Just picked up a CRKT chanceinhell from bladehq!

BenLong1018

BenLong1018

Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
1,668
This will be my first large fixed blade knife and I'm really excited to take it into the woods. I'm not sure about the steel I've never heard of it before, but for $40 I don't really care. I really love Ken Onion designs and when I saw this knife I had to have it!

I'll post up some pictures when I get it for those of you who are interested. Also here's the link: http://www.bladehq.com/item--CRKT-Onion-ChanceInHell-Machete--21412
 
They look very nice for the cost, good looking handle, nice beater steel, as long as construction is decent it looks well worth the admission price.
 
I'm surprised that more of a stink hasn't been made about it, given it's very close appearance to the Kershaw Camp.
 
Bugout Bill said:
I'm surprised that more of a stink hasn't been made about it, given it's very close appearance to the Kershaw Camp.
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I don't really see a whole lot of similarity-- no recurve, totally different handles, .10 vs .20 blade thickness, different grinds. I like having a couple different options for an inexpensive chopper / machete. I'm somewhat surprised, though, at how close they are in weight given the Camp 10 is twice the thickness.
 
It's a very nice looking machete, unfortunately the "Made in China" part is a no go for me. Enjoy it in good health and let us know how it performs. What do you plan on using it for?
 
Glad you got it, I want to like it, but like rajincagin, the whole made in China just puts me off. Also, I was looking at HT on this one, 52-56 is a rather large range eh???

When you get it, use the -blank- out of it, and report on how it does.
 
Looks like a very useful machete.

Go chop the crap out of some stuff and post pictures!


I don't know anything about that steel. Is it a carbon or stainless?
 
These were only just announced at Shot Show, I didn't even know they were available yet...CRKT wastes no time getting their 2014 releases out, I guess. I'd planned on getting these when they came out, so I guess I know what I'll be ordering next time I get paid. Also noticed the other Ken Onion parang and karambit Minimalist are released as well...that's all 3 new 2014 CRKTs I had any interest in all released at once. Makes things convenient, order those 3 then don't have to worry about CRKT for the rest of the year!

And Bigfatty, it's a Chinese carbon steel, roughly equivalent to 1065, it's the same steel Kershaw uses in their Camp 10, 14, and 18 blades and those are some immensely impressive blades, so if CRKT can perform close to those, I'll be happy.
 
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BenLong1018 said:
This will be my first large fixed blade knife and I'm really excited to take it into the woods. I'm not sure about the steel I've never heard of it before, but for $40 I don't really care
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From what I've heard, 65MN is like the Chinese version of 1065. I was interested as well, but the low HRC and .10 thickness puts me off. It seems like it'd be a good brush-clearer but I'd be nervous about using it on woods, and I've already got decent brush knives so I passed.
 
I found these specs for 65Mn at another forum. Don't know how accurate it is.

65Mn

C 0,62-0,70

Si 0,17-0,37

Mn 0,90-1,20

Cr 0,025max

Ni 0,025max

S 0,03max

P 0,03max
 
I saw the same numbers for that steel. Sourced from China and made into knives in China. It's good to see the use of more Carbon / non stainless knives coming from China.

Nice looking knife but 1060 at rc 52 to 56 isn't the most impressive knife for the price by any means. I guess it's A step above those mystery stainless knives with the "speed holes" sold on late night TV with the guy shouting to make things seem more exciting. That's about it.

Colt makes a few traditional pocket knives using that steel and I bought one to try it out. I wanted to see how China was at non stainless inexpensive folders in carbon steel ( $12).

It takes a nice edge as there are no large carbides and is easy to sharpen. It should be about the same in the large knife shown above. One could do worse, or better I guess.

Blade HQ has it at a good price but there are Chinese knives in 1070/1065 ( could be the same steel for all I really know) and 1095 for the high $30's. There are a couple from Schrade/Taylor cutlery I would choose in that price range over that one.
 
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Yo Mama said:
Glad you got it, I want to like it, but like rajincagin, the whole made in China just puts me off. Also, I was looking at HT on this one, 52-56 is a rather large range eh???

When you get it, use the -blank- out of it, and report on how it does.
Click to expand...
Yeah the hrc is kind of odd, but hey I think a Ken Onion design for $40 with a 12 inch blade is pretty cool and I will definitely use the crap out of it.
 
rajincagin said:
It's a very nice looking machete, unfortunately the "Made in China" part is a no go for me. Enjoy it in good health and let us know how it performs. What do you plan on using it for?
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I'm gonna use it pretty much for just clearing brush in the woods behind my house.
 
What you guys have to understand is that this is a machete it's supposed to have a thin stock so that it can cut through branches easily.
 
BenLong1018 said:
What you guys have to understand is that this is a machete it's supposed to have a thin stock so that it can cut through branches easily.
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It's also supposed to have a lower hardness. This isn't a chopper knife it's a machete. Frankly I wouldn't consider a machete at knife hardness ranges. Looks like a fun tool.
 
I will say, having just recieved my ChanceInHell yesterday, I am a bit disappointed with the thickness...

Compared to my Kershaw Camp 10, this CRKT is super skinny.
It seems like it's more than 50% thinner than the Camp 10.
I'll post some pics later, but the main reason I like these 9-12" camp knives is they make quick work of processing wood, but only if the blade is thick enough to act as a bit of a wedge.

This CRKT ChanceInHell just seems like it's not gonna split a log very well.. :(
I'm also sketchy on batonning with it, given how thin the blade is at the top.
 
Rasco said:
I will say, having just recieved my ChanceInHell yesterday, I am a bit disappointed with the thickness...

Compared to my Kershaw Camp 10, this CRKT is super skinny.
It seems like it's more than 50% thinner than the Camp 10.
I'll post some pics later, but the main reason I like these 9-12" camp knives is they make quick work of processing wood, but only if the blade is thick enough to act as a bit of a wedge.

This CRKT ChanceInHell just seems like it's not gonna split a log very well.. :(
I'm also sketchy on batonning with it, given how thin the blade is at the top.
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Like others have said, it's a machete, not a chopper. Like traditional machetes, it's supposed to be thin, as it's meant for clearing brush, not splitting logs.
 
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