Inkosi Ceramic Ball Groove Removed

No budget line please.
It is crucial for their concept to not sacrifice quality.
CRK still serves a niche, if it were a large company then things look different.
 
red mag said:
No budget line please.
It is crucial for their concept to not sacrifice quality.
CRK still serves a niche, if it were a large company then things look different.
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Really.... you are jumping to conclusions about the groove
 
^^^ I think Red Mag was referencing Joe58's earlier statement about CRK creating is budget line similar to what Spyderco did with their Byrd knives.


But I may be wrong.
 
if there is a rumor about a budget line CRK I have not heard of it and I seriously doubt that it would happen
 
ti lock said:
if there is a rumor about a budget line CRK I have not heard of it and I seriously doubt that it would happen
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No rumor, just a suggestion Joe58 made in his post.

Joe58 said:
I would think this may be part of the issue. In their business model, they must walk a fine line between maintaining quality and sustaining a certain profit margin percentage per item for the long term future of the company in order to keep the doors open. I've no idea what their margin is, but I doubt it's "huge". Not with raw materials costing more, higher wages for skilled workers, higher employee compensation packages with health care, etc..Utility cost increases. On and on.

If one looks over the "mid-tech" (and I'd place CRK in this catagory simply based on cost) there is a very crowded field now in this area. The number of frame locks in this price range is amazing, and most are quality knives gaining a following.

I'm not sure owning a CRK, Hinderer, Strider, et al, has the same "cache" as it once had maybe 5 or 10 years ago. The selection of knives in this same price range is amazing. I do notice though that used CRK prices, like Hinderer too, seem to have fallen some which I attribute to the crowded market in this price range. There are just a bunch of cool looking knives out there now which most more than likely can trace their success back to CRK innovations, priced same as CRK blades. Having a CRK just isn't as big a deal anymore like they used to be. IMHO.

So CRK is constrained by the market place to run as tight and streamlined operation as possible. This small change, while maybe only saving pocket change per knife, will add up to a decent amount over a period of years.

Other makers do not offer this ceramic ball for instance, and still make a heckuva knife, as CRK still does. I doubt it effects the operation or quality of the knife one way or another in any meaningful way. Other knives do not seem to need it and are still as tough as nails.

One thing I'd actually like to see from CRK, is a budget line, like the Byrd knives from Spyderco. I think this would help introduce many new folks to CRK knives who hesitate to spend that much on one knife purchase. Still American made, but maybe with different handle materials and a lower end steel. If they are pleased with the budget piece, it could lead to the purchase of the higher cost model. Dunno.

If all that rambling makes sense. Lol.
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Sorry for the confusion ti lock, as Iron City stated I refered to a post above.
I was to fast, but got to say it.
No comment about the groove.
thank you.
red mag
 
Iron City said:
No rumor, just a suggestion Joe58 made in his post.
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Sorry if I confused the issue with my budget line mention. It was just a thought on my part as I said in my post. Perhaps I worded it badly. I know nothing of CRK's future production plans or design changes. I'm sure they will continue to make a fine product regardless. Apologies for getting completely off track from the OP's initial post question.
 
Both my small and large Inkosi's have the grooves. My large is dated 6/1/16 and has it, for those that care to trace the change date down.
 
My large has the same 6-1-16 birthdate and it is also "groovy":D
 
No ball groove,works like a champ :).
 

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I just purchased a small left handed inkosi. The birthdate of this knife is 12/27/16. It has the groove.
 
Small, 3/30/16, has groove

Small, micarta inlay, 10/31/16, no groove.

Interesting that some made after this one have a groove. Maybe the blade was made earlier, and the knife assembled later.
 
Groove or no groove, its still the only lock type that I can think of that is virtually immune to wear and tear. Axis lock comes to mind but still eventually the omega springs will wear out. Im confident that that the only thing on an inkosi that will eventually wear out is the blade itself. I wish they would put a ceramic ball lock on sebenza as well, as I prefer the thinner blade grind and I really like the pivot bushing on the 21's.
 
^^^I don't think the thinner blade stock is viable on the ceramic ball lock due to the position of the actual engagement.
 
Officer's Match said:
^^^I don't think the thinner blade stock is viable on the ceramic ball lock due to the position of the actual engagement.
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They could put a thinner edge on the inkosi at least. The sebenzas edge is thinner and stays that way like a quarter inch up from edge. Inkosi edge gets thicker almost right above the secondary bevel. Its still a good cutter but edge will get thicker as you sharpen knife unlike sebenza. I guess they were just aiming for durability over slicing ability with inkosi. Personally I think sebenza blade is durable enough and I don't baby my knives. Let the nail choppers buy a busse.
 
I just checked mine -

Small 21, 0.021", thickening near the tip to about 0.025" (others of mine are similar)
Seb 25, 0.021", thickening a little near the tip
Small Inkosi, 0.021", thickening near the tip to 0.025"
Small Inkosi (micarta), 0.018", thickening near the tip to maybe 0.023"

The small Inkosi does not thicken all that quickly as you go toward the spine - not a whole lot more than the small 21.

I have a small regular (2006), and it is about 0.030", much thicker than more recent samples.
 
Don M said:
I just checked mine -

Small 21, 0.021", thickening near the tip to about 0.025" (others of mine are similar)
Seb 25, 0.021", thickening a little near the tip
Small Inkosi, 0.021", thickening near the tip to 0.025"
Small Inkosi (micarta), 0.018", thickening near the tip to maybe 0.023"

The small Inkosi does not thicken all that quickly as you go toward the spine - not a whole lot more than the small 21.

I have a small regular (2006), and it is about 0.030", much thicker than more recent samples.
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I don't have one to measure, but I've seen reports of the Large Inkosi being thinner behind the edge than the (small) Inkosi. I'll get my calipers out and check my Small 21 Micarta just for fun.
 
Officer's Match said:
I don't have one to measure, but I've seen reports of the Large Inkosi being thinner behind the edge than the (small) Inkosi. I'll get my calipers out and check my Small 21 Micarta just for fun.
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Lrg Inkosi
.025, tip is .039
 
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