CRKT Ken Onion Collaborations

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UnknownVT

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Of the knives I saw at the Blade Show 2010 - the ones that got me most excited were the new CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) Ken Onion collaborations.

Most of us know Ken Onion from his sterling designs of the Leek and other "Speed-Safe" knives for Kershaw - but there is something about these new knives that really got me.

They are flipper frame-locks - but really easy and smooth to flip - thanks to the use of a circular ball-bearing race around the pivot called the IKBS system.

But they are also real lookers too - first some pics that I accessed via CRKT's ftp site:

CRKT Ken Onion Eros - titanium frame-lock -
K455TXPHalfOpenP.jpg


K455TXPOpenLeftP.jpg


K455TXPRightClosedP.jpg


Then there is/are the Ripple(s) stainless steel frame-locks Ti-nitride coated in metallic charcoal or blue -
K400BXPLeftOpenP.jpg


K400BXPRightOpenP.jpg


K400KXPLeftOpenP.jpg


K400KXPRightOpenP.jpg


The blue does look better in photos - but the charcoal is also very much a looker too - one can just make it out on the photos of the blue version - those wavy bits are sharp jewel/"diamond" cuts which show shiny silver - that makes these very attractive.

I'll post the pages from the pdf brochure I got from CRKT next with more details.

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UnknownVT said:
Of the knives I saw at the Blade Show 2010 - the ones that got me most excited were the new CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) Ken Onion collaborations.

I'll post the pages from the pdf brochure I got from CRKT next with more details.
Click to expand...

I got e-mail from CRKT with a pdf brochure of the new Ken Onion designs - these are the pages -

CRKT Eros:
CRKT_Eros.gif



CRKT Ripple:
CRKT_Ripple.gif


IKBS ball bearing system:
IKBS.gif


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Tripton said:
Where are they made?
Click to expand...

Since they're CRKT you can bet they aren't American made.
This question came up a few months ago and it was originally claimed that they're Taiwanese but they turned out to be China so YMMV. The original Ripple thread turned into a pissing match and it turned into a debate about whether or not it was legal to make them in China and then not label them as so and claim Taiwan on their website.
It was a disaster to say the least.
 
That Eros looks cool, kind of a RoboLeek with a NRG twist.
I wonder how careful someone would have to be when taking the Ripple apart, next thing you know bearing fly everywhere (causing a huge epic fail). :(
 
RevDevil said:
That Eros looks cool, kind of a RoboLeek with a NRG twist.
I wonder how careful someone would have to be when taking the Ripple apart, next thing you know bearing fly everywhere (causing a huge epic fail). :(
Click to expand...

I thought (please correct me if I'm wrong) the bearings were "caged" so they are in a circular unit.

On the IKBS website -

What is "IKBS"?

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I've been off CRKT since they went to the cheaper steels a few years back but I'll admit I find the Eros an intriguing little gent's folder. I'll have to see one in person but a thin titanium framelock that that only weighs .7 of an ounce is definitely something I'm interested in checking out.
 
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Boozoo Chavis said:
I've been off CRKT since they went to the cheaper steels a few years back
Click to expand...

On the Eros and Ripples -
the blade steel is Japanese Acuto+ 59-61HRC

According to the CRKT.com page:

ACUTO + HRC=59-60 C=0.90-0.95 CR=17-18 MN=0.50 MO=1.30 to 1.50 NI=-- PH =0.04 SI=0.50 V=.10 to .25 CO=--

- anyone know more about this Acuto+ steel?

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UnknownVT said:
I thought (please correct me if I'm wrong) the bearings were "caged" so they are in a circular unit.

On the IKBS website -

What is "IKBS"?

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Click to expand...

You are more than likely correct. I just made an observation and based on my luck and that of others, the bearings becoming airborne would be a likely reason to not disassemble. :o
 
I have taken a Ripple apart for a cleaning and lube. The ball bearings sit in a recess machined into the scale. The consistency of the grease they are packed in keeps them from falling out when the knife is disassembled. There were no caged bearing units in mine. Without that grease the ball bearings could easily become "airborne". Very smooth and fast action though. OldDude1
 
OldDude1 said:
The ball bearings sit in a recess machined into the scale. The consistency of the grease they are packed in keeps them from falling out when the knife is disassembled. There were no caged bearing units in mine. Without that grease the ball bearings could easily become "airborne". Very smooth and fast action though.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for that description and clarification -
much appreciated.

Thank you.

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Oooooohhhhhh!!! I really want an Eros! But they aren't on CRKT's site anywhere. Are they available yet?

I already have both a Ripple and a Ripple 2. VERY nice knives.
 
Well, since the Leek is my favorite edc, I am definitely interested in a new Onion design. I'm liking the Eros very much, but I think it is kinda overpriced, considering: the mediocre steel, no auto open, foreign made, and it is small. And the smaller version is tiny! As much as they appeal to me, I won't be buying them at current prices as I just don't feel they are a good deal.
 
OldDude1 said:
The ball bearings sit in a recess machined into the scale. The consistency of the grease they are packed in keeps them from falling out when the knife is disassembled.
Click to expand...

Just to confirm what OldDude1 said - I got an e-mail response from CRKT that said:

" the grease holds the bearings in pretty good if you take the knife apart. "

As to where the knives are made - I know that it had been answered in the other long thread about Ken Onion and CRKT -
but the e-mail also said:

" Both knives are made in Taiwan."

axtalan0 said:
Well, since the Leek is my favorite edc, I am definitely interested in a new Onion design. I'm liking the Eros very much, but I think it is kinda overpriced, considering: the mediocre steel, no auto open, foreign made, and it is small.
Click to expand...

The Eros is about the same size as the Leek - in fact it kind of looked like a Leek to me but with nicer handles.

As others have pointed out the Japanese Acuto+ steel appears to a modified 440C - which is normally regarded as a premium steel - many knifemakers used to and still use 440C for their handmade knives because it takes a good edge and is very rust-resistant (also takes a very good mirror polish, BTW - 440C is supposed to be much better than 400A the original steel for the Leek).

Ken Onion stated that he liked the steel (and knowing Ken - he would not let anyone make a knife associated with his name to use a poor steel).

The handles are titanium - which is a more expensive material and much lighter and stronger per weight than steel - it is also very nicely decorated (well at least to my eyes) - even the clip is nice (which on many other knives look like a bolt-on afterthought).

But most of all it's the flipper - it is unbelievably smooth and easy/positive - dare I say it it's better than the Tim Galyean designed flipper on the JunkYard Dog series that I was so taken with.

The flipper on the Eros (and the Ripple) are so good that knife really feels and behaves like what Ken Onion used to describe as an "unassisted-assist".

Best is to try flipping one. Not much, if any, extra effort is needed than to actuate the one on the Leek - yes, it really is that good. This conclusively removes any legality doubt about the knife as it is not in any way spring assisted and is fully manual - but behaves as if it were assisted.....

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A_Blade_Afficionado said:
Since they're CRKT you can bet they aren't American made.
This question came up a few months ago and it was originally claimed that they're Taiwanese but they turned out to be China so YMMV. The original Ripple thread turned into a pissing match and it turned into a debate about whether or not it was legal to make them in China and then not label them as so and claim Taiwan on their website.
It was a disaster to say the least.
Click to expand...

I know this is late, but I have to address this rumor -
the problem with threads and posts is that one can read anyone's opinion and take them as fact when there may be no other corroborating evidence -

1) I was told explicitly by CRKT both verbally and in writing that both the CRKT Eros and Ripple are made in Taiwan.

2) In the long thread about Ken Onion and CRKT - Ken Onion stated clearly they were made in Taiwan - please see post #235 in Ken Onion joined forces with CRKT

3) The box labels are marked as made in Taiwan (and I even included another CRKT knife box in this photo to show that they do differentiate ones made in China).
MadeIn.jpg


I think that is pretty reasonable and conclusive confirmation that both the CRKT Eros and Ripple are made in Taiwan?

Without meaning to be rude -
the "disaster" seems to be the persistence of such rumors?

Review - CRKT Ken Onion Eros

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I think that the first one has a handle that looks like a leek and then the other one has a handle that looks like a blackout.
 
bitter1 said:
I think that the first one has a handle that looks like a leek and then the other one has a handle that looks like a blackout.
Click to expand...

Didn't quite see the second resemblance between the Ripple and Blackout - probably because I saw these in the flesh before any photos and the Ripples are much slimmer with their stainless steel handles - but I can kind of see what you're saying.

However the resemblance between the Eros and the Kershaw Leek I saw straight away it's almost like the CRKT Eros is the spring-less flipper version of the spring assisted Leek.

But that is a little unfair to the Eros because it uses much better materials like titanium scales and a more "premium" steel - also since I now have a CRKT Eros it is of very, very good quality - I would almost stick my neck out and say it probably has the quality of a custom knife - I am that impressed.

Eros_Sz.jpg


You can read my thoughts and finding in:

Review - CRKT Ken Onion Eros

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Glad it seems CRKT matched the quality Ken expected and these came around. :thumbup:
 
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