Five Families of Fine Folders - The line up finally makes sense

kidcongo

kidcongo

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Jan 12, 2013
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With the introduction of the Inkosi, and the looming discontinuation of the "Sebenza" 25, CRK has done something that makes a lot of sense to me. Here are my thoughts on the present line up.

We now have five distinctly named and distinctly different families of CRK folders that are all evolving in parallel:

THE SEBENZA
- A work knife in essence that can be dressed up to the nines, or left plain
- A clear lineage from 'H' to 'P' to 'Classic' to '21' (with a little sidestep into the "regular" shape between P and Classic)
- Features hollow grind, pivot bushing system, straight slab handles, titanium lockface, and large and small sizes

THE UMNUMZAAN
- A more aggressively styled folder with some "tactical" features.
- An ongoing development with multiple, but mostly subtle, changes from prototype to present
- Features unique opening method, harpoon point and hollow ground blade, thick blade stock, adjustable pivot, ball bearing interface, heavy traction milled into slabs, and rubber "silencers" on dual stop pins.

THE MNANDI
- A gentleman's locking folder or dress knife
- An ongoing development with multiple, but mostly subtle, changes from prototype to present
- Features pivot bushing, fully inlayed scales, hollow ground blade, and milled pocket clip

THE INKOSI
- A modern/advanced pocket folder with thicker blade stock, flat-ground (high hollow ground) blade, and ergonomically shaped handle
- Features adjustable pivot, high hollow ground blade, ceramic ball interface, scalloped slabs, and large and small sizes.

THE TI-LOCK
- An experimental, quirky but usable, pocket knife with unique lock design by G&G Hawk
- Features titanium strap lock, unique pocket clip, and has featured "annual", limited edition graphic designs


I think this is a great line up and the introduction of the large "Inkosi" in place of the Sebenza 25 has rationalized the line up. Needless to say, I really agree with the choice. It's a relief in some weird way for me, and it all "works" in my mind if you know what I mean. I understand to most outside the CRK community, all of the knives are pretty similar to each other (excluding the Ti-Lock) being Ti frame-locks from Boise, but for the fans of the brand there are some significant differences between the various families.
 
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I agree with you for the most part.

It's not fair to say the Sebenza 25 being renamed the Inkosi makes more rational sense because the 21 is so much different than the 25. The original intention of Chris will not be known to us. As in, was the 25 meant to replace the 21 etc. It's pretty hard to argue the 21 is a more capable work knife than the 25, as it's not. The 25 pre-exists the Inkosi.

What I think makes the most sense in this line, is now that Chris is gone, and the Sebenza is the quintessential model that put him on the map, that it does not continue in his absence. I think the 21 should be the last of the line now that the 25 is gone, and future models, like the Inkosi have different names. I don't think someone else developing the model line further does justice to it, or to Chris or what is arguably his life's work in the knife world.

That's why I think it's best the basically slightly changed 25 is renamed. It's a new chapter for CRK, and differentiates the end of an era from the beginning of a new one.

I sincerely hope that the new models CRK develops live up to the reputation Chris has built, and the issues they are having right now go down as growing pains in the footnotes of another amazing decade.

The Inkosi builds on the last model that Chris built, the 25. The 25 will go down in my mind as the last production folder Chris made, to me the Inkosi is a CRK knife, not Chris's knife.
 
JustinFournier said:
The Inkosi builds on the last model that Chris built, the 25. The 25 will go down in my mind as the last production folder Chris made, to me the Inkosi is a CRK knife, not Chris's knife.
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Just because Chris is semi-retired (as per CRK) why do you think the Inkosi was not Chris's knife? I was told by a dealer that knew Chris since before he came to the US that the Inkosi had the changes that Chris wanted to make in it. This was from when the Inkosi first came out. Not sure how much he was consulted on the Large Inkosi but I expect it was designed along side of the small model. It was said from the start it was going to a family of knives.
 
Driften said:
Just because Chris is semi-retired (as per CRK) why do you think the Inkosi was not Chris's knife? I was told by a dealer that knew Chris since before he came to the US that the Inkosi had the changes that Chris wanted to make in it. This was from when the Inkosi first came out. Not sure how much he was consulted on the Large Inkosi but I expect it was designed along side of the small model. It was said from the start it was going to a family of knives.
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PM incoming.
 
Great summary!

I really think Chris intended to replace the Sebenza 21 with his newly developed 25. A dead give away was naming his new creation "Sebenza". He had great success in doing so up to that point with earlier models. I think he realized it was too drastic of a change and for the company to keep moving forward, it would have to lean on its' flagship...the Sebenza.
 
lemmuhj said:
Great summary!

I really think Chris intended to replace the Sebenza 21 with his newly developed 25. A dead give away was naming his new creation "Sebenza". He had great success in doing so up to that point with earlier models. I think he realized it was too drastic of a change and for the company to keep moving forward, it would have to lean on its' flagship...the Sebenza.
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I think this is 100% accurate. There is no way the 21 was going to be displaced with 80%+ of total company sales. It's entrenched as it gets.
 
Anne and Chris got divorced..Anne got the company in the end..he is gone from the company and cannot use his own name to create a new company.

Simple.

What he intended will remain secret until someone asks him and posts about it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
Anne and Chris got divorced..Anne got the company in the end..he is gone from the company and cannot use his own name to create a new company.

Simple.

What he intended will remain secret until someone asks him and posts about it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Well it was bound to come out sooner or later.
 
Kohai999 said:
Anne and Chris got divorced..Anne got the company in the end..he is gone from the company and cannot use his own name to create a new company.

Simple.

What he intended will remain secret until someone asks him and posts about it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Is this a serious post or a joke??
 
I heard the same from 2 diff people, one who is ultra reliable. I dont know what to make of it really. Not sure how CRK can move forward if Chris isnt involved?
 
Anne has been the face of crk for me any way. She signed the checks. I know ,I got one for a refund on shipping from her. Should have framed the autograph. But I wanted the 12$.

Great thread Cody.
 
Oh wow. This is news to me and it frightens me. All of my previous worries from when the 25 was released come back. I worry about the future of CR knives. He'll have more time to race and perhaps...reveal a new Chris Knife. While Heather leads his service department.
 
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loon#r said:
Oh wow. This is news to me and it frightens me. All of my previous worries from when the 25 was released come back. I worry about the future of CR knives.
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That's the part that I don't understand.......I have owned probably 12 or so Sebenzas over time. I carry a Micarta inlaid 25 and LOVE it, much more than I cared for either version of the 21.

Where is all the dislike for the 25 coming from, it's an excellent knife.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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