First CRK Knife! Help me decide

Forester_01

Forester_01

Joined
Jul 20, 2018
Messages
606
Hey everyone,

I'm looking to pick up my first CRK knife and am debating on whether to pick up the small Insingo with micarta inlays or a large insingo/inkosi drop point. I generally gravitate towards smaller edc knives but have yet to try something under 7 inches. If it helps, I prefer the para 3 a lot more than the para 2 and my gayle bradley 1 is around the upper length limit I'd prefer to carry for edc.

If you could share you insight and experience onto this matter, I'd really appreciate it.
 
A Small 21 Micarta is tough to beat in the small knife category. I definitely prefer the Small 21 to a Small Inkosi, I find the finger grooves uncomfortable on the small format CRKs ( I love my Micarta Seb 25 tho lol)
 
Go small. First sebenza I ordered was small. I thought it was to small, ordered large next. Ended up selling them both and rethought a small.
 
Forester_01 said:
Hey everyone,

I'm looking to pick up my first CRK knife and am debating on whether to pick up the small Insingo with micarta inlays or a large insingo/inkosi drop point. I generally gravitate towards smaller edc knives but have yet to try something under 7 inches. If it helps, I prefer the para 3 a lot more than the para 2 and my gayle bradley 1 is around the upper length limit I'd prefer to carry for edc.

If you could share you insight and experience onto this matter, I'd really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

My advice: Buy from an authorized dealer that will allow you to return or exchage at little to no cost.

I too generally like smaller knives... but I really don't like the small sebbie. It just doesn't work in my hands. Always feels clumsy at best.

The large is perfect though. Big enough for real work, but not so absurdly large as to draw unwanted attention or be cumbersome in tight spaces.

If I'm buying I'll go with a Large 21 Insingo w/ micarta inlays.
 
Go small for sure! I love mine... but I am saving to buy a large just so I have a matching set ;)
 
My advice is visit a dealer and pick what you want. I waited a year until I was driving cross country and stopped at GPKnives. They had a good selection.
 
If you're leaning small for a CRK, I'd really recommend the 21 over the Inkosi (on the large I'd probably recommend the Inkosi over the 21 however). The small inkosi really just doesn't have very good ergos, whereas the small 21 feels great in hand while still being very compact.

I imagine that the micarta inlays might help the small Inkosi, but I'd still recommend the micarta inlaid 21 over it. Small micarta inlaid 21s are some of the best small edc knives you'll ever own. Just my 2 cents. If you go large, I'd say Inkosi all the way, but for small, the 21s win out for me.
 
Go with the small 21 Insingo with micarta inlays. The Insigno is a favorite of many on the CRK sub forum.
You may also want to check out the Wilson Combat line of CRK's. I believe they do offer the small 21 Insigno. Just don't know if they have any in stock.
You probably won't like the large if the Para 3 is the size you prefer.
 
I just finally snagged a Small Starbenza Insingo. Should arrive tomorrow (fingers crossed). Really looking forward to having one in that configuration. But I also think the inlaid small 21 Insingo is about as perfect as one can get.
 
The small Inkosi is one of the knife I carry the most.
Actually it is my go-to knife at the office.
However for general edc I think the small 21 is better. The size can handle any tasks and it carries very well.
I have a small insingo 21 with micarta inlays and it is really a great EDC

For what I am concern the large 21 is my favorite knife but clearly it can be convenient to have a smaller blade for EDC

My recommendation would be to go for the small 21: better ergonomic, more capabilities, more versatile and still very easy to carry
 
I have many para 3’s and a small insingo. The insingo will disappear in your pocket (the way it feels) when compared to the para3. I am not saying that is a bad thing it is just how those two knives carry.
 
Forester_01 said:
Hey everyone,

I'm looking to pick up my first CRK knife and am debating on whether to pick up the small Insingo with micarta inlays or a large insingo/inkosi drop point. I generally gravitate towards smaller edc knives but have yet to try something under 7 inches. If it helps, I prefer the para 3 a lot more than the para 2 and my gayle bradley 1 is around the upper length limit I'd prefer to carry for edc.

If you could share you insight and experience onto this matter, I'd really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Honestly that’s my only real problem with CRK knives the large is quite large but the small is quite small. They don’t make a medium “just right” size for some reason.

Large is a little big so as to be noticeably big and possibly intimidating to people depending on your environment.

Small is too small to cut a sandwich in half without getting mustard in the pivot area.
 
Not sure where in Canada you are located, but if in the Toronto area and want to check out / handle some CRKs, let me know.
 
Trouble with comparing CRK to most Spydercos (and many other folders, like Emerson) is that the blade to handle ratios with CRK are bit different...for the same length blade, the handles might be shorter than you expect. For example the blade cutting edge on a PM2 is closer to a small Sebenza, but the handle is closer to a large...
The best of em is the Ti-Lock, amazing how much blade they fit in that handle length.
 
I’d recommend the small 21, you can’t go wrong with this (especially if you prefer pm3 over 2.) Be ready though, once it logs pocket time and you experience how great it is, you might find yourself going back to have a large too.
 
You'll definitely want to go with the small.

As someone me tioned above, and I own both, i too believe that the Sebenza has better ergos.

Both are great knives, but I prefer the Sebenza if I had to choose one iver the other.
 
If I was looking at a small CRK I'd probably buy a Mnandi since the smalls are really awkward for me to use
 
Lapedog said:
Honestly that’s my only real problem with CRK knives the large is quite large but the small is quite small. They don’t make a medium “just right” size for some reason.

Large is a little big so as to be noticeably big and possibly intimidating to people depending on your environment.

Small is too small to cut a sandwich in half without getting mustard in the pivot area.
Click to expand...

You need a Ti-lock, it's in between and a lot more fun :)
 
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