CRKT Sting: How many people actually use/carry them?

B

Bugout Bill

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Jan 2, 2013
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Over Christmas break, I found myself with some extra money and decided that I wanted to buy some knives. I bought a CRKT Minimalist and a Boker Magnum Premium Bowie (very nice for a crappy knife. One knife that kept catching my eye was the CRKT Sting; it looked really cool, but I really couldn't justify the price. A week later I was wandering through a local REI and I saw a CRKT Sting for $45. Naturally, I bought it.

I carried it around a few times on my belt (the ankle straps are stupid) and had no issues concealing it. I quit carrying it due to legal concerns, but I still keep it around. I understand that it is a dagger and is meant for poking soft, squishy things, but I sharpened it up to try to give it some utility purpose. It's okay for cutting open the occasional box or two, but it is pretty much relegated for defensive purposes.

My blabbering aside, how many of you actually carry it, or god forgive use the thing? Has anyone modified a Sting to try to make it a better cutter?
 
I don't think there's a whole lot you can do with a double-edged dagger with a central ridge to improve slicing ability. They're just not great utility cutters. It's sort of like have two very narrow, rather thick single-edge blades back to back. I've used both my Cold Steel PeaceKeepers (I & II) in the kitchen just to see how they worked. They did, of course, slice through veggies and meat well enough, but they were far from great. Aside from geometry, the other shortcoming from a utility perspective is that there's no spine to put your fingers/hand against. I'd say just accept it for what it is: an anti-personnel device with mediocre edc usefulness.

That sheath they include really bugs me. A simple hard plastic sheath with spring steel belt/boot clip would be nice. :thumbup:
 
G. Scott H. said:
I don't think there's a whole lot you can do with a double-edged dagger with a central ridge to improve slicing ability. They're just not great utility cutters. It's sort of like have two very narrow, rather thick single-edge blades back to back. I've used both my Cold Steel PeaceKeepers (I & II) in the kitchen just to see how they worked. They did, of course, slice through veggies and meat well enough, but they were far from great. Aside from geometry, the other shortcoming from a utility perspective is that there's no spine to put your fingers/hand against. I'd say just accept it for what it is: an anti-personnel device with mediocre edc usefulness.

That sheath they include really bugs me. A simple hard plastic sheath with spring steel belt/boot clip would be nice. :thumbup:
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I think I heard Cutlerylover in his review of the Sting mention that the blade stock could be thinned out a bit to make it a better slicer, I was just wondering if anyone actually did that. Also, for the huge number of complaints I have heard about its sheath, I thought it was fine. It's retention was good, it didn't rattle, and I thought it was fairly comfortable to carry. I also thought it was pretty easy to conceal to.
 
I do occasionally carry the sting with the ankle configuration and it works well for me. You need to figure out where to put it on your leg to have it to where it is comfortable to use and such. I am also trying to find a way to make it a better knife for everyday, but i'm not seeing it happening.
:eek:
 
K1CKtheCHICKEN said:
I do occasionally carry the sting with the ankle configuration and it works well for me. You need to figure out where to put it on your leg to have it to where it is comfortable to use and such. I am also trying to find a way to make it a better knife for everyday, but i'm not seeing it happening.
:eek:
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I've tried carrying it on my ankle, but it just doesn't sit well with me. I prefer belt carry. If I had a belt sander and knew what I was doing, I would try to thin out the blade stock, but I don't really see myself doing that any time soon. I did get it paper slicing sharp on the sharpmaker, but it does not cut well at all.
 
I carried mine for several years as an everyday knife and it never failed to do what I asked of it. If it had a better sheath I still might be carrying it today, I have often considered getting a leather sheath made for it.
 
VolundoftheForge said:
View attachment 331091
Personally want to try out the upgraded model direct from A.G Russell.
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Eh. A little too pretty for my taste. The original and CRKT models just have a certain aura of bad assery surrounding them.

markksr said:
I carried mine for several years as an everyday knife and it never failed to do what I asked of it. If it had a better sheath I still might be carrying it today, I have often considered getting a leather sheath made for it.
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Did you modify it at all or was it in stock configuration?
 
Bugout Bill said:
Did you modify it at all or was it in stock configuration?
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Stock.

P2280169.jpg
 
I carry mine daily, I got a sheath maker to make me an IWB leather sheath for it, I carry 4-5 oclock (kidney) area, it doesn't print but it's always there when I need it.
 
I love the sting for its That was the design function of every dagger. I've never figured out why REI carries it, as it seems the anti outdoor knife, unless it's for SD. If you want a great knife, buy it. It is. But don't expect it to do everything, and watch your laws for carrying daggers. Not legal in many areas.
 
When the original Sting came on the scene in the late 70's, I carried that knife for many years.
I asked A. G. to design a new combat-grade Sting with an acid washed blade and a better sheath design.
 
markksr said:
I carried mine for several years as an everyday knife and it never failed to do what I asked of it. If it had a better sheath I still might be carrying it today, I have often considered getting a leather sheath made for it.
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And I took a chance this week and bought an old original Sting sheath off of eBay and it fits like a glove. This should go great tucked in my new boots!

20130710_221106.jpg


Looking forward to getting some carry-time with my old companion... :thumbup:
 
I've been carrying it times when i've needed a small sharpened pry bar. As for SD uses, i've no real problem when it comes to dealing with people, and the only other thing i'd need defense against in my area is boars.

That being said, if you need to use a knife like the Sting for its intended purpose, you might want to get a new sheath and epoxy some sand onto the handle.
 
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