The last question.

R

Raylas

Joined
Jul 27, 2012
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Okay, so I've pretty much decided I'm getting a CRK, but I wanted to ask one last thing before I did. I've heard CRK runs S35VN a little soft, and I wanted to hear the TRUTH on this matter. I have heard that the steel was FINE, but I want to make sure before I do this. For $400, I want to be 100% sure before I buy it. I'm not here to dispute the integrity of CRK, I just want to hear it once and for all: Does CRK run their steel soft, Will I need the steel re-treated, and will this gut my warranty?
 
Yes, the steel appears to be soft, though Mr.Reeve says he has checked the hardness himself on customers knives. it could be that a few may have slipped through the cracks and wound up being very soft. I for one think it is soft compared to comparable knives that I have, but that doesn't stop me from carrying and using the Sebenza's that I own.
If you have it re-heat treated, you will void the warranty.
 
BBQ Boy: Okay, but how does it hold up? Does it suffer failure or just little rolls? Because I use a 440C kiridashi at 58-59, and I have minimal issues. If the steel is about that, I would figure it would perform similar or superior.


Hmph, I had expected that. Not surprising, and I understand WHY, but I'm not fond of it. Maybe I could ask them nicely if they would Ht it to 60, they've always been very nice on the phone.
 
Coming from carbon steel blades, I find the Mnandi (S35VN) to be very soft. One example of this is trying to split a hard candy for two people - nearly rolled the edge. I enjoy the knife and I could carry other knives if I found it to be a real issue, but it's one consideration I wish I knew before purchasing it.

If only there was a Murray Carter Blade / Chris Reeve Handle Mnandi...

Mr. Reeve, if you're reading, contact me, maybe we can make it happen. :)
 
I've carried as my edc knife almost exclusively a few different CRK's for approx 6 years and for the knives that I carry I really couldn't be happier with the steels that have been on them. With the "softer" heat treat they strike a very good balance between edge retention and durability that I've come to appreciate very much. I like to keep my edge sharp and have found that I rarely have to touch up the edge on a ceramic rod to keep it that way even though I use my knives daily for everything from food prep to use as an ice pick or chisel. I've never chipped or broken a blade from CRK, I can't say that about other brands, I use my knives like they don't cost $450.

I understand that Rockwell is a set scale but in use of a blade I think that edge retention and durability are very subjective terms, what may suit one person perfectly could very well be junk to the next user. When CRK switched over to S35VN I had three different knives that I sold quickly because of how poorly they held an edge in comparison to my other crks( and lesser knives for that matter ), fast forward a few months and I decided to give another S35VN a try, it was everything I was told it was supposed to be and I've bought several more since. I don't know if there were teething issues or if I got a few "soft" blades but I have no trouble buying an S35 these days and believe that you'll be very satisfied with one if you give it a try. That said, I'd love to give one a try at 60-61 Rockwell to see if it would perform better for my needs but its already so good that I don't see any reason to have a blade done just to satisfy my curiosity.

I understand how hard it is to press make payment on a $450 pocket knife, after all its just a knife, but its not just a knife, its pure awesome forged into a pocket knife, and I think that the pivots are made out of storm trooper helmets that were salvaged from the great Ewok war on Endorr.
 
somber said:
Coming from carbon steel blades, I find the Mnandi (S35VN) to be very soft. One example of this is trying to split a hard candy for two people - nearly rolled the edge. I enjoy the knife and I could carry other knives if I found it to be a real issue, but it's one consideration I wish I knew before purchasing it.

If only there was a Murray Carter Blade / Chris Reeve Handle Mnandi...

Mr. Reeve, if you're reading, contact me, maybe we can make it happen. :)
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holy grail talk right there! I would pay ridiculous cash for that!

Here is my 2 cents: I will keep it short because I am sure I have talked about there in other places. The s35vn on average on the CRK are good for edc..Yes some are higher and lower (in regards to HRC). I can confirm this because I had a long talk with the guys at Bos heat treating; he tests the HRC on in coming blades and simply put they did vary.

Do the stock blades hold an edge for extreme times? well no...but are they easy to sharpen? well yes...stropping? yep responds well too. I think this is part of the reason Mr Reeve does it this way. Its easy to own and maintain, which is important for a EDC. I had a large send to Paul Bos who heat treated it to around 60...at 61 you get a little close to the brittle range for this steel. This knife before did not hold and edge well before I had it sent in and interestingly enough it took 2 rounds of heat treating to get it up to 60 HRC. Does this one hold and edge better? Personally, I think so!! It voids the warranty and brings up a set of other problems like what to do about the thumbstud, and how to refinish the blade, as well as smoothness. This are all easy fixes but takes some resources and time. More info is discussed in a thread I started about this. It's not like you can get send it off to get treated, and when it comes back you can slap it in and it's CRK smooth again.

A CRK is has something that in my opinion few knives have. It's the all around package of perfection. The ONLY and I mean ONLY argument/improvement I suggest is a better steel. However I see the value in what Mr Reeve did and respect his decision as it reflects is goal of his product.

My suggestion buy a CRK, I am bias. Also invest and learn to sharpen free hand sharpen and stropping. I use a high high grit whetstone to touch my my CRKs when stropping will not bring it back.
 
I have carried everything from a Brad Southard custom to a Kershaw leek and I still carry this every day. I strop my Sebenza every couple days out of habit and I can go along while before I have to hit stone. Some say soft I say easy to maintain. The knife is perfection in my eye, I know that's a strong word but I have owned and sold hundreds of knives to get where I'm at. CRK is the only knife I will EDC. Short and sweet and to the point. Get one use it and then you will see,I did.

I carry this or an Micarta Insingo everyday!!

 
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Well, with the ease of maintenance in mind.... yeah. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna get myself a CRK. Thanks guys, you've done a whole lot to convince me in favor of these knives. :)
 
Raylas said:
Well, with the ease of maintenance in mind.... yeah. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna get myself a CRK. Thanks guys, you've done a whole lot to convince me in favor of these knives. :)
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Good man you made the right decision. I am absolutley sure you will be happy with the decision. Be excited very excited! Choose carefully!......that brings up a good question; what are you thinking about going with? sebenza (25 vs 21 vs reg), mnandi, plain jane, wood inlay, insingo, tanto, micarta,?!?
 
That is a question I'm not entirely certain of myself! XD Talk about spoiled for choice! I'm thinking a large micarta insingo, if I can find one. Failing that, I'm also considering the lovely Ti-Lock. Yeah, I know it's kind of the weird one in the bunch, but it does something for me. I'm sure no matter what I choose, I'll enjoy it.

I figured this was the right choice, if it costs $400+, and it has this many people vouching for it, SOMETHING is being done right.

P.S. I also considered the Umnumzaan, but I don't care of that swedge sticking out into my pocket. I just get the feeling it would tear up my pockets.
 
Raylas said:
That is a question I'm not entirely certain of myself! XD Talk about spoiled for choice! I'm thinking a large micarta insingo, if I can find one. Failing that, I'm also considering the lovely Ti-Lock. Yeah, I know it's kind of the weird one in the bunch, but it does something for me. I'm sure no matter what I choose, I'll enjoy it.

I figured this was the right choice, if it costs $400+, and it has this many people vouching for it, SOMETHING is being done right.

P.S. I also considered the Umnumzaan, but I don't care of that swedge sticking out into my pocket. I just get the feeling it would tear up my pockets.
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All great choices! I don't think the zaan has that problem usually. However, I only had one for 6mos so I will let others speak on that.

If I had to suggest one to start off with I would recommend the 21 in any variety but the insingo and tanto are pretty awesome! For the large I perfer plain jane or wood inlay, but I enjoy the micarta on the larges too. For the smalls I prefer the micarta. It is just a good place to start. Personally I love the pivot of the 21. Simple yet flawless. The zaan and 25 have the newer pivots, and ceramic locking ball. Which are awesome but they just don't have the feel of the 21 in my opinion.

Ti Lock is very cool as well. I have nearly bought one so many times it going to happen one of these times haha
 
Good for you, I'm sure that you'll enjoy it very much.

My suggestion, if you're taking them, would be to get the large Insingo with or without the Micarta. The micarta looks great and feels really nice in hand but I prefer the plain Ti for the thin profile it gives in the pocket and how well it still fills the hand; I also like the way they look when brand spanking new, and how much character they get as the small marks start to appear here and there until you knife has been more or less stonewashed from constant carry and use.

If your concerned about the Umnum harpoon shape, like I was, you could do what I did and get yourself a tanto Umnum.

Good luck deciding :)
 
I'm ALWAYS open to suggestions as long as their friendly, and you folks are nothing but! ;)

Hmm, well, I guess I'll do some shopping around and look for a large Insingo, with or without. I'm now leaning towards the plain Insingo, for a very odd reason. Personal preference for me is the blue lug, I don't know why, it just seems.... right. It looks timeless and has a simple, but striking appeal to me.

.... Look what you've done to me! I don't even have one yet and I'm hooked! :p
 
I think that you'll really like the plain large Insingo, I know that I do, I have one in my pocket right now ;)

I can blame my addiction to CRK's on Blackend, I was at his house having a beer one day when he showed me his knife collection, there were 13 different CRK's on display in the group of knives. I didn't think much of them at the time because they didn't have that tactical look that i've always enjoyed but i was impressed by the build, fast forward 2 more visits and when i got home from having beers and shooting the breeze about knives I went online and ordered myself a very nice damascus Sebenza-My wallet has hated me since but damn do I have some sweet knives ;D

Don't fret too much about wether or not the Insingo will be the be all end all, it is, and so will every other CRK that you buy. Welcome to the party.
 
I can blame my newfound addiction on.... This subsection of the forums :D

I wish I could handle one, but I live in scenic nowhere, so the Odds of me finding somebody else that knows anyhting about knives, much less has a CRK.... pretty much zero. And my wallet can hate me as much as it wants, but I see it as my helping loose weight :p

I knew it would be after 2 responses on this thread. You don't have people promoting a knife that costs and excess of $400 unless it has something good going for it. I can already tell I'm going to love the Insingo when I finally get it. Gonna be a little bit, but I'll get one, and when I do.... I'm gonna post pics.

I've also made a mental note: "Upon receiving the sebenza, do not let anybody else touch, borrow, or use this knife unless they have proven to be sensible on the subject of knives, especially expensive ones."
 
One thing that doesn't get talked about in detail enough about CRK often enough is the perfection of the blade grind. I know that everyone talks about fit and finish being great, and it is. I am talking about taking that a step further and just discussing the grind. The blade itself is a pure work of art. Perfectly balanced, perfectly symmetrical, the rounded spine. The stone washing works great for hiding usage marks and they make great slicers. I had an insingo prior to getting my 25 and was always amazed by that part. I found the 25's grind to be equally impressive and just as good at cutting and slicing as the insingo.
One word of caution, you may not in love with it right away. When you open the box for the first time, you might be "underwhelmed". I encourage you to put it in your pocket and use it for a week or two before you really let your opinions develop. Only then will you really "get" what CRK is all about. Good luck!!
 
My first quality knife was a CRK. I sold it and bought a few other kinds, which I liked, but I sold them and bought back a CRK again. I love them.

The only knives I have my eyes on are customs I cannot afford, heh.
 
When you open the box for the first time, you might be "underwhelmed". I encourage you to put it in your pocket and use it for a week or two before you really let your opinions develop. Only then will you really "get" what CRK is all about. Good luck!!
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Why would I feel underwhelmed?

And the blade grind isn't a surprise to me, I figured it would be perfect or as near to it as possible. One of the reasons I want a sebbie is because of the high tolerances and precision crafting. Add to it high-end stainless and the fact that the knives are plain and simple GORGEOUS, and I have no reason to NOT buy one.
 
Raylas said:
Why would I feel underwhelmed?

And the blade grind isn't a surprise to me, I figured it would be perfect or as near to it as possible. One of the reasons I want a sebbie is because of the high tolerances and precision crafting. Add to it high-end stainless and the fact that the knives are plain and simple GORGEOUS, and I have no reason to NOT buy one.
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Good question. I can't say why exactly but some have reported that feeling. Myself included. I think some people put such high expectations of how a purchase like this will make you feel. That even if everything is as perfect as everyone said it would be (and it will be) you just don't really get it right away. That is what I mean by underwhelmed. If you get that feeling, just use it and carry it for a week and it will come to you.
 
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