Ken Onion joined forces with CRKT

Silverdagger said:
At any rate, Thomas, you mention you have low tolerance. I think that is something we should all work on.

More importantly you stated; "I have little doubt that Kai USA and Ken will both have successful futures." To me there is a fine line between confidence and overconfidence. You should be confident KAI will move forward with success, but one never knows. Countries have fallen for overconfidence, let alone corporations.
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KAI USA has been doing great (and this is an understatement) in these trying times. I believe Thomas' statement was not overconfident in the least. He has been in the knife industry for a heck of a long time, and he knows his company well.

Back to the original topic, I do like the blue color and blade shape of the knife. My friends will like this cool design, I've already shown it to them :cool:
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
...while it's sad that Kershaw won't be getting any more models with your touch for now...
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Seriously, all involved....read what Ken said...he isn't locked down to a single source. QUIT MAKING BLIND ASSUMPTIONS.

If I was Ken's caliber I wouldn't allow myself to me monopolized either. He is an engineer AND an artist, with amazing talent. He can sell his talent to the appropriate bidder. I am positive that Kershaw won't pass up the option to do business with him again.

In the end, we all win. Smart captains at both helms.

Thank you Ken for making some of my all time favorite knives affordable for me.

Thank you Kershaw for making some of my all time favorite knives affordable for me.

I had to change FIVE letters in the last two sentences.
 
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J_Curd said:
Seriously, all involved....read what Ken said...he isn't locked down to a single source. QUIT MAKING BLIND ASSUMPTIONS.

If I was Ken's caliber I wouldn't allow myself to me monopolized either. He is an engineer AND an artist, with amazing talent. He can sell his talent to the appropriate bidder. I am positive that Kershaw won't pass up the option to do business with him again.

In the end, we all win. Smart captains at both helms.

Thank you Ken for making some of my all time favorite knives affordable for me.

Thank you Kershaw for making some of my all time favorite knives affordable for me.

I had to change FIVE letters in the last two sentences.
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Nicely said, Joe. After both Ken and Thomas take the time to reply, the smut/rumor/heresay machine only quiets a little bit. Makes you want to take a rusty chisel and carve in the foreheads of some "I can't keep my mouth shut".

Jeez, guys. You heard the story from the principals involved, what more do you want? Reading lessons?

I was a Kershaw fan long before K.O. Long before. They have always put out a quality product at a reasonable price. Some have been outright bargains. Ken brought a lot to the table, and with their association, both continued to flourish.

Why do some people always think that when two different camps go in another direction (for any reason) that they have the inside dirt on what nasty things were behind it?

Kershaw/Kai is fine. Obviously, Ken Onion is fine. It seems to me the little gossip girl rumor mongers here are the real problem.

I don't see how ALL of us won't win here. Ken can find new inspiration with a new manufacturer (also friends of his), Kershaw can move in a direction to encourage other designers (they have found some great designers along the way these last 25 years, no? INCLUDING K.O!) and best of all Ken has said the door is open as he is under no exclusive commitments. Ken has been great at and for Kershaw/Kai, but he is just one part of the big puzzle.

If Kershaw had supplied an Onion product that was poorly executed, poorly marketed, and didn't back them with an iron clad warranty, how much conversation would be be having about Ken and his product? (Here's a hint: think 25 - 30 years ago and Gerber...)

We will win because CKRT can improve/change/add to their product line with great designs. I have no doubt that as I have seen over the last 10 years the quality of knives will continue to go up with some of the current companies as the competition increases. We will all win on that! We will have innovative designs at affordable costs with different makers. What's not to like?

I certainly expect Kershaw to be at the front of it, too. I am a fan of their knives, but wouldn't consider myself a fan boy by any means. But over the years Kershaw has repeatedly been an industry leader by making knives of innovative designs, innovative technologies (think of the comp blades) and backing them with a great warranty.

These are business philosophy decisions made by the Kershaw team to establish the way they run the company, not decisions made by one designer that worked with them.

Why would their basic philosophy change now?

Robert
 
Well, I wish to think that this is best thing which may ever happen to Kershaw and to Ken Onion, but somehow I do not like it. To me this is another disappointed new from Kershaw - like they can not agreed on terms to keep subforum here, they can not agreed on terms to keep Ken Onion with them, they seems to have less and less tolerance lately...

We'll see how this all will work out for them.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
Well, I wish to think that this is best thing which may ever happen to Kershaw and to Ken Onion, but somehow I do not like it. To me this is another disappointed new from Kershaw - like they can not agreed on terms to keep subforum here, they can not agreed on terms to keep Ken Onion with them, they seems to have less and less tolerance lately...

We'll see how this all will work out for them.

Thanks, Vassili.
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Do you really need to keep agitating this discussion? This thread is about the new CRKT Ripple. Why don't you start another thread if you want to talk about something other than this new Columbia River model.

Back on topic, I've been looking some more at the pics of the New Ripple, and I really want one even more now. The blade profile looks like it's going to make a really good slicer, and with the "gentleman" factor that Ken has tried to infuse it with, my wife might even let me take it out at restaurants to cut my steak with!!:D
 
jonnymac44 said:
Do you really need to keep agitating this discussion? This thread is about the new CRKT Ripple. Why don't you start another thread if you want to talk about something other than this new Columbia River model.

Back on topic, I've been looking some more at the pics of the New Ripple, and I really want one even more now. The blade profile looks like it's going to make a really good slicer, and with the "gentleman" factor that Ken has tried to infuse it with, my wife might even let me take it out at restaurants to cut my steak with!!:D
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Well, I replayed to previous post.

BTW, IMHO this Kershaw Mafia did very bad service for Kershaw - I think aggressive attitude introduced with it destroy supportive and intellectual spirit Kershaw subforum initially had and push away few supporters. This lack of tolerance is what I observe more and more in Kershaw and while I only welcome Zero Tolerance model line, in other area it does not looks good.

I think Kershaw need to consider to be less aggressive and more tolerant. It has less and less supporters and Ken on my opinion is huge loss.

Regards, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
Well, I replayed to previous post.

BTW, IMHO this Kershaw Mafia did very bad service for Kershaw - I think aggressive attitude introduced with it destroy supportive and intellectual spirit Kershaw subforum initially had and push away few supporters. This lack of tolerance is what I observe more and more in Kershaw and while I only welcome Zero Tolerance model line, in other area it does not looks good.

I think Kershaw need to consider to be less aggressive and more tolerant. It has less and less supporters and Ken on my opinion is huge loss.

Regards, Vassili.
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bullshit-meter-0.gif
 
jonnymac44 said:
Back on topic, I've been looking some more at the pics of the New Ripple, and I really want one even more now. The blade profile looks like it's going to make a really good slicer, and with the "gentleman" factor that Ken has tried to infuse it with, my wife might even let me take it out at restaurants to cut my steak with!!:D
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You're a brave man to be cutting on a plate with such a nice knife J-Mac:thumbup: I'd be too scared with something that looks as nice as the Ripple.
 
As long as the knife is nice and sharp, it doesn't have to be hacked through the steak, just sliced carefully, perhaps brushing the plate. :)
 
Gentlemen, comments on the company and the knifemaker and their respective decisions are on topic. Comments on each other are not. Knock off the "Kershaw Mafia" and funny B.E meter and any other digs at each other.
 
J_Curd said:
Seriously, all involved....read what Ken said...he isn't locked down to a single source. QUIT MAKING BLIND ASSUMPTIONS.
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Umm....:confused: I said FOR NOW--not NEVER. I DID read what was going on. I'd greatly appreciate it if you yourself treated me in accordance with your own advice. Perhaps reread what I wrote and not assume that I'm just another one of the gossip hounds. :)

Like I said, I'm really excited about this development. I think that both companies will mutually benefit from this new state of affairs, and didn't say that either company was making errors or was losing out, treating anyone unfairly...etc. If you'll notice Kershaw didn't put out any new Ken Onion-designed pieces last year, so yes it would seem to me as though his focus for the moment is elsewhere. That's not to say that he won't do anything more with them in the future--as he himself already stated. I just figure it's probably a breath of fresh air for Ken to do something a little different than he has in the past and for Kershaw to grow beyond simply having 50%+ of their line being his work. The two names have been synonymous with each other for so long that it's about time they start getting viewed as independent of one another. At least that's what I think. ;)
 
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KenOnion said:
Acuto+ is described as an enhanced 440C . I am testing a sample and I like it . I am also offering this model in my own production/Mid-Tech version with Titanium frames and CPM154CM blade. It is 100% American made and very close to the custom version. It will be available very soon. I have partnered with Dan Delevan of Plaza Cutlery and will be coming out with more models in the future.
As for why CRKT, well it's because Rod and Doug are great people and they asked me to do some knives with them. Remember it was Doug Flagg who flew to Hawaii and recruited me for Kershaw back in the day. He took a chance with me all those years ago and has been a true friend. I am in no way locked into or exclusive to anyone.
I wish Kershaw nothing but success and hope to keep our relationship intact.
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Thank you, Ken! This is one CRKT I will now be getting! Your designs led me back to Kershaw (had a few "Liner-action" models before my first "Blackout" called to me), and I'll continue buying 'em, but it appears your design will lead me back to CRKT as well. Keep up the great work!:thumbup:

nozh2002 said:
This lack of tolerance is what I observe more and more in Kershaw and while I only welcome Zero Tolerance.......
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Lol:D You made a funny and didn't even realize it! You said something to the effect of, "I don't like Kershaw's intolerance, yet I welcome their Zero Tolerance.":D

nozh2002 said:
Regards, Vassili.
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Oh really? "Regards," eh?:eek: Seems to me some other guy's been saying that for a long time now.;)

Thanks, 3G
 
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nozh2002 said:
Well, I replayed to previous post.

BTW, IMHO this Kershaw Mafia did very bad service for Kershaw - I think aggressive attitude introduced with it destroy supportive and intellectual spirit Kershaw subforum initially had and push away few supporters. This lack of tolerance is what I observe more and more in Kershaw and while I only welcome Zero Tolerance model line, in other area it does not looks good.

I think Kershaw need to consider to be less aggressive and more tolerant. It has less and less supporters and Ken on my opinion is huge loss.

Regards, Vassili.
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Off topic: Ёжики плакали, но продолжали лезть на кактус...
 
RxEnergy said:
Off topic: Ёжики плакали, но продолжали лезть на кактус...
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What about hedgehogs? :confused:
 
Kaizen1 said:
You're a brave man to be cutting on a plate with such a nice knife J-Mac:thumbup: I'd be too scared with something that looks as nice as the Ripple.
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If you never do anything to dull your knife, you never get a chance to practice sharpening, eh Phil?:D:D
 
RxEnergy said:
Off topic: Ёжики плакали, но продолжали лезть на кактус...
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Very well put. +1
 
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