Generally speaking, where does CRKT fit on the list of top knife manufacturers?

CRKT is the last step before you reach the edge of the cliff.

I started off with several CRKT knives, the Crawford Kaspar folder, the Crawford Point Guard folder, the Kaspar Polkowski fixed blade, the Lightfoot M1 folder, the KISS folder and the M16s folders. Great knives to start a collection and a great introduction to some great custom makers. Then I fell off the edge of the cliff, wanting better steels etc. Have not bought a CRKT for more than 15 years now.

To be fair to them, I do not recall CRKT ever giving the impression that they thought that they were top level manufacturers, unlike most other manufacturers. You have to love CRKT for what CRKT is, introducing custom designs to the masses. While I do not consider CRKT is any where near the top level manufacturers, CRKT usually has a few gems amongst the masses of designs that they have at any one time. CRKT should be thankful that they do not have the emotional baggage attached to the resurrected Gerber and Schrade knives.
 
Tajbral said:
After reading numerous posts on different threads, I was just curious where everyone thinks CRKT fits on the list of top knife manufacturers? I mean, for example, if Spyderco or Benchmade are one and two (and I'm not saying that but just for example), followed by ZT, etc., etc. I'm curious about CRKT knives. I have a Squid, sold a Buku, and I'm trying to get a feel for how other people view the quality of this brand. I used to see a lot of CRKT knives for sale, and while there are still plenty for sale, it seems like there are not quite as many as there were 5 years ago.
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I don’t own any CRKTs but have seen and handled quite a few at the local knife shop. In my view, CRKT doesn’t make it onto the list of top knife manufacturers at all..
 
Quiet said:
I mean...if you have to have a secondary lock system for your liner lock system....
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I will actually give them credit for that, not criticism. To me, it's the only liner lock on the market that's safe enough im willing to use it. I don't use the knife anymore but it never was a problem, but it was actually why I bought it. Actually never was an issue to close.
 
I started collecting knives with Kershaw & CRKT & then ZT mostly to collect Ken Onion designed knives because his knife designs appealed the most to me then (and largely still do now).

Sold off about 100 Kershaws & CRKTs (combined) on EB around 5 yrs ago but I've still got 70 Kershaws & 14 CRKTs; all older models.

Since this thread has seems to have morphed into a "Show Me Your CRKTs" thread, I'll post some more pics of what I've still got later but the best of the bunch IMO is this LIonSteel made, Ken Onion designed Ti variation of the Hi-JInx (that I think is also pictured above):

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Sorry for the poor photos. The knife is silver but took on an odd rose tint when I shot these pics this morning. 🤷‍♂️

FWIW, this knife was named the Blade Show Knife of the Year in 2014 & only 525 were made. For those who care about such things, mine is #061.
See: CRKT Hi Jinx -- 2014 Blade Show Knife Of The Year

There are also a couple of BF threads devoted to this knife when it was 1st released. Here's one of them: CRKT Hi Jinx - Ken Onion Design - Made by LionSteel

I also still own the standard version of this knife:

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sgt1372 said:
I've still got a Hissatsu (if that's what you were referring to) & a couple other Williams designed Japanese styled CRKTs. Pics to follow.
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I have a fixed and folder version of the Hissatsu. James Williams is the only thing that gets me excited for a CRKT.
 
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