I will never buy another CRKT knife! :mad:

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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Here's why. Origionally, I bought 3 CRKT knives; the M16, Point Guard and the Kasper. They seemed great until I did the spine wack test...all but the M16 failed. I then returned the Kasper and the Point Guard back to CRKT. About 30 days later, I got two new knives. The Point Guard was ok but, the Kasper failed again. So, I sent the replacement back after talking to the owner of CRKT. I received my second replacement Friday. Today I did the spine wack test and guess what, it failed! So months later after having a total of 3 Kaspers, I still don't have one that works. This is unbeleviable. Out of 6 CRKT knives that I've owned, 4 have failed. This is totally unacceptable. I am not going to send this one back...I've spent too much on shipping broken knives back to CRKT already. I suppose I'll try to repair it myself. I will never buy another CRKT product again. Let this be a warning to be wary of CRKT. :mad:
 
More and more I buy only knives that I can inspect first hand. You pay more from a brick and mortar store, but you can make sure what you're buying meets your standards. I think in the long run I will break even on the cost, since I don't get stuck with any bad ones this way. It sounds like CRKT tried to make things right, which is worth something??
 
Hey, I've got an idea! In the future, don't cut with the spine of your blades. This should prevent them from ever closing on you. I know, I know, "What kind of freak uses the edge to cut things?" but trust me, it works much better that way.

OK, I decided that might be a little harsh but I'm just pointing out that because a knife fails the high and mighty "SPINE WHACK TEST!!!" doesn't mean it's a worthless knife. Look at it like this; many thousands of people use knives every day with no lock at all and, amazingly, don't cut their fingers off. So a liner lock is more like an emergency back-up feature, NOT something that must function perfectly or the knife is deemed unusable.
 
Go one better. Avoid liner locks and most of your problems will go away. Liner locks are dangerous, at least they are way too sensitive to wear, dirt and torque, for me to be comfortable with one.
 
Liner locks are notorious for failure. But then again, any lock can fail.

Just what does the "spine whack" test prove? That the given knife makes a poor hammer? The "spine whack" test is abuse of the knife. No knife, especially a folder, should be used in this way.

Paul
 
All liner locks can slip and fail and CRKT's are no exception. If you can get them to fail, you could do it with any production liner lock, regardless of the company that made them, although some do better than most. Buy yourself an axis lock or framelock and don't look back.

Andrew Limsk
 
I agree with almost everything you folks have said in this thread (especially the recommendation to get an Axis knife). But I want to point out two things: (1) going to a B&M store is a good idea, but it doesn't solve the problems inherent in liner locks; (2) Disco Stu is, of course, correct that you shouldn't apply pressure to the spine of the blade in everyday use, but let's consider the intented use of CRKT's KFF.
 
Buy:
arc lock, rolling lock, ultra lock knives. Pay out more money for these locks or buy custom knives instead. I love my crkts.
 
I own five CRKT folders and all pass the spine whack test without any complaints.
 
The "spine whack" test is a good way to prove to yourself, "damn, this linerlock is nice and strong." I don't believe it is a reasonable representation of the types of stress a linerlock faces under normal use, however.

If you've bought yourself a linerlock that you intend to use as a "combat folder," then I suppose it's a good idea to have one that definitely won't fail on you during a thrust or a [insert horrified grimace] bone scrape. ::shudder:: In a utility knife, however, a knife that fails the "spine whack" test isn't necessarily a pocket finger guillotine waiting to slake its thirst for your blood.

Most locks are, on average, more trustworthy than linerlocks, which are hard to do consistently well. It is a good idea to handle knives before you buy them -- but how do you think the guy behind the counter is going to react if you take a knife out of the box and start banging its spine against the countertop?
 
would it fail w/lawks engaged? my KFF will fail w/out the lawks, but works fine w/it on.....and rolling locks can fail too my sifu's did- of course i sent ot back and they fixed it but it still failed.....


sifu
 
I also have a large KFF that consitently fails the spine whack test without the LAWKS engaged. Of course this is only one test out of many and doesn´t represent a regular form of stress on the knife, but nonetheless tells me that it´s an improperly executed linerlock. And considering the second F in KFF, I don´t want to be caught in a reverse grip edge out hooking maneuver or back-edge abaniko parry with that knife. This could cost you a finger in a situation where you´d desperately need ALL fingers functioning.
 
You don't hear too many complaints about CRKT but I've seen a few fail. In my (limited) experience, the M16's are better than the KFF's & PG's.

When used properly for most basic, simple, utility tasks, pressure shouldn't be applied to the spine of a blade at all, but we all know that sh!t happens. It depends on what you expect you'll use the knife for and how important your fingers are to you.

I spine whack all of my folders and I won't carry one that fails.
 
I don't see the need to perform this test at all. Just treat all folders as if they were slip-joints and you'll be fine.
And if it really worries you, buy a butterfly-knife or a fixed blade.
But to each his own.
 
If the knife doesn't pass the test without LAWKS, well...... NO DUH!!! That's why they put the LAWKS on in the first place. If the knife didn't need LAWKS, they wouldn't have included it.
 
In my experience, this is expected behavior from all liner locks. Don't those models come with the LAWKS safety?
 
I own a M16-14M, and it has never failed me, although
I sell knives for a living, and have noticed several
Kaspers with defective locks, from the factory, CRKT
gives you a lot of knife for the money, so I would
reconsider your decision to not buy any more of them.
 
Firstly, the best lock is the full tang, fixed blade! .

Secondly, I may not treat every folder as if it were a non-locking, slip joint knife, but I do treat liner locks that way! To me, the spine whack test really doesn't replicate the types of stresses and force vectors extant in typical (or even atypical) knife use. In a tactical situation, I would be concerned about the types of odd vector stresses that could be put on the knife although in a true tactical situation, it would not be foremost in my immediate thoughts; better to leave with my life a damaged or missing finger (or two). It's truly a shame that such well designed tac-folders are liner locks, and relatively flimsy ones at that. Can anyone say AFCK or Commander! (flame arrestor alert)

I've done many things with my old 440C Buck 110 lockback that should have probably been done with a small fixed blade. I really didn't know much better for much of the life of that knife and it's really none the worse for wear, even though Buck replaced the blade for me after I batoned it though a piece of firewood while camping many years ago.

Those who know me know that I like Busses and Chris Reeves One Pieces. Accordingly, I sort of compare other knives to them. Tough job for a folder, huh? With that said, when anticipating tough chores and circumstantially directed towards a folder, I am normally found with a Sebenza, or a 710HS or a Buck Strider/BG-42, (yeah I know, a liner lock, but there are liner locks and then there is the Buck Strider.) When nostalgia strikes, I'll grab my old 110. None of these folders has given me cause for concern.

As for CRK&T, they provide good value, great designs, decent materials and when using my M16-14, I am aware that it's a linerlock.
 
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