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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Gerber or CRKT?
- Thread starter MikeV
- Start date
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- Sep 28, 2005
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CRKT is by far my fav. company- they offer knives that are affordable to the working man, offer fa wide range of knives- both in style (gents folder, self defence, working class) and in materials used. This means that you can experience a range of knives for an affordable price. As a starter company you can experience a range of things- see what you like/dislike and then move up to another brand with the features you like. Also most of the CRKT knives I have seen were users- after all a knive is designed to cut- whereby many owners of high end knives are reluctant to use the knives as they were designed. But that is just my opinion!! Good luck forming yours.
Have you considered Kershaw? I use my Gerber EZ-Out as a daily utility tool, as well as my Para-Frame.
However, I just picked a Kershaw Storm II at Walmart for $30. A really good blade, and a really good looking knife. I will use it daily from time to time also.
Also, ATS-34 is a good steel as well. I have it on my Benchmade 720S.
Enjoy! I'm starting to expand my collection, and I've been digging around here, soaking up all the advice I can find.
However, I just picked a Kershaw Storm II at Walmart for $30. A really good blade, and a really good looking knife. I will use it daily from time to time also.
Also, ATS-34 is a good steel as well. I have it on my Benchmade 720S.
Enjoy! I'm starting to expand my collection, and I've been digging around here, soaking up all the advice I can find.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
As much as I like CRKT, I would agree that Kershaw probably has an overall better lineup. Kershaw is moving up in the world, whereas CRKT and Benchmade (Benchmade WAS my favorite overall company period until this year when the systematically cancelled the majority of my favorite knives) are on their way down. At least CRKT is still making knives I want to buy--but unfortunately for them, I already own those knives.
Spyderco is a weird, weird thing. Their knives are hideous. Ugly. Bizarre.
And beautiful.
You're going to hate them. For at least a few more months. You'll look at one weird design and say, man, that looks weird, but it looks like just what I need for this. Too bad it's ugly.
Then you'll look at it again. And again.
And before you know it. It looks great.
Spyderco is number 1 in my book, and they just have the best ergonomics out there. They have the best overall designs, in my opinion, but you have to give them time to grow on you.
Spyderco is a weird, weird thing. Their knives are hideous. Ugly. Bizarre.
And beautiful.
You're going to hate them. For at least a few more months. You'll look at one weird design and say, man, that looks weird, but it looks like just what I need for this. Too bad it's ugly.
Then you'll look at it again. And again.
And before you know it. It looks great.
Spyderco is number 1 in my book, and they just have the best ergonomics out there. They have the best overall designs, in my opinion, but you have to give them time to grow on you.
Pretty well agree with Artfull Martial here. I guess it depends on if you are collecting for the sake of collecting or collecting with the intent of using. For me, I started with CRKT, and I have a "bunch" of them
BUT I also have a lot of others. As I progressed in my "collection" if you want to call it that, my tastes also changed. More knowledge I gained, the more selective I got. Yes I have Gerbers - my EZ-out and Gator are my weekend beaters for yard work - they get the job done very well. Over the last six months or so, I've become a huge Spyderco fan. I'm one of those that will get something that I like, use it for a while, then on to the next one. Interestingly, the ones that have had the most pocket or very constant pocket time in the last few months has been my Delica, Caly Jr., Centofante III, BM Mini-Grip and Ka-Bar /Dozier folding hunter along with my SAK. I do rotate, but I always seem to come back to these, or carry extras over and above. Today, I have my Camillus Blaze, BM 530 and Al Mar SERE 2K as well
I was looking at what I wanted to acquire this year, and so far, the Spyderco Delica 4/Endura 4 and Centofante 4 are the only ones immediately on the list. There are a couple of CRKT's I'm interested in as well
- gord
BUT I also have a lot of others. As I progressed in my "collection" if you want to call it that, my tastes also changed. More knowledge I gained, the more selective I got. Yes I have Gerbers - my EZ-out and Gator are my weekend beaters for yard work - they get the job done very well. Over the last six months or so, I've become a huge Spyderco fan. I'm one of those that will get something that I like, use it for a while, then on to the next one. Interestingly, the ones that have had the most pocket or very constant pocket time in the last few months has been my Delica, Caly Jr., Centofante III, BM Mini-Grip and Ka-Bar /Dozier folding hunter along with my SAK. I do rotate, but I always seem to come back to these, or carry extras over and above. Today, I have my Camillus Blaze, BM 530 and Al Mar SERE 2K as well I was looking at what I wanted to acquire this year, and so far, the Spyderco Delica 4/Endura 4 and Centofante 4 are the only ones immediately on the list. There are a couple of CRKT's I'm interested in as well - gord
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
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- 4,761
The difficulty you'll come into with Benchmade is that the majority of their desireable models (I don't count the red models as benchmades) are over a hundred dollars, at least, from my passing observation. And the knives are all so dang similar.
I think that Benchmade adding the red class knives while retaining the Benchmade name is a bad idea. The knives themselves aren't bad, mind you--I bought a Benchmite II and it's great. But when I think benchmade, I think G10, S30V or D2 axis lock folder with the top notch in quality.
I'm not a huge foreign car fan, but do you think Ferrari would have the reputation it has if it made lots of Taurus and Cavalier equivalents? It doesn't make its high end less of a car than it was before, but having a "Ferrari" would be like having a Toyota. Sort of like it is at my university.
What I'm getting at here is that I don't think the Benchmade name will be nearly so desireable in a few years when you can go buy one in those baskets at the check out counter in the convenience store/gas station around the block. 5 dollars a piece. They even come with a key chain!
Conversely, Spyderco launched a new brand for their cheap stuff, which was the smart thing to do. But on the downside there, Spyderco uses China, and I do my best not to buy Chinese stuff. I'm okay with Taiwanese stuff (like Benchmade's).
I don't need low end products from these companies. Kershaw makes great stuff for 30 dollars. And the vast majority of it is made in the USA.
I think that Benchmade adding the red class knives while retaining the Benchmade name is a bad idea. The knives themselves aren't bad, mind you--I bought a Benchmite II and it's great. But when I think benchmade, I think G10, S30V or D2 axis lock folder with the top notch in quality.
I'm not a huge foreign car fan, but do you think Ferrari would have the reputation it has if it made lots of Taurus and Cavalier equivalents? It doesn't make its high end less of a car than it was before, but having a "Ferrari" would be like having a Toyota. Sort of like it is at my university.
What I'm getting at here is that I don't think the Benchmade name will be nearly so desireable in a few years when you can go buy one in those baskets at the check out counter in the convenience store/gas station around the block. 5 dollars a piece. They even come with a key chain!
Conversely, Spyderco launched a new brand for their cheap stuff, which was the smart thing to do. But on the downside there, Spyderco uses China, and I do my best not to buy Chinese stuff. I'm okay with Taiwanese stuff (like Benchmade's).
I don't need low end products from these companies. Kershaw makes great stuff for 30 dollars. And the vast majority of it is made in the USA.
GB- I don't disagree and didn't say otherwise.
AM- I totally agree. I love BM, but many of their models seem too similar and jammed into the same price class. I also think their Red Class knives could tarnish the brand name. It may seem odd to suggest BM's knives are too clammed into one price class and then say that adding cheaper knives to their lineup is a bad idea, but by "too crammed" I don't mean they need more Wal*Mart knives. I mean they need more knives like the Griptilian, and more high-end models that aren't just limited edition appearence upgrades.
I prefer Buck, Kershaw, and Spyderco to Benchmade (just barely), but BM has always had a name more associated with higher-end knives. Not because their knives were better than Buck, Spyderco etc... but because they focused more on the $100-200 knives, which is where Buck, Kershaw, and Spyderco sort of taper off. Again, this doesn't mean "better", it is a matter of public conception.
Ford can make a Taurus, and it will sell. That is the bread and butter of Ford. And there is nothing wrong or worse about the Taurus. Ford can also make the Ford GT, which compeats with any Ferrari. But if Ferrari made a Taurus-class car, it would change the way we see Ferrari.
For many people that haven't heard of CRK or Strider, or just don't feel knives that expensive are worth it, Benchmade is Ferrari. People have said things to me like "Oh my God, you have a Benchmade!!!! WOW!", but not about my Spydercos, as they have probably seen Spydies for 40-50 bucks and found it reasonable. But Benchmades cost like... 150 bucks man! Those are for knife fanatics. That feeling will go away if every non-knife person sees BMs for 20 bucks at the mall.
AM- I totally agree. I love BM, but many of their models seem too similar and jammed into the same price class. I also think their Red Class knives could tarnish the brand name. It may seem odd to suggest BM's knives are too clammed into one price class and then say that adding cheaper knives to their lineup is a bad idea, but by "too crammed" I don't mean they need more Wal*Mart knives. I mean they need more knives like the Griptilian, and more high-end models that aren't just limited edition appearence upgrades.
I prefer Buck, Kershaw, and Spyderco to Benchmade (just barely), but BM has always had a name more associated with higher-end knives. Not because their knives were better than Buck, Spyderco etc... but because they focused more on the $100-200 knives, which is where Buck, Kershaw, and Spyderco sort of taper off. Again, this doesn't mean "better", it is a matter of public conception.
Ford can make a Taurus, and it will sell. That is the bread and butter of Ford. And there is nothing wrong or worse about the Taurus. Ford can also make the Ford GT, which compeats with any Ferrari. But if Ferrari made a Taurus-class car, it would change the way we see Ferrari.
For many people that haven't heard of CRK or Strider, or just don't feel knives that expensive are worth it, Benchmade is Ferrari. People have said things to me like "Oh my God, you have a Benchmade!!!! WOW!", but not about my Spydercos, as they have probably seen Spydies for 40-50 bucks and found it reasonable. But Benchmades cost like... 150 bucks man! Those are for knife fanatics. That feeling will go away if every non-knife person sees BMs for 20 bucks at the mall.
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
Esav said it already, but do not buy to amass a collection. The only you will make money at that is if you buy high dollar customs from established makers, which will make the pieces already pricey before you even own them. The other way is to buy antique pieces, and there are so many fakes out there, that sometimes the knowledgeable dealers might have a hard time discerning the real stuff.
I started out with Chinese/Pakistan junk. I moved up to Camillus, Cold Steel and CRKT, with some Gerber thrown in. Kershaw, SOG and others filled in along the way. Now, I'm primarily into Benchmades and Spydercos, and plan on moving up to Sebenza and Strider, or will take a left turn into customs.
Most of my collection has either been sold or given away. I gave away the ones that meant something to me to an extent, so I did not really lose any money on those. I am losing money on productions I have bought. Poor judgement and research on my purchases. I was not buying for my needs, just what looked neat, and neat steels/handle materials. Theres nothing wrong with buying what you want, but if you are on a budget like I am, you really have to put in some research. So, Esav was right, buy what you will use. Due to monetary constraints, you can't automatically go out and buy Spydercos, Benchmades or 100 buck plus knives. Buying the quality and design of the knife, as opposed to the brand, is best. Any brand can have great, or poor steels and handle materials. Search the forums here for blade steels. Off the top of my head, production stainless steels to look for are 154CM, ATS34, VG10, S30V, AUS8, 440C, ZDP189, H1 and BG42 (or is BG42 a custom steel, same with ZDP189?). Even carbon steels, like D2, M2, 5160 or 1095.
I started out with Chinese/Pakistan junk. I moved up to Camillus, Cold Steel and CRKT, with some Gerber thrown in. Kershaw, SOG and others filled in along the way. Now, I'm primarily into Benchmades and Spydercos, and plan on moving up to Sebenza and Strider, or will take a left turn into customs.
Most of my collection has either been sold or given away. I gave away the ones that meant something to me to an extent, so I did not really lose any money on those. I am losing money on productions I have bought. Poor judgement and research on my purchases. I was not buying for my needs, just what looked neat, and neat steels/handle materials. Theres nothing wrong with buying what you want, but if you are on a budget like I am, you really have to put in some research. So, Esav was right, buy what you will use. Due to monetary constraints, you can't automatically go out and buy Spydercos, Benchmades or 100 buck plus knives. Buying the quality and design of the knife, as opposed to the brand, is best. Any brand can have great, or poor steels and handle materials. Search the forums here for blade steels. Off the top of my head, production stainless steels to look for are 154CM, ATS34, VG10, S30V, AUS8, 440C, ZDP189, H1 and BG42 (or is BG42 a custom steel, same with ZDP189?). Even carbon steels, like D2, M2, 5160 or 1095.