The New Year and my CRK Journey.

BMCGear

BMCGear

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
6,930
So with the new year coming up I wanted to get a modern folder and stick to it. Since joining bladeforums this year I have done a lot of buying/selling/trading and it has been fun! :cool:

...But I wanted to settle down a bit. So I decided on another knife and purchased it and a set of replacement grips to make it what I wanted; only it wasn't what I wanted at all. I thought about what I wanted and decided that CRK was the company that offered it. Here's my short and expensive history with CRK:

I started with a small 21, moved it to get a large 21 insingo, and then sold it because of various reasons (carrying a knife that expensive scared the hell out of me and I wasn't digging the titanium handles). Later I decided to go back with a Sebenza and bought another large 21 insingo. I dug it but thought I should carry a smaller knife so I sold it for a small 21 Insingo and after getting it I just didn't like the way it fit my hand. I decided to take a break from CRK for a while.

Back to the present!

So now here I am ready to order another Sebenza I decided to not go Insingo and man I'm happier that I went with the standard clip point. I really love this knife!

I'm sorry for no pictures: my phone bit the dust and I'm waiting on my new one to get here.
 
Last edited:
Congrats on the new knife. It is hard to find a knife that truly fits all your requirements, and feels just right.
Someday I will get my first CRK.
 
Congrats and thanks for sharing your story. My first was supposed to be here yesterday but got delayed till Monday. I think I will be ok with it and hope not to have a similar experience as you.

Maybe what you really need is a regular/annual;) I kind of feel the same as you when it comes to being afraid of using such an expensive knife. Mine will definitely be a user but luckily my tasks are just typical everyday tasks.

I am actually looking into picking up a few smaller traditional folders as well(these can meet needs the modern folders cannot and much cheaper so I can abuse them if needed)

Congrats again and I hope that you stick with it this time around
 
Went through a ton of sebenzas to learn that my favorite edc is a mnandi...
 
The insingos are really hot right now. I recall when they first came to be offered (as an exclusive) and I thought, "boy that looks handy, but I doubt that it will be embraced by many". Boy, was I wrong! Sometimes I think that they are so popular now that maybe some try them first and dont like them, and go elsewhere.

No real point here, other than to say that the masses on the forums do not always get it right. Everyone else loving something is not necessarily an indication that you will too.

I think the 21 standard blade as it is now is a fantastic EDC blace...You dont have to go very far to hear someone say the reguar shape was better...different strokes...

I am glad you found something that seems to be speaking to you!
 
Big thanks to you guys for the comments!


unit said:
The insingos are really hot right now. I recall when they first came to be offered (as an exclusive) and I thought, "boy that looks handy, but I doubt that it will be embraced by many". Boy, was I wrong! Sometimes I think that they are so popular now that maybe some try them first and dont like them, and go elsewhere.

No real point here, other than to say that the masses on the forums do not always get it right. Everyone else loving something is not necessarily an indication that you will too.

I think the 21 standard blade as it is now is a fantastic EDC blace...You dont have to go very far to hear someone say the reguar shape was better...different strokes...

I am glad you found something that seems to be speaking to you!
Click to expand...

The Wharncliffe/Sheep's Foot seems to be "in" in general these days. I have always loved a clip point but when I bought my first large Sebenza the praise for the Insingo def. persuaded me to abandon the 21's clip point. I think the Insingo is a great design and useful blade shape but for me the clip is where it's at.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
Big thanks to you guys for the comments!




The Wharncliffe/Sheep's Foot seems to be "in" in general these days. I have always loved a clip point but when I bought my first large Sebenza the praise for the Insingo def. persuaded me to abandon the 21's clip point. I think the Insingo is a great design and useful blade shape but for me the clip is where it's at.
Click to expand...

For now...For now...When are you selling this one to try a tanto? :D
 
I had an Insingo micarta and traded it for an old-pivot no-LBS Umnumzaan and much prefer the 'Zaan. Nothing wrong with the Insingo, but that particular 'Zaan could not be passed up on!

I'm increasingly liking my regular 21 micarta Sebenza as time goes on, though. It seems lighter in construction when compared to my 25s, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It is still solid enough to warrant being used in any situation a folding knife would be needed for.

I hope this one does it this year for you BMC! I was surprised when you sold the large Insingo, and there seem to be many that feel the small Insingo micarta is the "perfect" EDC.

Myself, I prefer larger knives, and a regular 21 is the smallest I'd feel right carrying.
 
I have one Insingo. I do love it, but not more than the traditional blade. When I look at the Sebbie clip point, I think it is so sexy.

As far as large vs small; the large is better in hand, but the small is a better edc. Obviously, this is my opinion. :)

Since I have not been working, I have been carrying my micarta 25 almost exclusively.


Welcome to the addiction.
 
I bought for 60th birthday present for me ;). Ordered it direct from reeve , those girls there were great ! They even teased a bit . I did make a mistake , should have gotten one sooner a lot sooner

Jake
 
I jumped in head first with a small Insingo micarta earlier this year. I didn't care for it at all. Between the blade shape and being afraid to use/lose it I moved on. A couple months ago I came across a deal on a small micarta regular that I couldn't pass up and it's been my edc since. I put it through hell and losing it never crossed my mind. For some reason this one just clicked with me. I hope you've found "the one".
 
Insingo is my work knife
Clip is my other then working knife

They both do the job they need to, and do it well. Best of both worlds IMO.

 
Zeta33 said:
For now...For now...When are you selling this one to try a tanto? :D
Click to expand...

Never been a tanto guy. :)

jmclfrsh said:
I had an Insingo micarta and traded it for an old-pivot no-LBS Umnumzaan and much prefer the 'Zaan. Nothing wrong with the Insingo, but that particular 'Zaan could not be passed up on!

I'm increasingly liking my regular 21 micarta Sebenza as time goes on, though. It seems lighter in construction when compared to my 25s, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It is still solid enough to warrant being used in any situation a folding knife would be needed for.

I hope this one does it this year for you BMC! I was surprised when you sold the large Insingo, and there seem to be many that feel the small Insingo micarta is the "perfect" EDC.

Myself, I prefer larger knives, and a regular 21 is the smallest I'd feel right carrying.
Click to expand...

I like that a small edc is non threatening usually but I agree that the large 21 fits my hand perfectly. And although it's heavier than I prefer to carry it doesn't carry heavy due to its design. It's not a beast of burden; it's just a beast. :)

biggerjon said:
I have one Insingo. I do love it, but not more than the traditional blade. When I look at the Sebbie clip point, I think it is so sexy.

As far as large vs small; the large is better in hand, but the small is a better edc. Obviously, this is my opinion. :)

Since I have not been working, I have been carrying my micarta 25 almost exclusively.


Welcome to the addiction.
Click to expand...

After having both the Insingo and the regular clip now I prefer the look of the clip when both opened and closed. I don't feel like I'm losing any functionality.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
I like that a small edc is non threatening usually but I agree that the large 21 fits my hand perfectly. And although it's heavier than I prefer to carry it doesn't carry heavy due to its design. It's not a beast of burden; it's just a beast. :)
Click to expand...

Sometimes we just have to get over people who are so sheltered throughout their lives that they can't and don't want to understand why we carry tools on us everyday. Most of the folks in this subforum aren't the type that like to whip out their EDC Espada XL in a crowded public area to clean their fingernails for attention, and I know you aren't either. I usually prefer a smaller EDC, but for the past several weeks have been carrying a Military in a professional environment because I love the knife and others be damned. Of course I also carry an Alox Cadet for the other tools and if the moment calls for a more discreet option. It's our actions and maturity with our tools (see scenario above) that usually get the negative opinion wheels turning in people's heads.

In short, CRKs are great knives and the large 21 is a great option. Hopefully you stick with it, and don't let others get in the way of your enjoyment with such a finely crafted tool. I know you've been through several going back and forth with small and large options. Best option...get both a small and a large...can't go wrong there.
 
uofaengr said:
Sometimes we just have to get over people who are so sheltered throughout their lives that they can't and don't want to understand why we carry tools on us everyday. Most of the folks in this subforum aren't the type that like to whip out their EDC Espada XL in a crowded public area to clean their fingernails for attention, and I know you aren't either. I usually prefer a smaller EDC, but for the past several weeks have been carrying a Military in a professional environment because I love the knife and others be damned. Of course I also carry an Alox Cadet for the other tools and if the moment calls for a more discreet option. It's our actions and maturity with our tools (see scenario above) that usually get the negative opinion wheels turning in people's heads.

In short, CRKs are great knives and the large 21 is a great option. Hopefully you stick with it, and don't let others get in the way of your enjoyment with such a finely crafted tool. I know you've been through several going back and forth with small and large options. Best option...get both a small and a large...can't go wrong there.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you. I usually carry a Peanut these days when carrying a larger folder. When my wife's sister was having a baby I needed to cut a hangnail while at the hospital and didn't want to use my 710 because discretion was needed and it's easier with a smaller blade.

I am enjoying the large 21 so much. This should be a companion for a long time. :)
 
jmclfrsh said:
What's nice is you have a knife that is truly up for that task. In the history of knives, the Sebenza is a well deserved classic.
Click to expand...

I'm telling you guys something you already know but this knife was so simple and easy to take apart. I really love the simplicity that these knives have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top