I need comments on 4 knives.

S

SnowSky

Joined
Jun 1, 2005
Messages
31
I have found 4 knives that I will likely buy in the near future sometime over summer and I was wondering what kind of quality they are.
Kershaw/Onion Baby Boa.
I am mainly getting this for a cool looking EDC, because its nice looking and is assisted.

CRKT K.I.S.S.
I want to get this because it would make a neat money clip, and it looks thin enough to fit in a wallet if I dont feel like carryin one of my other knives with. It also seems like ths knife is hard to open, and that the blade as always exposed and could cut me.

CRKT Van Hoy snap lock.
I want this for the same reasons as above, but also because I like the design and innovation in the knife. Is this knife hard to pull and open quickly? It seems so due to the blade design.

CRKT M16 Special Forces
Mmmmmmm beefy. I want to carry this around, but it might be to big. I want this for a nice big tactical folder. The m16 series has me confused. I basically want the biggest version of the m16, with a black blade and handle. I also wanted to know if this comes in a non-serrated blade version, I havent seen any yet.

I basically want to know how sharp each is out of the box, how easy they are to open quickly, how durable they are/feel, whats the cheapest price I can get each for, and if there are any other knives you would substitute in place of these.

Thanks alot, Snow.
 
Personally I would skip the KISS and the Van Hoy Snap lock as they are pretty much toys.
 
Well this is just my personal opinion but for the beefy folder I'd go with the a Spyderco Manix, Lil'T or a BM AFCK. Call me a steel snob but I think you can do better than the Aus-6 - Aus 8 CRKT is using and for a heavy use folder I would go with a different lock aswell. But as a beater the Big Dog seems to be quite a good knife.

For the Money clip I'd rather go with a BM Big Spender. The K.I.S.S you have to be pretty careful when sharpening, otherwise the edge will rise from the handle. Not what I would want to have in my pocket.

Snap lock: I'd rather spend some more money on one or two good knives that I am really happy with, than on many gadgets.

Baby Boa...Personally don't like the looks and the shape, but I think Kershaw makes good stuff, especially those models for which they use better steels (like the Baby Boa).
 
I bought a KISS to use as a money clip, but found that the clip isn't big enough to hold more than two or three folded bills. You're better off with a dedicated money clip or a knife specifically designed as a clip.
 
OK, I have decided to not get any of the lil CRKT's but I am still heavily considering the M16. Anything else I need to know? Also, completely off-topic and nooby, but whats a sheeple? A person who freaks out when you flip out a knife?
 
KISS is a nice knife, it actually won't cut you as the blade's snug up against the frame.
M16 is ok, not sure about non-serrated versions.
Van-Hoy STINKS. It's ugly (IMO), hard to hold, not very good steel, annoying opening mechanism (even if it is fun to play with), etc.
Baby boa has inferior steel, I'd only get the M16 or KISS out of the whole lot. KISS isn't super-steel, but you probably won't use it for too much heavy duty stuff.

_z
 
When I first got into knives, my first "real" knife was a CRKT. They are alright for what they are, but honestly, for the price there are many better deals to be had.

Once you get into knives...which you probably will...you may end up selling these starter knives anyway as you may find they are a bit too heavy on the gimmick and not enough on the practicality, build quality, ergonomics, or sense of design.

The first knife I would recommend to anyone would be the Spyderco Calypso Jr. It is inexpensive ($40), has amazing ergonomics, comes with a great factory edge, is extremely lightweight, and invisible in your pocket. It also will give you a whole new impression of cutting efficiency, rivaling knives that cost A LOT more.

Try it out...don't like it, sell it.

Nitin
 
Thanks for the advice, but I dont like lockbacks/thumb holes. Just feels wierd to me. I am mainly interested in frame and linear locks with thumb studs. I have handled a friends spydie though, man they have good factory edges!I am pretty sure I am going to get the Baby Boa (I love the way it looks, im big on milled holes in the handle and blade), then a special forces M16. A couple more questions though:
1. I have seen 1 SF M16 on ebay for $80.00, but a tan one for $50.00. Is it just the black color making it cost more or does it have something else?

Snow
 
SnowSky said:
A couple more questions though:
1. I have seen 1 SF M16 on ebay for $80.00, but a tan one for $50.00. Is it just the black color making it cost more or does it have something else?

Snow
Click to expand...

The tan one you saw was most likely the "Desert" Special Forces variation, and if memory serves, it has a Zytel (fiberglass/nylon) handle and an AUS6 blade. The black one has a CNC machined Aluminum handle and an AUS8 blade. The upgraded blade and handle materials are the reasons for the higher price of the black one.

I believe that both blades are coated with a Ti-Ni coating, one black, the other tan, so the coating shouldn't factor into the price difference.

:)

Good luck,
3Guardsmen
 
I have been using my Strider SNP here in Iraq for 5 months now, I use it for everything. It holds an edge very very well and with a small diamond sharpener can be back to razor sharp in 4-5 passes. This knive is so overbuilt that I don't worry about breaking it, even when Im doing things that knives are not designed to do. Like...prying things open, turning rusty screws, or cutting the top off a can. It may be a little pricey, but just hold it in your hand for the first time and you know it will be with you for many years.
 
I have owned and given as gifts a number of Kershaw assisted openers. Despite the less then wonder steel they tend to come very sharp out of the box and all of mine have been decent inexpensive utility edc knives with a bit of cool factor, haven't owned the baby boa but I think it would be cool as a light duty pocket knife4 and it does seem cool style wise.

I don't remember if it was the kiss or the peck that I owned but I liked it as well, again in the category of light duty edc with cool factor. It is possible to cut yourself with the blade folded but you would have to work at it a bit.
Cool inexpensive knives, if ya like them then get them. They won't break the bank and they will serve there intended purpose.

In regards to a large tactical folder I would probably look towards models more expensive and of higher quality then the M16. The large one I handled was a beefy knife and seemed solid, another CRKT knife you might consider that definetly fills the "beefy" bill and has gotten pretty good comments around her is the M1 Lightfoot. The blade is not super long but it has a very cool shape and is a seriously beefy knife, thumb stud, liner lock, LOKS and they can be had for very little money, I think 35-50 though I am not positive. To step up some in money and materials you should take a look at Emerson, I think there quality is hit or miss but the good ones are very nice and a lot of folks swear by them.

Sam
 
Thanks for the replys. I bought a BB and I love it. Though the steel aint that great it is definitley a cool little folder. Thanks for servin the country shiek! I am probably gonna go with a CRKT or a Spyderco next.
 
LOL I just read that you got the BB .. that is one I was wanting also.. maybe next purchase.. sorry for being so slow at the post.. heh.. I will go ahead and leave it incase you still are interested in others views..

I may be talking prematurely, being this is my first CRKT but I really like this CRKT M16-04 it is razor sharp and very stout.. I have heard that the liner lock is not the best and wears kinda fast.. but for now I am loving it.. it fits my hands great and feels nice and comfey.. the stock pocket clip was kinda small for my likeing, so I replaced it with a Boker clip and now it is even better.. this thing is a HOG of a knife when open but still legal and I really like the plain AUS-8 tanto blade.. ease of sharpening when that day arrives.. it is still razor sharp after a week.. so sharp it will shave the long strings off a towel while hanging and raking the blade over it.. ;) one of the sharpest knifes I have ever owned.. I have some militec-1 coming to treat the pivot with (Not that it seems like it needs it) just want too.. to see what all the talk is about.. this one is minus the LAWKS safety and that doesn't bother me in the least.. the M16 SF model is pretty cool .. but I don't think I would like the double flipper.. seems like it would have even more of a chance to get caught on something.. or in the way.. IMO.. but anyway that's my .02 cents.. hope ya enjoy what ever you get .. for the money I don't think you can go wrong with CRKT M16 or M21.. and if I had the money I would be sporting a strider frame lock or CRK.. but this one will do until then and who knows I may still love this knife even then.. I just like the design of it..
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Still need to drill the 3rd hole in the clip but for now this is still more secure than the stock one IMO, And easier to clip and take out of my pocket..
Also the main feature that attracted me to the CRKT M16's is the Carson flipper.. after using it I am really not wanting to ever own another knife without it.. the thing flies open.. ;)
 
i have the M16-SF and it's a large knife especially with the dual flippers. BUT as beefy as it is, it has thin liner (only 1 liner, the lock). I will never buy a liner lock folder again. after experiencing axis locks and frame locks, liner locks make me quiver in fear. also of note is that the combo edges have a chisel ground EDGE. it doesn't come in Plain edge. it's nice but not worth the cash. pay a little extra and get a benchmade or sypderco and get a LOT more knife for the money.
 
CRKT K.I.S.S.
I want to get this because it would make a neat money clip, and it looks thin enough to fit in a wallet if I dont feel like carryin one of my other knives with. It also seems like ths knife is hard to open, and that the blade as always exposed and could cut me.
Click to expand...
It isn't as thin as it looks; I doubt it would into a wallet, not mine anyway. The knife is easy to open, one-handed. And I find it easier to close than most one-hand knives. You can't cut yourself on the exposed blade; it's very snug against the handle.

-Bob
 
I'm sorry, I have to say this, crkt knives, about 98% of them are crap. The liner locks always stick, had one model I actually had to get a small screwdriver out to pry open the liner lock. It was on one of the flipper models, if you opened it slow the liner lock was okay, but everytime I flipped it open it would get stuck. Now don't say this was a quality control issue, I have owned several models that did the same thing. I have not owned a crkt in years, gave them all away as they were not even worth selling. I was whittling a stick with an m-16, I believe was the model, not even hard wood and the blade was chipping LOL i kid you not. Their clips always come loose and are easy to bend. I would rather own a chinese knife than a crkt, I am not bashing crkt, they make some decent fixed blades. Dont waste your money on a crkt, seriously. I won't even recommend another company so this thread does not become heated. Just my opinion guys.
 
I love my M16/11K and you can find a review of it in this area of the forum. I've only had it for a few days. My only complaint is that the liner lock is difficult, a common complaint here. Seriously though, you'd have to be some kind of a weakling not to be able to push it over in the normal way, it's just annoyingly difficult. Now that I have the thumb callus building, it's actually about perfect.

And about the liner lock failing...of any liner lock knife I've ever used, I worry about the failing of this one the least....for one, the liner lock is intensely (sometimes annoyingly) strong, and two, it has a secondary lock on the liner lock itself.

Having only had this knife for a week, I can't comment much on the long term durability of it. However, I've EDCed a Greg Lightfoot/CRKT Urban shark for two years with flawless performance in all aspects. Despite the AUS8 steel, its steel has a strong edge on it despite extremely rare sharpening. I'm certain there are plenty of superior knives out there, but for the price of it, it has excelled. Hell, I don't see how it could have performed better. It worked perfectly.


This aside, I've played with every one of those except for the KISS. My personal bias is against assisted opening. It's a ton of fun, but I guess my argument is to put the opening mechanism's money into the blade and I'll do the opening. Of course, not everyone sees it my way and I can definitely see the fun in the assisted opening. I played with the Scallion I bought for my girlfriend for an hour straight. Of the small assisted openers, I love the baby boa. If you're looking for a gentleman's folder that you can carry to the office and not offend (and it IS easy to offend with a switchblade-like action...) it's a good choice. But for me personally, it's simply too small. The mini mojo might be a better choice, but it's pretty expensive. I've briefly played with a van hoy assisted too, and the mechanism works well, and the knife feels good in my hand. Nonetheless, it's too radical a design for my tastes, and with my bias against assisted opening, I didn't look too much into it. I have a brief review of the M16/11K (much smaller than the one you're looking at ) in this forum if you're interested in that. I think it comes down to whether or not you want assisted opening or not. I think you'll find that if you play with CRKTs, Kershaw and benchmade knives, you'll find that opening them in a NON assisted way is almost as fast and easy as the assisted. They just have amazing actions.
 
DaveH said:
Personally I would skip the KISS and the Van Hoy Snap lock as they are pretty much toys.
Click to expand...
so would i...if u ask me out of ur knives ur looking at m16 would be the best choice
 
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