CRKT Any Good?

At the price range you're looking at (looks like $40-50), I'd recommend looking at Kershaw's offerings. Their SpeedSafe A/O is the fastest and smoothest I've handled. The Blur and Leek both come in Sandvik 14C28N at around that price, which sharpens incredibly well and has decent edge retention. For a bit more, you can also get them in S30V and CPM-D2, both of which should hold an edge longer.

The SOG Flash II is also right around that price point and is also an A/O. It's noticeably lighter weight than other knives of comparable size, and I really like their deep pocket carrying clip. It does have a little blade play that can be mostly remedied (but not completely eliminated) by adjusting the pivot. The Flash uses AUS 8 steel, which sharpens well and holds an edge reasonably well.
 
steel
AUS 6
AUS 8
420J2
440A
12C27 Sandvik
1.4116
6168CrV
YK-30
SK 5
3Cr13
5Cr15MoV
8Cr13MoV
8Cr14MoV
9Cr18MoV
ACUTO +

thats the steels they use. http://www.crkt.com/steelfacts that talks about the steels they use. there are some decent knife steels on there.
 
Personally I have had more than sufficient results from my M16 and M21 Crkt knives. For the prices I have paid I have no complaints at all.I actually like AUS8 and its equivalents. Rare for me to use a knife in a manner that requires even half the ability of those steels. I have no experience with the current Gerber products but some of the older ones were great. Good luck and welcome to the forum...Herb
 
I just bought a CRKT Ripple from WalMart. I love the ergos and the flip mechanism on it. Not sure how the blade steel is going to hold up, but I did rework the edge on it with my ceramic rods and leather hone w/green compound to get it to hair popping sharp. It's a very nicely designed knife (based on Ken Onions work), so has the right "bones".

This knife wil replace my Kershaw Skyline for the time being for EDC. For the woods walking I do (birding), I'll stick with my Buck 347 w/S30V blade, which I dearly love. In hog country I'll add my ESEE 6 and holster my 629 Smithy.

The Ripple should serve nicely for what I want an EDC for.
 
If you decide on a Kershaw, then look up Kershawguy here a BF. He sells new and blem kershaw's and you will get the best price from him. With the blems it is extremely hard to pick out the reason they are blems!

Anyway, just wanted to mention that. Also want to welcome you to BF's. Lots of great people here and LOT'S of great knowledge!!
 
Wow, this thread has been dead for 9 years, but here I am anyways. I know of CRKT and some of the knives they have in their catalog, but I don't have much experience with CRKT personally to say how they've improved or not over the last decade. I've seen some of their prices being a bit high for knives that have 8Cr13MoV steel. Can't quite justify spending $50 on one of their knives with that steel when you can get something like a Kershaw Highball with D2 steel for $42 or a Civivi Elementum in D2 as well for $50 or so. I guess unless you really like the design of the knife and they only make them with that steel.
I found this thread because I was curious about what you guys in the community thought about them since I have been lusting over their new CRKT Hirin in M390 steel with blue and copper anodized skeletonized titanium handles. Ever since I first saw it, I knew I just had to have it. Especially since it's a limited run of only 500 pieces. Before pulling the trigger, I wanted to see what people felt about them though, so that I could justify to myself why I'm dropping that much money for it. With those higher end materials and the knives being made in Italy (would have preferred US made, but I'll live), I feel like the quality and fit and finish will be great and my money is well spent. I went ahead and ordered it, should arrive by this Tuesday or Wednesday. Can't wait!
 
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I almost commented, until I realized this thread was just short of nine years old, and probably no longer relevant.
Wait...oops.
 
I bought a higher end CRKT, the Onion designed, Taiwanese made Eros. It’s a Ti handled, IKBS bearings, flipper. Well worth the money, quality is excellent, rivals CRK for half the price but CRK doesn’t make flippers ;)
 
Look at the Ontario Rat1 and Rat2. And if a steel upgrade is important, get the D2 for a bit more money. Great bargain. For a big user, look at the Cold Steel 4 inch Voyager. Also a bargain.
 
I own 2 CRKT minimalist knives and for the price they are great. Small, VERY comfortable, easy to sharpen, etc.

For a higher end knife (which are probably a mid-tier knives for many of you) I am stuck between the Bradford Guardian, the Fallkniven-F1 and the Benchmade Hunt Altitude
 
I feel for the most part, CRKT is overpriced and poor quality control.

I'm guess it's made for them by Lionsteel in Maniago, Italy. Previous high end CRKT knives have been made for them by other companies.

My guess is they do not have the infrastructure to create higher end knives and thus outsource.
 
I finally got my CRKT Hirin, which is made in Italy by Lion Steel. This knife is gorgeous and was well worth the money. Check out my review of it.

 
Despite the blade being skeletonized, it's M390 steel, which is a premium steel and has amazing edge retention and is pretty tough. Sharp as hell too. Obviously it's not made for heavy duty work, but the blade is pretty thick in the center and yet the edge is razor sharp. So it's a good slicing blade. Much more than just a letter opener.
 
The Hirin isn't my style but if you are happy, I am happy.

I will normally try to talk someone out of CRKT and into something else. I currently own one CRKT, a M21 that hasn't seen pocket time in years.
 
gazz98 gazz98 Thanks man. When it comes to CRKT, aside from this knife, there's probably only a couple I would consider getting and mostly pass up the rest for the most part. If you were to look at my collection, this knife doesn't fit in at all, but that's probably why I wanted it aside from liking the look of it. I'll use it here and there for light cutting tasks, but it's mostly going to be a safe queen. I have other knives better suited to my needs. Got a knife you would recommend from any maker?
 
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