Spartan vs CRK

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PatMourin45

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Nov 18, 2014
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Hey guys, so my birthday is coming up, and I am looking at two knives right now. Can't get both, but these are the ones that interest me. (And please keep opinions to these two so we don't go off track. I like striders, just not in the market for one now.)

With that said, I am looking at the spartan blades Akribis folder and I am looking at the large Sebenza 21. I like them both, but am stuck. Anyone have any experience with the spartan? I hear a lot of good about the sebenza but barely see anything on the Akribis. I know that the guys at spartan blades had a lot of help from Chris Reeves in terms of how to build the knife.

Any input would be appreciated, and thanks in advance!

Pat
 
Have handled but don't own both. In my brief fondling mechanically I didn't feel much difference in the two, both were very smooth and solid feeling. The plane jane 21 was slimmer feeling both in hand and pocket than the Akribis due to the Spartan's G10 scales. This is at least in my memory, hope it helps!
 
I recently was looking at getting an Akribis too. What made me not purchase one, was the fact that they don't encourage you to take your knife apart like CRK does. If you take your CRK apart and lose the pivot bushing, washer, standoff, etc, they will fix it.

It doesn't seem that Spartan will do so, however I could be wrong. I've also heard about issues where the tip was off-center and Spartan wouldn't fix it because they "fit the washers and blade by hand" or something like that.

Sorry, but a $400+ folder that's marketed for "hard/tactical use" that I can't take apart under warranty? No thanks...

Go check out the CRK website and you'll see a list that gives you the cost for any part your knife could need. Some need to be fitted to the knife though, so you'll need to send your knife in for those parts. But CRK will send you out a single screw, standoff, lanyard pin, etc...

Personally, I feel that you get every dollars worth of knife out of a CRK.
 
Well, thanks for this post, now Im buying an Akribis....ha ha.

I can only speak to the quality of Spartans fixed blades, and it phenomenal. Weight, balance, handle, and materials are exactly what you would expect for a premium knife (much like CRK).

However I can talk about Sebenzas as I own a few now. If you like the the look of the Sebenza, you need one. That's really the only thing you have to worry about with that knife is does it appeal to you. Everything else is dead on in every one that I have owned, new or used. And CRK's customer care is top notch. I would say grab the Sebenza, if you dont like it, you can always sell it here for damn close to what you paid for it.
 
Blues Bender said:
I recently was looking at getting an Akribis too. What made me not purchase one, was the fact that they don't encourage you to take your knife apart like CRK does. If you take your CRK apart and lose the pivot bushing, washer, standoff, etc, they will fix it.

It doesn't seem that Spartan will do so, however I could be wrong. I've also heard about issues where the tip was off-center and Spartan wouldn't fix it because they "fit the washers and blade by hand" or something like that.

Sorry, but a $400+ folder that's marketed for "hard/tactical use" that I can't take apart under warranty? No thanks...

Go check out the CRK website and you'll see a list that gives you the cost for any part your knife could need. Some need to be fitted to the knife though, so you'll need to send your knife in for those parts. But CRK will send you out a single screw, standoff, lanyard pin, etc...

Personally, I feel that you get every dollars worth of knife out of a CRK.
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:thumbup: Beat me there brother :D

I'll echo what he said pretty much word for word (but probably with more words), so I'll just leave it at "He's dead-on!"

Only thing I will add is that CRK has a higher level of precision in their construction as well, and you will find that their knives will outlast almost anything else on the market, when used the way they are intended.
You also have many options of inserts, handle designs, and both the regular and Insingo blades. Overall, much more for your money if you ask me.
 
Oh and happy birthday brother!

Mine is this Saturday!
 
I bought an akribis here, lnib I was the third owner. It's a great knife, but it's not nearly as nice as a CRK. I have several CRK's...21, Regular, Classic, and a Zaan in large and small.



The Akribis, I got and sent back to the seller, had play in both directions. The guy I sent it back to had to send it back to Spartan to get it

repaired. I read somewhere that some Akribis' have side to side play it you hold the tip and hold the handle.

A CRK has it hands down over the Akribis in all aspects. This the first folder Spartan has made, they did a good job but they have a long way to go to be great IMO.

I watched a vid on the Akribis . Part of the vid showed it being disassembled. Both scales of the knife have to be taken off to get to the pivot or to take it apart.

Taking a CRK apart and back together again is so easy.
 
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Hey Charr, thank you and happy birthday! Mine is April 5th. =D

And Clockman, that sounds terrible to hear! Definitely sounds like I will go CRk over Akribis.
 
I have owned a Spartan fixed blade before, and it was really nice, and have considered owning one again.
The Akribis has never appealed to me. It doesn't even appear to be on the same level as a CRK.

Happy birthday, and go with the Sebenza.
 
I do belive and I maybe wrong but I think Spartan had CRK involved in someway with their folders? I don't own a Spartan folder but do own a fixed blade from them and love it! I do own a sebenza and love it! So your in a tough spot man! Happy bday!
 
Having owned both, I would go with the Sebbie every time. The Akribis was certainly smoother, but the aforementioned warranty issue coupled with how stupidly thick the handle is made it a pretty immediate pass for me. My CF-Inlaid Large Insingo was a dream to carry and use.
 
I owned both, and while the Spartan was just as flawless as they come and razor sharp, the Sebenza IS the bar for a reason. It's difficult to find a knife at a similar price point that will match a sebenza.
 
lazy otter said:
I do belive and I maybe wrong but I think Spartan had CRK involved in someway with their folders? I don't own a Spartan folder but do own a fixed blade from them and love it! I do own a sebenza and love it! So your in a tough spot man! Happy bday!
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They are and not just the folders. They have a very close relationship in design, production and materials.
Chris Reeve essentially helped Curtis and Mark get into business. Both freely say that without Chris there would probably not be Spartan Knives.

I prefer the look of the Sebbie but I would not hesitate to buy anything from Spartan. A company owned and operated by two genuine American heroes >>check out their bio<< who place integrity and honesty first in all their dealings.
 
While Spartan Blades isn't as well-known as Chris Reeve Knives, they make excellent knives, brilliantly designed by people who know what a knife can do, from excellent materials. As far as quality concerns, Spartan Blades stands by their knives.
 
OP, I would say that if you haven't had a CRK yet, get one and see what it's like for yourself. They are great knives, no doubt about it. I love 'em and have owned and carried several (with the 'Zaan being my favorite) but I could never keep 'em long term - I always ended up selling or trading them off. They are like gold or silver in that regard. :)

However, my Spartan Akribis w/ G10 is my favorite knife out of about 50+ different folders I've tried over the last few years. Excellent F&F, smoothness, detent...I love everything about it except the full DLC treatment (no tacticool ninja here), but I can overlook that. FWIW, it's not much thicker than a Sebenza, and I like the G10 overlays for the added grip. Also, I've got larger hands, so the handle on the Akribis is a great fit for me. The binder bolt makes it really easy to pluck from your pocket. I bought mine LNIB off USN, and it has no issues that I can find - solid lockup in all directions, centered blade, etc. I watched/read the earlier reviews but mine suffers from none of the problems others have mentioned.

BTW, the newest Akribis models have a ceramic ball detent, which is a nice feature to have. If you're looking for something a little different than the standard Sebenza, check out the Akribis.
 
PatMourin45 said:
Hey Charr, thank you and happy birthday! Mine is April 5th. =D

And Clockman, that sounds terrible to hear! Definitely sounds like I will go CRk over Akribis.
Click to expand...

Thank you brother!

Not really sure what to expect this year. Been so busy I almost forgot it was this week, but I'm just gonna go hang out with friends tonight, close family tomorrow, and extended family Sunday, so it should be a fun weekend!
 
While I don't have a folder from Mark and Curtis, I do own an Ares and a Difensa. Both are top notch semi-custom blades. And both knives Ive bought threw them, straight from the Spartan Blades website, both knives came with hand written letters, stickers, decals. Talked to both on the phone different times. They use all-american products, truly a top notch company and top notch US Vets!
 
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