Sold your small Insingo can you tell me why?

cchu518 · Apr 14, 2014

I told myself I wasn't going to pick up a CRK. I wasn't going to pick up a CRK. But it keeps nagging me. I'm 99% sure I'm going to pick up a micarta Insingo before the year is out and most likely even earlier. Just for the record, I don't need the knife. It's expendable cash that is paying for the knife. I don't have to do it behind my wife's back. I don't even know if I will use the knife, I work in NYC and won't be EDC'ing it. I just want one.

Really its to have for at the very least an extended time to appreciate the thought that CR put into his designs and I just love the design.

For those who sold their Insingo can you tell me what you liked, what you didn't like about them? Did you like the small regular Sebenza better?

Since I don't have a knife store near me or even remotely close to me, quite often I will buy a knife just to handle it. I've gone through two Pinnacle 750's (too big of a knife but I loved how smooth they are, they were both crazy old and were users so totally broken in) and a Sage 2 (felt horrible in the hand relative to other Spydercos and other knives in general) felt more like a piece of man jewelry than a user knife.

Any thoughts and inputs would be greatly appreciate. Non Insingo owners can feel free to chime in as well! I'm very attracted to the Insingo blade shape, but this is based on no valid rationale btw. I just like it!

I think for the going rate of CRK's they are a really good value relative to other things that I have seen. The entire minimalist design appeals to me very much. And also does the girth of the micarta takeaway or improve the feel of a Sebbie, I've only handled plain scaled ones. I found them to be very likeable because of its shape and how thin it was but not exactly grippy. I love the Cocobolo but I would presume that its not as grippy as the micarta?

Ajack60 · Apr 14, 2014

Can't help you out much on the getting rid of one, but I do have several with micarta inlays, and just love the micarta. Although they are a bit wider, I really don't feel a difference in hand with the micarta. IMO the micarta is better suited for wet weather conditions and has better grip when wet from rain/sweat. I have no preference over the insigno shape versus the other CRK blade shapes. I do not have any wood inlays, so, no help there.
Who cares if you don't need it, be like Nike and "just do it". I don't need all the ones I have, I just like CRK's
The two I have

humblerodent · Apr 14, 2014

Since you are 99% sure, I'd say go for it. You won't find anyone here to talk you out of it, haha. I highly recommend the small insingo. It's what I carry the most. I have plain jane, micarta, and CF insingos. I probably carry all three equally, but if I could only keep one, it would probably be the micarta. The double inlays feel great in the hand and increase the thickness a small amount but not so much to be hugely noticeable. Based on everything you asked, I would highly recommend you get a micarta insingo, you won't be disappointed.

cchu518 · Apr 14, 2014

So the inlays do or don't affect getting access to the thumbstuds, or are they non factors in the equation? My knife buying kind of died down a lot this year. I'm totally in love with not too expensive Spyderco's. Delica's, UKPK's, Caly's. And I've been turning to those more an more for use now that summer has come one.

I've looked at other knives and said meh. But to date I've never been able to look at a CRK no matter which model and say meh about it. Lol.

humblerodent · Apr 14, 2014

The inlays don't really affect access to the thumbstud. They really just affect the grip, but not as much as you might think. I find they provide more grip sliding the knife in and out of the pocket. In the hand the inlays aren't all that noticeable. I love Spydercos as well, but CRKs are definitely a step up.

pete-800 · Apr 14, 2014

I owned a small regular pain jane and it was used for many years. About 6 months ago I got a small 21 insingo with micarta inlays. They both feel great but I really prefer the micarta. It just fits in my hand better.

When I first got the micarta I was opening and closing both of them together and it was just a little bit easier to get a good grip on thumbstud on the 21 even with the inlays. The little notch that 21 has give you plenty of room to access the thumbstud.

Nikkogi · Apr 14, 2014

In my view, the Small Insingo is the best of the Small series. Mainly because the blade shape is perfect and the thumbstud is further away from the handle scales so it's very to easy to open.

cchu518 · Apr 15, 2014

Thanks for the feedback I'll report back when I get one! The knife hobby is a curious thing when you are missing something from your collection, it wouldn't matter if it was an alox cadet or a Hinderer its just an itch that doesn't go away until you scratch it.

Hairlesstwinkie · Apr 15, 2014

I got rid of mine because it really didn't have a role in my collection. I had mine for about 8 months. I tried to like it, but it never grew on me. I even sent it out to be anodized, and I liked it for a while, but that fondness fell fast. I was really spoiled by my Spyderco Southard at the time. I can always get more performance out of my Spydercos than any CRKs. I judge the knife by its function over the fine fit and finish of the Sebenzas. Knives are tools first and art second. It was a beautiful knife, but when I use it and compare it to my other knives, it really fell behind. It doesn't get as sharp (I was free hand sharpening) and the edge retention was mediocre. People can argue for the other side all day long, but that's just my experience with my CRKs. I've had 5 Sebenzas pass through my hands at different times, and I don't own any Sebenzas right now.

cchu518 · Apr 15, 2014

That might just be the qualities of S30V though. I.E. ever try a Spyderco in S30? I try to put toothier edges on S30 and they hold up very well at the hardness that they get done via Buck and Spyderco. Don't get me wrong the UKPK, Caly and Delica are my favorite folders right now, all Spyderco products. I love 'em. But my knife purchasing interests are starting to wane. I.E. on a personal level I looked at the Southard but its blade shape like the stretch's doesn't do it for me. I think I'm sold on the Insingo though, like other people though I wish they made a small Zaan that would be killer!

Hairlesstwinkie said:
I got rid of mine because it really didn't have a role in my collection. I had mine for about 8 months. I tried to like it, but it never grew on me. I even sent it out to be anodized, and I liked it for a while, but that fondness fell fast. I was really spoiled by my Spyderco Southard at the time. I can always get more performance out of my Spydercos than any CRKs. I judge the knife by its function over the fine fit and finish of the Sebenzas. Knives are tools first and art second. It was a beautiful knife, but when I use it and compare it to my other knives, it really fell behind. It doesn't get as sharp (I was free hand sharpening) and the edge retention was mediocre. People can argue for the other side all day long, but that's just my experience with my CRKs. I've had 5 Sebenzas pass through my hands at different times, and I don't own any Sebenzas right now.

TTTis · Apr 15, 2014

cchu518 said:
That might just be the qualities of S30V though. I.E. ever try a Spyderco in S30? I try to put toothier edges on S30 and they hold up very well at the hardness that they get done via Buck and Spyderco. Don't get me wrong the UKPK, Caly and Delica are my favorite folders right now, all Spyderco products. I love 'em. But my knife purchasing interests are starting to wane. I.E. on a personal level I looked at the Southard but its blade shape like the stretch's doesn't do it for me. I think I'm sold on the Insingo though, like other people though I wish they made a small Zaan that would be killer!

It is the difference in hardness. Only a point or two, but makes a huge difference.

BmoreJeff · Apr 15, 2014

I have 2 insingos, the small will stay with me forever, my large cf will probably be up for sale soon, nothing wrong with it and if I was rich I'd keep it but I carry my small more for casual and my xm at work so maybe an insingo 25 would fit my needs, hint hint

cchu518 · Apr 15, 2014

I'm thinking a small Insingo in the next few months, unless something crazy happens like CRK decides to make a small 'Zaan!

Hairlesstwinkie · Apr 17, 2014

cchu518 said:
That might just be the qualities of S30V though. I.E. ever try a Spyderco in S30? I try to put toothier edges on S30 and they hold up very well at the hardness that they get done via Buck and Spyderco. Don't get me wrong the UKPK, Caly and Delica are my favorite folders right now, all Spyderco products. I love 'em. But my knife purchasing interests are starting to wane. I.E. on a personal level I looked at the Southard but its blade shape like the stretch's doesn't do it for me. I think I'm sold on the Insingo though, like other people though I wish they made a small Zaan that would be killer!

Mine was in S35VN. I've tried Reeve S30Vs and they're nothing to write home about. I would prefer a VG-10 over their S30V.

Sonnydaze · Apr 18, 2014

cchu518 said:
a Sage 2 (felt horrible in the hand relative to other Spydercos and other knives in general) felt more like a piece of man jewelry than a user knife.

The Sage2 feels great in my hand. I have several NIB just..because. Yes, I like Calys and Native 5 forum knife also; a big Spydie nutcase.
I have micarta large Seb as well as plain slabs, but I much prefer, and carry, plain slabbed (large) CRK only. Have owned Insingos but never used one; prefer standard blade-shape. All good.

cchu518 · Apr 18, 2014

Once opened the sage 2 is ok, in particular the finger choil was nice. I felt the leaf blade when closed did the sage 2 a disservice. It didnt feel good to me as compared to nearly all spydercos that i have handled. And wasn't as comfortable as the sebenza or bm pinnacle 750.