There is no crowd, tougher than the CRK crowd. I do not envy the task of releasing a new model into a sea of folks who will scrutinize the product with calipers, mirrors, lasers, microscopes, and a fine-toothed comb.
I am sure if the OCD is shelved for a few minutes, the 31 is absolutely up to the tasks it was designed for, with no chance of lock failure. It is also a very attractive looking knife.
I sit here writing this looking at my well-worn Micarta L21 (my first CRK) and realize it is very hard to improve on perfection. I’m not sure why the ti/steel traditional Reeve lock design was abandoned by CRK for the 31. I’ve put my 21s through hell on earth, and they exhibit no lock wear or lock movement. The combo of the heat-treated lock bar, and hand-fitted tang on the blade was really a winner.
Lets hope the 31 proves a winner too. If society isn’t over, I might reward myself with one when the dust settles.
Stay safe everyone! Keep your collections clean!