To Swap Or Not To Swap (Single Sided Fastener)

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bvo85

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Apr 27, 2017
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On my older CRKs with single sided fasteners, I prefer to swap the default configuration so that the smooth side is facing "out" with the knife open and pointing left, and the hex fasteners are on the back. I do this because I like the look of the smooth side better, and also because if the knife has a clip, then you have to see the hex side out on the back side, so this keeps all of the hex lined up.

However, every time I send a knife to CRK for work, they send it back with the hex facing out. That's their standard method. So I am wondering if there's any advantage to that other than aesthetic?

How does everyone here prefer to to it?

On P-Sebenzas, they don't have a clip, so the argument about matching doesn't hold up, but I still like my Ps to have the smooth side facing me because then it matches the other CRKs! :)
 
I've got them both ways, other than seeing one with the hardware swapped for sale, which is an indicator that the knife has been taken apart, maybe the reasoning would have to do with less wear on your pockets having the smooth side on the clip side. That's my guess.
Nothing says buyer beware more than when one is listed as NIB/LNIB and seeing that the body screws have been swapped. :eek:
 
Been a long time since I read why CRK does it that way(it's in the archives somewhere). I think that is the way a machinist does it. People have always switched them for the better visual appearance. I don't have any preference and without looking at them wouldn't even be able to say how mine are done.
 
Ajack60 said:
Nothing says buyer beware more than when one is listed as NIB/LNIB and seeing that the body screws have been swapped. :eek:
Click to expand...

Interesting. So you don't consider a knife to be NIB or LNIB if the seller has swapped the direction of the body screws? Curious if most people here feel that way?

How about if I untied the lanyard and retied it exactly as it was before?
 
bvo85 said:
Interesting. So you don't consider a knife to be NIB or LNIB if the seller has swapped the direction of the body screws? Curious if most people here feel that way?

How about if I untied the lanyard and retied it exactly as it was before?
Click to expand...

For me, NIB means it's virgin, LNIB means it's been fondled, never used or altered, almost virgin. I have passed up CRK's because of the lanyard being off, I wouldn't classify a lanyard retie a deal breaker as long as the knife is in the same condition as it left the factory. Now, if I'm looking for a user, that's another story. I'm referring to the retail price and up on CRK's.
I typically don't sell many of my CRK's, so when I get one from an individual, I'm looking for it to be as factory built.
But, that's just me.
 
bvo85 said:
Interesting. So you don't consider a knife to be NIB or LNIB if the seller has swapped the direction of the body screws? Curious if most people here feel that way?

How about if I untied the lanyard and retied it exactly as it was before?
Click to expand...
Never really thought about it but No not NIB or LNIB if there has been a swap, for the simple reason it is not how it came. Now would I make a big deal about it if it was mint in every other way-also no. I would say the same for the lanyard, but you could say LNIB except for lanyard removal. This is all being very technical and as I said I wouldn't call the person out on it. and would be satisfied with my purchase. However it does bring into ? what else may have happened with the knife that is also not being disclosed.
That's my opinion & I would not be shocked if I had sold a knife(or 5,10 or 20) without a lanyard as LNIB. As I said I never really thought about it , but now that I have.
 
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I'm kind of a novice at CRK compared to many of you but it's always been my viewpoint that a knife that's been disassembled for any reason is no longer NIB or LNIB. It becomes a "light user". A secondary buyer should seek an appropriate price and exercise the required caution.

There are far two many folks who buy a CRK because someone on YouTube told them to...or because it was "the knife to get". Sadly, when the knife doesn't flick like their assisted Kershaw, they strip it down to "fix" it. It goes downhill from here. You know the tune.

These knife doctors pinch, flip or reverse the washers. They over-tighten steel screws against titanium threads. Then, as the knife performs even worse then before, they proclaim CRK to be crap based on "first hand experience".

Anyway, sorry to go a little long on this but that's why a CRK is never new or like new if disassembled in my opinion. Sorry to go off topic from single sided fasteners but I had to spout off on a related topic.
 
Ajack60 said:
I've got them both ways, other than seeing one with the hardware swapped for sale, which is an indicator that the knife has been taken apart, maybe the reasoning would have to do with less wear on your pockets having the smooth side on the clip side. That's my guess.
Nothing says buyer beware more than when one is listed as NIB/LNIB and seeing that the body screws have been swapped. :eek:
Click to expand...

I sometimes swap screws without taking the knife apart, just by swapping one screw at a time.
 
Lone_Wolfe said:
I sometimes swap screws without taking the knife apart, just by swapping one screw at a time.
Click to expand...

Absolutely LW, but that's you. I'd buy from you in a heartbeat ;), not so much from someone that is green to CRK's
 
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