I can and can't believe it...First CRK

NYOutdoors

NYOutdoors

Joined
Oct 24, 2011
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I worked myself into ordering an Umnumzaan, thinking I would be impressed with the quality but quickly realize that it the $425 was not worth it and sell it off. I just had to see for myself what all the "hype" was about. Well, it came today, and I am impressed, but I am also blown away. I am not selling it. I am going to carry it every single day and use this amazing tool to its full potential. A few questions:

1. The birthday card concerned me a little. All of the cards I've seen look to be handwritten, however mine was typed. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

2. Not the sharpest knife I've ever received brand new from the factory. I've had several $10-$20 knives that split hair, however this Umnumzaan struggles to slice paper cleanly. Normal?

I know what you guys mean when you say that once you have one, you want another, and another, and another...blah. I've already started shopping for the next one. Crap. Thinking a small Sebenza or a Mnandi.
 
Congrats, the umnumzaan is awesome! I think you have one of the newer cards...perfectly normal. Every crk I've acquired has been able to slice paper pretty easy, although some are sharper than others.
 
Congrats, OP! May you enjoy it for years to come!

I don't know enough about the brand to comment on the birthday card, but I've never heard of a typed one before... :confused:
 
The new cards are stamped for the model part then filled out with a signature.
Here are my first 2 Sebenza cards.

As for the sharpness, I haven't had an umnumzaan but I used Sebenza early on to cut some cardboard and quickly dulled so I have since redone the edge with a wicked edge and 36 deg inclusive plus a microbevel and it is really holding it well and cuts really finely. I don't use it to break down boxes any more but it is up to the task if need be.


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NYO- strop that zaan abit and see if it doesn't come alive...I received a new zaan and it wasn't as sharp as my sebenza, so it got stropped and it made a big difference.
 
Widespread dullness of these $425 knives is kind of ridiculous. Doesn't make me feel any better now that I realize it's normal. The craftsmanship is outstanding, but if Kershaw can put an outstanding edge on their $20 knives, surely CRK can for the premium we pay for their products.
 
My CRKs all change dramatically with a new edge profile. It is almost like a different knife in terms of edge holding and cutting ability when I put on an 18 degree per side "V" edge with my Edge Pro. No rolled or chipped edges and it holds the sharpness so much better than the factory grind. I've had customs that claim to be crazy-sharp that really are not up to my standards so I just assume that any new knife is going to need some level of work.
 
I don't have a Umnumzaan but my Starbenza was razor sharp. Not sure what to tell you.
 
You'll eventually have to sharpen it anyways. It's not going to keep an edge forever. I had to put an edge on my sebenza the day I got it, but I don't care. I would have sharpened it even if it could cut paper. Sharpening is part of knife maintenance. You didn't pay for the edge, you paid for the quality ad craftsmanship. Yes, it should come sharp, but it shouldn't be a negative as it would dull eventually anyways.
 
I can't stand that point of view. I absolutely understand that I will have to sharpen the edge. I touch up my EDC blades frequently, and I've already brought the Umnumzaan to shaving sharp. However, I think it's a load of crap when you say that you didn't pay for the edge. The edge is a huge aspect of any knife (most would consider it the most important because the edge is what actually does the CUTTING, a knife's main function) and I just simply think that a $425 price point should yield a blade that I don't need to spend time on sharpening right out of the box. I don't think that's unreasonable.
 
Well look at it as a give and take....

$20 knife=sharp as hell
Overall quality=crap

Sharpen up the unum and call it a good purchase bro:thumbup:
 
I'm sure if you contacted CRK they would take care of you.. The Umn I got was a user and still was laser Sharp!
 
I really do love the knife. It's amazing quality and craftsmanship. Since sharpening is no issue for me, the fact that it wasn't extremely sharp isn't a huge deal for the knife. It's the principle of the premium you pay for the knife that makes me a little peeved to have to spend time sharpening it out of the box. That's all.
 
No knife company is infallible...I know it stinks but it happens.. Life is to short for a dull blade to ruin your day!..now go cut stuff up! :) and get some pics
 
I thought about the Insingo...I just hate the way they look, but logic tells me that the blade shape will fill a void in my EDC rotation. Convince me!
 
You had to touch up the edge? On a $400+ knife? Eh, that's shameful. Send that sucker my way, i'll gladly suffer the injustice for you:D

All in good fun:thumbup:

The Insigno is a great all around knife and strops back to sharp easier then any other CRK i've owned. You'd dig it.
 
All I'm saying is yes, it should have been sharp. Is it the end of the world? No. I could see getting upset if the grinds were all nasty and uneven. But the edge, eh. If the knife was known for its great edge and it didn't come with an edge, and the heft of the price was the edge, I'd be upset. But the way I look at it is, you pay for quality and will end up sharpening it anyways.
 
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