Things you don't like about your CR knife ?

What an interesting thread. I feel the same way as Lone Wolf, I don't like it that I don't have more, which requires more money; and I agree with Kid, some of the features just grow on you. In my limited experience with CRK, I can't find a single thing I don't like about them, I really like the new boxes and packaging, I like the edges on the blades, the clips, the o-rings on the Zaan, etc. If I had to change anything on the Sebenza or Umnumzaan it would be the lanyard configuration, fortunately, that is an easy fix since I can make my own; what I mean is that I like lanyards on my blades, but I usually like them to hang out from the pocket, but that is just a personal preference, there is nothing wrong with the CRK lanyards, in fact I love the quality of the cord they use, I have tried to find the same cord in the web and I have not been able to; I can find a similar cord but not the original tight weave black cord they use. If any of you guys know where to get it, let me know.

Besides that, I find no faults in these knives; before I got a Sebenza I first bought an Umnumzaan, and I separated the flesh from under my thumb nail trying to flick it open, I was so excited to get this knife that I forgot to read the instructions, duh. Now I use my thumb nail instead of the meat on it to open them (try that sometime), and I can flick them open anytime I want, fast or slow, whatever. The thumb stud is one of those things that actually grows on you, it works perfectly the way it's configured.
When I think about the quality, it is the best quality I can get for that price; one thing I noticed is that even the wrenches that come with the blades are the of best quality available, they used to include German Wiha hex wrenches, now they have been upgraded to German Wera Hex-Plus wrenches; the best of the best in my opinion; these are little details that add up to a great bad ass quality production knife, I think.
I used to complain about the price, but after I got my first 21 and many hours of research and observation, then I realized that it is worth every penny, and it is actually very reasonably priced for what I got. CRK rocks, that's my 2 cents worth of opinion.:D
 
I am very happy with my Small 21. I got used to the thumbstud after a couple of days, so no complaint here.

My only point of criticism is the factory edge. On my knife the angle at the belly is just over 20 degrees, so my sharpmaker doesn't get to the apex. I soon will reprofile the edge with the diamond rods at 15 degrees and put a 20 degree micro bevel on it. But I still hesitate a bit because I'm afraid to ruin the symmetry of the grind...
 
ALLHSS said:
Ah, that's what I thought. And I assume CRK gives them to customers/users by request?
Why are they necessary in particular on the Umnumzaan?
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Not entirely sure if they will give them out on request..I have an abundant supply of them and many people buy them from online sources such as McMaster Carr. They are pretty cheap.
As far as being necessary, I suspect that stabby is right on in his assessment.
 
makariotes said:
...I can find a similar cord but not the original tight weave black cord they use. If any of you guys know where to get it, let me know.
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Feels like boot laces, honestly.
(not a complaint, just an observation. I like the cord, too.)
 
Of all the current folder lineup, the Umnumzaan is the best looking cry and was why it was my first crk that I bought. Operating it needs some practice but overall it is a very thoughtful design and is currently in my edc rotation. Then about 1 month later I was introduced to a 21Large, plain jane and I was hooked. Currently I edc just these two and the 21L is getting the most of it though. What I would rant is just as follows:-

21Large Plain - Best if it came with 2 thumbstuds as standard on this current model. Sometimes I do need to deploy the blade with my lefty. Should also include the leather sheath.

Umnumzaan - The lock is uncomfortable to operate. Probably due to the cut outs on the inside where the thumb meets the lock to operate it. On the 21L it feel solid and although plain is grippy to operate without discomfort. Should also include the leather sheath.

CRK must have done it right as I am happy to use both 21L and Umnumzaan. Easy to maintain, comfortable to use and slim profile makes them my choice for edc.
 
Of course this will bring in the fan boys.:)
I have lots of different knives, but the 21 is the best "package" I have, giving the best and the most of any knife I own.
* I would like CTS-XHP blade steel(easy to sharpen and takes a razer edge). That will not happen.:D
 
I really appreciate the attention to detail and tight tolerances. That being said I think the lanyard pin is a fail on both the small and large 21's (if you don't use a lanyard). Take the lanyard off on a small 21 and it rattles. This could of been eliminated with a tighter fit. I like that on the 21 the end of pin shows so you get a pop of color that matches the thumb stud. On the large 21 if you take lanyard off the pin falls out. (yes I know about after market pins and the burnt ends paracord trick). Even better would be to include a "non lanyard pin". You could swap it out, it wouldn't rattle, fall out or have a hole in it.

For the price I would expect to get the clip washer for free (the part you install if you remove the clip). That being said the clip is the best of any knife I own. 99% of my EDC is small, 3" blades, carried in pocket. When I first got my small 21 I thought I would remove the clip. It is so great I have left it on, even though I carry in pocket most days. Even in pocket the clip does not get in the way .

The thumb stud took some getting used to. That being said my thumb was torn up worse with first Benhmade and then my first Spyderco.

I like that the plain janes are built straight up as practical, hard core, EDC users and at the same time he produces some of the most beautiful wood inlay knives. I wish on the high end knives he would polish the lock bar and everything else. Having 1 side of beauty and one side half done is a little strange.
 
So to sum it up. All he needs to do is change the
Detent
Thumb stud
Thumb stud anodizing
Polished ti on the inlaids and graphics
Blasted ti on the plain Janes
edge
new boxes
Blade steel & heat treat(taken from past threads)
Regulars-what was he thinking :)
or he could just make a very function knife , designed for everyday use and easy to maintain and great customer service if anything does go wrong
Everything on these knives has been well thought out . He did not just build them from parts he happened to have around.
Non knife, but the exception would be the boxes. I think it may have been on the DVD that he said he picked the original white boxes vs a presentation style box, because he expected them to be thrown away. He may still be of this opinion with the new boxes.
 
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Geocyclist said:
I really appreciate the attention to detail and tight tolerances. That being said I think the lanyard pin is a fail on both the small and large 21's (if you don't use a lanyard). Take the lanyard off on a small 21 and it rattles. This could of been eliminated with a tighter fit. I like that on the 21 the end of pin shows so you get a pop of color that matches the thumb stud. On the large 21 if you take lanyard off the pin falls out. (yes I know about after market pins and the burnt ends paracord trick). Even better would be to include a "non lanyard pin". You could swap it out, it wouldn't rattle, fall out or have a hole in it.

For the price I would expect to get the clip washer for free (the part you install if you remove the clip). That being said the clip is the best of any knife I own. 99% of my EDC is small, 3" blades, carried in pocket. When I first got my small 21 I thought I would remove the clip. It is so great I have left it on, even though I carry in pocket most days. Even in pocket the clip does not get in the way .
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Totally agree with the above post. Don't like leaving the lanyard pin hole empty after removing the lanyard on my large 21s and umnumzaans...and it would be nice to get the clip replacement tab thing in the box too...

Also, would have been nice if all their folders had the bushing pivot - don't really like fiddling to get the pivot tension right...
 
Interesting comments about the box. I keep my boxes in case I want to sell the knife down the road. But I have never given any thought to the boxes the knives come in. They just get chucked into a large bin I use to store such things. Doesn't matter to me what the box is like. I paid for the knife not a box. But I understand that it is part of the collectible for some folks.
 
I love my large 21, my only two issues are:
-The mediocre ergos
-I'd prefer a 3.5" blade length (and relative handle length)
 
BubbaGump said:
Interesting comments about the box. I keep my boxes in case I want to sell the knife down the road. But I have never given any thought to the boxes the knives come in. They just get chucked into a large bin I use to store such things. Doesn't matter to me what the box is like. I paid for the knife not a box. But I understand that it is part of the collectible for some folks.
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I watched a video of the entire CRK production process. In the video he says the boxes are as plain and inexpensive as he can get (and still protect the knife in shipping). He says his philosophy is to put every dollar into the knife and make the box as cheap as possible. I agree with this. Yet look at Apple. There products are like CR, high tolerance, elegant and simply designed with packaging to match. Apple products are also expensive. Saving a few bucks on the box wouldn't effect the price much on most Apple products. But there is something special about seeing the Apple packaging and opening it up. It quite interesting. Both CRK and Apple put extreme importance on their design, materials and manufacturing. Apple carries this mentality all the way through to the box where CRK stops there. In the case of knives the box is extremely important to keep when reselling a collectable knife. On the other hand it makes a statement. One of the best designed knives in the world (if not the best) comes in a plain white box.
 
What generally happens is people read about these knives and have unrealistic expectations upon receiving it. They've got ball bearing knives in their collection and S8000ABC super steel for much less money, and they expect each feature of a CRK to surpass these knives for what they're paying, and it's not gonna happen. You have to take the knife for what it is, for what it costs, and be fine with it. Different strokes for different folks.

When I received my first small 21, my thumb was tore up for a couple weeks, but now it's second nature. It's a completely different motion than what I was used to, but now I can move my thumb just as fast as I can a Spyderco or Benchmade to open the knife. 2 out of my 3 CRKs out of box have blades that drop free so hard that they bounce off of my thumb nail. I can't ask for much more than that. In my experience the lockbar tension on the smalls are slightly stiffer than the larges making the smalls seem slightly harder to push over, but it's nothing uncomfortable.

Because I'm not loaded, I have to pick and choose carefully which designs I can keep, and for me it's the 21 though I've tried all the folders and would probably own a Mnandi. Since I must complain...

The Regular design: Don't like the scallops aesthetically nor in hand. I like the 21 better in both aspects.

25: Jimping a bit too aggressive. Not crazy about the grooves and lack of pivot bushing. Would brand it as Inkosi or something else maybe rather than Sebenza.

Umnumzaan: Don't like the blade shape. Flashy, but not people friendly. Lockbar is literally a pain to press. When I win the lottery I'll buy one again and the others, but couldn't justify keeping it.

Ti-Lock: Don't like the holes. Love the blade shape.

21: Would prefer more of a bullnose than the pointy tip. The Insingo blade (particularly small) is perfection.

Don't like the new boxes. I don't look at them as a collector thing, but I like to keep my accessories for each knife in its respective box no matter the brand, and it's a pain to get things in and out of the new boxes without completely destroying them.

So I can nitpick about anything if one asks. I carry a lot of different blades, and still buy other brands from sub-$100 to $300+, and the 21 is the best "sum of its parts" knife I own. I also think I get more for my money and better value with CRK than any other production knife above $300 that I've experienced.
 
For me the thumstud anodizing and the new boxes are small things I don't care for, and it seems like I share that feeling:) Also- I don't know if this counts but the prices are for sure something I don't like!! (But willingly pay for a quality product)
 
Geocyclist said:
I watched a video of the entire CRK production process. In the video he says the boxes are as plain and inexpensive as he can get (and still protect the knife in shipping). He says his philosophy is to put every dollar into the knife and make the box as cheap as possible. I agree with this. Yet look at Apple. There products are like CR, high tolerance, elegant and simply designed with packaging to match. Apple products are also expensive. Saving a few bucks on the box wouldn't effect the price much on most Apple products. But there is something special about seeing the Apple packaging and opening it up. It quite interesting. Both CRK and Apple put extreme importance on their design, materials and manufacturing. Apple carries this mentality all the way through to the box where CRK stops there. In the case of knives the box is extremely important to keep when reselling a collectable knife. On the other hand it makes a statement. One of the best designed knives in the world (if not the best) comes in a plain white box.
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Hinderer knives come in a plain white box like the old CRK box, and Striders come in nothing but a plastic baggie. I think all three makers have kind of the same thought process here regarding packaging.."focus on the knife, not flashy packaging". I'd assume Apple's profit margin is much greater than that of CRK, and in the tech world, presentation is just as important as the product. Just my assumptions here fwiw.
 
Presentation is important for a diverse audience where the goal is to impress with packaging. People buying $500 knives like CRK, Hinderer, Strider etc are hardcore enthusiasts who don't need to be pursuaded by flashy packaging. The product can just be thrown into a baggie and mailed in a plain cardboard box, like Strider Even the websites are plain without a lot of flash. The product sells itself.
 
Geocyclist said:
I watched a video of the entire CRK production process. In the video he says the boxes are as plain and inexpensive as he can get (and still protect the knife in shipping). He says his philosophy is to put every dollar into the knife and make the box as cheap as possible. I agree with this. Yet look at Apple. There products are like CR, high tolerance, elegant and simply designed with packaging to match. Apple products are also expensive. Saving a few bucks on the box wouldn't effect the price much on most Apple products. But there is something special about seeing the Apple packaging and opening it up. It quite interesting. Both CRK and Apple put extreme importance on their design, materials and manufacturing. Apple carries this mentality all the way through to the box where CRK stops there. In the case of knives the box is extremely important to keep when reselling a collectable knife. On the other hand it makes a statement. One of the best designed knives in the world (if not the best) comes in a plain white box.
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I think you missed the recent change to the box. CRKs no longer come on a plain white box. They come in a fancy embossed box with graphics, with a foam nested insert to hold the knife as well as the grease and tools, and are still supplied with info, sticker, and polishing cloth.

What people are complaining about is the new fancy box (like Apple), it is the old plain white box that is missed so much (don't ask my why, but I kinda understand).
 
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