Info on CRKT Knives

H

HWS

Joined
Aug 6, 2015
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Just wondering about CRKT knives. A search of the forum shows little reference to them which could say a lot.

I happened across one of their products today which immediately caught my eye. It is a small EDC lock back called "Tribute" which was designed by Frank Centofante. It seems very well made and finished and feels like it would make a great EDC. However, there is no indication where it was made. I know CRKT is located in Oregon but nothing on the website as to where their knives originate. Not looking for a knife with potential collector value just one that can be used without any hidden issues. Any help or opinions appreciated.

TIA
 
Not sure about that model, but most CRKT knives are made in China, and a few in Taiwan. They typically use 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8 steel. My experience, which seems to reflect that of many other CRKT owners, is that they have some very interesting designs but so-so materials and spotty QC for the money. I own a few of their fixed blades and think highly of them, but my experiences with their folders have been mixed.
 
The Tribute was indeed made in China. I owned one a couple years ago. A very nice looking knife and well designed, unfortunately it was poorly executed by CRKT. The one I owned had an off center blade and a bit of up and down blade play. Neither issue was terrible, just disappointing. They do manage to hit some home runs though. I owned a CRKT Eros with the Acuto steel that was a good knife, and I currently own an M16-03Z that I really like. Both of those knives are made in Taiwan.
 
Have two, bought one five, six years ago on a trip to FL. Hammond Desert Tan Cruiser. Second was a Swindle last month on Amazon . Both should have been labeled factory second in my option. Hammond really bad off center, no pivot tighten to center, lock bar lock up really late and some metal edges look nicked all most a cast metal look. Swindle blade had a nick where the blade hit the clip, frame lock right next to the locking surface was hit, leaving a dent on the inside and a bump on the side. Was hit on at an angle on the corner. The end piece jimping was needle like pointy. All three of my kershaw's at and around the same price, where fit and finished to a T.
 
(C) Chinese
(R) Republic
(K) Knife
(T) Trash

None of CRKT is manufactured in the U.S. anymore, only designed here. What used to be a semi-respectable U.S. Company has flown the way of Wal-Mart. Save your money and get a better knife from a more reputable company for the same $$$...Buck, Spyderco, and Kershaw all have U.S. options or better overseas manufacturing and Q.C. $$$ is better spent there.
 
I like some of the CRKT designs. One of my favorites is the Lake Thunderbolt. I like the new Fossil too. I say buy what you want if it makes you happy.
 
HWS said:
Just wondering about CRKT knives....I know CRKT is located in Oregon but nothing on the website as to where their knives originate. Not looking for a knife with potential collector value just one that can be used without any hidden issues. Any help or opinions appreciated.

TIA
Click to expand...

as a yard stick for country of origin
aus8 = republic of china, taiwan
8cr13mov or any _Cr_MoV designation = the peoples republic of china, mainland.
the bar code label on the packaging
would normally state country of origin
if the blade does not bare
some tiny etching on some corner
with this relevant information.
CRKT created a niche for itself by marketing
cheaper beyond average quality taiwanese made knives into the market.
as a consequence the general reputation of taiwanese OEM goods rose
alongside with the rise of CRKT as a reputable brand based solely on taiwanese imports.
that was its early beginnings...
perhaps somewhere along the line
they figured the same successful formula could work with their mainland chinese products.
 
I agree with Lycosa. I have about 6-8 CRKTs; both manual thumbstuds and A0s. All work really well and take a good edge. IMHO excellent knives for the money.
Rich
 
I've relatively recently bought a few CRKT knives that I found on sale. The Ripple I have with the Acuto steel is actually quite nice for what I paid. The flipping action is VERY good, even better than many much higher priced knives I own. Actually, all three I bought recently were flippers, and in my experience, if nothing else, they are all an excellent execution of the flipper concept. The blade won't shake out, fires out quickly without killing your finger, and even works with both of the "typical" flipping methods. Are they perfect - no, but in that price range, I find them very nice EDC's that compare favorably with other offerings. I also bought a more expensive titanium Eros for my dad because he wanted a very light pocket knife. With my OCD, the lockup bothered me a bit when I got it, but CRKT's customer service was excellent and even though they doubted it would ever be a problem, they replaced it for me because they wanted me to be happy. So my experiences have been good.

And even though most are made overseas, if that's really important to you, they do make a few in the US again. The one's I'm aware of are fixed blades, but I may not be aware of all of them.
 
Columbia River Knife & Tool was my gateway drug, away from Mtech and Rough Rider, and into Kershaw and Benchmade.

My experience has been hit-and-miss with their actual knives, though.

I still have my CRKT/Lightfoot M1, and it's a top! They got a lot of things right, including the heat treat.

Got rid of my M16 (the smaller one, tanto point) because it would not get sharp, but that may have been my mediocre sharpening skills.

Hammond Desert Cruiser. Mine was good, but it's a big knife in all respects, and I felt like the M1 did a better job. I didn't use it enough to get a real impression of it.

Folding Razel and Stubby Razel, both with decent (if not spectacular) heat treats. The big one gets used as a work knife, and I feel that they could have gotten more edge retention out of it, if they tried. Stubby hasn't done much, but the erognomics, pocket clips, lock up, etc. on both is just as good as anything Kershaw.

There have been more over the years, but you get the idea: when CRKT tries, they can compete with Kershaw, and even Benchmade, although rarely.

It may have something to do with the country where the knife was manufactured. If CRKT contracts out to multiple factories in-country, it may be that same are doing a better job than others, and they just accept them equally. I don't know enough about the process to make informed guesses.

I would say, if you see something in their catalog that really speaks to you, get it and decide for yourself. You can always trade two CRKT's for one Kershaw! :D (No, I'm not trolling. I've done it)

If you are determined to get good value for your knife money, and spotty QC irritates you, go for Kershaw, or pay the extra for a Benchmade.
 
CRKT knives don't get much mention around here because the products typically don't offer much value for the materials used. Additionally, the fit and finish is very dodgy and unreliable. Sometimes you get a perfect knife, sometimes it has classic "budget knife" issues... But without a budget price.

Not to say that CRKT doesn't have some good cost-effective options, but they're underwhelming compared to Kershaw's offerings in the price range. A kershaw is likely to be centered and solid out of the box. A CRKT? Well, good luck...
 
They have a few models that are popular despite the use of inferior materials. The m16, bt-70, fossil & foresight are all pretty good knives.
 
Generally I agree with most here that they're a lower end knife that suffer from lesser materials and workmanship, but I have had a few that I really liked. The large folding razel has been an excellent knife for me. Also the Mah Eraser and new journeyman. There not all terrible and some are decent values.

Mike
 
Comeuppance said:
CRKT knives don't get much mention around here because the products typically don't offer much value for the materials used. Additionally, the fit and finish is very dodgy and unreliable. Sometimes you get a perfect knife, sometimes it has classic "budget knife" issues... But without a budget price.

Not to say that CRKT doesn't have some good cost-effective options, but they're underwhelming compared to Kershaw's offerings in the price range. A kershaw is likely to be centered and solid out of the box. A CRKT? Well, good luck...
Click to expand...

I've had exactly the opposite experience with respect to Kershaw's budget offerings, such that I'm wary of purchasing them. For example, I had two different Amplitudes (I sent the first one back for replacement) and their fit and finish was probably the worst of any knives I've handled.

As for CRKT, I have been very impressed with the Squid, the Eros, the Ripple, the No Time Off, the Carajas, the Hootenany, the Eraser, and the Swindle.

While my personal knowledge of CRKT's products doesn't date back super far (I kept away because I used to consider them to be crap, like a lot of people here), from what I can tell the company has stepped up its game within the last 5 years or so. If your experience of CRKT doesn't include any of the above-mentioned knives, then your impressions of the company might be slightly outdated. Not that you have an obligation to give them your trust again, or anything--the company shot itself in the foot by earning a reputation for low quality, so it will take a long time to repair that.

Bonus photo:

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CRKT is kind of a sad story. In my opinion they make some of the most innovative designs in the market with some of the poorest materials and finishes. They come out with some truly unique deployment methods and then ruin it with bad construction. I have a bunch of CRKT's that I picked up mostly to look at how they executed a particular lock or deployment style but they end up in the knife roll because they're too crappy to carry. There are a few exceptions: I have a Fossil that's a fairly well made knife in a cool style but not pocket friendly enough to carry. The Heiho and Ontanshi No Ken are decent knives. Lots of people enjoy the M16 line. Brancron has been singing the praises of the Squid lately so I picked one up to check it out and it's a fairly amazing knife for $20...but the Squid is a perfect example of what's wrong with CRKT...its an awesome design, based on a very expensive mid-tech, but by making it at the $20 price point instead of ~$60, it's too heavy, compact and dense to ride in a light weight pocket. If they'd have done some milling to lighten the knife, it would be an awesome knife for office carry. Instead it kind of misses the mark where it could have been a win. That's the story of CRKT knives...
 
The ones I have tried were all pretty pitiful. Felt cheap, poor edge geometry, and never felt sharp. No matter how much I tinkered with them, they never felt like good slicers to me. I am no expert sharpener, but I can get a useable edge on most anything.

In my opinion, they are slightly better than the Smith & Wesson knives you see everywhere, but not much better. They are way overpriced and don't produce as far as I am concerned.

For a knife in that price range I would pick a Cold Steel over a CRKT every time.
 
My CRKT M-16-SFG is actually done quite well, no blade play, takes a great edge very easily, solid lockup...a great beater!
 
I've never tried any of CRKT's folders, but I have a few of their fixed blades. I never have been able to get more than a decent edge on my old Carson F4 (steel was AUS6M, according to sites that still have archived listings), but no problems with the Ritter Mk5, Folts Minimalist (wharncliffe version) and more recently, the Lucas Burnley Obake. The Minimalist and the Obake were decently sharp out of the box and the Minimalist has been easy to maintain. Haven't had the Obake very long, but I don't anticipate any issues with it after seeing how it responded to a stropping.
 
I'll agree with what many have said. CRKT has very interesting designs that are unfortunately plagued by poor execution and questionable QC. Further, in some of their good knives you pay more for what you get when compared to what other companies offer. The Fossil is a perfect example. I would have a large one right now if the price reflected the place of manufacture and materials used. CRKT doesn't actually make anything. They are not alone in this, many companies do it, but most of the CRKTs I have had suffered from poor execution, design flaws, and/or poor quality control. I would say if you see something that you just have to have go for it but know you are taking a risk. And unfortunately, this was not always the case with CRKT. There was a time when most of their stuff was made in Taiwan and the material and QC was much better. Times have changed though....
 
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