CRKT Sting

[Jack Black]

I purchased one of the Columbia River Knife & Tool versions of the A.G.Russell Sting by mail order the other day. I really like the design of the knife, and even the sheath I found ok, but the edge, far from being “razor sharp” as CRKT claim, is really dull.

I contacted the mail order company to see if I had just got a duff knife, and they told me: “All the CRKT Stings are the same ie with a not razor sharp blade as they are designed as a penetrating rather an edged tool. You may be able to get more of an edge on it by sharpening it thoroughly.”

Obviously I’m considering returning the knife (which due to the poor state of the British £ was not particularly cheap incidentally), but I would appreciate some advice.

1) If anyone owns one of the CRKT Stings, will it take a decent (ie shaving sharp) edge?

2) Are all CRKT knives this blunt when they are shipped?

 

[antonio_luiz]

CRKT often collaborates with other makers to make budget versions of popular knives - not always successfully. If you were expecting the same quality as a knife from AGR then you're likely to be disappointed.

Very few factory edges are actually "razor sharp" - this term is routinely misused by marketing to mean that they will probably slice your fingers open if you run them along the edge. I don't know how they can justify comparing an edge with obviouse grind marks against a polished cut-throat razor - but that's marketing for you. Some will shave arm hairs but the only knife I bought to use (vs collect) that came with a real 'shaving sharp' edge (in fact better than I'm able to achieve with my current Western stones) was a hand-forged nakiri from Japan.

In answer to your 2 questions. Can't speak for your Sting - you should be able to achieve a shaving sharp edge but retaining it is an unknown - CRKT knives are extremely variable in quality. Could be the 'bluntness' on your Sting is due to the wire edge not being cleaned off - you can test for this by gently running your thumb from the side of the knife across (not along) the edge - usually one side will feel smooth and the other will catch a bit. This was the problem with my first CRKT fixed blade - a very handsome Kommer Signature Kilbuck. It came with a pronounced wire edge (aka burr) left by the factory grind and I decided I just couldn't live with it so the Kilbuck is one of the few new knives in my collection that I took to the sharpening stones - unfortunately the steel on this very pretty mirror finished blade is very soft and won't retain it's shaving sharpness. On the other hand all of my CRKT folders came with decent slicing edges - with the Taiwanese made ones better than the Chinese - although none that I'd want to try and shave with

 

[Phillip Dobson]

I'd just try to sharpen it and see what happens.

I don't buy their story about a "penetrating" knife not needing to be sharp. A knife should be as sharp as the geometry allows. Otherwise just get an icepick. That said, I've never had a factory edge that couldn't be improved in a couple of minutes on a stone. Just get used to sharpening new knives, and don't worry unless they completely botch the geometry.

 

[Josh K]

I'd just try to sharpen it and see what happens.

I don't buy their story about a "penetrating" knife not needing to be sharp. A knife should be as sharp as the geometry allows. Otherwise just get an icepick. That said, I've never had a factory edge that couldn't be improved in a couple of minutes on a stone. Just get used to sharpening new knives, and don't worry unless they completely botch the geometry.

Good advice.

CRKT's knife steel varies greatly from AUS-4 to AUS-8 & some alphabet soup steels.

Their quality in terms of build construction and design is very good however.

The out of the box sharpness is comparable to other knife companies. The M21 I had was shaving sharp out of the box, the M21SFG was a bit less. The edge consistency isn't really what you get with a Spyderco or Kershaw.

Whatever you do, don't try their "slide-sharp" system. It's junk. Get a Sharpmaker or a couple of DMT Stones and use those.

 

[Jack Black]

Many thanks for all the helpful advice fellers.

CRKT often collaborates with other makers to make budget versions of popular knives - not always successfully. If you were expecting the same quality as a knife from AGR then you're likely to be disappointed.

I certainly wasn't expecting that quality Antonio, but I would at least expect the edge of a knife to be sharp. The edge on the model I received really was very blunt.

Very few factory edges are actually "razor sharp" - this term is routinely misused by marketing to mean that they will probably slice your fingers open if you run them along the edge. I don't know how they can justify comparing an edge with obviouse grind marks against a polished cut-throat razor - but that's marketing for you. Some will shave arm hairs...

I couldn't agree more. If a knife will dry shave the hairs from the back of my arm I'm quite happy with it, but few factory made knives seem to be able to do that out of the box. To be fair though, not all manufacturers use the term "razor sharp". My Spyderco knives have always arrived sharp, as to give them their due have ones from Cold Steel. I have a range of other American, British, and Scandanavian knives (some custom but mostly factory-made) which were equally sharp. I've been disappointed with the edges of Buck and Gerber knives I've bought for example, but they really didn't compare to the edge on this CRKT knife.

Could be the 'bluntness' on your Sting is due to the wire edge not being cleaned off

No, I'm afraid it's way beyond that.

I'd just try to sharpen it and see what happens.

My concern was that if I do that I'm stuck with the knife if it turns out just to be junk! After reading what you guys have to say though, I think I probably will hang onto it, and just sharpen it myself.

I don't buy their story about a "penetrating" knife not needing to be sharp. A knife should be as sharp as the geometry allows. Otherwise just get an icepick. That said, I've never had a factory edge that couldn't be improved in a couple of minutes on a stone. Just get used to sharpening new knives, and don't worry unless they completely botch the geometry.

No, I don't buy that story either, it's obviously rubbish, and I was a bit surprised to even hear a quality retailer even trying it on like that. There's nothing wrong with the geometry of the knife though - it's just like they forgot to sharpen it!

Whatever you do, don't try their "slide-sharp" system. It's junk. Get a Sharpmaker or a couple of DMT Stones and use those.

Thanks for that extra advice Josh. I'd seen that system advertised, and didn't think it looked that good. I've always found Spyderco's ceramic stones to be good, but was thinking of investing in a Sharpmaker.

Thanks for your help guys. I did e-mail CRKT about the knife, but didn't get a reply.

All the best

Jack

 

[Josh K]

Thanks for your help guys. I did e-mail CRKT about the knife, but didn't get a reply.

FWIW I have sent several emails to CRKT asking about clip positions and blade steels used on their lineup of knives and have not received one response.

Still like the M16/M21 lineup. They make some nice budget knives.

 

[Jack Black]

FWIW I have sent several emails to CRKT asking about clip positions and blade steels used on their lineup of knives and have not received one response.

That's a shame. Looks like I won't be hearing from them then. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[tirod3]

FWIW, the CRKT Sting I bought from AG's showroom was as sharp at the original I picked up in the last catalog offering. They both compare well to the sharpness I experienced with the Gerber Mark I and II.

Comparing double edged stabbers like these to a Spyderco Military, tho, and they fall to the level of dull in comparison. I've never seen a thick, double edge knife slice as well as a thin single edge. The compromise in geometry can't be overcome.

 

[Phil Elmore]

FWIW I have sent several emails to CRKT asking about clip positions and blade steels used on their lineup of knives and have not received one response.

Still like the M16/M21 lineup. They make some nice budget knives.

You have no way of knowing if your mails are getting through to anyone or not. They could be intercepted by a spam filter. You should try actually calling someone in customer service.

CRKT makes a variety of very affordable knives in an amazing array of different design and feature choices. They are a good company with whom I've always had positive dealings.

I honestly cannot understand anyone being upset that a knife's factory edge wasn't sharp enough to suit them. Just sharpen it.

 

[Josh K]

You have no way of knowing if your mails are getting through to anyone or not. They could be intercepted by a spam filter. You should try actually calling someone in customer service.

CRKT makes a variety of very affordable knives in an amazing array of different design and feature choices. They are a good company with whom I've always had positive dealings.

I honestly cannot understand anyone being upset that a knife's factory edge wasn't sharp enough to suit them. Just sharpen it.

I set me email system to issue a return receipt on all emails I send. They got it, they opened it, they didn't respond.

With the "variety of affordable knives in an amazing ... feature choices" I do agree. Solid knives with good quality manufacturing.

 

[Phil Elmore]

Why not call to follow up, then?

 

[Sep]

I never worry about factory edge. If the knife is a collector then it doesn't matter. If it's a user then (with few exceptions) it will be reprofiled and sharpened to my liking anyway.

 

[Josh K]

Why not call to follow up, then?

First off my work hours take me outside of the nine to five call time.

The questions were basic and more for curiosity rather then something that I needed to know. I wanted to know about 3Cr13 steel, and why they moved the clip on the 8Cr13MoV models. Not worth a phone call to me.

 

[neeman]

The Sting is 1050 carbon which should be easy to sharpen and hold a good edge

 

[SOLEIL]

The Sting is 1050 carbon which should be easy to sharpen and hold a good edge

The two that we got from AG were razor sharp on both edges. We got them as soon as they came out. And being 1050 they are as neeman stated. CRKT may have dulled them down a bit as the sheath design is not the best for safe removal. I put lanyards on both of them to get a better grip for safer removal.

 

[Jack Black]

Comparing double edged stabbers like these to a Spyderco Military, tho, and they fall to the level of dull in comparison. I've never seen a thick, double edge knife slice as well as a thin single edge. The compromise in geometry can't be overcome.

That's a very fair point.

CRKT makes a variety of very affordable knives in an amazing array of different design and feature choices. They are a good company with whom I've always had positive dealings.

I honestly cannot understand anyone being upset that a knife's factory edge wasn't sharp enough to suit them. Just sharpen it.

It's good to have the feedback on CRKT, a company I've personally had no previous dealings with.

I do think I have good reason to complain here though, it's not just that the factory edge isn't as sharp as I'd like it to be, it's about as sharp as the corners of my kitchen table, and in fact even the point isn't that sharp. When you pay for a brand new knife, particularly one that's advertised as "razor sharp", I think it's only reasonable that it arrives having been sharpened. It just seems here that somebody did a bad day's work here, and according to the shipper this isn't a one-off.

Still no reply to my own e-mail to CRKT I'm afraid.

As has been said the Sting is made from decent steel and hopefully I can get a good edge on it. I just don't understand why more effort wasn't put into doing that at the factory.

 

[diamdave]

My Browning Ice Storms came literally razor sharp. My Packrat came razor sharp. No reason not to expect that from a knife company.

 

[Jack Black]

My Browning Ice Storms came literally razor sharp. My Packrat came razor sharp. No reason not to expect that from a knife company.

I agree diamdave, if the steel will take a good edge why not sharpen it, surely that's all part of the service we should expect when we purchase a new knife? You don't buy a new car and expect to have to pump the tyres up. I had a very small cutlery business years ago, and I would have been absolutely ashamed if a customer had received a knife that wasn't shaving sharp.

 

[Phil Elmore]

So actually CALL the company and request some customer service. That seems to me a lot easier than getting so worked up about the fact that the knife was not properly sharp. It's not as if the Sting is even tremendously expensive.

E-mail is not a reliable method of getting customer service from anyone. If you want action and you want it right away you have to call.

 

[Josh K]

E-mail is not a reliable method of getting customer service from anyone. If you want action and you want it right away you have to call.

Email has fast become the preferred method of communication for business to operate. To disregard it as a source of customer service is unwise.