I need advice.

Joined
Aug 6, 2014
Messages
66
So I'm buying a CRK folder no matter what. And it'll be soon within the next 10 days or so. The problem is I have no idea which one I like the most. What I do know is that I want a lg 21, 25 or an umnumzaan. But every time I think I've decided I see another picture or post somewhere that derails me and I wind up in a panic because I literally can't afford to pick wrong. Then I get into the options regular blade or insingo. Or do I want a startac or starbenza. Do I wanna track down a tnk tango variety. Then on the zaan do I like the new pivot or the old pivot. Then there's buying one. Do I buy brand new from CRK directly. From a dealer. From a member. Or do I buy used?

Guys I really need some guidance.

As far as me as regarding knives... I will use it daily. I likely will not use it as a chisel or screw driver. I'm not hard on knives but I work and things get dropped or scuffed sometimes. I know how to maintain my knives. I want an effing CRK
 
Honestly I do't think you can go wrong with any of the knives you are looking at. If it were me…..

1. I would want my first to be new
2. Buying from CRK or an authorized CRK dealer makes no difference IMHO
3. I would save the 25 for later as it will be around forever and I think your first "needs" 21 pivot bushing
4. Old pivot Zaans are cool but see # 1 above…..
5. I would want a plain Jane for my first so I would not be tempted to "baby it"
6. That leaves the regular 21 and the Insingo 21
7. Unless you need the blade to pierce stuff I would go with the Large Insingo….blade is very useful, including for prep

My vote, should I get a vote, is the large Insingo….coincidentally my first was a large plain Jane Insingo
 
Honestly I do't think you can go wrong with any of the knives you are looking at. If it were me…..

1. I would want my first to be new
2. Buying from CRK or an authorized CRK dealer makes no difference IMHO
3. I would save the 25 for later as it will be around forever and I think your first "needs" 21 pivot bushing
4. Old pivot Zaans are cool but see # 1 above…..
5. I would want a plain Jane for my first so I would not be tempted to "baby it"
6. That leaves the regular 21 and the Insingo 21
7. Unless you need the blade to pierce stuff I would go with the Large Insingo….blade is very useful, including for prep

My vote, should I get a vote, is the large Insingo….coincidentally my first was a large plain Jane Insingo
Thanks FordFan. I think I'm gonna wind up choosing last minute. And its coming down to the zaan and large 21. I like the insingo shape but the tip strength worries me as an edc. If I could afford two I'd get a reg and insingo.
 
I would start off with a plain jane 21 and then a Zaan or 25 if you were to get a second one.

But if it is going to be your first and only, I would go with a Micarta inlay version.

And I would buy new
 
I'd bet that the vast majority of EDC tasks could be handled by any of your options. My advice is: Recognize that there isn't a bad choice here and go with the one you like best. The one you keep looking at and drooling over. The one that--while you've tried to convince yourself otherwise--still is the one you want when you want a CRK.

That's what I've done in a watch and in a CRK and I haven't been disappointed.
 
Lg. 21 with Micarta inlay or plain Jane, clip point and I would buy from the sales forum(you can get a great saving there and if my guidance it won't cost you much).
 
I have an old pivot Umnumzaan, a StarTac Zaan, a 25, a Mnandi and a small regular 21. They're all fantastic knives in their own way but, as you can probably tell by my avatar, I'm an Umnumzaan man at the end of the day. That would be my recommendation but you can't go wrong with any of the CRKs you're looking at. (Or any CRK at all, for that matter).
 
I have an old pivot Umnumzaan, a StarTac Zaan, a 25, a Mnandi and a small regular 21. They're all fantastic knives in their own way but, as you can probably tell by my avatar, I'm an Umnumzaan man at the end of the day. That would be my recommendation but you can't go wrong with any of the CRKs you're looking at. (Or any CRK at all, for that matter).
With the old pivot and the startac do you notice any real differences?
 
List the CRK's you want on a piece of paper. Only you will be able to list the pros/cons of each knife as to why you should buy it or why you should not. Continue to go over the list every day until you are ready to pull the trigger. Then in a last minute rush get the one in your mind. They're all good, I've got quiet a few myself and love every one of them. Not to add to your dilemma, I really. really like the micarta inlay 25.
Good luck, know the feeling, at the end of the day, you'll have the one!! And I would also agree to getting a new CRK.
 
List the CRK's you want on a piece of paper. Only you will be able to list the pros/cons of each knife as to why you should buy it or why you should not. Continue to go over the list every day until you are ready to pull the trigger. Then in a last minute rush get the one in your mind. They're all good, I've got quiet a few myself and love every one of them. Not to add to your dilemma, I really. really like the micarta inlay 25.
Good luck, know the feeling, at the end of the day, you'll have the one!! And I would also agree to getting a new CRK.
Good plan.

Pro- I want all of them
Con- I can only afford one of them

Lol. The struggle is real
 
I'm personally less likely to baby a Umnumzaan than any sebenza so thats my answer. As for old/new style pivot, the old style is DEFINITELY cool, but as stated above unless you can find an lnib...
 
Worried about the insingo tip?
Nonesense. I'm much rougher on small insingo, ecspecially on the swedge. that thing is like a built in scraper, pryer, what have you. Insingo to me is the most utilitarian and strongest blade shapes.

Get the large or small, in micarta. You wont regret it.

Additionally, I would have no problem buying used. I mean, sebenzas are on the exchange all the time, and 98% of them are in pristine condition. If you want a pretty model, like a UGG or CGG - sure, buy new.

But if you're gonna use this one - just buy it off the forum, and make sure its got all of the important documents: knife, box, birthcard, tool, cloth, registration card, sticker (although I could care less about the last two).

Hope this helps.
 
My vote is for a micarta 25 or a regular Umnumzaan, new pivot. I have or have had all of them you mentioned, and those two are my favorites of them all.

You truly cannot go wrong with any of your choices, at least you have that going for you. So even if you choose "wrong," it'll still be "right."
 
Guys these tips are all helping quite a bit. As of right now I've reached my goal for savings. So I'm going to be buying soon I hope. Until then I'll likely change my mind 300 more times and even wake up in a Cold sweat because I haven't decided. Lol
 
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I feel the Large 21 spear point is the defacto CRK. I am not sure it is my favourite anymore (I am starting to favour smaller knives), but I do not regret it being my gateway to the other CRK models that I now own, and still carry it often. I feel the Large 21 SP provides a good foundation to start with as it is a good point of comparison to the rest of the line-up. You may love it, but if you don't you'll have a good idea what to trade it for or where to go next.

If it's too plain, get a decorated. If it's too safe looking, get an Umnumzaan. If you like a heavier knife get a 25. If it's too big, get a small. If you think you'd prefer a lower tip profile, get an insingo, and so on and so on.

I'd start with the large 21, and if you can afford it, the micarta is nice, but so is the plain. I have a tough time deciding between those.

IMG_1577_zpscd77d558.jpg
 
That is such a personal decision. I know what I would choose but that's what I would choose so that doesn't help. Like many others have said, you can't go wrong with a large 21 and probably clip point for your first one. I have both blade styles and although you can't beat the utility of the Insingo, for sheer beauty and for your first one I would lean towards the original blade profile.

If you want something more aggressive then you need to decide between the Umnanzaan and the 25. I think the 25 is the best of all worlds, its the CRK I carry the most but that's just my preference. I like the ergos, and the way it locks up with the ceramic ball interface, I like the pivot and I find it the easiest to open and the smoothest of the 3.

Any way you slice you will end up with a great knife, good luck ... the researching is half the fun.
 
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