New Member - First CRK

B

Bergy24

Joined
Mar 19, 2025
Messages
12
NKD.
I did email CRK and they confirmed they saw nothing suspicious.
The seller provided the original invoice from Blade HQ and the date also matches the date code inside the scales.
After a little small talk we discovered we actually work at the same company but different locations and divisions. I then proceeded to check it over and made an offer. I ended up getting it for a great price that you wouldn’t believe if I told you.
I am beyond ecstatic to put it lightly. I’m not sure if I’m going to send it in for a spa treatment yet. The seller is going to check for the box and docs and other stuff this weekend. If he finds it, I don’t think I’ll send it in.
Sorry guys, at this time I have no plans to sell or trade it.
Now the bad part… this officially started my CRK collection and I don’t think my wife is going to be happy unless I come across more like this once in a lifetime deal.

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I don't think you should send it in either way, unless there are specific issues with the knife that you would like addressed. A re-issued birth card and box do not add to the value for a collector like the original would because anyone can send the knife in at any time and get them. You could send it in and have it blasted but that might make you more reluctant to use it and put some love marks back on it. Personally I wouldn't ever spa a CRK just to make it look pretty and new again...they look great as users. Either way it's a great knife and will serve you well.
 
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Ilikesharpstuff said:
I don't think you should send it in either way, unless there are specific issues with the knife that you would like addressed. A re-issued birth card and box do not add to the value for a collector like the original would because anyone can send the knife in at any time and get them. You could send it in and have it blasted but that might make you more reluctant to use it and put some love marks back on it. Personally I wouldn't ever spa a CRK just to make it look pretty and new again...they look great as users. Either way it's a great knife and will serve you well.
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Thanks for the info. Getting the re-issued birth card and box was one of my main reasons for wanting to send it in. I would have thought having some docs from CRK would be beneficial if I ever decide to sell it down the road. I would have also thought it would have added some value since some people may be unsure about without the box and docs.
Upgrading to the MagnaCut blade is always an option when sending it in too. Would this add to the value?
I have no plans to sell or trade, but would like your opinion on the value of it.
 
Congrats on obtaining your CRK!

For awareness if you do send it in for the spa treatment and request a new box and reissued COA card, this is what it will look like (attached). They do not really add anything to the resale value because they are not the originals.

The reissue box is quite different from the retail box and of course does not include the full kit like you would receive at retail (CRK microfiber cloth, wrenches, grease, loctite, assembly diagram card, warranty card, sticker).
 

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Bergy24 said:
T

Thanks for the info. Getting the re-issued birth card and box was one of my main reasons for wanting to send it in. I would have thought having some docs from CRK would be beneficial if I ever decide to sell it down the road. I would have also thought it would have added some value since some people may be unsure about without the box and docs.
Upgrading to the MagnaCut blade is always an option when sending it in too. Would this add to the value?
I have no plans to sell or trade, but would like your opinion on the value of it.
Click to expand...

As mentioned above, the re-issued birth card doesn't tell you anything that you can't obtain from the knife itself. I guess it could be used as a sign of authenticity, but your knife is legitimate and doesn't have any of the common red flags that counterfeits do. If you look inside the scales near the clip you will see a letter followed by a number. The letter (A,B,C,D) indicates the quarter and the number is the year the handles were made...C-15 would have been made the third quarter of 2015. This doesn't necessarily indicate that is when the knife was finished, but it is when the handles were made. This will be the best approximation anyone can make of when the knife was manufactured without the original birth card.

If you disassemble the knife, under the washers on the blade tang there will be stamp that indicates the blade steel. S for S30V (this would be an extremely early 21, I think predating the insigno blade shape and thus wouldn't apply for you), V for S35VN, or 45 for S45VN. S30V was used from 2002 to the end of 2010, S35VN was used from 2011 to early 2021. Regarding S35VN, there are 2 versions of the "V". A "V" that uses 4 shorter lines to make the letter has a hardness of 58-59 RC. A "V" that has two longer lines has a hardness of 59-60 RC. CRK stopped making the Sebenza 21 in 2019 so if your blade is S45VN it has already been upgraded at least once.

Upgrading to Magnacut is an option that will cost you $150 ($250 if you opt for a polished one) and I don't think either would add as much to the sale value as the upgrade would cost you. It would also depend on whether the buyer placed more value on the knife being all original or having the latest/greatest blade steel.
 
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Ilikesharpstuff said:
As mentioned above, the re-issued birth card doesn't tell you anything that you can't obtain from the knife itself. I guess it could be used as a sign of authenticity, but your knife is legitimate and doesn't have any of the common red flags that counterfeits do. If you look inside the scales near the clip you will see a letter followed by a number. The letter (A,B,C,D) indicates the quarter and the number is the year the handles were made...C-15 would have been made the third quarter of 2015. This doesn't necessarily indicate that is when the knife was finished, but it is when the handles were made. This will be the best approximation anyone can make of when the knife was manufactured without the original birth card.

If you disassemble the knife, under the washers on the blade tang there will be stamp that indicates the blade steel. S for S30V (this would be an extremely early 21, I think predating the insigno blade shape and thus wouldn't apply for you), V for S35VN, or 45 for S45VN. S30V was used from 2002 to the end of 2010, S35VN was used from 2011 to early 2021. Regarding S35VN, there are 2 versions of the "V". A "V" that uses 4 shorter lines to make the letter has a hardness of 58-59 RC. A "V" that has two longer lines as shown here "V" has a hardness of 59-60 RC. CRK stopped making the Sebenza 21 in 2019 so if your blade is S45VN it has already been upgraded at least once.

Upgrading to Magnacut is an option that will cost you $150 ($250 if you opt for a polished one) and I don't think either would add as much to the sale value as the upgrade would cost you. It would also depend on whether the buyer placed more value on the knife being all original or having the latest/greatest blade steel.
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Wow, lots of information. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
 
It's good to see that you're stoked on your first CRK. Congratulations.
My advice is to not think of it value, what it is worth and so on but rather just use and enjoy it. Also, if there is nothing wrong with the blade perhaps replacing it with a new one in Magnacut is a bit irrelevant...?
 
Jacques Mi said:
It's good to see that you're stoked on your first CRK. Congratulations.
My advice is to not think of it value, what it is worth and so on but rather just use and enjoy it. Also, if there is nothing wrong with the blade perhaps replacing it with a new one in Magnacut is a bit irrelevant...?
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Sounds like a good plan. The blade is in great shape and the S35VN sharpens easily, so At this time, I do not plan to send it in, or replace the blade.
While handling this knife compared to others, it is amazing how simple and plain it is, but yet more durable and well built with tight tolerances which still allow for a very smooth action.
The attention to detail and overall QC is impressive.
I have a feeling that this rabbit hole is going to get a lot deeper pretty quick.
 
Bergy24 said:
T

Thanks for the info. Getting the re-issued birth card and box was one of my main reasons for wanting to send it in. I would have thought having some docs from CRK would be beneficial if I ever decide to sell it down the road. I would have also thought it would have added some value since some people may be unsure about without the box and docs.
Upgrading to the MagnaCut blade is always an option when sending it in too. Would this add to the value?
I have no plans to sell or trade, but would like your opinion on the value of it.
Click to expand...
In my opinion the second hand Magnacuts get a bit higher prices than the S45VN ones that came before. That said I have one an S45 and a Magnacut, can't comment on the S35. Personally I like It seems to me like the S45 is sharper and cuts better. About the spa day, sheck turnaround times before you make your decision, and think about how you are going to feel the first time you scratch it. I get the Card and box stuff and that does effect the value a little bit. If I was you I would get to know the knife before you decide to send it in.
 
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