CRKT ripple vs Ripple 2?

joeyza

joeyza

Joined
Feb 27, 2013
Messages
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What is the difference between these 2 knives? I just piked up the cheaper ripple and am quite linking it so am thinking bout picking up the more expensive ripple 2.
 
In the current versions, the Ripple has a 3.16" blade, the Ripple 2 is 2.78", according to CRKT.
Normally the Ripple 2, being smaller, is less expensive. Far as I know thats the only difference.

Making things a bit confusing, the previous version was also called Ripple. They changed the blade and handle shapes a bit, and got rid of the "pocket-worn-look" on the handles. Kept everything else much the same.

To confuse things a bit more there is also a Ripple with aluminum handles vs. the stainless steel handles of the original and current Ripples.
The AL handled version is much less expensive. Looks much like the original, but has a liner-lock vs. the frame-lock of the SS versions.
 
wow that is confusing haha. thanks for helping out tho:thumbup: I have the $29 dollar one so I'm guessing its just the AL version and it is a liner lock.
 
joeyza said:
wow that is confusing haha. thanks for helping out tho:thumbup: I have the $29 dollar one so I'm guessing its just the AL version and it is a liner lock.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the $29 one is the aluminum version. That's what I have, too.
 
I like the liner-lock version MUCH more than the frame lock one.
The detent is perfect, where the frame lock just felt like it was dragging more on the blade.
Might be the best flipper I own aside from a ZT0560, but you can't really compare the two.
 
My best friend has the original ripple in steel, that was the first bearing flipper I had a chance to play with, he still has it, and it's still as smooth and good looking as when new. I didnt' realize the alu version is a liner lock, may have to keep my eye out for one.
 
I've owned both and prefer the liner lock. The frame lock version was too narrow for me and I constantly had trouble with my fat fingers hitting the lock bar while trying to deploy it. Aside from that it was nice. On some of the later models there were some QC issues with the frame lock- overly heavy detents and sharp/rough flippers among them. My brother bought one after I got rid of mine and the thing damn near drew blood to flip it. This was the blue handled frame lock version.
 
There are a lot of really crappy framelock ripples going around. And it sucks because it gave the frame locks a bad name. IF you can find a good one then I think they blow the aluminum handle version away. But its rare to find one. Especially one where the flipper doesn't feel like its going to go through your thumb.

joeyza said:
wow that is confusing haha. thanks for helping out tho:thumbup: I have the $29 dollar one so I'm guessing its just the AL version and it is a liner lock.
Click to expand...

a couple more differences are that the frame lock version has the upgraded Acuto + steel instead of the 8CR13MOV and its made in taiwan not china.
 
joeyza said:
wow that is confusing haha. thanks for helping out tho:thumbup: I have the $29 dollar one so I'm guessing its just the AL version and it is a liner lock.
Click to expand...

Yep, that would the AL version.
It's not a bad knife, and compares pretty favorably to the SS version.

I thought it was a bit tacky of CRKT to not give the AL one some sort of different name.

If you do a search for Ripple in the Knife Reviews & Testing forum you'll find several threads discussing both.

Bigfatts said:
On some of the later models there were some QC issues with the frame lock- overly heavy detents and sharp/rough flippers among them. My brother bought one after I got rid of mine and the thing damn near drew blood to flip it. This was the blue handled frame lock version.
Click to expand...

There were all sorts of QC issues with all the Ripples. Most of them fairly minor or cosmetic.
For some reason I've wound up owning a half dozen of them and inspecting many more. Every one looks or acts different.
Some have sharp spots/burrs on the handles (pretty easily taken care of with a stone). And as you mention, some of the flippers seem more "pointy".
The pocket-worn-look is different on ever single one I have, which may be why they gave up on it with the new version. At Blade last year I picked up a SS blue one from SMKW just because it shows absolutely none of the pocket-worn look.

On the plus side, they all seem to work well.
IMHO, the blue SS is the best looking of the lot. They are harder to find but some are still around.
Have not handled one of the new versions yet, but I may pick one up.
 
Bigfatts said:
I've owned both and prefer the liner lock. The frame lock version was too narrow for me and I constantly had trouble with my fat fingers hitting the lock bar while trying to deploy it.
Click to expand...

That was the issue I had with the one I owned. Combine it with a stiff detent and it was hard to flip open. Additionally I recall the thumbramp grooves cut into the metal scales were a big hotspot. Traded mine shortly after getting it.
 
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