"the kraken" u.s. elite what you think of it?

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I haven't used a Kraken knife, but I know enough about the 300+ other knives I own and the countless others I've used to know that deeply scalloped areas on the handle tend to create immediately noticeable and highly uncomfortable hotspots. Your mileage can and does vary it seems. As far as blade geometry vs stock thickness is concerned, it's all about personal preference. I own very thick knives that do not slice well at all, but I can probably chop through the roof, trunk, or door of any car in a minute or so. If that fails, I'd be able to pry the door off as a second option. It's commonly accepted that thin stock knives with convex or even high hollow grinds cut more efficiently than most saber ground knives. If you have different results, congratulations. You can browse around if you'd like and see the communities take on grinds vs blade stock thickness as it relates to cutting efficiency.
 
While I do not own a "Kraken" myself, I will say that as a owner of a Rustick "Ripper" I could not possibly be happier with every aspect of the knife. Jack "Rusty" Stottlemire did not have to sell me on it. I saw the design and desided that it was worth a buy, even if only to try it for myself then sell it. After getting and using the knife, I was sold on it. From the overall shape, the grinds, ergos and outright how it feels in my hand during use.
Some may complain about the cost but let's get real, if you are into knives at all, you already own some that cost as much or more. We all know that quality hand made isn't cheap. Are there other quality knives from other makers in this $ range... Absolutely there are and I own several of them.
What is the point of this? Don't knock it until you try it for yourself. I am sold on mine and plan to get others from Rustick Knives. And sure doesn't hurt that Jack is a hell of a great guy to boot.
 
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The maker may be a Great guy is Other knives may be terrific.
But this is the one the OP asked about and it just doesn't look like it could do things as well as it could have
With
1. A different Grind
2. Better scales I don't see myself being able to use that for hours a day like I can any of my beckers or Ontario's unless I wore some heavy Gloves.
 
Skyshark288 said:
So have you used or handled a Kraken? Or any of Rusty's work?
Mine is still shaving hair after about 6 months of use.
Though I imagine I could use it as a prybar if I wanted.
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Yours is not the same knife linked to in the first post. It has slightly better grinds going about half the blade width instead of ~1/3. Still not ideal if cutting efficiency is the goal, but it clearly isn't. Handling or using a knife will not make the geometry better.
 
mtw1369 said:
While I do not own a "Kraken" myself, I will say that as a owner of a Rustick "Ripper" I could not possibly be happier with every aspect of the knife. Jack "Rusty" Stottlemire did not have to sell me on it. I saw the design and desided that it was worth a buy, even if only to try it for myself then sell it. After getting and using the knife, I was sold on it. From the overall shape, the grinds, ergos and outright how it feels in my hand during use.
Some may complain about the cost but let's get real, if you are into knives at all, you already own some that cost as much or more. We all know that quality hand made isn't cheap. Are there other quality knives from other makers in this $ range... Absolutely there are and I own several of them.
What is the point of this? Don't knock it until you try it for yourself. I am sold on mine and plan to get others from Rustick Knives. And sure doesn't that Jack is a hell of a great guy to boot.
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Well said, indeed Jack is a great guy and very proud of his work plus he stands behind his products. When you have a problem you aren't calling some 800 number where someone from a call center is answering. When you communicate with this company if you aren't dealing directly with Jack, you are probably dealing with someone that is directly linked to your knife, maybe even shed some blood in it's creation and chances are served OUR COUNTRY! Sure there are other one-off knife makers and sure their are the mass-producers. They all have good to great products.

I don't think anyone is saying Jack's knives are the end all be all of all knives or if you didn't buy a Rustick blade you are using an inferior knife. They are high quality, handmade by veterans / wounded warriors, and they come in several shapes and sizes. The Kraken is a big knife, it's not going to be most's daily carry or general use knife. Also let's face it, many like 'nice-looking' things. If all we wanted was utilitarian we'd all have the same stuff.

People complaining about what steel, what thickness, etc can easily reach out to Jack and ask. It's the magazine's article. If they didn't focus on what the reader's deemed important, call them up...don't blame the knife maker.

My good friend won one of his knives in a raffle, 4" blade

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She used to do armed personal protection and corrections work.
 
Not every knife is gonna be to everyone's liking and that is ok. But without handling one what kind of opinion can you give. I understand, we all own many knives , and know what works for ourselves but can you really judge something by a picture? I am a gun nut and have owned tons of AR, AKs, and some very nice bolt guns. But under no way can I look at a pic and say that gun is gonna suck. Now, I don't own any of the SGM knives, so I can't say anything either way. But I'm not gonna bash his blades because I own xyz knives and they are cheaper and better. I have received a ton of advice on this forum that has led me to purchase things and I value y'all's opinion, but without having knife in hand there is no reason to say it won't work, or it will be uncomfortable yada yada yada. To the OP I say listen to the guy in the fight ie owners of the knife and not Generals 2 countries away ie the armchair commando. SGM keep up the good work, and I applaud you and your efforts to give back to our fellow disabled vets and I hope to own one of your Rippers one day.
 
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I have three of his knives (ripper ltd ed, kuko, 4" utility) and am excited as hell to buy a kraken. If you haven't held one I would say that you should hold your tongue until you do so. The three I have are all awesome pieces of workmanship.

If you want to fanboi for a self righteous fake and buy his multiple 1000's of dollars knives that are overpriced collectors crap have at it....I owned a couple until I learned better. They wouldn't hold an edge and felt like hell in the hands. Or do you want to buy a knife from a stand up guy that has actually been there, done that and makes a quality product that will far surpass your every need?
 
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I see the designs and features don't appeal to everyone. No surprise, but, in this case, it would be prudent to handle one before making a call.

I have one of Jack's knives. As a daily user of all types of hand tools, to include knives, these knives will perform exactly as intended. The grip, balance, materials, and workmanship are as good as any knife I own. I will stand with some of the other poster's comments here. These are great tools made by a guy that insists they be used. Rustick doesn't build static displays. He puts out an excellent product, and pays back in to the community. It's not like he has extra knives laying around the shop either.

There are thousands of knife makers because there are thousands of opinions, wants, and needs.

There has been some great info on this board. However, it does seem difficult for a new maker to get a break here, experts being experts I suppose.

Guess that's why I read more than I post.
 
Wow there sure are a lot of people in this thread with 1 post under their belt vouching for what a great knife this is... almost a suspicious amount of people
 
jimmyd1982 said:
Wow there sure are a lot of people in this thread with 1 post under their belt vouching for what a great knife this is... almost a suspicious amount of people
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Weird, innit ? :p One could almost think this is not a coincedence...

Also, I feel the whole "used/made by special forces operators" marketing is getting a little old, but maybe thats just me.

That said, the knife posted by alkemyst looks nice, a much more practical design. What model is that and does anyone have some info on the 80CrV2 steel ?

Boonierat said:
I recommend unless you actually need a knife for survival, please stick to your factory knives. I'm sure they'll serve you well in your living room.
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I have to call BS, ESEEs and Beckers and Swamprats and other production knives have proven their worth and their quality hundreds and thousands of times, maybe you should go out of YOUR living room and prove that claim, otherwise you just come across as a 1-post shill. :thumbdn:
 
Too many one-post wonders with insults thrown in for those of us who have been around awhile. Relax, just show us what the knife can do. Your testimonials don't mean any more than ours do, but at least we already know each other. The new kid on the block don't get to tell the good old boys how the game is played.

As far as the steel 80CRV2 goes, I just came across this by Daniel Winkler. I know we can trust his judgement on it. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...p-with-Winkler-Knives?p=13412941#post13412941
 
alkemyst said:
Well said, indeed Jack is a great guy and very proud of his work plus he stands behind his products. When you have a problem you aren't calling some 800 number where someone from a call center is answering. When you communicate with this company if you aren't dealing directly with Jack, you are probably dealing with someone that is directly linked to your knife, maybe even shed some blood in it's creation and chances are served OUR COUNTRY! Sure there are other one-off knife makers and sure their are the mass-producers. They all have good to great products.
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That's great. But it doesn't make the knife good.

If you like his work, you like it. As they say, YMMV. Me, I have never gotten those scalloped handles that have become "sexy" the last couple years. And I prefer a full grind.

So I would pass. Hey, the OP asked what we thought of it, he didn't ask us to reply only if we liked it.

And I can get a no-design-bells-and-whistles bomb-proof Ontario Ranger RD designed and backed by an Army Ranger turned knife maker for a fraction of the price.
 
jimmyd1982 said:
Wow there sure are a lot of people in this thread with 1 post under their belt vouching for what a great knife this is... almost a suspicious amount of people
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This was honestly my first thought. I sincerely cannot stand bandwagon defenders. It reeks of a post made elsewhere fomenting some sort of forum war. "HAY GUYS THEY'RE S#!+ TALKING KRAKEN KNIVES!!! GO OVER AND DEFEND JACK!" :rolleyes:

Frankly, those designs don't seem very well suited for anything other than "looking cool". It's funny, that one guy on page one is like "Yeah, go use your Beckers!" when really, most of the BK line not only has a better, more ergonomic handle design, they're better designed sharpened prybars. LOL Well done! Think I WILL go "use my Beckers" over paying $300 for that poorly designed knife.
 
Quiet said:
This was honestly my first thought. I sincerely cannot stand bandwagon defenders. It reeks of a post made elsewhere fomenting some sort of forum war. "HAY GUYS THEY'RE S#!+ TALKING KRAKEN KNIVES!!! GO OVER AND DEFEND JACK!" :rolleyes:

Frankly, those designs don't seem very well suited for anything other than "looking cool". It's funny, that one guy on page one is like "Yeah, go use your Beckers!" when really, most of the BK line not only has a better, more ergonomic handle design, they're better designed sharpened prybars. LOL Well done! Think I WILL go "use my Beckers" over paying $300 for that poorly designed knife.
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But would you buy a strider? Talk about not good for anything except "looking cool":barf: That guy thinks he is Gods gift to the knife industry, has an attitude like none other on the forums, and charges $2000+ for a custom and gets it all day long. Their fixed blades have horrible ergs and I think paracord feels horrible in the hand. Gunner grips.. Lol. Talk about hot spots when actually using them.
 
Scotty27 said:
But would you buy a strider? Talk about not good for anything except "looking cool":barf: That guy thinks he is Gods gift to the knife industry, has an attitude like none other on the forums, and charges $2000+ for a custom and gets it all day long. Their fixed blades have horrible ergs and I think paracord feels horrible in the hand. Gunner grips.. Lol. Talk about hot spots when actually using them.
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I'm not following what Strider has to do with this thread. :confused:
 
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