IKBS Production Knives

CRKT Ripple and Eros. The Kershaw Tilt will have something similar, but it's not IKBS.
 
Yeah, I think those are the only two in production. IKBS seems to be mostly in the realm of custom makers at the moment. I'm waiting to get my CRKT Eros to see if it lives up to the hype:thumbup:.
 
Artfully Martial said:
I've got a Ripple 1 coming in probably Thurs or Fri if you want a write up on it
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Thanks, that would be great. Ive seen the ripple before and almost bought it, but im hesitant with CRKT, so a write up would be amazing when you get it.

Thanks,
Noah
 
Contained said:
Thanks, that would be great. Ive seen the ripple before and almost bought it, but im hesitant with CRKT, so a write up would be amazing when you get it.

Thanks,
Noah
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I was at a gun show 4 months ago and Sooner State Knives was there. I picked up a Tyrade and was totally satisfied so I didn't check anything else out. Now I'm kicking myself for not trying the Ripple and the Benchmade 755.
 
Tim Galyean's Pro Series are all IKBS and are also technically production knives. Other than that you are left with the CRKT offerings of the Ripple and the Eros, both of which have not impressed me.
 
Artfully Martial said:
what didn't you like on them?
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I had a Large Ripple and I still have a Large Eros. I hate the pocket clips on both. Both are extremely thin and feel like nothing in my hand. The lockbar on the Ripple felt very flimsy and I felt like I was going to despring it everytime I unlocked it. The Ripple's handle has a lot of hot spots and the flipper was pretty damn sharp when I got it. The Accuto+ blade steel has not impressed me in the slightest with either wear resistance or edge holding ability. I don't feel that either knife really benefits from the IKBS bearings due to the extremely small and light blades. I have the feeling that I could easily flip either open without the addition of IKBS.

Basically, in my opinion, you have two subpar knives with IKBS added to the pivot. One has Ti scales, one has Steel scales, both have an average blade steel, and both are underwhelming.
 
I believe the Benchmade 53 balisong has IKBS or at least some kind of bearing system.
 
Tony8179 said:
I had a Large Ripple and I still have a Large Eros. I hate the pocket clips on both. Both are extremely thin and feel like nothing in my hand. The lockbar on the Ripple felt very flimsy and I felt like I was going to despring it everytime I unlocked it. The Ripple's handle has a lot of hot spots and the flipper was pretty damn sharp when I got it. The Accuto+ blade steel has not impressed me in the slightest with either wear resistance or edge holding ability. I don't feel that either knife really benefits from the IKBS bearings due to the extremely small and light blades. I have the feeling that I could easily flip either open without the addition of IKBS.

Basically, in my opinion, you have two subpar knives with IKBS added to the pivot. One has Ti scales, one has Steel scales, both have an average blade steel, and both are underwhelming.
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Aren't your expectations a bit off?

I was under the impression that, as a gentlemen's knife(or gentical's), such knives were supposed to feel like nothing? With that in mind, I also don't expect the lock to hold up if you stab the knife into a car door. Plus, I sincerely doubt it's any more flimsy than the liner lock in my Small Buck Vantage Pro, and I would bet anything that it flips a hell of a lot easier as well(my vantage pro won't flip without a lot of wrist movement).

Also, I don't think Acuto+ was ever sold to be some kind of super steel. I've heard it was somewhere between 440C and 154CM.
 
I have a first production ripple one and am very impressed by it. Yes it's thin. I knew that going into the purchase. Yes the handles have a few sharp edges but that may be because I have a first production version.

It's a great knife for the price. It opens and closes ridiculously smooth.

It's a 75 dollar knife and I believe it's worth every penny. I also have a sebenza, mnandi, had a lochsa, have several microtechs, etc, so I knw what a good knife is. The ripple is a good knife. In my opinion of course.
 
Tony8179 said:
Basically, in my opinion, you have two subpar knives with IKBS added to the pivot. One has Ti scales, one has Steel scales, both have an average blade steel, and both are underwhelming.
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No comment on the Ripple, as I don't own one, but I think you're missing the point of the Eros, which I consider to be an excellent all around EDC with great design credentials and build quality that equals or exceeds anything I've seen from the "big three." Even though it might appear to be just another ridiculous "tactical" knife at first glance, it's really a refreshingly lightweight (a feathery 1.5 oz.) and practical design that doesn't sacrifice cutting ability for the marketing appeal of crude bulk.

The steel is more than adequate for the knife's intended purpose; day-to-day cutting chores that befit a slim, lightweight, razor-sharp gent's knife. The IKBS flipper works as well as any assisted knife without the fragile spring, and the deeply contoured ti handles take full advantage if that material's strength to weight ratio; something that most designers ignore, preferring to save on time and tool wear by leaving their ti slabs needlessly thick and boxy.

I only own two IKBS flippers, but given the price of the Eros, its IKBS implementation holds its own nicely next to the six times more expensive Begg Gents Glimpse custom.

ErosandGGlimps.jpg
 
Artfully Martial said:
what didn't you like on them?
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Noctis3880 said:
Aren't your expectations a bit off?

I was under the impression that, as a gentlemen's knife(or gentical's), such knives were supposed to feel like nothing? With that in mind, I also don't expect the lock to hold up if you stab the knife into a car door. Plus, I sincerely doubt it's any more flimsy than the liner lock in my Small Buck Vantage Pro, and I would bet anything that it flips a hell of a lot easier as well(my vantage pro won't flip without a lot of wrist movement).

Also, I don't think Acuto+ was ever sold to be some kind of super steel. I've heard it was somewhere between 440C and 154CM.
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I'm pretty sure I was asked what I didn't like about the knives and I answered that question. No, I don't believe that my expectations are too high. My expectations are what they are and neither of these knives lived up to them. I never said I was going to stab either knife through a car door and I never said that Accuto+ was supposed to be a super steel. There are many gentleman's knives out there that have a bit of bulk to them. Ones that I don't feel like I could bend in half or pull the lockbar off of if I used a little force. These two knives feel exactly like that. To me, comparing the Small Buck Vantage Pro to the Ripple or Eros isn't a comparison at all. You have your opinion of the knives and I have mine. No one ever said that they had to be the same.

Rick said:
No comment on the Ripple, as I don't own one, but I think you're missing the point of the Eros, which I consider to be an excellent all around EDC with great design credentials and build quality that equals or exceeds anything I've seen from the "big three." Even though it might appear to be just another ridiculous "tactical" knife at first glance, it's really a refreshingly lightweight (a feathery 1.5 oz.) and practical design that doesn't sacrifice cutting ability for the marketing appeal of crude bulk.

The steel is more than adequate for the knife's intended purpose; day-to-day cutting chores that befit a slim, lightweight, razor-sharp gent's knife. The IKBS flipper works as well as any assisted knife without the fragile spring, and the deeply contoured ti handles take full advantage if that material's strength to weight ratio; something that most designers ignore, preferring to save on time and tool wear by leaving their ti slabs needlessly thick and boxy.

I only own two IKBS flippers, but given the price of the Eros, its IKBS implementation holds its own nicely next to the six times more expensive Begg Gents Glimpse custom.
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I did say that I still have my large Eros. It's a decent little splinter picker. The only reason I picked one up though is because someone was selling it for $60 and I figured it was worth a shot. I'm sorry if I made anyone sad because I think the knives are subpar, but I was asked why I didn't like them. Everyone else can write a wall of text on why they do like them, but I will stick to my opinion.
 
No problem (or offence), Tony. I just think the Eros is well deserving of a little positive counterpoint. I paid exactly twice what you did for mine, and I still think it was a very good value. I wish there were more knife designs like it. That whole overwrought "tactical" pocket-brick trend is getting mighty old.
 
Rick said:
No problem (or offence), Tony. I just think the Eros is well deserving of a little positive counterpoint. I paid exactly twice what you did for mine, and I still think it was a very good value. I wish there were more knife designs like it. That whole overwrought "tactical" pocket-brick trend is getting mighty old.
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No problems. If I completely hated The Eros I wouldn't still own it. It has a couple things going for it, but those things just aren't enough for me to recommend the knife.

Part of me thinks I've been spoiled by Kershaw. Kershaw brought us many production versions of Ken Onion designs and, in my opinion, they nailed every one of those designs in fit, finish, and function all at excellent prices. Personally, I just feel that CRKT isn't up to the challenge of really nailing a Ken Onion design. From what I've seen and owned so far, they are proving me right. If these same two designs were done by Kershaw I may think differently of them.
 
Tony8179 said:
No problems. If I completely hated The Eros I wouldn't still own it. It has a couple things going for it, but those things just aren't enough for me to recommend the knife.

Part of me thinks I've been spoiled by Kershaw. Kershaw brought us many production versions of Ken Onion designs and, in my opinion, they nailed every one of those designs in fit, finish, and function all at excellent prices. Personally, I just feel that CRKT isn't up to the challenge of really nailing a Ken Onion design. From what I've seen and owned so far, they are proving me right. If these same two designs were done by Kershaw I may think differently of them.
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I was under the same notion and that's why I waited to see what other people thought with these two new Taiwanese IKBS folders. I think for the money one could do much better.

And yes, the Galyean IKBS pro series knives are fantastic midtechs.
 
I've got no problem with CRKT, but I agree, if Kershaw had made a version, especially one made in America, I'd have paid the extra money to get that. But the reviews I've seen have been very positive and Taiwanese quality generally outshines the Chinese versions.

Kershaw is my favorite knife manufacturer, but KO is my favorite designer, I suppose anything either of them make stands a good chance of landing in my collection at some point or the other.
 
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