CRKT Ken Onion Ripple Aluminum

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UnknownVT

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Feb 15, 2003
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Thanks to CRKT I have these Ken Onion Ripple Aluminum
RippleAlumSAK.jpg

shown here with a standard 91mm Victorinox SAK (Swiss Army Knife)

As someone has said - Ken Onion design and IKBS (Ikoma Korth Ballbearing System) in an affordable knife has to be something special.

In more typical company -
RippleAlumSz.jpg


RippleAlumSzBk.jpg


Closed
RippleAlumCls.jpg


RippleAlumClsBk.jpg

The Ripple Aluminum differ from the original CRKT Ken Onion Ripple (link to review).
These (obviously) have aluminum handles/scales, and therefore are liner-locks -
instead of the steel handles and frame-locks of the original Ripples.

Locks -
RippleAlumLk.jpg


Lock details -
RippleAlumLkDtl.jpg

The liner-locks are well put together.

These are IKBS ball-bearing race pivots, with a very definite ball-bearing detent hole -
so the flipper action is very positive and authoritative.

However I disassembled one and I have to report it is definitely NOT something to be done in the field - unlike the CRKT Ikoma Sampa (link) that I reviewed previously -
Ikoma_RippleSz120604.jpg


This time the ball-bearing races are set in the liners, and there wasn't that much grease to hold them in place:
RippleAlumDissa.jpg

In fact some of the ball bearings fell out of place -
RippleAlumDissaHL.jpg

see highlight red circle, and inside the pivot hole.

Fortunately I was being careful and working on a contained surface,
so I think I managed to retain all of them - when I put the knife back together I would pack the ball bearings with grease to help keep them in place.

I have many knives that I have never disassembled - and they have continued to work fine for years.
I can't think of many reasons why I would want to disassemble this knife other than for this review -
so it's not really a problem -
but one should be aware of the way the ball-bearing races are used -
and be very careful during dis-assembly.

The steel is 8Cr14MoV at 58-9 HRc perhaps not quite as good as the more premium Acuto+ in the all steel Ripples - but it is quite serviceable I have read it is similar to AUS-8.

With the low street price hovering around $30 delivered for Ripple Aluminum this is really good value for money for a Ken Onion designed and IKBS pivot system knife.

I've run out of picture allowance -so will continue in the next post.

--
Vincent

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I prefer to carry my folders tip up. In spite of that I edc mine quite often. :)
IMG_3446kee.jpg
 
Great review and pictures of the models side-by-side is well-done too!

Much better than most knife magazine reviews!

My main complaint with CRKT is that most of their knives only offer tip-down carry.

That said, I will be looking into one.
 
Vincent, great photos and comparisons -- thanks!

CRKT has done a terrific job with all its IKBS models, and the aluminum Ripple puts the price within reach of nearly everyone.
 
GCG199 said:
Great review and pictures of the models side-by-side is well-done too!

Much better than most knife magazine reviews!
Click to expand...

Vincent consistently does outstanding thorough reviews. Always a pleasure to read.

My main complaint with CRKT is that most of their knives only offer tip-down carry.

That said, I will be looking into one.
Click to expand...

Tip-up or tip-down is always a fun debate. :D
I've seen some quite knowledgeable knife folks say tip-down is the ONLY safe way, and I kind of agree...at least tip-down is my preference.

The AL Ripple is a decent knife for the money. You should be able to find one around $25-$30.

If possible, I recommend buying it some place you can handle and inspect it. From my experience there is a lot of variation in fit and finish in the AL and SS Ripples.

My Wallyworld AL Ripple has never seemed quite as smooth as my other SS Ripples or my Sampa, and I've wondered if the IKBS in the AL version is the same.
 
Alann45 said:
The AL Ripple is a decent knife for the money. You should be able to find one around $25-$30.

If possible, I recommend buying it some place you can handle and inspect it. From my experience there is a lot of variation in fit and finish in the AL and SS Ripples.

My Wallyworld AL Ripple has never seemed quite as smooth as my other SS Ripples or my Sampa, and I've wondered if the IKBS in the AL version is the same.
Click to expand...
That's wise advice about inspecting the Ripple Aluminum - based on actual experience.

The IKBS are different between the Ripple Aluminum and the Sampa - and in fact the IKBS shown by the CRKT -

Ripple Aluminum IKBS:
RippleAlumDissa.jpg


Ikoma Sampa IKBS:
IkomaDisas120602.jpg


CRKT image of IKBS:
IKBS.gif


So on the Ripple Aluminum they've moved the groove for the ball-bearing races from the blade to the liners - the liner ball-bearing groove setting is actually free-moving.

There is a "warning" in the picture -
as one can see there are tiny ball-bearings loose on the paper and in the pivot hole of the blade -
they fell out of the groove as I disassembled the knife - and I was being very careful -
on the Ripple Aluminum they are not set in grease as on the Sampa.

When I re-assembled the knife I did pack the ball-bearings in high-pressure moly-lithium grease -
but those tiny ball-bearings were very fiddly to handle -
I had to use tweezers and a magnifying glass stand to do it.
Of course YMMV - you may have better eyes and more dextrous fingers.
But the point is, I suggest not casually disassembling the knife.

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The AL Ripple is a terrific knife, and not just for the money. (Although I've never seen it selling for as low as $25.)

But I wonder why it doesn't carry an IKBS label like its more expensive brother?
 
flash900 said:
The AL Ripple is a terrific knife, and not just for the money. (Although I've never seen it selling for as low as $25.)
Click to expand...

IIRC, someone mentioned catching one on sale at Wallyworld for that. $30 would be the more normal price.

But I wonder why it doesn't carry an IKBS label like its more expensive brother?
Click to expand...

Could be because its not quite a true IKBS, but still dang smooth.

My less paranoid mind would guess they wanted to save the few cents it would cost to put the label on.
 
flash900 said:
But I wonder why it doesn't carry an IKBS label like its more expensive brother?
Click to expand...

Alann45 said:
Could be because its not quite a true IKBS, but still dang smooth.

My less paranoid mind would guess they wanted to save the few cents it would cost to put the label on.
Click to expand...
The Ripple Aluminum is listed as having IKBS both in the CRKT catalog (see scan in post #2 above) -
RippleAlumCatIKBS.jpg


as well as their web page of the Ripple Aluminum K415KXP
the Ripple blade opening action is almost friction-free due to the IKBS ball-bearing system. This innovative and simple design places ball bearings built into the stainless pivot screw. It is compact and adjustable at the blade pivot screw if ever needed. Not only is opening and closing exceptionally smooth, the IKBS system is durable and requires little maintenance, and yields a folder with great rigidity and no blade play.
Click to expand...

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The IKBS is IMO a real treat on a production knife. Out of shear curiosity I had to take my Ripple apart and like others have stated it is a tedious chore. All in all it's a very nifty knife given the price and level of F&F. I hope these knives will help the general knife public take CRKT a bit more seriously.
 
whetrock said:
The IKBS is IMO a real treat on a production knife. Out of shear curiosity I had to take my Ripple apart and like others have stated it is a tedious chore. All in all it's a very nifty knife given the price and level of F&F. I hope these knives will help the general knife public take CRKT a bit more seriously.
Click to expand...
Many thanks for your input.

Did the ball bearings managed to stay in place when you disassembled the knife?

Agreed - Ken Onion and IKBS on an inexpensive knife is very compelling.

CRKT have definitely moved up a notch since their collaboration with Ken Onion,
with the Ripple Aluminum they've upped the ante on value for money too.

CRKT Ken Onion Eros continues to be one of my favorite knives - and has been my at home EDC since I reviewed it.
Eros_Ripple2_3.jpg


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Vincent

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I actually had let the pivot screw get too lose and some of my bearings had come out of place and I kinda had to do it out of necessity but still I was very curious and really eager to see the innards of it none the less. So I guess I lied it wasn't really out of just curiosity. But yeah the bearings tried to come out of place, but that was due to the lack of a steady grip I didn't have on the knife. All in all a fascinating system but very intricate.
 
I recently purchased one of the aluminum Ripples off the forum and I must say I'm very impressed. Fit and finish is excellent, the factory edge was scary sharp, and the smoothness of the action is just unreal. I've owned several Sebenzas over the years and this cheap $30 knife will give them a run for their money in the smoothness dept. ;)
 
whetrock said:
I actually had let the pivot screw get too lose and some of my bearings had come out of place and I kinda had to do it out of necessity ....
But yeah the bearings tried to come out of place, but that was due to the lack of a steady grip I didn't have on the knife.
Click to expand...
Interesting - thank you very much for that info.

That would suggest that one even has to be careful (over) loosening the pivot screw.

Did the ball bearings in your knife have any grease on them?

Thanks,

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Vincent

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My Ripple had grease around the rings with the bearings but none in there with the bearings.
 
flash900 said:
Whoa -- you're not saying the IKBS bearings fell out because the pivot screw got loose, are you?
Click to expand...
I think even if one loosens the pivot screw enough to remove it - the two smaller screws that hold the handles together probably will keep them together enough to prevent the IKBS ball bearings from falling out - unless one deliberately pries the handles apart, or also loosen the two smaller screws as well.

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Vincent

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