Something to last a lifetime

XtianAus said:
I am looking to splurge and buy a new folder. Usually my money goes to fixed blades and so my folders are mid quality like kizer and bestech. But I have decided I want one higher end knife, something of greater quality, that will basically last me a lifetime. Something simple yet effective.

I need some recommendations.
Requirements are that it is a framelock, easy to maintain, built well for potential rough use and part or full ti handle.

I am after something robust that will still cut well. Something that I can take hiking and use hard and beat on, in an emergency, if required. Something that can take a little rougher use if I decide not to take a fixed blade and need something to go the extra mile.
There's nothing quite like the security and insured feeling of carrying and having a reliable knife that you know can be pushed and not fail, if need be.

Here are my current considerations:

Large sebenza 21 tanto or inkosi -potential negatives are that it has no lockbar insert and I have read that the S35vn is a little higher than normal rockwell.

Hinderer xm18 spanto non-flipper - negative is that it seems a little bulky and cumbersome. Also that it may not be the best cutter.

Reate torrent #2 - also seems potentially bulky and cumbersome. I have no experience with RWL-34

All things considered I am leaning towards a CRK at the moment.

What are you thoughts on these or do you have other recommendations?

Thanks in advance.
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Get the Inkosi. Just be sure you get a drop point model as the insingo has quite a thin tip. The Umnumzaan and sebenza have tanto versions too if that is your thing. The Inkosi is like the already rock solid sebenza took steroids and became a true heavy duty knife. I consider it way better made than a reate (which are still nice mind you).

Btw the Inkosi doesn’t need a lockbar insert because the lockbar has a large ceramic ball that doubles as a detent and the lockface of the lockbar. So it is actually the ceramic ball that makes contact with the blade tang. Even the sebenzas don’t need a lockbar insert because CRK carburizes the lockbar face which means the lockbar will probably last longer than just one measly lifetime. Check out the Umnumzaan too if you like its styling better.

The Hinderer is nice too but I don’t see much advantage it offers over the CRKs. The CRK is much slimmer and nicer to carry in the pocket while the Hinderer is needlessly much bulkier. You don’t get any real advantage in my eyes from that added bulk although some might argue the Hinderer is a “stronger” knife the crks are more than strong enough for any job you would want to do with a folder. CRK also has a program where you can pay to have the blade replaced further down the road should you ever need to.

There are many that have tried to bring CRKs to their knees through hard work and use and have found the knives to be neigh on indestructible. Also imho of the knives you listed the CRKs are by far the best built and designed to be easily serviced at home; they even encourage it and include a tool.

In short if someone was to ask what framelock for a lifetime CRK would be my recommendation any time.
 
CRK. All day, every day.

Problem is they are likely to become a new addiction. Even with genuine restraint, you will want to try several models and blade shapes.
 
If at all possible see if you can find a good knife shop that has examples to fondle. I have decided against many CRKs after handling them, as well as many other knives. A matter of ergos not quality. Although the sebbie seems to be perfect for almost everyone.
 
Like others have posted, don’t overlook the Umnumzaan. One’s thumb needs to come to terms with the knife. After that, it’s marvelous. I think the drop point is a better all around knife, but my tanto gets far more carry. They both feel like they’re indestructible.

The grind and blade shape on the ‘Zaans makes me shiver. Sooo cool.

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Thanks Lapedog, thats really helpful. Is the insoki built better than the 21? Reason I ask is I was going to go for the 21 with tanto blade as it seems it carries more steel to the tip. And the insoki isnt available as a tanto. What are your thoughts there, do I settle for the insoki in drop point or 21 in tanto?

I really would love to try a few models but I am saving for the upcoming CPKs TR :p

Unfortunately living in Australia means being unable to go into a dealer and see different options. So I appreciate all your knowledge here guys.

I also like the look of the umnumzaan but it seems like there is less meat left along the spine towards the tip? (Based on photos and videos).
 
XtianAus said:
Thanks Lapedog, thats really helpful. Is the insoki built better than the 21? Reason I ask is I was going to go for the 21 with tanto blade as it seems it carries more steel to the tip. And the insoki isnt available as a tanto. What are your thoughts there, do I settle for the insoki in drop point or 21 in tanto?

I really would love to try a few models but I am saving for the upcoming CPKs TR :p

Unfortunately living in Australia means being unable to go into a dealer and see different options. So I appreciate all your knowledge here guys.

I also like the look of the umnumzaan but it seems like there is less meat left along the spine towards the tip? (Based on photos and videos).
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The Inkosi is not built better than the Sebenza, just differently. Personally I love tantos but many people find they are not good for utility. I think they are great for utility personally.

Be aware that crks tend not to be great knives to flick open. Rather they lend themselves better to slowly thumbing the knife open. The Inkosi has a thicker blade stock and thicker titanium handle than the sebenza. Neither is better built than the other.

The sebenza has a bushing in the pivot. This means you can crank the pivot all the way down and still get a smooth action. The bushing is basically an extra hollow cylindrical metal sleeve that fits around the pivot. It acts sort of like a spacer so that way the titanium handle scales have just the right ammount of room between them for the blade to open smoothly. The 21s come kind of stiff but smooth from the factory but after some time they break in and become less stiff and more flickable. However a major downside is part of the washer can get stuck under the bushing during reassembly and get pinched between it and the scale. This can damage the washer and harm the action. It is apparently a fairly common problem if you aren’t careful.

The inkosi doesn’t have a bushing and seems to come a little less stiff from the factory. It has a pivot that you are supposed to adjust to get the action you want. However sometimes the pivot screw has a tendency to back out so they include a litttle sample bottle of purple loctite. I highly recommend you invest in some purple loctite and ONLY use purple loctite. When using it I hardly use any. I just put a drop on the end of a toothpick then paint the inside threads of the female pivot with the drop on the toothpick. Also because of the oversized ceramic ball which is the lockface/detent mine personally has a soft detent which also makes it not the best for flicking. (Give locktite atleast 24 hours to harden so set the knife aside for 24 hours.)

Of course both knives will flick if you give them a little wrist action. Flicking is not in Chris Reeves design and he advises against it.
 
Robust/heavy/stout and hiking don't usually go along well... The least thing I want in my pocket is a heavy folder (heavy ANYTHING for that matter) when I am hiking. Thrashing in the woods is a whole different thing.

Which is the ligthest of your choices? And the most utilitarian blade shape/thickness? And the most comfortable in hand? I think that matters much more than the steel hardness, lock type (none of your choices is ElCheapo quality, so they should last forever), etc.
 
Just a recording of what most have said already ... of the knives you mentioned ...

I love my CRKs ... 21s ... 25s ... but if for
your uses the Inkosi or Umnumzaan would be my choice ...

The Umnumzaan really blew me away and wonder why I waited so long to get one ... the do come in a tanto but the harpoon shaped Umnmzaan is my favorite CRK to date with the Wilson Combat Inkosi a very close second.

you mentioned CRK's S35VN HT ... it is actually a bit softer than many brands for ease of sharpening ...

I will say the Umnumzaan takes some break in and is a bit of a different motion to open so many will say it kills their thumb to open ... mine was a bit stiff but never hurt to open but it smoothed up into opening so easily ...

For the purposes you mentioned ... I would probably go with the Inkosi over my Umnumzaan ... feels smooth out of the box ... is a slightly thicker blade than a 21 but I believe the same thickness blade as the Umnumzaan and it just feels like a tank at lock up.

But you can't go wrong with CRK ... a Hinderer I love also it is a bit beffier may take hard use slightly better ... but the trade of is its thicker ... heavier ... and without reprofiling at least doesn't cut as well as the CRK IMHO.

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For someone less familiar with higher end knives seems like the inkosi is easier to maintain. And oops, by better built, I meant it is built tanker? Like you said thicker Ti and blade stock.
I do wish it had a tanto variation though. But for my needs it seems more appropriate to me.

But also the umnumzaan is tempting too. I like that it has a lock bar stabilizer and also thumb studs for lock up.

As for CRK not being fantastic with their action, thats okay for me.
I have cheaper folders to flick open for fun. Practically, it is not a necessity for me though. I can't see a split second extra to open a knife quickly advantaging me in any way. I appreciate the heads up though :)
I just want something tough, well built, easy to maintain that will leave me thinking I dont ever need another folder again (except impractically for luxury purposes :cool:)
 
Another vote for a crk, either one of these or the 21, whichever ticks your boxes.

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Something to keep in mind about CRK's is they don't have much depreciation. Buy one, try it, like it? Keep it. Don't like it? Sell it for close to what you paid for it. Consider the loss like a rent.
:):thumbsup:
 
b00n said:
Something to keep in mind about CRK's is they don't have much depreciation. Buy one, try it, like it? Keep it. Don't like it? Sell it for close to what you paid for it. Consider the loss like a rent.
:):thumbsup:
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This is very true! However I usually loose quite a bit no matter because of shipping to and sometimes from Australia. The knife market here is.... well lets just keep it there. I have sold and shipped to the US almost as much as I have here.
Regardless, it would be a lot less than i have lost in the past. I like that, viewing a small loss as rent :p
 
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Sebbie, for sure. It will outlast you, likely. The name Sebenza is derived from the Zulu word meaning "Work."
 
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