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

The thing I like about crkt is they make some great knives and they make great budget knives.
As far as companies go I’d put them middle of the road, and it really depends on which knife you’re getting. Price wise I’d say they are usually good bang for your buck.
 
the only ckrt i have ever liked or collected was the s2 and apache in ats34. otherwise they are at the bottom of my list. ats34 has always been one of my favorite steels along with about 50 others, lol
 
Kryme said:
It was very obvious to me that it isn't a CRKT knife, so I looked it up, and you are correct, it is Hogue. Funny how the only well made CRKTs aren't made by CRKT.
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To my understanding, no CRKTs are made by CRKT, but instead much like Cold Steel, they are all contracted out to various factories. I seem to recall reading that, but of course, now I'm unable to find the link. 🤦‍♂️
 
It took me a few minutes to locate all of the CRKTS I still own*

dIBe4DZ.jpeg


From the top:

1. Full Throttle - this is an assisted knife and as you can see, I carried and used this one for a couple of years. The gold and black color scheme was what caught my eye, as it happens to be my Alma Mater's colors. It's actually still a decent knife!

2. Mt. Rainier - this one was purchased at an REI in Tacoma, WA and was actually carried up Mt. Rainier (well, as far as the rental car would take us!) during a work trip to that area. Not the best knife, but neat nonetheless.

3. Folding Razel - this one is one of my early favorites, I actually bought it years before I joined here. I never really carried it, but it's neat to take out every once in awhile and admire.

4. Guppie - this was a gift, and it was well meant, so I'll just say that mah mama sed if I ain't got nuthin' nice ta say, ta say nuthin' at all, and I'll leave it at that.







* 🤦 Actually as I posted this, I realized this is incorrect, I also own one of the Clever Girl folders (which is an excellent knife actually), plus one of the Chinese made Deadbolt lock models which is located...ah, no idea at the moment.
 
Quiet said:
To my understanding, no CRKTs are made by CRKT, but instead much like Cold Steel, they are all contracted out to various factories. I seem to recall reading that, but of course, now I'm unable to find the link. 🤦‍♂️
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Would be interested in learning more about this. I wouldn't have guessed they have no manufacturing facilities of their own.
 
The True North said:
Would be interested in learning more about this. I wouldn't have guessed they have no manufacturing facilities of their own.
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A quick search tells me this:

"Production: CRKT uses advanced equipment and production systems to build their knives. They source their knives from Taiwan and China."

This wording leads me to believe this is the case.
 
Quiet said:
A quick search tells me this:

"Production: CRKT uses advanced equipment and production systems to build their knives. They source their knives from Taiwan and China."

This wording leads me to believe this is the case.
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Well of course they have overseas production. But they have several USA made models that I assumed they manufactured themselves. If not, I'd be interested to learn who they contract those out to.
 
The True North said:
Well of course they have overseas production. But they have several USA made models that I assumed they manufactured themselves. If not, I'd be interested to learn who they contract those out to.
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Well, some of them are made by other companies. Hogue made their Redemptions, for example.

I should probably point out that I don't have any specific issue with how they do business. For example, I have a lot of Cold Steels, a company who designs/designed knives here and has always had them made in Taiwan, Japan, and elsewhere. They also have a few American models if I recall, though I'm reasonable sure they weren't made at CS' facility.
 
Quiet said:
Well, some of them are made by other companies. Hogue made their Redemptions, for example.

I should probably point out that I don't have any specific issue with how they do business. For example, I have a lot of Cold Steels, a company who designs/designed knives here and has always had them made in Taiwan, Japan, and elsewhere. They also have a few American models if I recall, though I'm reasonable sure they weren't made at CS' facility.
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I have no qualms either.

By the looks of them, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that all of their USA folding knife production is Hogue.
 
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Just to clarify, I’m not saying CRKT is trash. They’re not. I had a bunch of them back in the day and they were alright. I liked the Apache, Crawford Kasper, Ryan, etc. They were great designs, made with ok materials, at a price everyone could afford.

They are now nowhere near what they used to be. So many times I’ve thought “man, that’s a pretty cool design, but they used shit materials”. It’s been that way through recent history for me.

So they’re not junk, but they’re nowhere near one of the top knife manufacturers.
 
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