"CRKT Pocket Classics" New Traditional Line

S

SteelSnob

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Sep 7, 2009
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Well I noticed these in Blade Mag and they look kind of interesting

Here's the Whittler model but they'll also be producing other popular models like Trappers,Peanuts,Congress and a bunch more.

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EDIT Whittler. Our three-blader has a swell-center handle with fully rounded ends and 2.25" (57 mm) large clip point blade, plus small clip point, and pen blades. EDIT


They're pretty reasonably priced and they use carbon steel. From what I've heard CRKT's f&f has been pretty good lately.

What do you fellas think?
 
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:o Sorry about that. I read that before but I don't have the best memory hahah. Sorry. :o Thanks for posting the pic for me.
 
No worries, Nate.

It really just takes a moment or two longer to post an image (and/or description) in the thread and that will go a long way toward avoiding issues with posting links directly to vendor carts etc.

Thanks for your understanding. :thumbup:
 
I picked up one of those CRKT whittlers and I have been pleased with it so far. It came sharp but of course I had to tinker with it a little first. This little booger gets sharp!!!
 
mhawg said:
I picked up one of those CRKT whittlers and I have been pleased with it so far. It came sharp but of course I had to tinker with it a little first. This little booger gets sharp!!!
Click to expand...

Cool. How'd you like the fit and finish? Any gaps or blade wobble?
 
I've seen on several websites that the blade is "High-carbon Stainless". Anyone know what flavour exactly they sport?
Is it non-stainless or stainless?
 
I just noticed it says "high carbon stainless" on their website. Dang. I thought it was carbon steel not stainless. Sorry about that.
 
i expect we will see more traddies from the success of of the rough riders & the colts from china. i do'nt know but suspect this line is chinese.
 
They are made in China (AG Russell always puts country of origin on his website even when the manufacturer hides it on their's) but just lists the steel as high carbon stainless. I would suspect 420J2 tho given the price I would expect at least AUS-8, I would think they would mention if it was AUS-8 however.
 
My brother-in-law's brother is a CRKT dealer on one of the popular auction sites. For Christmas every year, he usually gives out some new CRKT tool or knife. The knives I have gotten seem OK but have the 420J steel and it is the worst steel I have come across. It just won't hold an edge for long. It is nice to see these traditional patterns in their line but disappointing on the choice of steel.
 
From looking on the website there is nothing that grabs me and says wow. It is nice to see more companies doing slipjoints but it seems to be the same as RR, Steel Warrior, Colt etc. Probably re-branded.

From the pictures on AG's site, a couple things glare at me and they all relate to blade proportion. Seems off on some of the patterns The stockman, sheepsfoot and spey seem almost as long as the clip. The congress blade pattern selection is nice but the secondary blades seem almost as big as the primary.
 
Well I know it's not a traditional but my father carries that new Ken Onion custom collaboration and it's as good as any of my spydercos and benchmades so the F&F should be excellent. I am very impressed with it. I would probably buy one and try it out for work.
 
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SteelSnob said:
If it's 420j these will probably be a "no go" for me.
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Unfortunately, you can generally read "high carbon stainless steel", "surgical steel" and the like as the manufacturer having nothing in particular to brag on steel-wise.
(In my humble opinion, of course. What they do with the heat treat may well make a huge difference in the product offered.)

This is not to say that these are not functional or useful, only that they do not rise to the level of today's high end premium steel (if that's what floats your boat).
 
I guess when I was reading the specs on my iPhone I thought it said high carbon steel and I got excited. Then I realized it said it said high carbon stainless and I wasn't so excited anymore. And I originally I thought it was made in Tawain which I like rather than made in China where it's actually made. Add 420j (which I've never heard good things about) to that mix and it's a "no go" for me. I'm sure it could be used and useful but with so many better options I just can't buy one.
 
I must say that overall I'm pretty happy with this little knife. I pre-ordered this one through the CRKT web site so I paid retail price and then A.G. Russell had them the next week for a cheaper price. Oh well.

The color of the bone is typical Chinese and so is the jigging but it hasn't rubbed off on my hand or inside my pocket like a Rough Rider sometimes does. The web image lookes better than the actual knife, I think. It may improve with age. There is no daylight under the scales and even though two of the brass pins are a little proud they are not sharp.

The carbon steel blades are nice and thin and came sharp enough. I did fiddle with the main blade before use but just to feel the steel on the stone. All of the blades have a snap of about 5 - 6. The blades are seated well and the nail nicks are accessible, they look cut, not stamped. No blade wobble at all. (Main blade - 0.0225 in., small clip point blade - 0.011 in.)

I don't know how the shield is affixed but the oval shape is appealing. I don't like the registration mark in the shield though. I think the bolsters and scales are proportioned well but I hope CRKT comes out with a square end version in the future. I find the shape of the blades to be not excessively appealing but not quite 'butt ugly', still typical Chinese styling.

As you can see the split backspring has a few minor flaws, a slight gap between the spring and the brass liner and a larger gap between that spring and the center spring. I suppose to get any more precision in the fit would cost significantly more these days. I would rank it in the upper quartile of the usual Chinese manufacturers.

As soon as I got this one I oiled the joints and dropped it into my pocket but I haven't put it to any major whittling chores yet. I haven't decided on maybe a whimsy or a rustic chess set. :)
XXX
CRKTWHITTLER_4444.jpg

XXX
CRKTWHITTLER_4443.jpg

XXX
CRKTWHITTLER_4445A.jpg

If you would like some specific picture let me know, my camera battery died during this session.
 
Blues said:
Unfortunately, you can generally read "high carbon stainless steel", "surgical steel" and the like as the manufacturer having nothing in particular to brag on steel-wise.
(In my humble opinion, of course. What they do with the heat treat may well make a huge difference in the product offered.)

This is not to say that these are not functional or useful, only that they do not rise to the level of today's high end premium steel (if that's what floats your boat).
Click to expand...

Words of wisdom. :thumbup:

There are still a lot of people that think our beloved 1095 is outdated and not worth using anymore. There too, are many people that think Bucks steel is low grade. I'm not a steel snob. I do like ats-34 and some others, but if I like the knife in general, and whatever steel is used gets nice and sharp and holds an edge for a reasonable amount of time, I'm good with it.

The CRKT knife that is pictured is actually a nice looking knife in my opinion.
I don't know if my opinion would remain the same after looking at one or not. But then again, that holds true with a lot of knives
 
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