Favorite CRKT knife? Do we still love them?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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Years ago I used to LOVE CRKT knives for their ability to get a good knife for the money. They were like the Ruger of knives. But, lately, they've been making about a BAZILLION knifes a minute and bead-blasting all of them. I hate that they got addicted to bead-blast.

I like a lot of the older models...
The Commander Series
The Mirage Series
The Urban Sharks
The Big Sky Hunters

I'm not so sure about most of the current ones. I tried an M-16 and I hated it.

Yiterp gave me a FREE CRKT Ryan Plan B neck knife recently and now I'm have to re-evaluate CRKT (why I'm posting this) because it's a FANTASTIC knife! I actually handed it to a friend of mine who likes Busse and said, "Here, have you seen the new Busse?". He had a questioning look on his face for about 30 seconds but then he got it. The crinkle-finish and solid build of this knife IS rather impressive and (by a streatch) kinda Busse-like. The ergonomics are incredible. It really IS a tough knife too. The Ryan Plan B is easily my favorite CRKT knife now.

What the heck? Just when I was starting to hate CRKT I stumble upon this!

Can we re-visit CRKT and discuss their new products a bit? Now I'm confused.
 
I love CRKTS, Just about everyone I have handled or bought. The price is only one of many factors why. I am really looking forward to getting a WASP and a D.O.G. So far the Mirages are one of my favorites, I picked up 3 of them. Unlike you Fulloflead, I love the M16 series as well. I have two right now and plan on getting a couple more diffrent models. Also I have heard and read many great things about the M18 series. And plan on picking one of them up as well. :)


I am very thankfull that there are a few companies out there that make great knives at an affordable price. If it means having them made overseas, so be it, as long as the quality is there. Also I hear people whine allot about the steel used, While I understand steel is an important factor in a knife, I could care less as long as I can put an edge on it and it keeps for a reasonable period.:D
 
Originally posted by TheBadGuy
Unlike you Fulloflead, I love the M16 series as well. I have two right now and plan on getting a couple more diffrent models...Also I hear people whine allot about the steel used, While I understand steel is an important factor in a knife, I could care less as long as I can put an edge on it and it keeps for a reasonable period.:D
Click to expand...

OK. Let me explain:
The M-16 I got had a horrible lock. It was VERY sticky. The harder I flicked it open the harder it was to unlock. If I flicked it open hard then I needed a screwdriver to pry the lock back. If I could be sure of the quality of the lock I might be interested in one of the models with the double flipper.

I don't have a problem with CRKT's steel. It's fine. I like SOG's steels a LOT better, but their designs are hit and miss.

Doesn't CRKT's Bead-blast habit bother you, though?

Allen E. Treat: I LOVE the SOG Pentagon Elite. I hope you got the 5"blade model. I just wish it had G10 scales instead of Zytel. I hate Zytel scales. I don't mind total, thick Zytel handle construction like the Autoclip has or many of Cold Steel's knives. I just think it's awful when it's used for scales.

If CRKT would quit bead-blasting everything I'd buy a lot more CRKT knives. After all, they're cheap enough to buy on a whim when you've got a craving but no real money.
 
The Bead Blast finish really doesn't bother me that much, I never even noticed the increasing trend until you pointed it out. :)
 
I think that the steel they use isn't perfectly smooth (it has very faint up/down marks). Probably leftover marks from the grinding, and they just beadblast so that it's less apparent.

The rust-prone beadblast plus the soft steel means that I have to baby my CRKT's a lot. Not a real problem since I'm always at home, but I wouldn't want to bring one along on a camping trip. Well, I would bring a small hone anyway, but it's just annoying to have to resharpen/steel every 20 minutes.

My M16's lock used to stick too, I've had to pry it open once with a quarter. But over time, the surfaces have had time to wear and match each other, so now there's a perfectly strong but easy to disengage lockup. Maybe you should have given your M16 a little more time to break in.

My favorite CRKT is the spearpoint M16. I'm currently thinking about getting 2 more (to add to the 2 I already have).
 
The large plain edge M-18 is nearly folding knife Nirvana to me. I have to make myself put it aside to give some of the other folders some pocket time.
 
Still like CRKT but right now I can't seem to kick the Spyderco habit. In addition, I'm thinking of saving up for a Microtech SOCOM Elite.

Of CRKT's models, I really like the Howard Viele Wasp. The thing looks like it should be in the Museum of Modern Art. The limited edition one (with carbon fiber scales) made in Switzerland looks even better! Wow, is about all I can say for it.

I also like the Polkowski/Kasper fixed blade fighter...Especially for that price.
 
I love the big CRKT Apache Limited Edition. One of the few CRKT knives that is coated instead of bead blast and ATS-34 instead of the softer steels. I think it doesn't get the recognition it deserves but thats just my opinion. Its too bad they discontinued this model.
 
Yes the bead blasted models annoy the hell out of me. Cleaning up those rust spots are a pain in the ass for those that you don't use much. You forget about them and then when you remember them again they are full of little rust spots.

This has happened to two M16's and a C/K Pro of mine. Not a major problem to Flitz it but it can be a hassle.
 
nothing against crkt cause they do make good knives for the money but i'd rather spend more and get a benchmade
 
Bead blasting is much cheaper than polishing, or sanding to a satin finish. however the wasp has a satin finish and so does the m-18!!! and did I mention the blade steal on the wasp is aus-118 and the blade steel on the m-18 is aus-8? much better than aus-6 (:barf: ).
 
Originally posted by FC Yuk
I love the big CRKT Apache Limited Edition. One of the few CRKT knives that is coated instead of bead blast and ATS-34 instead of the softer steels. I think it doesn't get the recognition it deserves but thats just my opinion. Its too bad they discontinued this model.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. One of my EDC's is a 7011LE Apache. It is scary sharp, and doesn't take much to get it that way, time after time. This design was a winner - it IS too bad they discontinued it. :(
 
I like CRKT knives alot. They make a great knife for a very affordable price.
The reason I don't have more of them is mostly because I don't like liner-locks as much as I like the Benchmade Axis-lock and Spyderco lock-backs.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I'm getting kind of bored with my CRKT knives.. tried to trade them on alt.knives and no one seems to wanna trade. *shrugs* The CRKT Ryan plan B struck me as a blah knife at first... i think it was cuz i hated the Zytel sheath it came in... but then i took the knife and fileworked it.. and got to handling it more.. and its a really nice knife. I LOVE the feel of it in your hand, and the blade just curves the right amount. If the knife had better steel i would probably get a custom kydex for it. but at $21 the sheeth would cost more than the knife :eek:

The bead blast is a pain yah and flitz leaves an uneven finish on the bead blast sometimes. Pain in the butt. I REALLY like the Limited Edition Wasp in Carbon fibre... its made in sweden or something like that.. excellent finish and lock up.. its almost like a completely different knife from the rest of the companies. i've never held a regular wasp so i can't compare to that one.

I think i will be getting the DOG lock folder from CRKT, but their other knives, albeit nice for the money, don't really do it for me anymore.
 
Shane45,
My EDC is an Apache III (ATS-34), and I agree that the design is tops.
I was looking forward to buy the Viele Wasp, but just haven't gotten around to it.
Most of the CRKT knives I've handled seem decent. I had one of those little K.I.S.S money clips with the straight tanto blade and thought it a neat piece. I gave it to a friend, for his son, the day the little one was born.
 
Originally posted by corwin99
...but their other knives, albeit nice for the money, don't really do it for me anymore.
Click to expand...

CRKT make great knives for the money, and is a good starting point for people buying their first good quality folder. However, like any hobby, you always strive for something better -- whatever that means to the individual (since whatever is being cut usually doesn't know the difference between a sharp CRKT and a high-priced Sebenza).

Usually, "better" also equates with more expensive too.
 
I would go so far as to say that on Miarge Grey Ghost is smoother than my Emerson Raven and CQC7.:eek:
 
The Ryan Model 7..."exotic but useful" design and scarey sharp right out of the box with a very smooth opening (after you get used to the oversized thumbstuds)action, good lockup (with a LAWKS included for added safety and peace of mind) and a solid feel in the hand.
All of this for about USD $40. A whole lot of bang for the bucks spent.
Being that custom Ryan folders (drool) cost mega $$$ at this time, this is probably as close as I'll get to one of his folder designs.
 
I have a left handed mirage. I am left handed and it is the only knife I have found that I could afford that was built for a south-paw.

The lock was origionally sticky, but after playing with it day in and out it wore itself smooth. Still locks up real tight today.

The reason I stopped carrying it was because I got tired of sharpening the thing every day.

Now I carry some obscure $50 (ats34) benchmade or a Spydie Delica (aus8)
 
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