Do you get what you pay for?

R

ravenQ8

Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
208
I'm still shopping around and I keep coming back to CRKT. I like the looks of the Polkowsky Companion but its only $35. And the M18 looks good too but its only $75. Most of the knives I've bought before have been $100+. Would I be disappointed with CRKT?
Also, would the Companion be okay for neck carry?
That's enough for one thread.
 
I have a combo edge companion...

I think the Companion is too big for neck carry... unless you don't mind a full sized knife around your neck. Don't worry about spending $35 on one, or $75 on an M-18. The carson designs are AWESOME, and I traded my M-16 only because it was too small for my hands. The M-18s, M-16s and Kaspers are all great knives.
 
I can not see how you could not be pleased with CRKT knives. They offer great value, and that is exactly what they are trying to do.

The M16 that I owned until I recently gave it away was an excellent, low cost knife. I recommend it highly.
 
Usually. Columbia River, Outdoor edge, and some offerings from Camillus are the exception to the rule.:)
 
Do a Search. There were several posts that the Companion took a great edge, but would not hold it at all. Couple cuts on stuff and it was dull. I do not own one, I do not know. But a search on BF for recent posts might turn up those that made the comments. I do not own any CRKT products and will probably not buy any. Doesnt mean you should not. I would rather have better quality knives that happen to cost more and interest me more.
 
I think you'd be genuinely disappointed with any AUS6 CRKT because I hear the heat treat is pretty mediocre, but the AUS8s are fine (such as the M18).
In response to the generic question "do you get what you pay for?" - well, ya do and you don't.
Put it this way, I consider any generic FRN Spyderco as just as good in terms of quality as your Benchmades and Al Mars and so on and so forth, the only difference is really materials - I like G10, and in some cases i'm willing to pay extra for it, but for the most part there can be great values found out there, particularly with knives comprised of FRN/Zytel/Polymide and T6 Aluminum.
I think the M18 is particularly impressive... while i've never owned or handled one - I very much enjoy Kit's designs, it has some nice features as well:
Nice aluminum body, G10 inlay, great blade style (but don't even think about getting it comboedge, CRKT has crap serrations.) and of course a couple of my favorites, the Carson Flipper and LAWKS system... all in all a nice value for $70-$75.
 
I think people have trouble with the AUS-6 because 1) the material they cut or 2) improper sharpening. If you buy a Companion for cutting up boxes all day, you are nuts. A utility blade for only a few dollars would be a MUCH better choice. Ditto for carpet!!!

About the sharpening though... The edge is ground on one side, which you have to sharpen a bit differently. Also, AUS-6 is not ATS-34. You can't just do 20 strokes per side as per instructions on your gizmo sharpener and expect great results. I suspect that some who sharpen the AUS-6 are getting a wire edge and the wire breaks off, this dulling the knife.
 
Steel snobs aside, CRKT does produce great knives for the money. For the average Joe, AUS-6 works just fine. That and the fact that they're made in Taiwan is how CRKT keeps their prices low.
 
I have "several" knives (ahem...), but carry my little CRKT Apache III (combo-edge) with me most of the time. It is small enough to clip nicely into the little 5th pocket of my jeans. It's great for the everyday tasks I ask of it, without being bulky or intimidating. It's ATS-34 (teflon coated), and only cost me $35 shipped. I have knives that cost considerably more that get used considerably less...
 
Although AUS6M is not that great, it ain't too bad either. I have numerous CRKT knives with this steel and have had NO PROBLEMS with either sharpening or edge holding. I get a kick from someone who is debating whether or not to buy a knife for 50.00, just because of the AUS6 steel. If it bothers you so much, buy a Sebenza for 350.00+. Personally, I can't see anything wrong with this steel.
 
Buy it, use it, enjoy it.
I have a CRKT wharnie mirage. I use it at work when I don't want to go get a mat knife (box cutter). I cut cardboard, brown shipping paper, & the package on my little chocolate doughnuts too.
Does it need to be sharpened? Occasionally. I usually steel it on the spine of my Dozier K-9. I've never let it get real dull by doing that.
The lesser steels will do every day chores just fine. (Except the dreaded 420j2! )
I really think it is a matter of what you need
Besides that, I enjoy sharpening my knives!
If not for anything else, you can get some shrpening practice.

Any way to justify a new knife purchase for a fellow knifeknut ;)
 
I gave my brother a Urban Shark (complaiments to bob glassman:) ) for Christmas and uses it every day.

I haven't had a chance to sharpen it yet (can't seem to find the stones) but it still sharp as ever.
 
CRK&T dose give you a lot of bang for you buck. I have a Apache, a M16, a Stiff Kiss MDP, a Big Sky Partner and a Companion. I like them all. CRK&T also has very good customer service.
 
Hey Crayola, what exactly do you mean the CRKT companion is ground on one side? You mean its a chisel grind knife? Wow thats news to me. Thats a big hunk of the reason its so cheap if that true. But I thought it was ground on both sides in a regular V grind.
 
Um, I guess I should clarify!

The blade is double ground, but no the edge. I read somewhere that is is common for combo edged blades to be sharpened only on the one side, and lo and behold, my combo edge Companion is. I'm not sure about the plain edge.

Once again, the knife is double ground, but the edge (on the combo one anyways) is ground on the one side only. You can sharpen as normal, or sharpen the sharpened side and strop the other. or you can do a few strikes at a shallow angle like I do.
 
I'll jump on the bandwagon!!

I find CRKT to be a great bang for the buck. The designs are great, the overall craftsmanship is very good, and the prices are excellent.

While I've never used AUS-118, their in-house exotic, I have used their AUS-6M and AUS-8's quite a bit. I have found the AUS-8 in the M-18 series to be outstanding. I also like the ease of sharpening that the AUS-6M offers. A few licks on a Sharpmaker, and it's good as new. The only knife I've ever had a problem with in the sharpness category was the M4 Carson Neck Knife. I can get it sharp, but the sheath seems to immediatly dull the little sucker.

In a nutshell, you should definitely try one, I think you will be pleased.
 
CRKT is very good for the money. Generally custom-styled knives (or at least, featuring the name of a custom maker) for a real reasonable price. My CRKT Mirage is definitely the best $14 in knife money I've spent. Again, don't go by the list prices on CRKT's site, you can get them for MUCH cheaper!

I would add Cold Steel to this category. Good bang for the buck. CS actually uses better steel than CRKT, but the overall knife comes out looking a little cheaper. Functions flawlessly, good steel, great lock, but looks cheap (those cheesy scales).

Now there are a number of others out there, whose names I haven't bothered to remember, that are pure unadulterated JUNK, and they still want CRKT-like money for them. In this price range (sub $40) you really do have to physically hold them in your hand to rate the product. The "S&W Cuttin' Horse" I looked at recently, which was marked $35, wasn't half the knife my $14 CRKT is, for instance. (And the S&Ws are *good* compared to other knives this shop had!)

-- PG
 
Oh, "PS": If you're not stuck on stainless, you should seriously consider looking at Newt Livesay's neck knives (click his name to go there). You can get a Woo for $25 or so (he also has others in this price range), and I would much rather have one of these than a PK Companion.

-- PG
 
I have a Companion and I think it's ok strictly as a tactical/defense knife. As someone said, you would not want to cut boxes all day with it. Not too bad of a deal but, I too would rather have a Livesay knife. My experiences with CRKT have been about 50/50. Several of my liner locks failed while some didn't. I do love CRKT's KFF, even with the AUS6 but can't find one that engages properly. If you can find a good one, I think CRKT is ok for the $.
 
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