You're kidding right? That clip is very close to what Ken Onion designed. The biggest difference that I can see is that it is not coated so stands out more.
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The CRKT Ripple: Why I Didn't Buy It
- Thread starter JNieporte
- Start date
You're kidding right? That clip is very close to what Ken Onion designed. The biggest difference that I can see is that it is not coated so stands out more.
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Whoa! Slow down there, friend!
:thumbup:
What I meant to say was that Onion is a very talented designer, and it's a shame that he's not designing for Kershaw anymore.
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Thomas W
Banned
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Thanks for the clarification.
Ritt
Gold Member
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I'm waiting for one of these I recently bought off e-bay, $52 + $3 shipping, so $55 for the knife and shipping is getting pretty close to the point where several of you feel the knife might be acceptable.
If the steel's at least as good as AUS-8, and the heat treat's done right, I don't have any problem with that. I have several older knives (Al Mar, Spyderco) in AUS-8 that work very well for me.
The size is just about right for me, I like a thin, light pocket knife, and I don't mind the clip because I'll probably just take it off and carry the knife loose in my pocket.
I've never owned a CRKT before, but despite the generally negative buzz, at least among most knife knuts, I'm willing to give them a shot.
The thing that makes this knife stand out is that it's (I think, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) the first mass-produced, low-cost knife to use IKBS. And the great potential to my mind is that by using IKBS you can make a small, light flipper that actually flips well without being an assisted opener. I'm very interested to see how the IKBS works, not only on the new knife but how it holds up over time. I think a company that's first to bring a new technology (or gimmick, if you're not favorably impressed) to the mass market at an affordable price deserves a look.
I'll report back when I get the knife and put some use on it.
If the steel's at least as good as AUS-8, and the heat treat's done right, I don't have any problem with that. I have several older knives (Al Mar, Spyderco) in AUS-8 that work very well for me.
The size is just about right for me, I like a thin, light pocket knife, and I don't mind the clip because I'll probably just take it off and carry the knife loose in my pocket.
I've never owned a CRKT before, but despite the generally negative buzz, at least among most knife knuts, I'm willing to give them a shot.
The thing that makes this knife stand out is that it's (I think, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) the first mass-produced, low-cost knife to use IKBS. And the great potential to my mind is that by using IKBS you can make a small, light flipper that actually flips well without being an assisted opener. I'm very interested to see how the IKBS works, not only on the new knife but how it holds up over time. I think a company that's first to bring a new technology (or gimmick, if you're not favorably impressed) to the mass market at an affordable price deserves a look.
I'll report back when I get the knife and put some use on it.
+1 I learned my lesson a while back when first getting into blades I bought a CRKT and found that the blade was not up to par to my standards... IMO there are much better blades you can buy out there for the money...
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I don't know if the Taiwan maker is the same that CRKT used for their S-2 knives, but those were decent knives. Also, CRKT is capable of making (Or having it made, if it's not actually coming out of their own factory), a decent knife.
IIRC, the Voodoo was a decent U.S. made knife with good steel (I believe it was 154CM). I can only guess that they don't still make it & other knives that were good because people didn't buy then.
If the Ripple's a decent knife, check it out & buy it if it seems like a good knife. I guess what I'm saying, is that in the past CRKT has sold decent knives, so if you like the knife, get it & decide, instead of judging it based only on past knives & not necessarily all of their past knives.
Going back to the knife, the one complaint I've heard about it is that the frame-lock is on the thin side. Time will tell if it's a good, solid design.
As to the blade steel, I agree that it would be nice if CRKT used some "known" decent steel more, especially in new designs, especially by one such as Ken Onion.
IIRC, the Voodoo was a decent U.S. made knife with good steel (I believe it was 154CM). I can only guess that they don't still make it & other knives that were good because people didn't buy then.
If the Ripple's a decent knife, check it out & buy it if it seems like a good knife. I guess what I'm saying, is that in the past CRKT has sold decent knives, so if you like the knife, get it & decide, instead of judging it based only on past knives & not necessarily all of their past knives.
Going back to the knife, the one complaint I've heard about it is that the frame-lock is on the thin side. Time will tell if it's a good, solid design.
As to the blade steel, I agree that it would be nice if CRKT used some "known" decent steel more, especially in new designs, especially by one such as Ken Onion.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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We can be as open-minded or closed-minded as we please. Closed-minded generally only restricts us personally. Having a knife company or country of origin on a no-go list assumes that the company or country is a monolith, which can never improve on whatever offends you about them.
CRKT has been innovative and they have been low-market. Their use of cheaper steels and some strange designs has alienated the cognoscenti. I've read parallel complaints at times about Benchmade, Cold Steel, Kershaw, SOG, and Spyderco, all of whom have provided us with many excellent knives at affordable prices.
Tossing off one-liners about "I will never buy ..." is not the mark of a thoughful participant here.
CRKT has been innovative and they have been low-market. Their use of cheaper steels and some strange designs has alienated the cognoscenti. I've read parallel complaints at times about Benchmade, Cold Steel, Kershaw, SOG, and Spyderco, all of whom have provided us with many excellent knives at affordable prices.
Tossing off one-liners about "I will never buy ..." is not the mark of a thoughful participant here.
I have actually enjoyed and still enjoy using and collecting CRKT knives especially the M16 and M21. They are very innovative. Onion can design some very comfortable knives and I'm sure the Ripple lives up to those standards. The designers that CRKT has used, both past and present (The Hawks, Ryan, Onion, Kit, just to name a few) alone shows you creativity involved. I think there are ups and downs to every knife company. I would have to agree with the op. If I had the option of buying a Shallot or Ripple to use, close to the same price, in some cases the Shallot is cheaper. I'd pick the Shallot. But, I already have a Shallot so I guess I gotta buy the Ripple 
On the other hand I have never had a CRKT fail me in any way.
On the other hand I have never had a CRKT fail me in any way.
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I love Ken Onion designs generally but my experience with CRKT has been entirely negative. I hope the Ripple represents a step in the right direction, but I am wary of buying before I have the chance to handle one.
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**Bold Part**
CRKT doesn't make anything. They purchase and distribute.
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A decade ago CRKT was implementing Acuto 440 in some of their knives.
I've never used that steel before but am interested in how it performs.
mmmotorcycle
Captain Slow
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And this fact gives the knife a fairly high price. It is the first and only production knife, to my knowledge, that uses a pivot bearing system only reserved for custom folders. It does make for an incredible folder CRKT or otherwise...
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And this fact gives the knife a fairly high price. It is the first and only production knife, to my knowledge, that uses a pivot bearing system only reserved for custom folders. It does make for an incredible folder CRKT or otherwise...
I believe someone recently disassembled one of the Ripples for a look inside the IKBS being used.
I'd like to see a comparison of it to some of the customs and see any differences if there are some.
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For as long as I have been on this forum (which isn't that long 
) I've heard people complain incessantly about how CRKT is using bad materials and designs. Now that they are stepping up on materials, design and features I'm surprised that there are still people complaining. Why this thread is in knife review and testing baffles me. The OP specifically said he did not buy the knife...
Not directed at the OP but some things to ponder...
Are CRKTs supposed to be cheaper just because they are CRKTs or because they are produced offshore? Do you truly feel a knife with these materials, features and machining work should cost below $50?
) I've heard people complain incessantly about how CRKT is using bad materials and designs. Now that they are stepping up on materials, design and features I'm surprised that there are still people complaining. Why this thread is in knife review and testing baffles me. The OP specifically said he did not buy the knife...Not directed at the OP but some things to ponder...
Are CRKTs supposed to be cheaper just because they are CRKTs or because they are produced offshore? Do you truly feel a knife with these materials, features and machining work should cost below $50?
For as long as I have been on this forum (which isn't that long
Not directed at the OP but some things to ponder...
Are CRKTs supposed to be cheaper just because they are CRKTs or because they are produced offshore? Do you truly feel a knife with these materials, features and machining work should cost below $50?
I've seen the complaints etc regarding CRKT on here ad naseum and have added a legitimate complaint myself not too long ago , but my complaint was rectified.
After reading so many of them I am positive that a lot of them are just forumites chiming in with the herd , whether they actually own a CRKT knife or not.... It is always fun for some folks to kick something when it's down.
I used to own near a dozen various CRKT's , I narrowed it down to the ones I really like ( S-2 , M-21 to name a couple ) ( my S-2 large and small have proved to be worth their price many times ) - at any rate I never experienced the failure others have but all of the above is neither here nor there and slightly OT.
As far as this particular knife is concerned , if one did not buy it , or at the very least handle it in a brick and mortar then I fail to see how one can even bother to form an opinion on it.
I have not handled one yet but I am curious enough about it to give it at least a chance to be honest though the look of that knife doesnt appeal to me much , IKBS or not and just because CRKT makes it is not an issue with me. The Eros is more to my liking with it's flipper.
Lastly , I can sympathize to a degree why CRKT gets so much flack on here , I too wish they would standardize a bit , quit putting out so many off the wall designs and concentrate on getting the knives they have out to be real quality , the M-16 for example is still one of my all time favorite designs , I love the blade shape , I love the way it feels in my hand , I love the flipping action , all in all the M-16 sings to me as near a perfect EDC knife.
Shoddy QC doesnt make anyone happy , uneven grinds are a big no-no to a lot of folks ! Screws falling out should be the very rare exception !
Tostig
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I like the look of that little blade a lot. CRKT made decent (not great) blades for very reasonable prices (except when you're in Europe where I've even seen a CRKT H.U.G. priced at over €50)
If I see one laying around for a good price I might just take it home.....that reminds me...must visit local knife shop soon.
If I see one laying around for a good price I might just take it home.....that reminds me...must visit local knife shop soon.
I have to say after handling this thing (3.1" bladed version) it is light weight, slim, flat, concealable, and lean but by no means weak.
It opened so smooth I initially thought the blade was loose but when I examined it there was no play in any direction whether in the open locked position, halfway open, or closed the blade remained perfectly centered with no play at all.
In the closed position I was unable to flick it open whether right side up or upside down however when the flipper is used it is super easy and smooth to open. One handed closing is a breeze for those who care.
The slabs are stainless steel and look thinner than they really are because of the rounded edges and designs etched into them. The knife is however small, slim, and lightweight and the open frame barrel bolt design contributes to it's lightness.
The blade on the one I handled is 3.1 inches and razor sharp. It is thinner than 1/8" and the rounded edges also make it look thinner than it is. Blades like this slice and poke quite well. It is easy to underestimate it's cutting ability due to the overall compact size of the entire knife.
I am comfortable with the lock engagement it engages about 75% of the tang which does not have too much of a slant like some other liner/frame locks. The integral lock (frame lock) is not blocked by the pocket clip allowing the lockup to be reinforced by your grip.
Excellent fit and finish coupled with the IKBS system on this makes it more than worth it's asking price. It would work fine as a gentleman's mans pocket knife or a small cutting tool. Quality through and through.
That is my impression.
It opened so smooth I initially thought the blade was loose but when I examined it there was no play in any direction whether in the open locked position, halfway open, or closed the blade remained perfectly centered with no play at all.
In the closed position I was unable to flick it open whether right side up or upside down however when the flipper is used it is super easy and smooth to open. One handed closing is a breeze for those who care.
The slabs are stainless steel and look thinner than they really are because of the rounded edges and designs etched into them. The knife is however small, slim, and lightweight and the open frame barrel bolt design contributes to it's lightness.
The blade on the one I handled is 3.1 inches and razor sharp. It is thinner than 1/8" and the rounded edges also make it look thinner than it is. Blades like this slice and poke quite well. It is easy to underestimate it's cutting ability due to the overall compact size of the entire knife.
I am comfortable with the lock engagement it engages about 75% of the tang which does not have too much of a slant like some other liner/frame locks. The integral lock (frame lock) is not blocked by the pocket clip allowing the lockup to be reinforced by your grip.
Excellent fit and finish coupled with the IKBS system on this makes it more than worth it's asking price. It would work fine as a gentleman's mans pocket knife or a small cutting tool. Quality through and through.
That is my impression.
Greetings: I have been carrying a ripple for about three weeks. The following is based solely upon the ONE Ripple I own. My overall impression of the knife has changed slightly since the time of purchase. The IKBS is VERY smooth. Unlike many other blade pivots this one was exceptionally smooth and liquid from the first. It has neither improved or degraded after frequent cycling. I expected it to change. It did not. I expected some small degree of blade play to develop after MANY opening and closings. No perceptible vertical or lateral blade play yet. I was prepared to deal with a comparatively soft blade steel when touching up the edge on a Sharpmaker. Nope. It feels as hard as a good 440c. The overall construction is somewhat of a contradiction. As with many Ken Onion designs this is a slim and sleek knife. My initial impression was that this is a lite duty gentleman's folder. Thin frame, multiple holes as part of the design elements, rounded blade spine, thin blade, thin locking bar and open frame contribute to this visual delicacy. The steel frame's weight and relative mass make the knife feel heavy for it's size and therefore feel quite solid.
Now the down side. The thin dementions are not conducive to extended periods of use. There are many "hot spots" easily felt after even a short cutting session. The frame machining is RIFE with sharp edges. Not only the outer edges of the frame itself but the slab sides. The raised areas of machined longitudinal curves and recesses are sharp. The areas surrounding the slab screw head recesses are really sharp. The serrations on the stainless pocket clip, which mirror the blade thumb jimping, are also sharp. These seem to be more a result of the manufacturing process than an intended functional attribute. The holes through the clip (used to mount it to the frame) are oversize and eccentric resulting in the clip shifting side to side in use. The IKBS ball bearings are packed in a brown/tan grease of medium viscosity. Clip-less pocket carry seems to result in dust, lint, grit, and other exotic material accumulating AROUND ~ but not IN the bearing area. The residual grease visually appears to keep it from contacting the ball bearing themselves. The blade itself was not sharp from the factory. All considered I'm still pleased, even though I paid almost full retail because it is a new and unique design. Due to the IKBS and a thin lock bar with an almost flat contact between lock face and blade tang, the knife is impressively smooth to open and close. Lock up is at about 50 percent with no play or creep. Stoning the multiple offending edges with a fine ceramic hone removed their sharpness. Some work on the Sharpmaker rods produced a sharp blade edge. Two shims on the clip screws encourage carrying it out of the bottom of my pocket lit pit. It will not replace my EDC but it is fun to play with and an interesting addition to my limited collection. OldDude1
Now the down side. The thin dementions are not conducive to extended periods of use. There are many "hot spots" easily felt after even a short cutting session. The frame machining is RIFE with sharp edges. Not only the outer edges of the frame itself but the slab sides. The raised areas of machined longitudinal curves and recesses are sharp. The areas surrounding the slab screw head recesses are really sharp. The serrations on the stainless pocket clip, which mirror the blade thumb jimping, are also sharp. These seem to be more a result of the manufacturing process than an intended functional attribute. The holes through the clip (used to mount it to the frame) are oversize and eccentric resulting in the clip shifting side to side in use. The IKBS ball bearings are packed in a brown/tan grease of medium viscosity. Clip-less pocket carry seems to result in dust, lint, grit, and other exotic material accumulating AROUND ~ but not IN the bearing area. The residual grease visually appears to keep it from contacting the ball bearing themselves. The blade itself was not sharp from the factory. All considered I'm still pleased, even though I paid almost full retail because it is a new and unique design. Due to the IKBS and a thin lock bar with an almost flat contact between lock face and blade tang, the knife is impressively smooth to open and close. Lock up is at about 50 percent with no play or creep. Stoning the multiple offending edges with a fine ceramic hone removed their sharpness. Some work on the Sharpmaker rods produced a sharp blade edge. Two shims on the clip screws encourage carrying it out of the bottom of my pocket lit pit. It will not replace my EDC but it is fun to play with and an interesting addition to my limited collection. OldDude1
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