Crk&t Rocks, Really

A

ahgar

Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
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I have an old crkt m-16 that i decided to start using the other day. I couldn't remember what type of steel it had. So I emailed customer service and asked, while i was at it i mentioned i had managed to lose the pocket clip. My experience with customer service from all companies has varied greatly so I didn't expect much. In less than 24 hours I had an email from Linsey Phelps in which she answered my question regarding steel {aus 6} and further advised If i sent her my address she would get a clip and screws right out to me, free, Yes FREE. Dang boy I love free. Anyway I was very pleased with the service and thought I ought to post it. You always here about the unreturned phone calls and unanswered letters but you often don't hear about the very good service which pops up now and then. I was going to get a knife this week now I may very well get another crkt just because of this, although I'll need to watch out for steel, hate aus 4. Well I'm done, ahgar
 
ahgar said:
I have an old crkt m-16 that i decided to start using the other day. I couldn't remember what type of steel it had. So I emailed customer service and asked, while i was at it i mentioned i had managed to lose the pocket clip. My experience with customer service from all companies has varied greatly so I didn't expect much. In less than 24 hours I had an email from Linsey Phelps in which she answered my question regarding steel {aus 6} and further advised If i sent her my address she would get a clip and screws right out to me, free, Yes FREE. Dang boy I love free. Anyway I was very pleased with the service and thought I ought to post it. You always here about the unreturned phone calls and unanswered letters but you often don't hear about the very good service which pops up now and then. I was going to get a knife this week now I may very well get another crkt just because of this, although I'll need to watch out for steel, hate aus 4. Well I'm done, ahgar
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Good for you and reason enough to do business with CRKT again. I often wonder what companies are thinking when they stiff the end user.
 
Well, CRKT has great CS and their knives do sell well among those who have enough sense to buy one over a chinese POS
 
I also was treated right by CRKT on an M16 pocket clip a couple of years ago.
(At that time it was AUS 8 w/o LAWKS.) They sent the clip AND the 3 screws, which I'd forgotten to ask for.

It's a shame they've moved to the AUS 4, - not to mention the 420J2!! AUS 6 is really not bad. But they are still way ahead of a Chinese POS, for sure.

Benchmade also sent a pocket clip (with screws) for free recently for my 722.
 
You can still easily get AUS8 M16s and M21s are far as I know, and at least two models are made in America and use 154cm. We've been too hard on CRKT lately.
 
Artfully Martial said:
You can still easily get AUS8 M16s and M21s are far as I know, and at least two models are made in America and use 154cm. We've been too hard on CRKT lately.
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Agreed. I see so many people say "CRKT has gone to aus4" and just leave it at that. The statement is incomplete and misleading. If folks are going to keep saying it, they should at least try to be complete and accurate. CRKT simply puts out a few models for people who just want an affordable (dont cry if they lose it) knife that works. They still make plenty of models with the higher end steel.
 
i've handled the Voodoo w 154cm and its a pretty nice little knife. Pick em up on the net for $69 too
 
Do they have a M16 that is in 154cm? or just 2 other crkt knives that use it?? lol .. I am pumped up now.. where where.. heh.. :D

Also to add to the orginal topic.. I have also had a very awesome expecience with CRKT customer service.. very good people..
 
sak_collector said:
Agreed. I see so many people say "CRKT has gone to aus4" and just leave it at that. The statement is incomplete and misleading. If folks are going to keep saying it, they should at least try to be complete and accurate. CRKT simply puts out a few models for people who just want an affordable (dont cry if they lose it) knife that works. They still make plenty of models with the higher end steel.
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Any short post can be "incomplete" on such a broad topic without any intention of being misleading.

CRKT has simply made a business decision to keep the price point the same using less expensive materials in certain models. They're not hiding it, they're not defensive about it...it is what it is.

I do think it's reasonable to mention that certain models are being made in AUS 4 and 420J2. Especially if those same models were being made with better steels last year or last month. But you're right, for most people it makes little if any difference, and even in many applications the difference in these steels is vanishingly small.

CRKT's build quality for the money continues to be remarkable, they're innovative, they work with top designers, they use high quality steel in certain models, their prices are great...

And, as the thread began, they were being complemented on their excellent customer service!
 
I'm not debating that most people won't notice the difference between AUS8 and AUS6/4. I'm debating that you can still get AUS8 models and some models with better steel than they normally use are new.

I don't think people are trying to be misleading, I think they're just not paying attention to the big picture. I don't think most people even really care whether people respect CRKT or not.

But I do think these folks are incorrect. CRKT hasn't gone to AUS4. They haven't, period. You can still buy the big hits in AUS8, and two new models in 154cm.

They deserve some criticism for their overall switching to lower steels, it needs to be mentioned and complained about. I don't like it, with the exception of very low end knives. But to complain about their failures and ignore their successes is unfair.

That said, CRKT puts out enough M16s that it's MORE THAN TIME that they start experimenting with some higher end M16s. They don't appear to have any problem selling titanium handled versions, so I'm sure the market is there. Let's get some VG10 framelock M16s on the market. I would buy one immediately. They're just such an enduring design.

Kershaw really sets the example for experimenting with successful models with their Leek and Bump lines. They pushed a lot of the unit and, I imagine, when they believed that there was a market for different versions, they ran with it, and now the Leek and Bumps cover a very wide range of prices and builds. There's a Leek or Bump out there for everyone.

CRKT did something a little similar, but almost all within the same price range. That was the crucial mistake, in my opinion--not their recent switches to lower end steels. There's a place for AUS4 in the world--but there's also a place for VG10 and S30V. We need both.
 
A-M and SAK C have put it very well.
There's not much more than the M16 that I like from CRKT,
but to knock them for offering some cheaper versions to those who don't appreciate the more valuable ones,
or to forget their merits in service etc. simply because they're not high-end,
or btw. to dismiss all Chinese manufacture as crap is rather short-sighted.
 
rifon2 said:
they've moved to the AUS 4, - not to mention the 420J2!!
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Clearly I would have done better to add right there - on some models, or something similar.

Points well taken.
 
I really like the LAKES PAL, Bwana and the new signature series fixed blades....great value for the money.
The Pal and Bwana use aus8 steel and I have found it more than adequate!

Kap
 
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