Not All CRKTs Are Bad

I've had a dozen or so and sold them all but one. There was always something about them that I didn't like. Usually, they just came across as soft, I was always having to sharpen them. Sometimes it was just the feel of it I didn't like. The only one I kept was a large Mirage and it's my dedicated truck knife.
 
Here's one other CRKT that I hung onto.
The little solidly made Blade-lock. I never used it and I forgot the steel type, but it's a well made little knife.
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My Dad carries a CRKT, and don't tell him it's not a great knife because he'll explain it's light, feels good in the hand, easy to sharpen, and does everything he needs it to -- and what more could you expect from a knife? He's not a knife nut and doesn't know any better. :D

When I got my XM-18 he was comparing the merits of his CRKT to my new knife and he decided it was about a wash. I didn't bother to tell him that I paid over $500 for it. That would have brought forth some interesting observations that I'd just as soon spare myself having to answer.
 
Along with the S2 was the Apache
I have both in the small size.
Excellent

Have a couple of M16 in aluminum tanto and spear, both are fine solid knives

Had a Wild Weasel, which was very good indeed, but stolen!

A Mirage Grey Ghost Wharncliff, also a worker
 
longbeachguy said:
My Dad carries a CRKT, and don't tell him it's not a great knife because he'll explain it's light, feels good in the hand, easy to sharpen, and does everything he needs it to....
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Alas, many not-so-good knives meet this criteria, too. Very few knives dull to the extent that they can't be used at all, but one of the things I like about AUS8 is that it just sharpens like a champ and then it's ready to go. The thing about 420 steel and AUS4 is that they dull just by looking at them. As long as your dad has the AUS8, I reckon he'll do fine; otherwise, get him a nicer one for Father's Day.
 
I just found a m-16 in the grass, so far I'm diggin it.

It's in my back pocket comfortably as a back-up blade. Though it's pretty dull, I don't know how long it was there. Zytel handles.
 
What kind of M16? Can you post photos? Can't tell you how often I've thought about throwing a knife on the grass, just so someone could find it and use it. I just don't want the wrong kind of person finding it. Where did you find it? What were you doing?
 
Masteroffajitas said:
I just found a m-16 in the grass, so far I'm diggin it.

It's in my back pocket comfortably as a back-up blade. Though it's pretty dull, I don't know how long it was there. Zytel handles.
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Hey, I have that knife too.

I have thought about just throwing it into the yard. Might not be a bad idea. :D
 
neeman said:
Along with the S2 was the Apache
I have both in the small size.
Excellent

Had a Wild Weasel, which was very good indeed, but stolen!

A Mirage Grey Ghost Wharncliff, also a worker
Click to expand...

I had a small Apache. It was a good knife, but I gave it to a friend. He was one of the few people I knew that carried and used a knife like I did, but he was using a cheapo-by-the-bucket-convenience-store knife. So I gave him mine. He carried it for long time. Even after he broke the tip off.

I had a Wild Weasel for a while. The torsion bar broke so I sent it back for repairs. When they returned it, I sold it.
 
Confederate said:
Alas, many not-so-good knives meet this criteria, too. Very few knives dull to the extent that they can't be used at all, but one of the things I like about AUS8 is that it just sharpens like a champ and then it's ready to go. The thing about 420 steel and AUS4 is that they dull just by looking at them. As long as your dad has the AUS8, I reckon he'll do fine; otherwise, get him a nicer one for Father's Day.
Click to expand...

Yes it's AUS-8. Actually I got this one for him.
 
I just found the G-10 handle knives in 8Cr14 or something similar on CRKT's web site. The knife retails for $60, so should be a fair bit cheaper, depending on dealer. There are a couple of models using the G10 handles now.
 
Here's another CRKT that struck my fancy awhile back. I guess it's out of production at this point, but the Wasp was a Viele collaboration knife produced with titanium scales partially covered with G10 and with AUS-118 bladesteel. Great knife. In addition to the production run they did a limited fairly pricey Wasp sprint run with carbon fiber scales if memory serves.
 
I'm looking forward to trying one of the folding Razels they are coming out with. I just don't know where they'll be sold first...
 
well, their blades are pretty affordable, and some of them are real winners.


the hissatsu folder is a beast, one of my favorites

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i had the chance to check out an m16-14t last week when a customer sent me one for sharpening. i liked the way it locked up and it sharpened up shaving sharp.
 
It's been hit or miss with CRKT, and directly related to materials and price. M16's in Ti or Carbon fiber have worked well and stayed sharp. The less expensive FRN gripped models I gave away. The KISS line I got into all worked ok for chisel grinds, and that inherent feature of the KISS is no fault of CRKT. You either can use it or hate it.


Phil hits it on the head here: One should not confuse one's personal preferences with an objective evaluation of a knife being "good" or "bad." I don't like 2WD econocars much, but they do just fine commuting to work, at the pump, and paying insurance. An inexpensive AUS4 or 420 blade knife still cuts cardboard, cleans your nails, and whittles shavings.

Maybe it's our self esteem that's more involved than the utility of the tool.
 
Well, I just got a Thunderbolt and am fairly impressed with it. Don't know much about the 8Cr14MoV blade steel, but I've got mixed feelings about some of the design points (see my review in the reviews section).

The Thunderbolt is patterned after an old-styled World War II fighter (like the P-47 and the A-10 bomber) and the shape of the blade suggests this to the eye. It's a very attractive design. The blade is double grind I was happy to see, and surprisingly sharp.

CRKTThunderbolt.jpg


For self defense, the frontal serrations work. CRKT didn't leave any room between the tip and the serrations to allow cutting a straight line in paper, cardboard or anything else, and I think they cheaped out on that. Oh, but I do like the pivot screw.

CRKTThunderbolt_1.jpg


CRKTThunderbolt_2.jpg


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The company has clearly cut costs on the LAWKS. The switch is not smooth and the blocking mechanism is just a straight piece of sheet metal. I'm hoping mine will loosen up as I play with it.
 
I used to have a CRKT knife I really liked, called the Navajo. Gave it to a friend of mine when he was moving across the country.
Here's one:
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