CRKT - Homefront (by Ken Onion)

Herlock

Herlock

Joined
May 13, 2015
Messages
841
http://www.crkt.com/homefront-pocket-knife-K270GKP

Hi. Was looking at this one. I find it pretty neat in the look, simple and functional (on papers at least :)). I like it! “Average” materials used but the construction idea with this field strip technology looks smart to me. Never heard of something similar before. Did you? Very rarely happened to me to be in the need of disassembly a knife in the fields, but I find this tool-less maintenance option really interesting from an engineering point of view. What do you say? Do you think it's something solid as a tool and as a project? Not that I need a folder right now :D, more to chat :).

(Note: I am still unsure about posting links (what's OK and NOT OK). If I made a mistake, just let me know and adjust this. Thanks.)
 
It's interesting. I have 2 thoughts on it. First, I like the idea of the simplicity of it. The concept of KISS is always welcomed when it comes to anything intended to be used in the field, which is obviously what this is marketed/intended for. Second, and on the flip-side, I don't have a lot of faith in a pivot that can me disassembled with a switch, essentially. I dunno, I'm certainly not an expert but it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me.
 
I've been curious about whether there is a way to adjust pivot tension on this design. Doesn't seem to me like there is, which is problematic.
 
Hard to say much about this without seeing some reviews out in the wild. How the thing holds up will be a big issue. Also, street price will be a factor. If it has an MSRP of $150 it seems to me the street price will be way too much for what you get. CRKT has an issue of wanting to be a higher end company but the price and design collaborations are the only things reflecting that. Materials, fit/finish, and QC are still on par or below other value brands.
 
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At $50 I would be interested but concerned that it would be loose especially at the pivot this design seems to lend itself to blade play fit and finish would need to be perfect
 
Looks like you could adjust blade play with the allen bolt on the back side of the pivot. Neat design, not something I'd be interested in though. Usually just swishing a gunked up knife in water works for me.
 
I LOVE the idea of a folder that can be disassembled and reassembled so easily but that price is simply absurd...with all due respect to CRKT, since I do like their products.

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Might not be for many but definitely for me.

I travel a lot and make lots of food for my kids myself. Don't want them to get diarea or other nasty stuff.
A folder is good for travelling but juice in the pivot isn't my thing. Rinsing with water and inviting rust? Or wait a day for the water to dry out to add oil and hope it creeps into the right places? Nah. Fixed takes more space but is illegal in some places.

Now the easy to maintain Homefront seems to be the ticket though I'd rename it to Beachhead since I'll be using it abroad mostly.
 
EricV said:
Looks like you could adjust blade play with the allen bolt on the back side of the pivot. Neat design, not something I'd be interested in though. Usually just swishing a gunked up knife in water works for me.
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The screw on that side may just be there to hold that part of the pivot in place. Whether it also serves as an adjustment point remains to be seen.
 
Also not a fan of internal stop pins, especially on a knife that is designed to come apart. Seems an easy way to get stuff in there.
 
I like that it has a fuller and wish more folders (and knives in general) had them.

That's all I really like about this knife, though, for reasons stated by others in this thread; price, size, lack of potential adjustment, etc
 
Personally, I don't have any use for a knife that comes apart that easily...

The design will be the reason you will need to take it apart and clean it with regularity, and I just can't see that holding up well over a long period of carry and use.
 
I did play with this one some at Blade. It is an innovative design. It is easy to take apart and re-assemble, and as a knife, it's a pretty simple, utilitarian design. There is a bit of blade play, probably due to how the pivot area needed to be assembled to accommodate tool-less disassembly. Lockup was still secure though. The locking lever at the pivot and the thumb screw at the tail of the handle felt reasonably sturdy, although I don't know how well they'd wear over time if it was disassembled/reassembled a lot.
 
Interesting design? Yes. Do I need the design feature of this knife? Nope. I don't recall any instance where I had to disassemble my knife right there on the spot. I also wouldn't pay $100 for Aus 8.
 
xICEMANx said:
Here is a quick video I did field stripping the knife. Overall a cool design but I think they missed the mark on price. Street price is between $90-$100 which is high for Aus 8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U7DeKDo-DU
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That is not just high, it is out of this world. SOG can't even trick people into paying that price for their AUS8 folders. I have no problem with AUS8 but the price needs to match the materials.
 
Clever design, I just wish CRKT would quit building knives with such inferior materials, destroys the value proposition. They have a few ok designs, but they cheap out on the steel so much, it's frustrating.
 
I've been seeing a lot of negative reviews on this one. Apparently the design is good but the materials and quality of craftsmanship are lacking. Surprise surprise.
 
Street price of ~$95 insures that almost no one with even a cursory knowledge of the knife industry will buy this knife. CRKT just keeps doing this to themselves.
 
craytab said:
Street price of ~$95 insures that almost no one with even a cursory knowledge of the knife industry will buy this knife. CRKT just keeps doing this to themselves.
Click to expand...

They could be one of the most innovative knife companies today if they didn't suck at everything but design.
 
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