So now what?

Amoo

Amoo

Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
503
I know people like LW are going to find this as sacrilege, but I'm not really a collector, I want knives I'm actually going to use. I've got basically most every other knife I own up on the exchange because they just aren't seeing any pocket time. I'm not into large folders as I find 6.5"-7.5" OAL seems to be the sweet spot for what I like.

My current collection is my EDC Small Inkosi, my date night Old Glory Small 21, and my dress casual Mnandi. I'm kind of at a loss as to where to go next. I obviously want a Small CRK with my son's birthday, but that will be an over time thing. It would be impossible to get a CGG with any more meaning to me then my Old Glory that LW was nice enough to let go of. We can't CGGs or LEG on Small Inkosi's yet. A Small U-zaan doesn't exist. I'm kind of lost on where to go next.

My only thought was to order a personalized Small Inkosi, but outside of that I'm out of ideas. Any thoughts?

My current family

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I have all the knives in the photo (different woods/graphics though) and the one I would recommend you add is a small micarta insingo. In terms of "work" knives that's one of the best EDC.
 
You now need to acquire a small Regular (Plain Jane, CGG and UG versions), a small Annual (in Amboya, Mammoth Ivory and Bark) and a small Classic (again Plain Jane, CGG and UG versions).

You have your orders now get to it... once you get these report back and we will start with damascus types.
 
My first thought is to try a small Insingo micarta, or else something with Damascus. But if you don't know what to get next, I'd suggest you just wait until something comes along that speaks to you. Be careful not to force yourself into buying something just because others like it. Those are the knives I always end up selling off.
 
LOL, I can say with 100% certainty the ONLY way I will own a Damascus knife if it is the only option available for my son's birthday. I'm so confident in that statement, that if you ever see me post an inbound picture years from now, quote this post and I'll ship it direct to you.

I keep hearing the term "annual", what the heck is an "annual"?

Also Blanco, Micarta is a dirty word in my threads :P Insigo is basically just a different blade shape, kind of like Tanto, and while an excellent slicer, probably isn't the ideal workhorse for all of the things I do with my knife that I shouldn't?
 
Amoo said:
Also Blanco, Micarta is a dirty word in my threads :P Insigo is basically just a different blade shape, kind of like Tanto, and while an excellent slicer, probably isn't the ideal workhorse for all of the things I do with my knife that I shouldn't?
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Fair enough. I actually wasn't a micarta guy at all, but saw enough people recommending it that when I got a good deal on the exchange for one, I took the risk. That's probably my only other recommendation: I would just look for great deals on knives. I was only kind of interested in an inkosi (thought it would be TOO small for the price), but got such a good deal it was worth the risk to me because I knew I could sell it easily if I didn't like it. I ended up loving it.

Edit: I do believe the insingo blade style offers great all-around utility, but you would know your uses better than I.
 
Fair enough Blanco. The only real issue I have with micarta is it seems to completely change color with use. Almost like it has it's own kind of "patina" in a way. I tend to have very oily skin in general and my worry would be that I would simply ruin the micarta over time.

I have put some thought into possibly getting a tanto, but outside of when I'm scraping something I probably shouldn't be, I find the drop point to be more advantageous for my abuses. What uses do you find the Insigo blade to be advantaged over the traditional drop point?
 
Amoo said:
Fair enough Blanco. The only real issue I have with micarta is it seems to completely change color with use. Almost like it has it's own kind of "patina" in a way. I tend to have very oily skin in general and my worry would be that I would simply ruin the micarta over time.

I have put some thought into possibly getting a tanto, but outside of when I'm scraping something I probably shouldn't be, I find the drop point to be more advantageous for my abuses. What uses do you find the Insigo blade to be advantaged over the traditional drop point?
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I like the insingo because it acts like a bigger knife when I need a larger cutting surface, especially in the small sebenza. In my every day tasks I do tend to use my pocket knife for food prep and I don't find the drop point to be as good for that. Also, I feel a little more confident for when I need to do light prying. Even though the tip is (I believe) thinner, the swedge and shape allows me to get a tiny bit deeper and apply more surface area, if that makes sense (vs inkosi I'm feel roughly equally confident). Keep in mind I'm not the hardest user and I'm not really saying it's "better" per se, just an interesting option for someone who doesn't already have one. I'm not sure it will do for you something your other knives can't do for you. But variety is the spice of life right?
 
I've only had micarta for about a month but I have found it just gets darker with hand oils and goes back to grey when I wash it. It's my understanding you can always just wash with soap to get it back to original color and CRK will re-blast a knife with micarta inlay so that makes me feel it should be pretty durable. It's grippier when wet but not so much otherwise. Does fill the hand a little more.
 
If you don't want micarta, don't get micarta...not a big deal. But to address your concern, I think you and your hand will wear out before the micarta does. Yes, it will change and darken as you get hand oils in it, but it cleans up easily and almost new looking with dish soap or rubbing alcohol. It can also be brought new looking with a bead blast just like the titanium scales you're used to. Anything that soaks into it is just superficial and can be cleaned off, it doesn't soak in full depth.

Personally I much prefer the ergos of an inlaid CRK over non-inlay. And I am more comfortable using micarta hard than wood.
 
Amoo said:
LOL, I can say with 100% certainty the ONLY way I will own a Damascus knife if it is the only option available for my son's birthday. I'm so confident in that statement, that if you ever see me post an inbound picture years from now, quote this post and I'll ship it direct to you.

I keep hearing the term "annual", what the heck is an "annual"?
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CRK did 60 large sebenzas and 60 small sebenzas that had a single slab of inlay each year from '99 to '11 . They used a couple different woods or mammoth for each year - '99 for instance had Buckeye Burl and (i believe) Birdseye Maple.

My carry for today:

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There is nothing wrong with being perfectly happy with what you have, and NOT wanting anything.
 
You don't need to get more.
Most people bother how to stop.
I believe it is an advantage not to have to buy a variant of each (latest steel, different finish or handle material).
The idea behind the Sebenza is to get a knife that serves you well as a tool.
Mission accomplished!

If you read a bit about the history of CRK you will find, reasons beyond the development.
Compare with other companies and draw your conclusions.
I finished a long time ago, but then I found some nice wood inlays and then some small ones (for more formal occasions), and then.... you know how it goes.
 
red mag said:
You don't need to get more.
Most people bother how to stop.
I believe it is an advantage not to have to buy a variant of each (latest steel, different finish or handle material).
The idea behind the Sebenza is to get a knife that serves you well as a tool.
Mission accomplished!

If you read a bit about the history of CRK you will find, reasons beyond the development.
Compare with other companies and draw your conclusions.
I finished a long time ago, but then I found some nice wood inlays and then some small ones (for more formal occasions), and then.... you know how it goes.
Click to expand...

Translation: "No need to get more, but you are going to get more." :D
 
Enjoy the ones you have, hunt for that birthday CRK for your son's CRK.
And when another comes around that speaks to you, gobble it up. It only takes one to know what the CRK experience is about.
 
So yeah, apparently a certain somebody who decided to comment on this thread decided to list a certain small classic, which I have always thought looked cool with the "Classic MM" around the pivot. The best part is, he beat the living crap out of it, which is AWESOME!!! This is essentially part of the reason I'm taking to selling most all of my other knives. I'm purchasing a knife that is 9 years old and looks "well loved". I'm going to receive the knife, grab a few pictures, send it off to the mothership, forget about it for a few months, get it back, and basically be returned a knife that looks exactly like it did the day it left the factory in 2008. How friggen cool is that?

Meanwhile in other news, I got my DSLR out today so figured I might wanna snag some decent pictures of the family....besides I can't have you guys thinking "Oh there's that guy with all the crappy photos."

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Nice pictures! I know you have your "new" classic on the way, but have you looked at the carbon fiber knives? Same feel but lighter and more unique looking. My CF 21 is by far my favorite Crk.
 
Ernie, I had considered the Carbon Fibers, but I've never been a huge fan of one carbon fiber scale and one titanium one. For example I own the standard all titanium 0450. I also remember reading somewhere, but sadly can't source it, that over time the CF causes the knife to become un-centered because of the difference in material density of the two sides and the constant pressure of the pivot. IIRC correctly it isn't an issue CRK can/will fix under warranty? I think it was CRK I was reading about that with, but please somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

As an alternative to this, I was considering one of the CF inlay Inkosis, but am kind of holding out, hoping they do a wood inlay sometime in the near future. I should be getting my Spider Monkey within the next week now that Whitty has them back in stock, so I'll get my first real opportunity with a CF knife. Should give me a better idea of what to really expect out of the material.

Good outside the box thought though, thank you.
 
Sounds like you're in a good place with the CRKs you have. But how about a Ti-lock? Overall size is right where you want to be but packs a bit larger blade than the Small 21 that is very useful. Read some of the threads about it. It's so different than the Sebenzas, but so very useful in size, very EDC-able. A good knife to have in your collection of users. Check the threads on them.
 
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