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CRKT 7503 and Wasp

C

Confederate

Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
2,826
I recently came across a great deal on CRKT 7503s ($25). Discontinued, it sports a titanium handle and has a 4-inch ATS-34 blade (Taiwan). A quick check on this forum revealed that the knife always seemed to be on sale and that while owners liked the knife, they never seemed crazy about it. Even so, at this price it seems like a giveaway.

As knife steels tend to be downgraded these days as part of cost-cutting efforts, it seems like a titanium knife with a decent steel blade would be a great find, but how good is the 7503? The one I've looked at seems very well machined and ATS-34 is said to be one of the better stainless steels -- on a par with 154CM.

I also have a CRKT Wasp with a 2.8-inch blade made of AUS 118 steel. How does AUS 118 stack up against other steels as far as edge retention and wear?

Thanks.

--Confed


00_1_b.JPG


The CR7503
 
This knife is one of the best deals back when it was intoduced and is an even better deal now. Get it without regret.
 
I got three of them and consider myself lucky for having gotten them at such a good price. The knife has a solid feel and though I haven't yet used it, the lock up seems very secure. Now that CRKT just isn't building knives like this anymore, it's even more so a value.

Given the construction, one can't have too many of these as they are still being sold elsewhere for close to $100. I'll probably still carry my Benchmade Ascent and Cold Steel Pro-Lite, or Voyager, still, the CRKT seems to be a fine knife. The solid titanium feel belies it's more than reasonable price.

-Confed
 
Yes, these are knives that should be purchased as gifts as well as for use. They're insanely priced. I got my order of three of them and were so impressed I ordered four more. Tell me where you can get a titanium and ATS-34 blade knife for twenty-five bucks! The titanium lock is extended out so that when it engages the blade, your hand actually fortifies the lock so a whack on top won't fold it in on you.

I've never seen a knife deal like this. The S-2 is a knife you'll not likely see from Columbia River again. I've seen a "Buy it Now" price on eBay for a hundred bucks. The fit and finish are almost perfect.

--Confed
 
Yes, it's a frame lock. The titanium frame extends a bit below the knife to engage the blade. When the hand grips it, it adds even more fortification to the lock-up; however, the titanium extention creates quite a strong lock on its own.

--Confed
 
For crying out loud, this is one that really flew under the radar screen. :eek: I guess I saw it or heard folks mention it, but I just never pulled the trigger on one. For titanium and ATS-34 $25 is an absolutely incredible bargain. I ordered a couple. Thanks for the heads up Confederate.

The CRKT Wasp falls into the same undiscovered category. Titanium and premium blade steel. When it first went on sale, guys were paying $200 or so for the CF version and around $100 for the G10 model.

I forgot to mention the bladesteel in the Wasp. I bought 1 when they were closing them out sometime last year and put it into my EDC rotation. It's been lightly used, but so far, I haven't even had to touch the edge up. It's still a razor. The Wasp was one of CRKT's ventures into making a higher end collaboration knife (it's a classic Viele design) with high end blade steel, titanium & G10 (or CF for the initial limited run). Definitely an under appreciated knife that is an incredible value for the current price.

Razz
 
For the price Titanium is running today you could not manufacture a Ti frame knife for that price even if it had a wooden blade, so that knife is a great value in my book.
 
Is the S-2 tip-up or tip-down carry?
Also, the website says linerlock, but it's really a framelock?
Tx - FF5
 
I just succumbed to the madness and snagged 2 for myself. Thanks for the heads-up, that's a great deal.
 
Yea bob !

Got mine in the mail on Friday and am nothing but impressed !

My official short review.

First off I didnt believe the handles were solid Titanium but... they are. For that price... frickin incredible.:eek:
The lockup is as solid as can be , the "snick" sounds like a little vault door locking shut. No bladeplay whatsoever on mine. The blade was nice and sharp with a nice polish on it to boot. For it's size it is quite lightwieght , the slim profile helps out too , I thought at first it was going to be a PITA to carry but , it fits rather well in my pocket.
The only thing I would change on it is the blade style , I would prefer a bit more "belly" to the blade but hey... It'll work.
I think the blade style and handle config is made for defense purposes , that tip is pretty mean. Not a knife I would use to fell whole forests and baton my way thru mounds of potential firewood but for stickin' those pigs and general work use it seems to work well.

I will post pics sometime soon but , I took mine completely apart , washed the scales and blade in hot soapy water did a little "modding" to it.
First I heat colored the scales , my first attempt and I think it turned out okay , the pocket clip I think is titanium too because of the colors it produced when I heated it. The screws and bolts I gave a nice polish, I put is some phos bronze washers instead of those cheesy nitrolon ones and the knife is that much more sturdy now as well as "customized".

Thanks for the heads up on this awesome deal :thumbup:
 
I got both of mine and overall am very impressed for $25 each. Rebeltf has already said all that I would.

I have a problem that's present on both of them though. The edge grind near the pivot end of the blade isn't finished. There's about 1cm of "edge" that is actually a flat surface. It seems like my problem isn't unique. Checking the S-2s that got flipped on ebay, 2 that have pics of the edge/lock area show the same thing. Were the ones SMKW had seconds or something? I would try to exchange them, but it seems like they're out of stock. I wonder if CRKT can do anything with them since they're kind of old.
 
Confederate said:
Twice the price, half the size! It is a FRAME LOCK and is tip up.


CRKT_S2.jpg
Click to expand...


Tip up? THat's it in the photo, right? Is the clip reversible or something? Or am I not thinking straight?
 
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