CRKT knife quality on the rise?

[Kwon Kwang]

Seems to me CRKT is always on the edge of becoming good. Llike Cold Steel was 4-5 years ago. I think the steels hold them back the most from you snobs.

I've never been a steel snob. I am, however, snobbish about design and function over form. You can have all the best materials and technology in a knife, but if it isn't designed in a practical and functional way (for what it was designed for), I'm not buying it. This is why I'm not a fan of the M-16 and M-21 knives, but I drool over the GSD and I'd really love to get my hands on one.

 

[craytab]

Seems to me CRKT is always on the edge of becoming good. Llike Cold Steel was 4-5 years ago. I think the steels hold them back the most from you snobs.

Nor am I a steel snob. I have all manner of steels from various companies. What is holding CRKT back for educated knife buyers is their value ratio. Too much money for what you get. They are worse than SOG. $90 for an AUS8 blade? Come on now. Educated knife buyers know you can get similar materials with a much better reputation for a lot less elsewhere.

 

[RevolverGuy]

I'd say their quality has definitely improved, as has their customer service. I've purchased two CRKT items this year and have been pleased. A Hunt N' Fisch knife and a Ken Onion Halfachance parang. I used both quite frequently this summer and the lanyard that came with my Hunt N' Fisch unraveled the third week I had it. Contacted the company and sent it in and got a brand new knife back in less than a week.

And not to get off topic but I think their offerings have also improved. Over the past few years I am noticing a lot of really well thought out designs.

 

[craytab]

I'd say their quality has definitely improved, as has their customer service. I've purchased two CRKT items this year and have been pleased. A Hunt N' Fisch knife and a Ken Onion Halfachance parang. I used both quite frequently this summer and the lanyard that came with my Hunt N' Fisch unraveled the third week I had it. Contacted the company and sent it in and got a brand new knife back in less than a week.

And not to get off topic but I think their offerings have also improved. Over the past few years I am noticing a lot of really well thought out designs.

So again, the quality might have improved. I will never know until CRKT matches their pricing with their materials and country of manufacture as other companies with better reputations do. Those two blades you mention are made in China with Chinese materials but are priced like they are made in Taiwan. $65 for a made in China 8cr 3" fixed blade. Come on CRKT. There are better options with better materials at the same or better price point.

 

[Moondrop]

So again, the quality might have improved. I will never know until CRKT matches their pricing with their materials and country of manufacture as other companies with better reputations do. Those two blades you mention are made in China with Chinese materials but are priced like they are made in Taiwan. $65 for a made in China 8cr 3" fixed blade. Come on CRKT. There are better options with better materials at the same or better price point.

Perhaps, but I got my Obake for $30. 8cr14MoV, according to crkt.

BTW, the Hunt'N Fisch:
"100% of the net profits of this knife go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of Larry Fischer. "

 

[strategy9]

I can kind of agree with much said here.

I'm a "value" guy, and personally can't see myself spending ≥$40 on a CRKT, because at those prices, for what you get, I can always find something comparable I like more (Kershaw, Buck, and others) but that's not for me to say anyone else should or should not buy a CRKT in that range if it's a design they really like.

They have done great from a marketing standpoint in doing tons of collabs with great designers, and affordable production version one offs of some great designs.

I have bought a few of their cheaper models; 111z, Pazoda, endorser (i gifted), Kasper/Crawford dragon, Clark Fork fillet knife, and I must say that for the lower level price range, $20ish, imho they all hold their own with any other knife in that same range.

 

[jazub]

Perhaps, but I got my Obake for $30. 8cr14MoV, according to crkt.

BTW, the Hunt'N Fisch:
"100% of the net profits of this knife go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of Larry Fischer. "

Wow, that is really cool. Nice, CRKT :thumbup:

 

[Jamesh Bond]

In my experience, their early stuff was the best.

 

[craytab]

Perhaps, but I got my Obake for $30. 8cr14MoV, according to crkt.

That is a much better deal.

 

[RedLynx]

Nor am I a steel snob. I have all manner of steels from various companies. What is holding CRKT back for educated knife buyers is their value ratio. Too much money for what you get. They are worse than SOG. $90 for an AUS8 blade? Come on now. Educated knife buyers know you can get similar materials with a much better reputation for a lot less elsewhere.

I agree, so while I do own a few great (for their price) CRKTs, I buy them second-hand and they are usually the lower-priced models to begin with, so I don't pay over $25ish for them.

 

[knifedude802]

Nor am I a steel snob. I have all manner of steels from various companies. What is holding CRKT back for educated knife buyers is their value ratio. Too much money for what you get. They are worse than SOG. $90 for an AUS8 blade? Come on now. Educated knife buyers know you can get similar materials with a much better reputation for a lot less elsewhere.

I agree. Even if I like some CRKT designs, I really want justify spending that much on them because of what it is you get. I did recently cave on an M21, aluminum handles, and I have to admit, they did alright. Good solid knife, but was it worth some $100? No way. I have trouble imagining how they come up with their prices. Someone else posted that CRKT is the meat and potatoes of brick and mortar stores, and I from my experience I think it's pretty accurate. They sell to the less knife savvy at way inflated prices simply because they can. I have some older CRKT models as well, and I would not say the quality is noticeably improved, but there was also nothing terribly wrong with any that I own. Just the price to value ratio is a bit out of whack.

 

[chucknduck]

Interesting thread. Unfortunately I think its plagued by Benchmade and Cold Steel homers who havent actually held a CRKT knife since the first gen M-16's and KISS models. I used to be a CRKT hater, too. But times have changed and not only do they offer great knives for the money, they offer great knives, period. I have always been a big Kershaw fan but I think right now crkt is offering better knives for the money. As Columbia River gets better and better, I think we have been let down by Kershaw in the past couple years.

Lets not forget, CRKT were the first ones to offer inexpensive ball bearing flippers on knives that could only found on a few expensive end production knives, mid-techs, and customs. When the ikbs Ripple, and Foresight came out, there was nothing like it out there on the market at the time.

Granted, steel choices have always been ho-hum. And when you did get a better steel it was something wacky like Acuto+, not vg10 or 154cm. That doesn't necessarily make an exceptionally well made and designed knife with Aus8 for fifty bucks not a great deal. Some of their better designs such as the two mentioned above, Fossil, Tighe Rod, Vasp, Mah Eraser, Argus, Hootenanny, Noh Ken, GSD, Cobia, Outrage, Tighe Rade, Swindle, Eros, etc. etc. etc.. (Obviously they have benefited from Ken Onion.) These are all fantastic knives that are very well made. Imho, the flippers are more refined than any other comparable priced flippers around. Most use basic blade steels, but all of these can be had for under $100. Personally, im not a steel snob and I know how to sharpen. I also agree with the idea that differences in blade steel are WAY over-hyped. Now take a Benchmade Griptillian. Roughly a hundred dollars. For a liner-less, injection molded handle and 154cm blade steel. Personally, I would take nearly all of the above listed models over the Grip. Other than the lower end blade steel, you are getting sculpted, 3d machined g10 or aluminum scales. Ball bearing pivots with excellent detects that flip like customs. great fit and finish. And all that for a knife that is usually found for half the cost of a Grip. I havent always been a fan but I have handled most models of production knife out there and CRKT is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to beat when it comes to value.

 

[craytab]

Interesting thread. Unfortunately I think its plagued by Benchmade and Cold Steel homers who havent actually held a CRKT knife since the first gen M-16's and KISS models.

And that right there is the statement that show you didn't really read the thread and what your agenda is. Calling people "homers" is not a discussion point. As for the rest of your post, TL;DR.

 

[Quiet]

Interesting thread. Unfortunately I think its plagued by Benchmade and Cold Steel homers who havent actually held a CRKT knife since the first gen M-16's and KISS models. I used to be a CRKT hater, too. But times have changed and not only do they offer great knives for the money, they offer great knives, period. I have always been a big Kershaw fan but I think right now crkt is offering better knives for the money. As Columbia River gets better and better, I think we have been let down by Kershaw in the past couple years.

Lets not forget, CRKT were the first ones to offer inexpensive ball bearing flippers on knives that could only found on a few expensive end production knives, mid-techs, and customs. When the ikbs Ripple, and Foresight came out, there was nothing like it out there on the market at the time.

Granted, steel choices have always been ho-hum. And when you did get a better steel it was something wacky like Acuto+, not vg10 or 154cm. That doesn't necessarily make an exceptionally well made and designed knife with Aus8 for fifty bucks not a great deal. Some of their better designs such as the two mentioned above, Fossil, Tighe Rod, Vasp, Mah Eraser, Argus, Hootenanny, Noh Ken, GSD, Cobia, Outrage, Tighe Rade, Swindle, Eros, etc. etc. etc.. (Obviously they have benefited from Ken Onion.) These are all fantastic knives that are very well made. Imho, the flippers are more refined than any other comparable priced flippers around. Most use basic blade steels, but all of these can be had for under $100. Personally, im not a steel snob and I know how to sharpen. I also agree with the idea that differences in blade steel are WAY over-hyped. Now take a Benchmade Griptillian. Roughly a hundred dollars. For a liner-less, injection molded handle and 154cm blade steel. Personally, I would take nearly all of the above listed models over the Grip. Other than the lower end blade steel, you are getting sculpted, 3d machined g10 or aluminum scales. Ball bearing pivots with excellent detects that flip like customs. great fit and finish. And all that for a knife that is usually found for half the cost of a Grip. I havent always been a fan but I have handled most models of production knife out there and CRKT is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to beat when it comes to value.

I admit it, this comedy sketch from you was BRILLIANT. Bravo! (standing ovation)

I mean, you were kidding, right?

 

[craytab]

I admit it, this comedy sketch from you was BRILLIANT. Bravo! (standing ovation)

I mean, you were kidding, right?

Quiet, thanks for point that tidbit out. As I said I didn't read any further after he dropped a "Benchmade and Coldsteel homer" blast.

The main reason I won't take another risk on CRKT is because they are THE WORST when it comes to value for me. Again chucknduck, you clearly didn't read what most people said in this or any other CRKT thread. Goodness, I started reading your post. So much fail. The Benchmade Griptilian is not linerless. Agenda much?

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Interesting thread. Unfortunately I think its plagued by Benchmade and Cold Steel homers who havent actually held a CRKT knife since the first gen M-16's and KISS models. I used to be a CRKT hater, too. But times have changed and not only do they offer great knives for the money, they offer great knives, period....Lets not forget, CRKT were the first ones to offer inexpensive ball bearing flippers on knives that could only found on a few expensive end production knives, mid-techs, and customs...Some of their better designs such as the two mentioned above, Fossil, Tighe Rod, Vasp, Mah Eraser, Argus, Hootenanny, Noh Ken, GSD, Cobia, Outrage, Tighe Rade, Swindle, Eros, etc. etc. etc...These are all fantastic knives that are very well made. Imho, the flippers are more refined than any other comparable priced flippers around. Most use basic blade steels, but all of these can be had for under $100. Personally, im not a steel snob and I know how to sharpen. I also agree with the idea that differences in blade steel are WAY over-hyped. Now take a Benchmade Griptillian. Roughly a hundred dollars. For a liner-less, injection molded handle and 154cm blade steel. Personally, I would take nearly all of the above listed models over the Grip. Other than the lower end blade steel, you are getting sculpted, 3d machined g10 or aluminum scales. Ball bearing pivots with excellent detects that flip like customs. great fit and finish. And all that for a knife that is usually found for half the cost of a Grip. I havent always been a fan but I have handled most models of production knife out there and CRKT is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to beat when it comes to value.

I'm shocked... Did you ever do some work with Griptillian ? Did you had a chance to compare it to the CRKT knives you own ? Actually I'm curious after all this you said about the CRKT knives, how many of them you own and actually use on a daily bases ? I'm only trying to make conversation, to find out what's the base for what you're saying... below are the one I currently own, maybe couple more here and there, that I'm not using that often.
It's easy to shoot picture than to list the models, some of them I'm using heavily almost every day, I have to tell you, regardless how much do you think you're good with sharpening, when the Chinese manufacturer isn't consistent with the hardening process, you'll end up in the middle of your work, cursing and wishing this excellent design came in better steel, as 154cm like... the Griptilian
Nobody here is CRKT "hater" or BM "homer", I believe most of us here have standards and will recognize a well made and executed design, whether it's coming from BM or CRKT, I also believe, that CRKT will benefit from better materials and QC, and I like inexpensive knives and useful designs... Would I own so many of them trough the years if I think they are junk or if I was BM homer ?
I highlighted few things in your post, IMO, flippers, bearings, aluminum handles and fancy steel means nothing to me if the design doesn't benefit from it, and I'd go with this "rule" mostly if we're talking about steel, otherwise, flippers, shiny titanium or else handles, frame locks, bearings and so on, to me is just a trend wave right now and every company is trying to ride it and profit from it. Let's not put the Griptilian there, it's a workhorse, very well designed and built model, I've being trying to kill one for so long, that the process convinced me to buy another-one and I'm thinking about a third, this time in D2 or S30V because it's more suitable for what I'm doing with the knife. Working knife doesn't really need bearings, flipping action and framelocks, it need to provide good grip, to have protected lock and simple pivot mechanism, this is what I'm looking in a edc folder, but of course I could be mistaking...

 

[JDeGraff89]

Is it weird that I only like the Ken onion designs? I bought a ripple.. then a shenanigan and then the foresight