Recommendation? Looking to purchase another...

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SuzukiGS750EZ

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Years ago I had a large 21 CF knifeart exclusive. I sold it and haven't had another since. I got bit by the bug lately and am wondering if I should go 31 or back to 21. I don't like the way the 31 inlays look, but the ceramic ball & clip angle interest me, along with that hole being gone. I've done stone searching and the ones I like are out of stock in the 21... is the 31 worth the wait? Stronger? Is the ceramic ball worth it? I'm not too crazy about the plain ones but I guess I'm all over the place... help!

Ps. I think I'd do a plain handle damascus and if they made it, insingo. But large only in any model
 
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If the ceramic ball, clip angle, and lack of a hole interesest you, there’s always the Inkosi.



ETA: This might anger the pro-bushing illuminati, but between you and me, unless you really want the one piece inlays or dimascus (which you mentioned), I don’t really see a reason for choosing the 31 over the Inkosi.
 
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Sebenza 21 Insingo all the way!
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or drop Point 21 is nice too!
HIRNE9G.jpg

If it were me I’d get a 21 and let them work out the bugs in the 31. The 21 is the original Chris Reeve knife. Not sure I’m a fan 100% on the Tim Reeve ball lock yet....
 
What I liked about the 21 was the simple nature. No loctite. No pivot adjustment. Minimal parts. What is different about the inkosi than 21. Umnumzaan needs loctite and pivot adjustment, doesn't it? I like the look of plain handles & Damascus but if I were to get S30V I'd want some type of interesting handle.
 
I don't know if the Zaan needs locktite or adjusting. Mine has the old pivot setup.
S30v hasn't been used in a while, so unless u buy older one it will be S35vn . The zaan also has a pattern in the handle stock.
That all said I also like the inkosi as said in above posts.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
What I liked about the 21 was the simple nature. No loctite. No pivot adjustment. Minimal parts. What is different about the inkosi than 21. Umnumzaan needs loctite and pivot adjustment, doesn't it? I like the look of plain handles & Damascus but if I were to get S30V I'd want some type of interesting handle.
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Finding a plain 21 with Damascus may be a wasted search. I haven’t come across any. There’s still some large CCG’s and Unique’s that may interest you. I’ve never used the loctite on my Umnumzaan. The pivot on the Umnumzaan and Inkosi gives the user the choice of how tight they want it to be. Once it’s dialed in, it’s there.
Every so often, a plain with Damascus will go up for sell here, but you’ve got to be quick in order to snag a used one. There’s still 21’s with inlays that are available.
 
Ok. I'm considering the inkosi now... any issues with that one? How about unique graphics? I LOVE the night sky or whatever it is 21...
 
IMO, the Inkosi is the smoothest, no break in time out of the box knife that CRK has produced to date. If I didn’t have several 25’s already, I’d bought more than the two that I’ve got now. As far as CCG’s and Unique’s go in the 21, what’s out there will be the last of them.
 
Does the inkosi pivot need loctite to not loosen? I use a knife all day at work, loose pivots drive me crazy. Any places online for exclusives (no micarta or dark woods) or graphics you'd recommend?
 
Shouldn’t need loctite on the Inkosi pivot. Some people do use it, I never have. I don’t think any graphics are offered on the Inkosi. I like to support the vendors that support BF. So, I’d say New Graham Knives or GP Knives. I’ve had good experience with both. BladeHQ is another one that I’ve bought from.
 
Adjusting the pivot on a Benchmade, Spyderco, etc. can be a real PITA, chasing a non-existent micro-sweet-spot and ending in frustration. I hate it.

Pivot adjustment on the Inkosi & Umnumzaan is a piece of cake. I don’t know if it’s the big washers, the thread pitch, or maybe the overall tolerances, but it’s a no-brainer. It requires a wrench on both sides, but the hex pockets are so deep that it’s easy.

I always use touch of low strength LocTite on the pivot. Why worry about it? I once had a non-LocTite’d ‘Zaan loosen, but I was running it light trying to break it in. As stated above, it seems some folks do ok without it.

And, if you do a piece count, the Inkosi actually has fewer parts than the 21. ;)
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I'm just stuck with micarta or plain on inkosi?
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It appears that that’s the only options available. You could order one and see if CRK will do a custom graphic. They’ve done it in the past on 21’s and regulars.
 
Here's what I've come up with as options. I wish the small custom graphic was a large though... that's my favorite graphic.

https://www.monkeyedge.com/Chris-Reeve-Knives-Sebenza-21-Large-Graphic-p/crk0117-sc097.htm

https://www.monkeyedge.com/Chris-Reeve-Knives-Sebenza-21-Large-Inlay-p/crk0145-sc125.htm

https://omahaknife.com/chris-reeve/...-design-night-sky-wmother-of-pearl-inlay.html

https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Inkosi...Chris-Reeve-Knives/productinfo/WTK-INKOSI-LG/

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Chris-Reeve-Knives-Large-Inkosi--52580

https://www.knivesshipfree.com/chris-reeve-knives-large-inkosi-red-linen-micarta-inlay-insin

I love the unique graphic. The inlaid seb I love as wel . But I like that the inkosi has the ceramic ball, angled clip and is built tougher, not that I ever had an issue with my 21 not being tough enoug . Help me make a decision!
 
Of the ones you linked, I like the spalted beech 21 and Wilson Inkosi best.

The night sky will probably be the rarest/most collectable.
 
Buy all 6, problem solved. If you can’t do that then either the WC Inkosi or the red linen micarta. The graphic and wood CRK’s are nice but you’ve got to ask yourself if you’d actually use the knife or would it be to gorgeous to use.
 
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