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In this case, I prefer "It isn't what it isn't."
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CRKT knife quality on the rise?
- Thread starter bmoore
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In this case, I prefer "It isn't what it isn't."
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Well, our opinion differs on the Utilitac II (do you have the II?). It has out done every modern CRKT folder I have owned and/or handled. Kershaws value line out does CRKT on every level for me. Better quality, deisng, QC, and price. Specifically the Thermite and the recently discontinued Tremor (can be had for $25 from Kershawguy right now!). Hell, I would take the $17 Enlan EL-01 over a Chinese CRKT. The value is not even comparable. Or go get the Chinese version of the drifter. Same knife made in the same factory for much less money. This isn't even considering the used market.
In the $30-$40 range I would get any of the above over a CRKT even though they are below the price range. $30-$40 is too much to pay for a made in China 8cr knife, and that is my point. Add in the crap history of QC CRKT has earned and it is a no go for me. I can get more for my money elsewhere.
brancron
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What recent CRKT knives have you owned? Please list them.
Fair enough. I have the utilitac 2 and I actually have a G10 drifter that I forgot I even had. I can't stand the pocket clip on the drifter. I also cannot stand the scales on the Utilitac 2, I even bought G10 blanks to try to make my own one day but I just gave the Utilitac to a friend the other day for some ground Antelope. The Utilitac 2 is one hell of a knife for 21 bucks though.
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Define recent. Oh what is the point in playing games with you.....
Dragon, Kiss, Minimalist, Shinbu, Hissatsu, Hissatsu Folder, Heiho, Eraser, Lake, Apache, Mirage. Do you know which ones I still have? Heiho, it is a well made knife priced accordingly. Apache & Mirage, both were made before CRKT went to crap. Kiss & Lake, it would be an insult to garbage to even throw these away.
Now, since I know the argument you are going to make I can say that I have handled a few from the new lineup. After our last experience with this tired argument I actively seeked out some new CRKTs. Unfortunately my LGS carries a lot of CRKT. They are great with guns, not so much with knives. While I haven't bought and used a new one I can say that from my experience in hand and knowing the history of the company, why would I want to throw away my money like that? For the money I was not impressed.
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brancron
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Great, you handled a few. So your opinions regarding whether CRKT's quality has improved went from completely groundless to fairly groundless. That's improvement! For the sake of the thread and for the sake of my own sanity, this will be my last interaction with you here; you can go ahead and have the last word if you wish.
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CRKT knife quality on the rise?
I hope so. I carried a M16-02 and a Prowler for years. The Prowler is still one of my all-time favorites. I have one within arms reach as I type this. My only real complaint about both of these knives is the quality of the blade steel. Not bad steel but not really good steel either.
I know that their prices of CRKT knives have gone up quite a bit and I question if their knives are the great deal they used to be. Look at what Kershaw is offering for the same amount of money and then ask yourself if CRKT is such a great buy. My Kershaw Zing has pushed my M16-02 to the back of the bus. Granted, at $42 dollars, it cost me about twice as much as the M16 but, still, they are both budget knives. If my mind serves me well, the Zing has gone down in price and the M16 has gone up quite a bit since I bought mine.
If you factor in knives from other companies (the RAT series & the Utilitac II, for example) you are not getting much bang for your buck with CRKT. I would still take them over most of Gerber's line up though.
It is my understanding that CRKT is featuring Sandvik steel in some of their offerings. Only good things can come from decisions like this.
I hope so. I carried a M16-02 and a Prowler for years. The Prowler is still one of my all-time favorites. I have one within arms reach as I type this. My only real complaint about both of these knives is the quality of the blade steel. Not bad steel but not really good steel either.
I know that their prices of CRKT knives have gone up quite a bit and I question if their knives are the great deal they used to be. Look at what Kershaw is offering for the same amount of money and then ask yourself if CRKT is such a great buy. My Kershaw Zing has pushed my M16-02 to the back of the bus. Granted, at $42 dollars, it cost me about twice as much as the M16 but, still, they are both budget knives. If my mind serves me well, the Zing has gone down in price and the M16 has gone up quite a bit since I bought mine.
If you factor in knives from other companies (the RAT series & the Utilitac II, for example) you are not getting much bang for your buck with CRKT. I would still take them over most of Gerber's line up though.
It is my understanding that CRKT is featuring Sandvik steel in some of their offerings. Only good things can come from decisions like this.
The folding Razel is one hell of a deal in my opion. You can buy them all day long for under 30 bucks. I've used the hell out of mine for 6 months now and the only problem is the blade being a little off center.
Mike
Mike
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IMO it does have such a price tag. Knife center has it at $96. That is a hell of a lot for a Taiwanese produced knife with AUS8 steel from a company with a history of questionable QC, fit/finish, and design execution. Kerhsaw has them beat with most of their USA made line in price, materials, and quality. Spend $20 more and you are in PM2 range. Even SOG has it with their Seki folders. Close to A Benchmade Grip as well. All IMO of course (except for the factual price and material differences).
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The BT-70 is $85 at knifeworks and GPknives. Stoked to pick one up. Terzuola is the man and the only other design of his on the table that I dig right now is the Starmate, by most acounts a blunder of a production compared with what it could have been and well overpriced. My opinion, of course.
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I was able to carry the BT70 for a few weeks thanks to my bud Poceh, and honestly I plan on picking one up when I have funds that aren't slated for other knives. It's a fitting piece, and will probably be somewhat collectible someday. It's a huge chunk of knife with an interesting grind (that admittedly I'd probably have reground at some point when I get mine).
It's the only CRKT product I've been interested in since my folding Razel (which I kiiiinda have to disagree on them being $30 all day, they're fairly scarce).
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Yeah, I read your impressions and saw your pics when I was looking for info. Helped put me over the top. :thumbup:
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I'm pretty much with you on Terzuola statement... I could probably aford to buy a "real" Terzuola folder that I like but they are so hard to find or so out of my finacial reach that I rather concentrate on other graals in my list as the Tilt for example.
Just FYI: A-zon got BT-70 for few bucks less right now. Also, if you are into such type of knives, you might be interested of SOG Kiku folders ( they are two sizes, small - 3.5" blade and large with 4.6" blade ) and they are in the same price bracket as the TB-70, or very close.
In regard of CRKT CQ, yes, it could be better. BT-70 is made in Taiwan if I'm not mistaking but the Chinese made models are just hit or miss, IMO.
I also agree that the steel choise could be personal preference... A "tactical" design really doesn't need fancy steels, it'll be just fine with AUS8 or simmilar stuff. I like to drag with me a second folder, designed with weapon im mind. Some times I use it in just normal edc tasks, I strip wires, cut ties and plastic, carboard and so on and I would like to see some of those produced with better steel. Example of such knife could be the new Voyager with the new Crpenter's steel or the large Griptilian in 154cm. They have the SD design I like and because the chance to use them in SD situation is very slim, they can be used in some normal edc tasks and do have the better steel for it.
I am very happy with my Heiho, it's a very capable little tool for whatever you want ot use it and seems they did the HT right because I don't have musch of a problem with wear and so on. It's also made and priced well. I wish it had auto lawks but htis is just me...
I own few more CRKTs and even I don't use some of them very often I like them and will probably never sell them but I can understand if someone wants to ged rid of few models that didn't live to it's expectations, I guess this is the case with CRKT for more people and fewer like me were lucky enough to get models which manufacturiung was a hit, rather than miss.
Still, I like CRKT, I find them affordable but as many here I like to see better QC and little bit more understanding about puting together a model for production, what steel will be good for it and what probably - not. Steels should not be picked to justify a few more bucks in the price, or follow a current trend, they should be there for the intended purpose of the knife... I love my Razel as design and I find it very functional for whatever I do with a knife on a daily bases. I had a chance to handle the Razel Quiet sent me and I had to get one of those. Unfortunately, the steel they used didn't really answer my expectations. It does take nice, sharp edge but wears very quick. I tried diferent angles, grits and so on and it's just soft. It could be my particular knife, could be a bad batch, I don't know and I don't care, I still love the knife and will not get rid of it but I will limit it's use for fewer tasks, which is pity because I could put this design in some serious work...
I guess this is another topic, I'm only mentioning it because I think it applies to some of the CRKT models that I have...
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I've owned quite a number of CRKT knives since the late 90's. They were good value knives then, especially with their Apache and Mirage series. Later came the M16's, the KISS folder, and a host of other models, all made in Taiwan of consistent quality. AUS8 steel was respectable steel in those days. Things went downhill when they began downgrading to AUS6, then later started producing knives in China. CRKT's Chinese knives were nowhere near the quality and fit/finish of the Taiwanese models.
Fast foward to 2015, and CRKT's Chinese made knives are still nowhere near the quality and fit/finish of their Taiwanese models. But, the issue doesn't end there. AUS8 doesn't really command the respect it once did, especially in light of other steels like VG-10, 154CM, S30V, Elmax, CTS-HXP, M390, etc.. By comparison, CRKT's AUS8 is rather mediocre. Certainly usable, but there are better edge holding blades on the market.
Now, I do acknowledge that CRKT does come out with new designs and/or collaborations, and the have offered a few models in Acuto+, but in large part they keep hitting the market with AUS8 or Cr13Mov. As much as I like some of their designs, I (like many others on this forum) would like to see those designs with better quality steel and materials.
Take for instance the Liong Nah designed GSD.
I love the blade profile, the clean aesthetics, solid lockup, and the smooth IKBS opening. CRKT decided to produce their version in Taiwan with an AUS8 steel blade and a stainless steel handle which makes the GSD quite a hefty knife for it's size. As much as I love the design of the knife, I find it myself wishing it had a better quality steel blade and a titanium handle to reduce the weight. I also can't help but to think that if the GSD had been a factory collaboration between Liong Nah and ZT/Kai, this knife would be fantastic. As it is, I still like the knife, but it's far from perfect.
Fast foward to 2015, and CRKT's Chinese made knives are still nowhere near the quality and fit/finish of their Taiwanese models. But, the issue doesn't end there. AUS8 doesn't really command the respect it once did, especially in light of other steels like VG-10, 154CM, S30V, Elmax, CTS-HXP, M390, etc.. By comparison, CRKT's AUS8 is rather mediocre. Certainly usable, but there are better edge holding blades on the market.
Now, I do acknowledge that CRKT does come out with new designs and/or collaborations, and the have offered a few models in Acuto+, but in large part they keep hitting the market with AUS8 or Cr13Mov. As much as I like some of their designs, I (like many others on this forum) would like to see those designs with better quality steel and materials.
Take for instance the Liong Nah designed GSD.
I love the blade profile, the clean aesthetics, solid lockup, and the smooth IKBS opening. CRKT decided to produce their version in Taiwan with an AUS8 steel blade and a stainless steel handle which makes the GSD quite a hefty knife for it's size. As much as I love the design of the knife, I find it myself wishing it had a better quality steel blade and a titanium handle to reduce the weight. I also can't help but to think that if the GSD had been a factory collaboration between Liong Nah and ZT/Kai, this knife would be fantastic. As it is, I still like the knife, but it's far from perfect.
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Since Ken Onion has been on board, I'd say the quality has gone up. The Ripple, Swindle, Eros, and Outrage are some of their best models. The addition of other designers, Tighe, Elishewitz, Eitter, Mah, Lerch, Johnson, etc are all powerhouse makers. If only, they had some USA made models they could easily take a lot of the market share for the $150-$400 priced folders and fixed blades.
Erik, what model number is that? There are so many of that knife that it gets truly confusing.
I quite like this Taiwanese made CRKT. A good value IMO.
Erik, what model number is that? There are so many of that knife that it gets truly confusing.
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It's the M16-03S Classic version with the LAWKS rather than the AUTO-LAWKS. :thumbup:
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I've currently got a Ripple and I used to own a Pazoda 2. Perfect F&F and QC on both. I've got zero complaints, and I intend to buy more CRKT in the future.
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Thanks. That is a nicely designed and ground folder.
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That would be $89.84 and $92.10 shipped respectively. So $90 or so for a Taiwanese made AUS8 blade. Not even SOG is that audacious. But hey, if you love the design and have to have it, why not? One thing that can't really be tallied in the cost to materials ratio is the beauty in the eye of the beholder.