CRKT Ripple from Anywhere else vs Ripple from Walmart

[Kyui Su Kim]

Just got back from picking the knife up, and according to the packaging, it does have the IKBS in it.

At first glance, this knife is thicker than my wife's Ripple and lacks the shinier handle. The liner lock is as to be expected with it locking up a little less than half way. Overall for $40, the knife is not bad but time and use will tell if the "high carbon" blade will be on par with the Acuto+.


*Edited to Add*
On another note, I do like that the flipper is more smoothed out round the edges

 

[misterjuiceman]

Just got back from picking the knife up, and according to the packaging, it does have the IKBS in it.

At first glance, this knife is thicker than my wife's Ripple and lacks the shinier handle. The liner lock is as to be expected with it locking up a little less than half way. Overall for $40, the knife is not bad but time and use will tell if the "high carbon" blade will be on par with the Acuto+.


*Edited to Add*
On another note, I do like that the flipper is more smoothed out round the edges

I've seen IKBS knives where there's a nylon annulus to keep the balls as a closed system, but I've never seen an IKBS knife that isn't labeled as such. You'd think since the original Ripple has the IKBS logo, so would this, and that Ken Onion would make sure of it.

 

[popedandy]

I don't know the details on the WalMart variant, but I picked one up and it's a nice package for the price.

 

[inkster]

[video=youtube;rRVznjpPJOY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRVznjpPJOY&feature=player_embedded[/video]

This is from CRKT The steel used is an 8Cr14MoV

 

[ol' smoke]

My little Schrade+ 55UH was a Wally special sometime in the '90's. I like it for EDC.

 

[ono724]

Just picked up the Wally World Ripple tonight. First off, don't know squat about the IKBS system, But this knife opens ultra-smooth, and locks up solid. The thing is feather-light too and feels good in the hand. Based on first impressions, seems like a pretty decent knife for $40.

 

[mwbladeworks]

I also picked this knife up, I took it apart and it does have the IKBS, I emailed CRKT and here was the response.

'Thanks for your email. That is our product. However, it is different from the other Ripples. The handle is the high grade aluminum and the steel is the 8Cr14MoV, I believe. The knife does employ the IKBS system as well so the opening action is super smooth. I hope this helps. If there is anything else I can do for you, please let me know.'

 

[UpChUcK]

I assume it had teflon washers in place of the IKBS?

They weren't phosphor bronze, my guess is nylatron/nylon or teflon. They seemed smooth. It was actually a friend's knife, so I got a good look at it, but I didn't take the washers out.

I had the original CRKT Ken Onion Ripple when they first came out. I sold it because the clip location bothered me. I Picked up the CRKT Ripple from Walmart a couple of days ago and it is a bearing supported pivot. I'm not sure if it is actually "IKBS" since it uses captured bearings where the original used loose bearings in a bearing race machined into the steel handles and blade tang. See pic below.

The Wally World Ripple uses 2 bearing cartridges. It is every bit as smooth as the original IMHO. The liner lock looks awfully thin and lockup on mine is past 50% but it locks up solidly. I like the original framelock better. I did wonder if it was the Acuto+ steel and now I know. If it were Acuto+ or IKBS, it would be emblazoned on it somewhere. But I actually like the captured bearing better since there is less risk of losing the bearings when you take it apart for maintenance. I still don't like the clip (location and tip down) but I could pass up that impulse buy.

I'll try to snap a pic of the new bearings tonight.

I handled one myself. Quality wise, it's about the same. It's slightly thicker than the standard Ripple, which actually seems more comfortable to me. It flips very nicely, and you can hardly tell it's not IKBS. I'd say it's a better value than the standard Ripple.

It is a bit thicker overall in the handle but still thin nonetheless. It is at least as smooth in action than my original. It was $40 where the original Ripple was $75. Value-wise, I'd call it a draw since framelock and Acuto+ blade steel is dropped especially since the liner lock is so thin. Overall, still a nice little knife with a buttery smooth action.

 

[sh00ter01]

So is this Walmart version the larger or smaller of the original Ripples?

-sh00ter

 

[UpChUcK]

So is this Walmart version the larger or smaller of the original Ripples?

-sh00ter

3.125" so the larger versions.

 

[sh00ter01]

3.125" so the larger versions.

Thanks

-sh00ter

 

[notsobrite]

i just picked one of these up this evening. i think i got a bad one- it's harder to open than my skyline and it squeaks. i'll take a closer look at it tomorrow and maybe grease it up a little.

 

[misterjuiceman]

it sounds like the detent needs a little bit of lube.