Crkt...

S

Steve5D

Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
14
What's the prevailing sentiment regarding CRKT?

I've got an M16-13Z that I really, really like . I bought it on clearance from a shopping mall dealer that was going out of business. I bought one for myself and one for my brother. In hindsight, I should've bought more.

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Anyone else carry one of these? I don't know a lot about knives, but this one seems like good quality for the money...
 
I have had several of the M16-13Z knives and gave them all away. I did however like the old M16-13 with AUS8 blade and aluminum scales.

They are a great company to get newbs into the knifemarket at reasonable prices. I wished they used some better steels, but overall quality is there.


-Xander
 
Quite honestly in my opinion there not bad knives, but for the price there's much better company's that offer IMO better knives with better materials for the same price (Kershaw springs to mind) I will how ever say they aren't bad knives and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like some of there designs, and in my opinion the best thing about the company is there designs, while the quality (I'm talking about materals) isn't always there, again the designs (again IMO) are for the most part excellent....they make good beater knives: )

Sorry if this sounds a little off, it's 1:00 and all lol....
 
Well, I'm definitely what would be considered a newbie. I've got this one, a couple of Kershaws, and a Smith & Wesson that I found on the San Diego Trolley about a year ago.

Aside from Kershaw, what other brands might I look at in the sub-$100.00 range?
 
Steve5D said:
Well, I'm definitely what would be considered a newbie. I've got this one, a couple of Kershaws, and a Smith & Wesson that I found on the San Diego Trolley about a year ago.

Aside from Kershaw, what other brands might I look at in the sub-$100.00 range?
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Spyderco has a good deal under $100: delica, endura dragonfly, ladybug, manbug, native, UKPK, stretch, pingo, cat, Chicago, spin, cricket...also benchmade has some models under $100 and most of Buck's models are under $100...
 
They are gateway knives. Alot of their designs are quite interesting and functional, as well as being very affordable. I was a big CRKT fan for awhile, mostly because their knives were cool and cheap, but I have moved on to other manufacturers. That being said, I think their quality is beginning to improve. A lot of their new offerings might be worth checking out.

There were some annoying things about CRKT, though. They use a lot of weird alphabet soup steels and use a weird chisel edge on some of their knives.

As for sub-$100, Spyderco and Kershaw make some nice stuff. I hesitate to recommend SOG, but to each their own. If you shop around, you might be able to find a Benchmade in the $75 range.
 
I think CRKT has really matured. They are moving away from the cool but not functional knives and going towards the cool but functional style. I really want a Ripple but have to save my money right now. I think they need to use better steels in some models. I have the SPEW and it comes in 5Cr13. Not impressed at all. Can't take a great edge and dulls quickly. If they upgrade it to 8Cr13MoV (or AUS8) I'd be a lot happier
 
As most have said, they are not bad. I enjoy the low price point they stay at and have everything from the M16-10Z to the Nirk Tighe. All of them have decent F&F and hold their edge for their materials.

Edited to add: I do have to say, I REALLY do not like the auto lawks. That would be my biggest fault with their knives.
 
Ihave a knee-jerk/cringe reaction when CRKT is brought up. Especially their folders. Cheap materials and build quality....even for their prices.
 
Steve5D said:
Well, I'm definitely what would be considered a newbie. I've got this one, a couple of Kershaws, and a Smith & Wesson that I found on the San Diego Trolley about a year ago.

Aside from Kershaw, what other brands might I look at in the sub-$100.00 range?
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Can't answer your original question, as I only have a couple CRKTs. I have the fixed blade C/K Dragon, which is a design meant specifically for defense/combat, cool looking but not something I carry(I like the design hence why I bought it, but...a fighting knife isn't something I have any need to carry), and the Premonition which is a nice sleek $20 flipper, seems similar in quality to Kershaw's $20 budget line but I've only carried it a few times so haven't tested it a lot. I do wanna get a Ripple though, just haven't tried it yet.

Now, as for good sub-$100 knives, Kershaw has some great choices indeed. Spyderco also makes some great ones...the Native, Manix 2, Endura, Delica, all quality and all sub $100. Cold Steel has some good ones, especially if you like large bladed folders(Rajah 2, Voyager XL, etc), but even their normal folders like the Recon 1 and the smaller Voyagers are good sturdy beater knives. They have some decent fixed blades as well, if that is of interest. Opinels and Victorinox Swiss Army Knives(SAKs) are time tested classics and very affordable as well. Buck has a lot of sub $100 stuff as well, both folders like the Buck 110(you could even get a spiffy 110 from the Buck Custom Shop and still come in at under $100 depending on what materials you pick) and fixed blades(ie Buck 119 Special). Benchmade has a few in the sub-$100 range, the Griptilian and Mini-Griptilian being popular choices.

Are you only interested in folders/EDCs, or are fixed blades of interest to you as well? If so, the classic USMC Ka-Bar can be had for $60-70, and you can get a Mora(classic "bushcraft" knife) for very little cost. Condor has a lot of good fixed blades(and machetes) ranging from $30-80 and are well worth looking at if you're into "bushcraft", camp knives, machetes, or other "outdoor" type knives.
 
I once had that same knife with a plain edge. I wasn't too impressed with the materials used (soft plasticky scales) and it didn't seem to hold a good edge either (no wonder, it's 55 RC AUS-4!) It also got blade play, but to be fair I did some pretty dumb stuff with it.

I will say this, though, I liked the non-assisted flipper (fun) I liked the blade shape (looked quite cool and dagger-like) and I liked the handle shape.

Overall I liked the knife, it would be very nice in a higher-quality version.



The main problem I had with it was the blade play it developed, although I haven't treated any other knives (apart from Tri-Ad locks) as harshly... so that may be quite unfair.

Fun knife.
 
CRKT seems like a company that lost it's way and is now finding it again. They used to use quite a bit of Japanese manufacturing and steels like ATS-34 before they went to Taiwan and China and the steels and quality town a significant downturn. Now they seem to be stepping up their game with the new offerings. Lots of very affordable IKBS models, a stable of very talented designers and it seems like they're more comitted to build quality. Of the major knife manufacturers IMO they've been coming out with the most models that intrigue me.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
CRKT seems like a company that lost it's way and is now finding it again. They used to use quite a bit of Japanese manufacturing and steels like ATS-34 before they went to Taiwan and China and the steels and quality town a significant downturn. Now they seem to be stepping up their game with the new offerings. Lots of very affordable IKBS models, a stable of very talented designers and it seems like they're more comitted to build quality. Of the major knife manufacturers IMO they've been coming out with the most models that intrigue me.
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I was unaware they had production in Japan? Which models were those?

I do have to agree on the whole stepping the game up. My wife and I have one of the Ripples(Framelock and Liner) and I have one of the Nirk Tighe's. Both are fantastic.
 
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They are actually not that bad in my opinion. I am not a great fun or something: I have got only a few of their knives, but those I have I mostly like. I have got Full Throttle - a nice gentlemanly knife, M1 - "for those who serve".... ;) , I had Lake Signature (the handle was not quite comfortable, but the blade was very nice!), Ken Onion's Swindle that I have bought quite recently is also a great fun. And I have got My Tighe knife: not too bad, very smoth opening, though the handle and blade shapes are a bit iffy to my taste. The only knife that I certainly do not like (and still own) is Hammond Cruiser: too heavy, fat handle, blade play, the clip that I could not swap to alternative location because screws were too short... So only one out of 6 - not too bad!
And I am eyeing their James Williams fixed blades recently: they are the things of beauty, but a bit pricey for me at the moment...
 
CRKT has great products, assuming you use knives like the majority of people do. I have quite a few, as well as knives from Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, custom knives, etc. I continue to buy the models that interest me, because I think their quality is great, and, mostly, I'm no steel snob. I want knives that cut. They always done that quite well for me. And, unlike other companies, they have a variety of styles of knives, the have colors beside black, black, and black (ahem, Benchmade, Cold Steel , et al), and have more than one look (uh, Kershaw and Spyderco). Are they equal to a custom made knife? Nope. But they never claim to be. A their customer service, which I care more about than a name, has always been top notch. Oh and I can afford them.
 
I've owned a few and was never satisfied with them. Seems like a couple slices on cardboard or [a[er and you got to dig out the hones again.
Recently a guy at work was showing me his new CRKT, and already complaining about having to sharpen it to often. He's since got himself a Spyderco with CPM S30V blade at my suggestion, and more than happy. He gave the CRKT to another co-worker, who has since bought a Benchmade. LOL

No thanks to CRKT. My daily carry is a pair of Spydeco Military's, left satin finish and right all black. Love being able to whip them both out, open and close them simultaneously.
 
CRKT doesn't excite me at all. They have a couple really good designs, but tend to ruin them with gimmicky add-ons like "Auto-Lawks" and "Firesafe". I do think the liner-lock version of the Ripple is a superb value at it's price point. I also think the M16, M14, and M21 series is quite good. Other than that I tend to steer clear.
 
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