VorpelSword
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,461
Twenty five years go I gave our son a CRKT M21 as a utility pocket folder before the Marines "surged" his unit into Iraq. A few months prior, it had made the cover of "Blade" magazine and looked amazing to me. I had also given him about a grand's worth of other premium knives and he took alng a Randall and a CRK belt knife. I figured that if I gave him a Sebenza, I figured that he would lose it, so the lower cost, less prestigious, lower specification CRKT M21 was the choice there. Sometime over those months of deployment, the young man did lose it. Well, who among us hasn't also lost a knife under far less incense circumstance?
I always liked the slightly recurved, spear point blade profile, but the really butch looking pierced aluminum handle just didn't suit me as a sub-urban to urban carry knife. This past week I saw a used ("pre-owned") CRKT M18 on e-Bay for well under the n NIB price and put in a low ball offer on it . . .and got it. This is a discontinued model with the same blade profile, flipper tab and so on, but with a more civilian looking handle. It seems to be in near-unused condition. Not sharp, but I don't think its ever been re-sharpened either. Pocket wear only I think.
Now this is a knife I can carry. Made in Taiwan, the blade is AUS-8 and the aluminum handle is a less than stout liner lock, but then I am walking around town in relaxed fit Dad pants, not an oil rig, stock ranch or construction site . . .so its going to be OK as a carry knife for me.
However: If a premium knife maker ever made this knife in a high performance steel, with that blade profile in a titanium frame lock, I'd jump on it at their premium price.
I always liked the slightly recurved, spear point blade profile, but the really butch looking pierced aluminum handle just didn't suit me as a sub-urban to urban carry knife. This past week I saw a used ("pre-owned") CRKT M18 on e-Bay for well under the n NIB price and put in a low ball offer on it . . .and got it. This is a discontinued model with the same blade profile, flipper tab and so on, but with a more civilian looking handle. It seems to be in near-unused condition. Not sharp, but I don't think its ever been re-sharpened either. Pocket wear only I think.
Now this is a knife I can carry. Made in Taiwan, the blade is AUS-8 and the aluminum handle is a less than stout liner lock, but then I am walking around town in relaxed fit Dad pants, not an oil rig, stock ranch or construction site . . .so its going to be OK as a carry knife for me.
However: If a premium knife maker ever made this knife in a high performance steel, with that blade profile in a titanium frame lock, I'd jump on it at their premium price.
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