First 31 impression from a 21 lover

kylemiller

kylemiller

Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
533
Early impression from a 31 skeptic. 21 is my GOAT and I didn't like the canted clip and felt the ceramic lock interface was a needless addition that gives the knife more complexity with no benefit.

With my preamble out of the way, let me say my fears are mostly assuaged.

The clip is not a hot spot in my hand as it is for some early reviewers. I have bear mitts if that matters. It still looks goofy to me and I never had problems with lock bar tension or pocket feel, which this is supposed to remedy.

The grind depth and resulting BTE dimension was a HUGE worry for me feels exactly the same as the 21. In other words: it's the best hollow ground clip point blade you can buy from a production company. The battery in my calipers is dead, but I've had several large 21 clips and this looks and feels exactly the same. Jimping is identical.

Action was a weird change for me. Anyone who wants a Sebbie you can flick will like this. It's no SOCOM Elite or RAT 1, but you can legit flick this without wrist or other 21 flicking tricks. Right out of the box. Rolling the blade out is still preferred and done so with ease, but the detent is just a bit stiffer. Still very smooth and easy. The closing action is exactly how I like a 21 after it's properly broken in with a washer polish. Meaning it drops freely onto my thumb nail while the lockbar is open. That's a first for me for a fresh Seb. Some don't even get there with break in.

Lock up is typical. Ball lands at nearly 50% and disengagement is very smooth. Almost feels like a detent ramp.

The acoustics took a turn for the worse with the new detent ball. Instead of the classic 21 'tick' it's now an Inkosi 'tock'. This bothers me more than it should. For as much as I love the 21 I was repulsed by the Inkosi. (Probably for the differences. If the 21 didn't exist I'm sure I'd really dig the Inkosi.)

Overall, I like it. Ordered on a whim because I got an email from a small dealer telling me they're in stock, and I'm a simple, simple man. Might end up trading for a 21 or Zaan. Might keep. Not sure yet. Overall I still think the new clip placement and ceramic detent are messing with a finished product. The impact just isn't as bad as I expected. I also kinda miss the front hole.

For those excited for the new features, they work incredible. Pocket carry is 5% better and the ceramic lock interface and detent does what you'd expect. Maybe it's just mine, but I didn't need any break in for good drop shut closing.
 
This gives me a bit of hope that perhaps someday I’ll own one of these new fangled contraptions. I’ve now owned 7CRK-6 small 21 and a Mnandi and I sure don’t feel a need to move to the 31 but your comments do getting me thinking maybe...
 
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Thanks for the comprehensive review. I will most likely pick up a 31 at some point. Might as well collect ‘em all. I own - and use - the Sebenza, 21, 25, Inkosi, and Umnumzaan. And appreciate them all.
 
tuica said:
Thanks for the comprehensive review. I will most likely pick up a 31 at some point. Might as well collect ‘em all. I own - and use - the Sebenza, 21, 25, Inkosi, and Umnumzaan. And appreciate them all.
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I buy, sell and trade a lot of knives. I've been up and down the price ladder and determined CRK is best for what I like in a knife. I've had every CRK folder but the 25 and Mnandi. Close to a dozen altogether. I was down to my small 21 insingo (which I consider the best pocket knife). I just sold a couple knives to fund a Zaan or large 21 to keep this time, and while I was mulling over which to buy I got the email about the 31 being in stock. It probably confirmed I'm going Zaanto rather than clip when that time comes as well.
 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They are greatly appreciated on this new model and pretty much echo my own. I am sure I will buy some eventually for an I lay, CGG, UG I must have, but not many. I am not a fan of the ceramic ball lockup as I had several zaans fail on me. I do have a 25 though that has served me quite well though.

Good thing there are lots of 21’s out there for us old school guys that still like the traditional Sebenza lockup. I still feel as I have long stated that the large regular Sebenza was the finest folding knife ever designed. I never cared for the 21’s pointy blade, but opted for the 21 when the regulars dried up. They made a ton more 21’s than regulars, so I don’t have to worry about that.
 
nyefmaker said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They are greatly appreciated on this new model and pretty much echo my own. I am sure I will buy some eventually for an I lay, CGG, UG I must have, but not many. I am not a fan of the ceramic ball lockup as I had several zaans fail on me. I do have a 25 though that has served me quite well though.

Good thing there are lots of 21’s out there for us old school guys that still like the traditional Sebenza lockup. I still feel as I have long stated that the large regular Sebenza was the finest folding knife ever designed. I never cared for the 21’s pointy blade, but opted for the 21 when the regulars dried up. They made a ton more 21’s than regulars, so I don’t have to worry about that.
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How did your Zaan's fail? My worry has been that ball falling out from the pressure being put on one side of it while rolling it closed.
 
kylemiller said:
How did your Zaan's fail? My worry has been that ball falling out from the pressure being put on one side of it while rolling it closed.
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Not that things can't happen, but I've never heard of a detent ball on any CRK falling out.
I too was a bit cautious about them switching to ball/detent/lock interface on the 21's. But the combo of the pivot bushing and the ball really shows attention to detail and the concerns associated with overtravel of the lock bar. I think its a great move. Better still, would be the switching over to S45vn blade steel.
 
nyefmaker said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They are greatly appreciated on this new model and pretty much echo my own. I am sure I will buy some eventually for an I lay, CGG, UG I must have, but not many. I am not a fan of the ceramic ball lockup as I had several zaans fail on me. I do have a 25 though that has served me quite well though.

Good thing there are lots of 21’s out there for us old school guys that still like the traditional Sebenza lockup. I still feel as I have long stated that the large regular Sebenza was the finest folding knife ever designed. I never cared for the 21’s pointy blade, but opted for the 21 when the regulars dried up. They made a ton more 21’s than regulars, so I don’t have to worry about that.
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Completely agree on the Regulars. Love the Large but in my case, think the Small is about perfect. I wish they would bring the Regular back!
 
thanks for your 31 impression thoughts, I stayed away from Inkosi for a long time because I didn't trust the ball lock-up! I own two large 21's and just love the sound of that double CA-CLICK lock up vary solid feeling as well, its sorta sad they stayed away from this lock up and went to the ceramic ball interface, one day I'll find a regular and get it, i am more old fashion then most folks.:rolleyes:
 
Great thoughts and review:)

I was skeptical on the ceramic lock up when I considered a Inkosi over a 21. I've done some digging and haven't found a report of the locking coming apart. As someone who is very new to CRK, the switch to the ceramic ball is a nonissue. I would like to have a PJ 21, but I won't feel cheated in life if I have to settle for a 31;)
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Great thoughts and review:)

I was skeptical on the ceramic lock up when I considered a Inkosi over a 21. I've done some digging and haven't found a report of the locking coming apart. As someone who is very new to CRK, the switch to the ceramic ball is a nonissue. I would like to have a PJ 21, but I won't feel cheated in life if I have to settle for a 31;)
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After another day of carry I'll say that if a man needs a Sebenza, you can hand him a 31 and his needs will be met. As far at the ball lock, maybe we're all overthinking it because the regular detent ball on the 21 could fall out as well. Granted there are less forces being applied.

Still, I think with the community you folks have built here if there were any problems with lock balls falling out of Zaan or Inkosi's they'd be fairly well documented at this point. Still don't love the clip, but it works like a Sebenza The lock disengagement on that ball is notably smoother when closing. Feels very much like a well done detent ramp.
 
I think they should mill a step into the 31 lock bar so it still goes “click-click” rather than “clunk”. I will miss that, but imagine a 31 in my future.
 
blackend said:
Not that things can't happen, but I've never heard of a detent ball on any CRK falling out.
I too was a bit cautious about them switching to ball/detent/lock interface on the 21's. But the combo of the pivot bushing and the ball really shows attention to detail and the concerns associated with overtravel of the lock bar. I think its a great move. Better still, would be the switching over to S45vn blade steel.
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The lockbar slipped and the knife closed on my hand cutting my finger. I sent it into CRK and they fixed it, but it happened again. Cut was much worse, have the scar. Never trusted it after that. I also had a Tanto that would slip also. Both were old pivot Zaans.

The ball never fell out of either, it remained intact and solid as far as that part went. The lock basically failed like an older strider would. It would simply slide off the blade tang and close. I also had a old pivot WC zaan. That one I never really carried, so can’t comment on its lockup.
I never tried a zaan after that.......I have seen posts of the ceramic ball falling out on here, but that never happened with any of mine, I had lock slippage.

I do have a 25 that is well used and it never failed me. Lucky so far on that one.

This is why I never bought into the Inkosi. With the 31 having an even thinner blade, my hand cringes at the thought.

All in all, I will stick with the 21 style lockup.
 
nyefmaker said:
The lockbar slipped and the knife closed on my hand cutting my finger. I sent it into CRK and they fixed it, but it happened again. Cut was much worse, have the scar. Never trusted it after that. I also had a Tanto that would slip also. Both were old pivot Zaans.

The ball never fell out of either, it remained intact and solid as far as that part went. The lock basically failed like an older strider would. It would simply slide off the blade tang and close. I also had a old pivot WC zaan. That one I never really carried, so can’t comment on its lockup.
I never tried a zaan after that.......I have seen posts of the ceramic ball falling out on here, but that never happened with any of mine, I had lock slippage.

I do have a 25 that is well used and it never failed me. Lucky so far on that one.

This is why I never bought into the Inkosi. With the 31 having an even thinner blade, my hand cringes at the thought.

All in all, I will stick with the 21 style lockup.
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With the 31 having an even thinner blade.... Could anyone elaborate on this? I must have missed this somewhere.
 
russ25 said:
With the 31 having an even thinner blade.... Could anyone elaborate on this? I must have missed this somewhere.
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The 31 has the same bladestock as the 21. But he was referring to the 31 being thinner than the Umnum, 25 and Inkosi.
 
Just picked up a small 31, having owned several 21s (large and small), umnumzaan, and a mnandi.

The 31 is the first of any CRK I have had (except mnandi) that I can close with 1 hand. All others have lock stick that makes closing 1 handed impossible for me.

The 31 definitely has a different lock sound but I personally prefer it.

I like the new clip position, may be the reason I can close the 31 one handed. No hot spots for me.

Can't wait for the insingo versions to come out
 
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