Should I be disappointed

J

JohnS

Joined
Apr 14, 2002
Messages
249
Just got the bug and have bought a few CRK knives over the past month. I've bought a large Inkosi, a large snakewood 21 and a small micarta 21. Well, I was hoping to find something exotic ( mammoth or ivory) so I looked at every authorized dealer on the Chris Reeves website - neither were to be found, but I did see a dealer that had large micarta 21s for 10% off - so I bought one.
It just came today and it has a birth date of August 2012. So no pouch or lube which I thought would be included when I ordered. I see that it has machined grooves in the stop. I'm wondering if there have been any improvements in the newer models? Is it common to get a 4 year old knife? If there arn't any differences then I guess thats fine - just not what I expected.
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
 
That seems a bit off to me. Other members with more experience with CRK during that time frame should be able to answer your questions though.
 
I would say that you shouldn't worry too much at all. As far as i know, the Micarta models do not come with a pouch unless they are also Damascus. The old style box and grooved stop pin are both a plus IMO. The thing that may bother some people with the older models is that the heat treat on the blade steel runs a point or so softer than the newer models.
 
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Thanks - I know I can always buy a pouch and I probably have a lifetime of lube with my other 3, but I was hoping there hadn't been big improvements since 2012.
 
Yea, no pouch comes with the micarta versions. I misread that.
 
Hey, in 2012 Chris Reeve himself may have inspected your knife before it shipped out. Sounds like a score! I have a 2013 Micarta 21 and have no problem with the HT. I think that whole issue was blown a bit outta proportion by people who either - A: did not understand even super steels get dull, or B: did not know how to sharpen a new blade with a slight factory convex.

I thought my 2013 Micarta was suffering from issues until I realized that the steel was so darn wear resistant that my lame attempts (at the time) to sharpen it were not even hitting the apex.

In short, you have no worries
 
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It is a little surprising that an authorized dealer had a 4 year old knife still in stock. Most dealers cycle through their CRK inventory pretty fast!

Regardless, I wouldn't be disappointed if I were you. Enjoy the knife!
 
Yes-no pouch
Just my opinion, but I see no need to use a pouch with the micarta. The micarta is practically wear proof and you can get the scales re-blasted if you ever want too.
I love the micarta inlays-it should serve you well.
4 years old is a bit unusual, but it may have had something to do with the discount-small dealer that didn't sell many Sebenza's(might benefit with a clean a lube after sitting that long)
 
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Maybe he scored some NOS of Micarta's and that was why it had the 10% discount?!?!?! Just a thought.
 
Peter Hartwig brings up a great point - Micarta is insanely durable, and becomes sexier with age. Using a pocket sheath with a Micarta Sebenza would be blasphemous. 😀
 
You are fortunate because you got the older box! Yes, the HT is a point or two lower, but in daily use you will never notice the difference.
How about some pictures:)
 
The first WC Starbenza I bought was three years old. It was a left handed model and I figured the don't sell many lefty's. Wish I still had that CRK.
So, yes, occasionally you will come across one that has been on the shelf for a while. I believe TNK sold some old stock that was found in their warehouse not that long ago. Some dated 2007.
 
Sounds like a good deal - I would be happy. It looks like CRK went from S30v to S35Vn sometime before 2012 on their blades, which isn't a big deal either way. They did change their heat treat on the folders from 58-59Rc to 59-60Rc sometime in 2013.
 
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For various reasons my 2012 small micarta is nicer than my 2016 large micarta, so you may have got lucky? :)

I can not tell any difference between the heat treats, the way some have been talking I was expecting to see at least a small difference but I guess the difference between 58-59 and 59-60 are only going to be seen if the two knives you are comparing are at different ends of the scale, which I'm doubting mine are.
 
It's New/Old Stock is all. I for one would be ecstatic if I ordered ANY sebenza from a dealer and it was 4 years old. I love S30V over S35VN. Not sure what yours is...? Also all wood inlays, mammoth ivory, CGG/UG come with leather slip sheaths, while micarta does not. CRK did not start adding lube till the newer style boxes with the foam inserts. This one you got would have the old desirable boxes. The grooves in the stop pin is something Chris did for a few years. You got a true score my friend enjoy it.
 
Thanks for all your replies - I'll try to put up pictures when I get a chance (always embarassed by my crappy pics). It is the S35VN, 58- 59 with old style box. I was hopining there was a positive side to it - so I really appreciate your replies! I'll have to read up some more here for any sharpening tips. I do fairly well with the sharpmaker but not well with the edge pro or wicked edge. I kick myself now - years ago I sold a regular sebenza cheap cause I couldn't get it sharp.
 
JohnS said:
Thanks for all your replies - I'll try to put up pictures when I get a chance (always embarassed by my crappy pics). It is the S35VN, 58- 59 with old style box. I was hopining there was a positive side to it - so I really appreciate your replies! I'll have to read up some more here for any sharpening tips. I do fairly well with the sharpmaker but not well with the edge pro or wicked edge. I kick myself now - years ago I sold a regular sebenza cheap cause I couldn't get it sharp.
Click to expand...

This was a post I made the other day about the sharpmaker. I love it.
"I use the 40 degree setting on the sharpmaker with no micro bevel. Makes for a nice strong durable edge. When you get to the belly I slightly tilt the blade to the opposite side to follow the grind of the blade from the belly to the tip. I mainly use the flats. You want to make sure you stop your stroke with the tip in the middle of the flat of the stone. If you constantly let it slip off, you will eventually round the tip. Use the sharpie trick and that will show you where your hitting. Once you do a few strokes, you will get the hang of it rather quickly. The 30 degree setting I only use for super thin blades like paring knives, fillet knives, etc. Anything else gets the 40 degrees. I have been using the sharpmaker and the older crock sticks for over 30 years. I have sebenzas that I have sharpened dozens of times on them and the edges still look factory because these types of systems remove very little metal. Using the Ultra Fine rods will give your blade a mirror polish. Great system and pretty much fool proof. Out of all these types of systems, I like the sharpmaker the best. It stows away in a nice small package."
 
"When you get to the belly I slightly tilt the blade to the opposite side to follow the grind of the blade from the belly to the tip."
Sorry for a dumb question, but are you tilting the top of the blade away ( pushing the egde into the stone) or are you tilting the bottom (cutting edge) towards the other stone?
 
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