The learning curve with CRK's

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Jan 14, 2009
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I bought my 1st CRK in November of 09', an older model Zaan.

A BF member who was into CRK's in late 09' had a tanto Zaan from TNK and liked it a lot. I found Onlyfineknives online somehow. They had a LR Website

on the site. I called a day later to get the WS but another LR was in the box. They also had a LR Native American in stock, I really wanted a WS tho.

I called TNK and ordered a tanto Zann that same day.

I didn't know anything about regulars in 09', if I had I would have bought the LR Native American for $450. I think about not buying the Native

American quite often......

There is a Lot to learn about CRK folders. Does anyone else have any regrets about not buying a specific CRK when they started out on this

journey we love like so much ?


Edit: TNK...True north knives, WS....Website, the name of a cgg, a regular, that was made several years ago, LR....Large Regular seb.
 
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Not sure what lr tnk ws stands for, but I missed out some nice Honduran wood sebenzas at this store, but had bad bevel grinds.
Still regret it because I could of fixed the bevel myself.
 
Let's see if I can translate CRK speak.
LR = Large Regular Sebenza
TNK = True North Knives (lots of Tanto editions from CRK)
WS = Wilson Combat?

I have been very lucky lately finding the CRKs I desired. I did let a "spider Web" large regular get away on an auction site a few years back. I pm'd the seller a question and her response was rude so I passed. I think about that one sometimes.
 
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I had a chance at a unique mammoth ivory classic that could have bought very reasonably from a vendor that was tired and unpacking after arriving back in his shop after a big show. I later realized how much of a smoking deal I passed on :(
 
I have let easily double in what I have ever owned slip through my fingers. Its just about being patient. I will say that lots of them I seen were when I did not have funding. Some of the annuals I have had to pass on literally made me sick. Recently in fact I had been offered a Large Bocote Annual, but not enough funds available I had to turn it down and I had seen that one in pics for years...............On the other side as mentioned, I let some pass only to land some others that I would not have been able to had I bought that one. its just about being patient and picking and choosing...............

I will say that the Large Regulars are by far and away my favorite........And the Native American is a Grail in itself long being my favorite CGG. I truly wish CRK would allow you to revisit older discontinued CGG as I am sure many would be happy with a NA CGG on a 21 or 25.

Pick and Choose and be Patient, thats the only advise I can offer.
 
I truly wish CRK would allow you to revisit older discontinued CGG as I am sure many would be happy with a NA CGG on a 21 or 25.

It wouldn't be the same ... In any case, CRK seems to be moving away from any kind of one off or special editions ...
 
It wouldn't be the same ... In any case, CRK seems to be moving away from any kind of one off or special editions ...

Yeah, they do seem content on just making the normal stuff. I will the CGG's though have been changing at a record pace. Used to be a style lasted several years, no longer.

At least we can say we seen the Glory Days of CRK where the Regular Sebenza roamed freely.
 
Yeah, they do seem content on just making the normal stuff. I will the CGG's though have been changing at a record pace. Used to be a style lasted several years, no longer.

At least we can say we seen the Glory Days of CRK where the Regular Sebenza roamed freely.

Of the things it would be easy for them to reissue, you think the CGGs would be it, especially in the case of something as well-loved and popular as the Native American graphic. it's a great graphic and I think they should be proud of it and offer it up to another generation of enthusiasts on one of the newer knives. Just my two cents. CRK is a curious company in it's way. There is a vast disconnect between the company, and it's loyal buyers, in the way of product availability and selection. This is only noteworthy because we live in a time when every other company is desperately trying to foster those kinds of connections, and use the modern age of computers and databases to allow special orders and custom combinations of things. I suppose it's noble for CRK to forge ahead with a singular vision, but there is nothing wrong with giving the people what they want once in a while too. I still can't fathom why I am not allowed to buy a Small Insingo with wood inlays, but I am not, nor am I allowed to send in a Small 21 Standard blade with wood inlays to be fitted with a Small Insingo blade. I am told this is because CRK is not a custom knife maker. I don't see anything custom about a wood-inlayed insingo, or a Sebenza 25 with Native American graphics for that matter. I can get my Insingo fitted with a Standard blade, but I can't get my Standard blade fitted with an Insingo blade no matter what I'm willing to pay. Why?.... I'm done now....had to vent. :)
 
Of the things it would be easy for them to reissue, you think the CGGs would be it, especially in the case of something as well-loved and popular as the Native American graphic. it's a great graphic and I think they should be proud of it and offer it up to another generation of enthusiasts on one of the newer knives. Just my two cents. CRK is a curious company in it's way. There is a vast disconnect between the company, and it's loyal buyers, in the way of product availability and selection. This is only noteworthy because we live in a time when every other company is desperately trying to foster those kinds of connections, and use the modern age of computers and databases to allow special orders and custom combinations of things. I suppose it's noble for CRK to forge ahead with a singular vision, but there is nothing wrong with giving the people what they want once in a while too. I still can't fathom why I am not allowed to buy a Small Insingo with wood inlays, but I am not, nor am I allowed to send in a Small 21 Standard blade with wood inlays to be fitted with a Small Insingo blade. I am told this is because CRK is not a custom knife maker. I don't see anything custom about a wood-inlayed insingo, or a Sebenza 25 with Native American graphics for that matter. I can get my Insingo fitted with a Standard blade, but I can't get my Standard blade fitted with an Insingo blade no matter what I'm willing to pay. Why?.... I'm done now....had to vent.


You're not venting as far as I'm concerned, Cody! Just saying something that needs to be said.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Of the things it would be easy for them to reissue, you think the CGGs would be it, especially in the case of something as well-loved and popular as the Native American graphic. it's a great graphic and I think they should be proud of it and offer it up to another generation of enthusiasts on one of the newer knives. Just my two cents. CRK is a curious company in it's way. There is a vast disconnect between the company, and it's loyal buyers, in the way of product availability and selection. This is only noteworthy because we live in a time when every other company is desperately trying to foster those kinds of connections, and use the modern age of computers and databases to allow special orders and custom combinations of things. I suppose it's noble for CRK to forge ahead with a singular vision, but there is nothing wrong with giving the people what they want once in a while too. I still can't fathom why I am not allowed to buy a Small Insingo with wood inlays, but I am not, nor am I allowed to send in a Small 21 Standard blade with wood inlays to be fitted with a Small Insingo blade. I am told this is because CRK is not a custom knife maker. I don't see anything custom about a wood-inlayed insingo, or a Sebenza 25 with Native American graphics for that matter. I can get my Insingo fitted with a Standard blade, but I can't get my Standard blade fitted with an Insingo blade no matter what I'm willing to pay. Why?.... I'm done now....had to vent. :)

It seems like a wasted opportunity indeed. Not to mention more damascus options and things like that ...
 
Just curious how big of a company is CRK? Like anyone have any idea of gross and net revenue? Number of employees?

Maybe those things factor into some of their decisions? Maybe they don't want to grow anymore because they like their size? Or the cost to grow would not be worth the extra revenue? If if they only work 4 days a week that could be a factor?
 
What I'd like to know, is how much of CRK's business is servicing knives? What % of what they do is re-furb, sharpen, new blades , etc. Seems like everybody on this forum has multiples at times sent in for something.....
 
The older I get the more knives I regret not buying.
There where reasons.
My last experience was like this:
While I tried to deceide which one of two woods I'd get,
both where sold at the same day (different dealers).

As for the second topic.
I do feel that it is part of the magic, that CRK is run by Chris.
While rules of market do apply, this is not a textbook company - this one is different.
Therefore i love it.

IIRC Sal Glasser was once asked why he didn't offer stocks of his company,
he replyed in the sense that he wanted to keep his independency.
I think this is very wise. Just look at this thread and all the questions.

red mag
 
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