Crkt

H

hjaffe

Joined
Oct 13, 2000
Messages
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I don't know if this has come up before or not. I know this is the Spyderco forum, and I could not find a CRKT forum. I own many Spydies including Civilian, Native, Keating, Viele, Jot Singh, Dyad, but I just wanted to say Watch out, Spyderco! CRKT is putting out some fine, creative knives. I'm sure many of you are aware of them. The Steve Ryan, and the Walker Bladelock are 2 very unique, excellent quality knives and are pretty inexpensive. Personally, I have all the Spydies I want right now, and I'm finding the CRKT's more tempting. This is not an ad!
 
Frankly, I think Spyderco is more than up to the task--if that's what you want to know.
Bring it on...

P.S. can put in word for me @ CRKT, to please consider using decent quality steel for a change?
Thanks.
 
wo whats up w/this?? what kinda spydies ya got w/a steel like AUS6? mine are like ATS55 and 34, 440C and others, better than the crkt stuff imho- dont get me wrong, crkt is ok for the price, really excellent - i have bought crkt knives that were licensed copies of customs, and have went out and gotten the customs (ie crawford kasper and polkawski kasper companion) and the crkt clones are a close copy, closer than i thought - but imho the spyderco is a better knife, for not much more money, and certainly worth the diff for me - yeah crkt has some neat stuff, but as well made a a spydie?? nah not imho - also i hate to say it, but imho the crkt's are really a entry level knife, or a knife for extreme usage were they gotta be cheap cuz ya lose/break them continuously - some of the spydies i have have respectable collector value (ie millie w/ATS34 and engraved logo, and Lum Ti #445) and are, imho, a step above (or 2or 3 ) over crkt - and no i dont work for spyderco...........


sifu
 
I'm not trying to start something here... just suggesting you guys take a look... The Steve Ryan is a great knife-- and it's got a very clever liner lock LOCK. They also put teflon disks in the pivot so it's always smooth.. No one is saying that one is always better than another. But I also own SOG, Kershaw, Gerber, etc. I like to keep an open mind, and I think CRKT is stepping up to be a quality manufacturer.
 
Yah, I hate to break it to you, but AUS6M is not a terrific steel, and doesn't compare well to ATS-55, ATS-34, VG-10, or even AUS 8.

Not to mention the spydie heat treat is, in my opinion, superior.

I like CRKT, but AUS 6M is the WORST part about their knives. They need to drop the AUS 6, and go for AUS 8 or better.

Of course, after paying only $9.99 for a mirage, I guess I can't complain. Decent knife, specially for the price. However, my delica gets a lot more use, and is certainly a better knife.

CRKT is really moving into the higher end knives. Some of their new offerings retail at over $100:eek: At $40 and less, CRKT is a good deal. At $115, a CRKT is NOT a good deal - you could get a great Spydie, Benchmade, Kershaw, Emerson, etc for that price. And when you look at some of the new spydie offerings (Meerkat, Vesuvius, etc) - for about the same money, you get decent steel and innovation in the lock department. (CRKT = mostly liner locks :barf:)

I'll stick with Spyderco, a better deal by far in my opinion.
-- Rob
 
OK, just thought I'd mention it... It's going to be pretty easy for CRKT to change their steel. Maybe easier than it will be for Spyderco to make knives that don't all look the same...

By the way, the Walker is not a liner lock, and locks open and closed. And the Chinook steel is 440V--I guess it compensates by being thick.
 
well to each his own, will be a while, imho, before crkt equals spydie in the quality department ..........wow i never thought i would have to argue this one lol- as far as the ryan model 7, i think the handles look FuNkY and the lock on the other one, though kinda cool, looks like it would be prone to closing on ya in a difficult situation, by accidently pressing the button - give me a good old liner lock for that kinda knife imho


sifu
 
hjaffe is right about one thing: CRKT makes good $30 knives.

He'd do well to read a steel FAQ, however.
 
Originally posted by hjaffe
OK, just thought I'd mention it... It's going to be pretty easy for CRKT to change their steel. Maybe easier than it will be for Spyderco to make knives that don't all look the same...
Click to expand...

I doubt very much CRKT will suddenly start making ATS-34 and BG-42 knives. So-called "exotic" steels cost a lot, and would ruin CRKT's profit margin. AUS 6M is one of the cheapest high carbon stainless steels. Also, changing steels is not a simple process, especially when changing from a relatively soft easy to work steel like AUS 6M, to a hard, more difficult to sharpen steel like ATS-34.

I don't think all spyderco's look the same, any more than all CRKT's look the same. Compare the Gunting to the Lum Chinese to the Ayoob to the Cricket to see what I mean. They all share the opening hole, but, not a whole lot else.


By the way, the Walker is not a liner lock, and locks open and closed. And the Chinook steel is 440V--I guess it compensates by being thick.
Click to expand...

You're right, the bladelock is not a liner lock. However, I've heard that it's very difficult to close without cutting yourself, and I haven't heard much about it's strength. CRKT also has a frame-lock, but the vast majority of their knives are liner locks. Spyderco also has liner locks (Military, Wegner, etc) - but they're very strong, especially in comparison to the flimsy liners on CRKT products. I doubt the bladelock is anywhere near as strong as the compression lock.

As for the comment about the Chinook's steel - I think you need to read the steel faq. CPM 440V is a different creature than the other 440 steels (440A, 440B, 440C) that you're probably familiar with. It ranks very highly in toughness, edge holding, etc. (Same general quality as ATS-34, IMHO)
-- Rob
 
CRKT is a good inexpensive knife
I think they have a long way to go before they equal a spydie
I absolutely hate ZYTEL scales.

I own a CRKt Viele and a Spydie Viele and there is just no comparison
The Spydie has it all over the CRKT. Not that the CRKT wasp is bad it's been in my pocket for 3 weeks now, I love the blade shape.
But the finish of the Spydie Viele is just head and shoulders above the CRKT. The blade is also a lot sharper out of the box.

I'm probably going to order a second Viele Spydie in plane edge soon and make it my EDC off duty knife.
 
anyone have info on aus-118? I was just looking at the CRKT site and they claim that most of their stuff is now aus 118.
 
AUS 118 is a new one on me!

I like CRKT. I have a Bear Claw, a PECK, and an M16-13Z. Have to say I was impressed by the M16's liner lock. Pretty sturdy and well made, IMO. And I even got it on sale!

However, I carry Spydies. If I were REALLY financially strapped, yeah, I might go for the CRKTs, and still be pretty well equipped (esp. compared to the POS crap out there).

I also think most knife knuts like and own all kinds of knives, and can appreciate different levels of quality.

As for me, I've bought more Spyderco lately than any other brand. If I were dirty stinking filthy rich, I think this wouldn't change. I'd just be buying more of everything, in roughly the same proportions!

Karl
 
Originally posted by hjaffe
You got a problem with AUS-6M? It's a better steel than a lot of my Spydies..
Click to expand...

?????????????

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

Say, buddy, I got a moonrock I'd like to sell ya... :rolleyes:
 
So hjaffe, are you trying to compare CPM 440V to AUS6M? The 440v with Spyderco's heat treat beats CRKT's AUS6 hands down in every category. CRKT does make good knives for the money, but I have to agree with all the other Spyderco Fans who would rather pay $100 for a Spyderco than a CRKT.
 
hjaffe,
I'm a huge fan of CRK&T. Even with their use of AUS6M, I firmly believe they provide an excellent value for the money spent.
But, Spyderco has little to fear from CRK&T.
For all the killer knifemaker collaberations CRK&T has going right now, Spyderco has an equally impressive stable of knifemakers doing collabs with the Spydie.
Spyderco has designs that are classics among nearly all in the knifenut community. CRK&T is just now scratching that surface.
CRK&T rocks, but Spyderco has them out-classed. Better materials(this is a MAJOR biggie), better construction, attention to detail and an R&D dept. that CRK&T wishes it had.
As good as CRK&T is, they have a ways to go before they become serious competition for Spyderco, IMHO.
 
I am a CRKT fan. They make some excelent knives, and AUS6 is not a bad steel. It works, it takes an edge, but it's not as good as the steel in most spydies. I do beleive that the Companion is the best fixed blade value on the market, but for folders I'll stick to spyderco. Better materials, better quality. The original poster should be headed however:
1) CRKT has many custom collaborations, and is probably the only company to do this to such a large extent (after spyderco). Benchmade has a couple guys, but CRKT makes affordable copies of sought after customs.
2) The average (non-forumite) buyer will not know 440V from 440A From AUS6, from his butt. All these steels sound like random combinations of letters and numbers, and even after you learn a little, it's a contreversial topic, everyone has an opinion on what is a good knife steel.
3) You can get a KFF for 50 bucks, the most similar spyderco, Chinook maybe??? is way more. There are reasons for this, but lots of people don't know them. Sal posted on this a while back.

Don't get me wrong, I'd take my endura over every CRKT I own any day, but CRKT does make great designs at great prices with adequate materials.
 
Nope, sorry.
CRKT doesn't measure up to most other brands, especially Spyderco. They are an inexpensive. albeit "authorized" copy of various custom makers' models. Manufactured with inferior to present day standards of metal. Average workmanship.
I'll take my Spydie into a life or death situation and visit my wife and son at the end of the day. ANY DAY.
It's the difference between buying a kit car that looks like a Viper and putting it on a VW chassis. Look pretty? Yep. Performance? Nope.

John
 
Hello hello

I do not own any CRKT knives, but my brother does. I do have a comment about FRN Spydies...Ever since FRN spydies went to a metal clip, their lockbacks became sloppy (IMHO) when visiting the Spyderco Retail Store for FRNs I always ask to see 4 or 5 enduras or delicas. There seems to be variation in the tightness of the lock up. Steel selection is important but FOR ME a folder is not worth buying unless it locks up tight. I dont care how many pounds it can withstand, a lock back with vertical and horizontal play is an example of poor fitting ( I know that lock backs inherently have some play). I picked up 3 of my brother's CRKTs and the lock up is tight with no vertical or horizontal play.

I dont feel that AUS-8 will let you down when you need to make that cut, but I do feel that a lock with unecesary play can let you down in an emergency

I continue to be a spyderco man

Bill
 
I own several CRKT's and I'll admit that for the money, they are hard to beat. However, in comparing them to CRKT's to Spyderco's, I feel bad putting them both in the same sentence. I will use CRKT knives and I will defend them as decent work knives, but Spyderco's they are not! I own about 10 CRKTs liner locks and 5 Spyderco liner locks and a bunch of lock backs. I have experienced lock failure on 2 CRKT's. I have never had any problems with the Spyderco's. If you think that a CRKT liner lock is solid, then you need to check out a Wegner! You will be amazed! As far as lock backs go, I have never had one with any kind of blade play. After alot of use, there may be some, but otherwise, no way. I did have some play on my Meerkat, but as with most new locks, they are probably still tweaking it...
Matt
 
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