either knife, and I absolutely cannot afford to buy both. Fit and finish and value for money are what I'm after. This is going to be my ride-or-die blade for the next few years. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
The text I highlighted and bolded up top is the key difference. I'm not saying Reate doesn't make a good knife; in some ways their fit and finish is the best in the industry for a production knife. Problem is, a knife that is "built to last" has to have a shop and a warranty to stand behind it. Although Reate does fairly well, there's no comparison to CRK when it comes to service after the sale. These knives are covered for a lifetime. Reate hasn't been around long enough for anyone to know.

Before I jumped on a 31, I'd try to make sure the 31 was the knife for me. There are a lot of dissenting opinions over whether it was an upgrade over the 21 or Inkosi.
 
While Reate makes good knives, if you want something that will last indefinitely, I'd have to recommend the CRK. CRK's warranty and the ability to get the knife refurbished in down the road means you can be confident in long-term support.
 
Reate makes a great knife,but CRK would be my choice,too. I have an Inkosi w micarta inlays, which is so nicely made, not overly fancy,and is so easy to disassemble ,clean, and re assemble,too. + you have the spa service to bring it back to new, aftermarket pocket clips,and if times get tough, a much easier resell than the Reate. One thing ive come to learn about knives made in China;they are a flash in the pan;not 1 company has a Spyderco Military, a Sebenza, an XM-18; a model thats been a flagship , been around for a long time,and improved over the years.They come out with a new model, and drown it with dozens of other models,and they eventually fall by the wayside. The Sebenza will always be more desirable than any high end knife made in China.
 
Two great knives.

As far as I know the 31 is currently offered with a drop point blade shape only (other blade styles have not been announced yet). The K-2 is a tanto blade shape. Do you have a preference?

Blade shape (and steel type) is always my first consideration because heck what are you buying the knife for in the first place? Hopefully to cut, slice, and pierce things. IMHO the drop point blade of the 31 is far more practical than the tanto blade of the K-2 if this is going to be your only "ride-or-die blade for the next few years."
 
I have only one Reate and am not interested in K2, so the answer is easy for me. Regarding the warranty, I don't know how long Reate as a brand will exist as that will affect the existence of its warranty. However, the only time I had to use its warranty (done in California) it was nothing short of that of CRK (CRK actually took significantly more time).

This really boils down to what knife features/factors you are looking for and emphasizing on as the two knives are very different. If the flipping action is important to you, the answer is obviously K2. If you care about the value for resale, the choice is CRK for sure.
 
I have a Sebenza 31 and small Sebenza 21 and like them both and voted CRK. That said, I love my Umnumzaan and would pick that first (they also do a tanto version).

I have also been deciding on which Reate to pick up - it’s currently a choice between the K2, new Torrent and Horizon D. I own Reate built knives and think Reate’s finishing is great and wouldn’t worry about getting a Reate branded model.
 
sebenza 100%

i have a hard time giving money to china on purpose after the way they have been acting the past few years.
 
Monofletch said:
if you need to consider this maybe the Reate is a better choice...
Click to expand...

I think when folks mention CRK warranty, they are talking about the spa treatment service. While I doubt I will ever send in my Inkosi to get it spruced up, I can see the draw of knowing that if I put down 450 bucks on a knife that is marketed around tight and exacting tolerances over fancy super steels that the company that sold it to me offers guarantees that they will keep it working that way forever.

I'm still riding the high on finally getting a CRK after putting it off for a long time. It's not the alpha/omega some make it out to be, but there is something about the iconic feel of the brand.
 
Why does everyone assume CRK is the better knife just because they have a spa treatment service? Who cares? Does a bead blast and lubing really make a maker a better choice?

Reate’s warranty service is outstanding as well.

If we are considering the knives alone: It depends. I think reates cut better than CRKs and obviously have better steel.. but the CRKs are very easy to disassemble and reassemble...
So I guess if I were using it for the outdoors, I’d go 31. Everywhere else, I’d go reate.
 
since all the options at this price point have been narrowed down to these two... the K2. I have good experiences with the Reate Future, and have heard multiple custom knive makers sing Reate's praises on podcasts.
 
Roy Batty said:
Why does everyone assume CRK is the better knife just because they have a spa treatment service? Who cares? Does a bead blast and lubing really make a maker a better choice?
Click to expand...

"Spa" trips are certainly part of the equation. I know someone who put a bunch of wear on a small damascus Sebenza (cutting tires and other frankly obnoxious things) until the handles were completely smooth. Sent it in, CRK reblasted everything, told him there was a defect in the blade so they would replace that at no cost, and turned it around back in barely two weeks. This is not an outlier example either.

I'm always happy to recommend a CRK product for the simple reason that they are designed, manufactured, and warrantied as tools. I called Benchmade two months ago asking about a spare screw pin (female side) for a knife they make. They wouldn't sell it to me. I don't doubt Benchmade has a great warranty and stands behind their products, but I just needed a new pin.

CRK sells the pin for $3 https://chrisreeve.com/collections/crk-parts/products/body-pins
 
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