Noob intro and noob question about CRKT "Side Hawg"

C

chrishl

Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
15
So, I've been carrying an old Boker around in my pocket for years, keeping it sharp, opening Christmas presents with it just like my Old Man used to do, occasionally whittling someone a cedar letter opener. Then, the other day I was in Wallie World buying some synthetic oil for my motorcycles and stopped to look at the knife counter. Some very strange-looking blades compared to the old Boker, but I asked to get a closer look at a couple, including a Kershaw Storm II. Liked the look and feel, so took it home.

Signed up on this forum, did a little reading, picked up a Spyderco Delica. Like it a lot. Discovered that New Graham is a nice motorcycle-ride away from my home, so rode over there and looked over the inventory on Sunday afternoon. Didn't buy anything, but ...

The CRK&T Side Hawgs caught my eye as attractive and interesting, and relatively inexpensive. I searched the forum and don't find any significant mention of these knives, so thought I'd ask. Anyone own, like, dislike, ....?

Thanks in advance. I'm enjoying my two recent purchases and enjoying exploring the wealth of info here on the BF.

Chris
Blacksburg VA
 
you're off to a good start with the kershaw and the spyderco. I like the crkt line but lately they have switched to a lower grade of steel. I don't know for sure but i think the side hawg uses 420j2 steel and that is not a good steel for a knife. it is fine to use it for the liners or scales{handle} but it probably isn't going to hold an edge real well. However that being said if you really like the design and it is a good price then go for it. by the way welcome to the boards, later, ahgar
 
if you like it buy it. any knife is better than none. eventually you will get hooked, lose all your money, and get better knives.....kinda lik drugs :D
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

The Storm and the Delica (and the Boker) are good knives. Don't take a step down by buying the Side Hawg. Look around a while and you'll find other small knives that suit you at least as well and work better.

By the way, New Graham is one of the most highly regarded dealers around here. You are definitely off to a good start.
 
spyder10 said:
if you like it buy it. any knife is better than none. eventually you will get hooked, lose all your money, and get better knives.....kinda lik drugs :D
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Truer words have never be spoken! I am getting ready to roll up my loose change and go "shoppin":D :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the welcomes and for the advice. I've got my V-Strom motorcycle packed up for a summer adventure trip to Albuquerque and am going for a test run on Saturday, which will include a morning stop at New Graham. I'm going to at least have a closer look at the little Side Hawgs, though I understand the issues about the steel quality.

If I could keep my wife from finding out, I think this Spyderco Kumo would be a nice addition. It's certainly an attractive (to me) knife, and is made with the same steel as this very sharp Delica I have in my pocket.

Thanks again.
 
chrishl said:
If I could keep my wife from finding out, I think this Spyderco Kumo would be a nice addition. It's certainly an attractive (to me) knife, and is made with the same steel as this very sharp Delica I have in my pocket.
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That's a fascinating looking knife. I've got a Delica on the way (I think. Haven't heard back from the local store yet.) Been planning where to go from there. I'm thinking: Smaller (gentlemans?) folder, a larger folder, and a fixed-blade/sheath knife. That Kumo might fill the bill for the last item nicely. (Thinkin' maybe a Manix, Military or Para-Military for the larger folder. Haven't decided on the smallest folder. Got to admit: I liked that Kershaw Chive I was looking at the other day. )
 
Add in a small Swiss Army Knife, like the Victorinox Classic. keep it with your keys and it's always handy for the ubiquitous small stuff.
 
The side hawg would rock if they made it out of good steel. Sadly they made it out of of a steel slightly superior to using cardboard for a knife blade. It's not like using a good steel would price the knife out of the market. Emerson made a Fred Perrin neck knife a few years back around the same size and it cost $35 And that was with Emmersons higher priced American labor costs a black TiN coating 154cm steel and kydex sheath requireing all kinds of hand opperations. CRKT knives are made in Taiwan, their sheath is made of injection molded plastic. I bet CRKT could have made this knife out of a steel like ats34 or 154cm and sold it for $22 or $25

They really dropped the ball on this one
 
Welcome Chris :)

chrishl said:
The CRK&T Side Hawgs caught my eye as attractive and interesting, and relatively inexpensive.......Anyone own, like, dislike, ....?
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That's the exact reason I pick up a CRKT Serengeti Hunter, double Side Hawg? one of those "why not?" Make out of Aus 4 and some kind of stainless steel ? :o I'm a newbie too LOL. The Serengeti is heavy, the LAWKS lock is decent but too loose for my taste. The blades are sharp but I never use it so can't tell you about edge retention, but the 2 side blades is hard to get out and I afraid it going to cut me :eek: For the $ its a nice toy. Never handle a Mike Franklin's original I bet its a real gem.

Like other knowledgeable forumites point out since you start out with some great selections, your taste will get better and your bank account will get worse!!!:D :D Welcome to the addictions ;)
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I've got one. It's a razor with a needle point, and the handle wrap provides an excellent grip.
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Yes Sir, any other similar size Tanto that you would recommend at the same price range?
 
SunnyBunny said:
any other similar size Tanto that you would recommend at the same price range?
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I better not. I'd rather recommend what I know, and my many tantos are all folders, very different from the Kumo style.

There are lot of impressive fixed blade tantos out there, but they seem to be larger and heavier. The Kumo takes what I call a finesse, not a brute force, approach.
 
attackofthe50footman said:
The side hawg would rock if they made it out of good steel. Sadly they made it out of of a steel slightly superior to using cardboard for a knife blade. ...
They really dropped the ball on this one
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Agreed. I've been looking for something similar but better quality. I may have to buy one of 'em just to see if I really like the style. As I said, I'll be inspecting the side hawg at New Graham tomorrow morning, and getting a closer look at the Kumo too, and who knows what else I'll fondle. Just in case, I have the left saddlebag on my motorcycle filled with cash (If I charge anything, my wife will find out ;)

Chris
 
Attack, you should have bought that lagriffe for 35. The emerson perrin lagriffe listed for about 125 and I never saw it sold less than 75. The cheapest ATS34 knives that i know of are from Queen and they start at about 70.

I have a mike franklin custom small blade and its sweet, small, light and fits your hand like another finger. If the sidehawg is as well designed, it may be worth it even with the cheaper steel. The steel used won't rust and shouldn't chip, it'll just need resharpening more often if you use it on hard materials. If you stick to string, cheese, meat, tomatoes, etc. it'll rarely need sharpening.
 
brownshoe said:
Attack, you should have bought that lagriffe for 35.
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I did! That's how I remembered the price. La Griffe, Thanks for the name I couldn't remember it, I bought it for $35 or $36 bucks back in 2001 for my brother as a birthday gift.

The emerson perrin lagriffe listed for about 125
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Oh come on! Emerson's own website doesn't even sell it for that price, Their price is $99.95

and I never saw it sold less than 75.
The cheapest ATS34 knives that i know of are from Queen and they start at about 70.
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You need to shop around. 2 minutes of searching on the internet I found

Gerber Gator @ $38
Randall King snitch neck knife @ $35
(about the same size as the la griffe)

Buck Rush assisted opener @ $48
Buck Tempest A/O @ $49
Buck Sirus A/O @ $49

I have a mike franklin custom small blade and its sweet, small, light and fits your hand like another finger.
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What he make it out of? I bet it wasn't 420J2

If the sidehawg is as well designed, it may be worth it even with the cheaper steel. The steel used won't rust and shouldn't chip, it'll just need resharpening more often if you use it on hard materials. If you stick to string, cheese, meat, tomatoes, etc. it'll rarely need sharpening.
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If you reward companies for making shodddy goods you will get more shoddy goods!
 
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