Info on CRKT Knives

[GatorFlash1]

I have the Gayle Bradley. While it was designed by Gayle it's obviously a spyderco knife in looks and feel. If you can't see the logo you'd have no idea the Hijinx is a CRKT knife. They've never put out something of that quality (since apparently they are incapable) or style so who would know?

Spyderco builds a lot of great knives at Taichung and Sal has said they are only making Spydies there.


To me it's like Wilson Combat getting knife maker of the year for the Starbenza

I understand you are a Spyderco fanatic, but I'm not sure you are very objective about the knives that CRKT produces.

 

[craytab]

I understand you are a Spyderco fanatic, but I'm not sure you are very objective about the knives that CRKT produces.

No offense meant but are you the voice of objectivity on CRKT? That is rhetorical. The answer is clear. Look at all your posts in this thread. Not once have you acknowledged any of the problems most people are mentioning here. You keep throwing around this knife of the year award and then comparing it to spydercos Taichung knives. The comparison is apples and oranges. Sorry if you can't see that.

I am not a "fanatic" of any knife company so no need to call me that name. I own lots of knives from lots of companies high end to economy. I look at knives on a knife by knife basis save for a few companies and makers I wouldn't do business with for any reason. I have objections to knives made by all companies. No company is perfect for me. Most of the CRKTs I have had suffered from poor execution, design flaws, and/or poor quality control. And putting their name on an overly expensive limited knife designed out of house and made by another company does not make up for my poor experience with CRKT. In fact it galvanizes it. They just can't seem to get how other companies work to build a good reputation by producing good quality knives at reasonable prices.

 

[brownshoe]

I am not a "fanatic" of any knife company so no need to call me that name...

You can't seem to believe my CRKT Eros in Ti and Accu steel is equal to a Sebenza in design quality and fit/finish. Sounds to me you may be a a CRK fanatic...

 

[nick21]

They get a bad rap. Sure, they're no Spyderco or Zero Tolerance, but they give companies like Kershaw a decent run for their money.

 

[Sunyata]

I understand you are a Spyderco fanatic, but I'm not sure you are very objective about the knives that CRKT produces.

I'm not a fanatic of any one brand. I buy lots of knives. I have had CRKTs and even sold them at one point. I could buy another but I'll go into it with realistic expectations.

 

[brancron]

They get a bad rap. Sure, they're no Spyderco or Zero Tolerance, but they give companies like Kershaw a decent run for their money.

This hits the nail on the head. It's folly to compare CRKT to Spyderco, because the latter will win every time. However, compared to other budget companies like Kershaw, CRKT makes a very strong showing. A lot of people's opinion on CRKT is slightly outdated: yes, they earned a reputation for hit or miss quality, but in the last few years they've really stepped up their game.

 

[craytab]

You can't seem to believe my CRKT Eros in Ti and Accu steel is equal to a Sebenza in design quality and fit/finish. Sounds to me you may be a a CRK fanatic...

Well my eros is just as well built and as thorough of a design as my CRK sebenza and ti-lock. It is a Ken Onion product. On this forum he said he showed it to his mom, like any son would and it was the first knife she kept and did not give back . It is CRK's premium product and it shows. Has a unique steel as well, while CRK only gives you one steel flavor S30V.

You seem to believe your CRKT is as good as a CRK, which is ridiculous. You also believe CRKT is spelled CRK and that the Sebenza is only offered in S30v, which is also ridiculous and flat out wrong :thumbup:

Turns out that I own far more CRKTs than CRKs (see how well I did not confuse the two). And I have had way more CRKTs than I currently do because I had to sell them at a loss because the fit/finish sucked, quality control was non-existent, or the design was flawed.

A couple of non-flawed knives that a couple of people like does not change my or most other people's experience with CRKT. Take a look at all the response in this thread (or all the others) if you need more overwhelming evidence.

And with that I am done arguing with unreasonable people.

 

[Spyder59]

I love my CRKT Ken Onion Blue Ripple flipper. Its my Sunday go to Meetin' knife. It's an awesome EDC too.

 

[K.O.D.]

I find that CRKT knives are often brilliant in concept, but fail in the execution. High price for low end materials, poor QC. It saddens me that custom makers collaborate with them. With the high price for average to low quality materials and craftsmanship, I don't see how it is a money making venture.

CRKT M16 12Z is the only knife I've ever owned to have a lock failure. Regularly.

 

[craytab]

I find that CRKT knives are often brilliant in concept, but fail in the execution. High price for low end materials, poor QC. It saddens me that custom makers collaborate with them. With the high price for average to low quality materials and craftsmanship, I don't see how it is a money making venture.

CRKT M16 12Z is the only knife I've ever owned to have a lock failure. Regularly.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[brancron]

I find that CRKT knives are often brilliant in concept, but fail in the execution. High price for low end materials, poor QC. It saddens me that custom makers collaborate with them. With the high price for average to low quality materials and craftsmanship, I don't see how it is a money making venture.

CRKT M16 12Z is the only knife I've ever owned to have a lock failure. Regularly.

When is the last time you purchased a CRKT knife? I'm genuinely curious, because in my experience their quality has gotten better in recent years.

 

[K.O.D.]

When is the last time you purchased a CRKT knife? I'm genuinely curious, because in my experience their quality has gotten better in recent years.

I will admit its been some time, but the three I owned really turned me off to the brand (M16-12Z, P.E.C.K. and K.I.S.S.)

Looking at things now, I am just not willing to pay $100 for knife in AUS-8. That is just ridiculous.

 

[brancron]

I will admit its been some time, but the three I owned really turned me off to the brand (M16-12Z, P.E.C.K. and K.I.S.S.)

Looking at things now, I am just not willing to pay $100 for knife in AUS-8. That is just ridiculous.

Understood. I've said this before, but I'll say it again: CRKT definitely earned a reputation for crap (I wouldn't even consider a CRKT knife until relatively recently). However, they have definitely stepped up their game in recent years, and I know this from having owned at least a dozen of their recent offerings, and having handled many more.

So, if your impression of CRKT is something like "uniformly crappy," then that impression is most likely outdated.

 

[K.O.D.]

Whether or not their QC has improved is besides the point. The value per dollar is not there. As I dislike metal handles, so at $100~, I'll take the Spyderco Manix 2 S110V over a CRKT Ripple all day long. Plus, between inconsistent QC, cold metal handles, and tip down only clips, I'm just not interested in anything they make.

 

[silvercrank999]

I've owned a few CRKT knives and have since gotten rid of them. I currently no desire to buy any in the future.

 

[brancron]

Whether or not their QC has improved is besides the point. The value per dollar is not there. As I dislike metal handles, so at $100~, I'll take the Spyderco Manix 2 S110V over a CRKT Ripple all day long. Plus, between inconsistent QC, cold metal handles, and tip down only clips, I'm just not interested in anything they make.

A Ripple for $100? Try more like $50-$60, and just $30 for the aluminum handled version.

And tip-down only clips? Have you looked at the Hootenany, the Squid, the Swindle, the Journeyer, the Carajas, or literally dozens of other models of theirs with tip-up clips? Take a look at all their G10 handles while you're at it.

As for value per dollar: $20 for the Squid, $45 for the Hootenany, $45 for the Swindle, $45 for the Carajas, etc. etc. etc. These are excellent knives for the price.

 

[craytab]

A Ripple for $100? Try more like $50-$60, and just $30 for the aluminum handled version.

And tip-down only clips? Have you looked at the Hootenany, the Squid, the Swindle, the Journeyer, the Carajas, or literally dozens of other models of theirs with tip-up clips? Take a look at all their G10 handles while you're at it.

As for value per dollar: $20 for the Squid, $45 for the Hootenany, $45 for the Swindle, $45 for the Carajas, etc. etc. etc. These are excellent knives for the price.

Sorry the value just isn't there. Those prices are too high for Chinese produced 8cr steel. Other companies offer more value without the worry of poor QC, fit/finish, and possible design flaws. CRKT built a reputation and isn't offering better value than the competition which have far better reputations. Kershaws Chinese knives cost less and don't have a bad reputation. Knives made in Taiwan by Cold Steel & Ontario (RAT 1 & 2, utilitac II) offer better materials with some at much less cost. Spend a few more bucks and get a Spyderco made in Japan with far superior steel and an excellent company with a great reputation. Heck, for some of these 8cr knives CRKT is trying to sell you can get a USA made Kershaw for the same or more and again, no bad reputation.

If CRKT wants to sell knives to people who care about knives they need to look at how their competitors are out doing them. Glad they work for you but as you can see many have a different opinion.

 

[brancron]

Sorry the value just isn't there. Those prices are too high for Chinese produced 8cr steel. Other companies offer more value without the worry of poor QC, fit/finish, and possible design flaws. CRKT built a reputation and isn't offering better value than the competition which have far better reputations. Kershaws Chinese knives cost less and don't have a bad reputation. Knives made in Taiwan by Cold Steel & Ontario (RAT 1 & 2, utilitac II) offer better materials with some at much less cost. Spend a few more bucks and get a Spyderco made in Japan with far superior steel and an excellent company with a great reputation. Heck, for some of these 8cr knives CRKT is trying to sell you can get a USA made Kershaw for the same or more and again, no bad reputation.

If CRKT wants to sell knives to people who care about knives they need to look at how their competitors are out doing them. Glad they work for you but as you can see many have a different opinion.

I'll ask you then, what is the last CRKT you bought and when? Have you owned a Squid, Eros, Ripple, Wrinkle, No Time Off, Carajas, Hootenany, Eraser, Swindle, GSD, or Journeyer?

 

[K.O.D.]

Its been a long time since I've even looked at sub $100 folders. In looking online at their folders in the +$100 range, once again I see nothing that appeals to me or is worth the price tag. There is a ripple for $100 on BHQ. Maybe when they start using better materials at the same prices point (Tighe collabs especially) I might be interested. I am done debating this, you only seem to want to start a flame war. I will be no part of it.

 

[brancron]

Its been a long time since I've even looked at sub $100 folders. In looking online at their folders in the +$100 range, once again I see nothing that appeals to me or is worth the price tag. There is a ripple for $100 on BHQ. Maybe when they start using better materials at the same prices point (Tighe collabs especially) I might be interested. I am done debating this, you only seem to want to start a flame war. I will be no part of it.

The Ripple you're seeing is one that you add to your cart "for a special sale price," i.e., it's not actually $100 at all, it's just a discount gimmick.

Saying that I want to "start a flame war" is absolutely ridiculous. You owned three crappy CRKTs god knows how many years ago, I told you in no uncertain terms that their quality has improved a lot in recent years, and yet you insist on trying to tar the current company with your outdated negative impressions. Stop talking about stuff you don't know anything about.