Large Inkosi with Natural Canvas Inlay Arrived

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Wavicle

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The companion to the small edition arrived today. The micarta seems to have the wax/lubricant that is applied to Nyala handles because it's both darker and has some translucence. The box/packaging is the new style and the birth card is a new version with a gold colored CRK logo at the top and a blue back with white lettering. Similar to the small version, lock-up is past 50% which makes me wonder if that is the new spec for an Inkosi without the ball groove.

Anyway, on to the pics:

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See them all & more at: https://flic.kr/s/aHskLZq12k
 
You can tell quite easily whether you have the ball groove or not by closing the knife and inspecting the tang of the blade. I really like how that micarta looks. I like it better than the black micarta.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
One of the better looking production knives I've ever seen. I will own a knife like this someday. Really happy to see the blade looks a little less like a door wedge, and more like a knife too. I've read they put more of a 'hollow' on the Inkosi high hollow grind, and that's a good thing.
 
Really dont get the two different finishes regarding the micarta? I prefer the look of the micarta on the small.
 
lemmuhj said:
Really dont get the two different finishes regarding the micarta? I prefer the look of the micarta on the small.
Click to expand...

I don't think the finished are intentionally different. 'Natural' Micarta varies throughout a sheet, so it's likely a combination of the exact spot in the Micarta it was cut from, coupled with the fact the threads will appear more prominent in the small with the inlays being smaller, and more curved over less distance.

What is true, is neither will look like this once the knife is handled. Like the black Micarta, these will darken and change hue with use.
 
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Ianmorrow21 said:
You can tell quite easily whether you have the ball groove or not by closing the knife and inspecting the tang of the blade. I really like how that micarta looks. I like it better than the black micarta.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

These "newer" Inkosi's do not have the ball groove. I have both sizes in early production models and they have the groove. We know that CRK determined the groove did not add any lock up stability so they removed that from the design. However, I have noticed that both of these newer models are shipped with the ball contacting the tang lock face past 50% when open & locked. That's the reason I suspect it's the new spec: Lock contact equal to or greater than 50% for solid performance.

And yes, I really like the natural canvas micarta but for me it's a toss up between the gray (AKA: black) and this brown.
 
Huh, didn't realize they did away with the ball groove. I saw somewhere that the groove added vertical (along the plane the blade travels) stability to the lockbar, and without it the lockbar moves up and down on the tang- is that the case with your knife? Also it looks awesome man, sweet score!
 
smellslikepurple233 said:
Huh, didn't realize they did away with the ball groove. I saw somewhere that the groove added vertical (along the plane the blade travels) stability to the lockbar, and without it the lockbar moves up and down on the tang- is that the case with your knife? Also it looks awesome man, sweet score!
Click to expand...

I have not attempted to flex the lock bar in that direction (and probably won't). The Inkosi models now have the same silicon nitride ball and blade tang interface as the Umnumzaan and [out of production] Sebenza 25. The Umnumzaan is the "hard use" CRK model.

I think unless you are practicing spine whacks or some other bizarre torture tests, the ceramic ball interface is very solid and long duration of operation.
 
Nice looking pair! I wish they'd also do natural micartas on the Sebenza 21... I'd love to get it on a small with a damascus balde...
 
Man, the wait for a lefty is killing me. The natural micarta is sweet looking, I'm just a little jealous right about now.
 
Do these have the holes on the inside of the scales behind the inlays, like have been added to the more recent inlayed 21's? The small natural micarta Inkosi is extremely tempting...
 
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