what is the proper way to break in a CRK

F

FlipFlick

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Apr 17, 2013
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so what is the proper way to break in CRK? I've had many other nice knives Benchmade and Spydercos and it just seems that the break in period is going to be a lot longer it seems like I have to use two hands to operate the knife...my thumbs are screaming today and the intrigral lock is really hard to push out to release the blade...any help would be appreciated, thanks guys.
 
I use two hands, mostly, but it does smooth out with use. Sebbies aren't flickers; they glide open. I also lube mine with BreakFree CLP, after cleaning out the grease on it when I first got it.
 
On my 25 it took open and closing about 700 times plus or minus, took it apart put crk grease. In the beginning I would pinch from both sides of the blade stud with thumb and middle finger, then open with the thumb, now I just use the thumb stud, it will smooth out.
 
It took a month or so for my 21 micarta to break in. At six months its now perfect. One thing that happened, at least on mine, is that the detent ball eventually wears a little ramp into its catch-hole, making the first motion, as you 'break' the tension opening the knife, a lot easier. If its a 21 with bushing, you could also back off the pivot screw a very tiny bit and loctite it. I have two large 21s and one I could fully tighten the pivot, but the other (21 Micarta) took about 6 months to break in to where its perfect without loctite. Remember to lube the track of the pivot ball.

Another trick I used, that may make some cringe, was to use high pressure black moly grease on the pivot of my tight 21. It is really ugly, so you have to wipe it clean on all the exposed parts, but its smoother than the Flouro grease on a tight knife from my observation. Long term you might end up with black spots on your pants, so its just for the break in period. That's how I got past sore thumbs on my 1st 21.
 
Just something else to keep in mind. One thing about CRKs is they rarely start perfect, but most can be perfect. I think its part of the fun getting it there. Many other makers knives are flawed and stay flawed, and some start perfect, and become flawed. CRKs start out sometimes annoying, but typically achieve perfection, and you get to be part of the process ;) . I think Chris would rather sell you a tight knife, that improves with time, than sell you one that seems great, but gets wiggly after a few weeks. They are erring on the side of caution in my opinion with their factory output, which I appreciate.
 
I use my thumbnail to open thumbstud, not sure if thats normal or not.

but I clean it every 6 months or so and flip washer (many say not to flip washer) but whatever I think it smooths both sides and they open very smooth.
 
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I agree there is technique, muscle memory, and a callous or two required. I also wedge my thumbnail like Hwangjino. Just worked better for me
 
kidcongo said:
Just something else to keep in mind. One thing about CRKs is they rarely start perfect, but most can be perfect. I think its part of the fun getting it there. Many other makers knives are flawed and stay flawed, and some start perfect, and become flawed. CRKs start out sometimes annoying, but typically achieve perfection, and you get to be part of the process ;) . I think Chris would rather sell you a tight knife, that improves with time, than sell you one that seems great, but gets wiggly after a few weeks. They are erring on the side of caution in my opinion with their factory output, which I appreciate.
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:thumbup: thank you, makes sence
 
Just spent a while opening my crks and thinking about technique. One thing that is true is that its easier to open if your thumb is pushing with the arc of the circle that the stud follows as the blade swings opens. Don't try to push straight outwards, keep the forward angle the stud will travel along. You can test this by pulling the blade out perpendicular with two fingers, and then compare the tension when pulling it forward. This is where muscle memory will help. The best angle is pretty specific, as when you think about it the stud is already part way through its rotation in relation to the blade, with the knife closed. If you draw a line through the stud and the pivot scew, the ideal angle to open the knife, with most mechanical advantage, will be perpendicular to that line.
 
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With most of my CRKs, I take the knife apart and take the lanyard out. While it's apart, I add extra lube and polish the washers gently. This really makes it open smoothly, and saves a little break in time. However, if I don't polish the washers it will smooth itself out in a couple of months.
 
This has been my experience - with used or older/but new CRKs I disassemble and relube. That seems to help out quite a bit. Then I will open them quite a bit to loosen them up. As someone else mention - there is definitely a break-in period of sorts and they do get smoother over time.

On a side note. I called CRK to ask them to add an extra grease tube. Heather reminded me that my new order was already coming with one and if I was sure if I wanted an additional one. She said you can always order another one down the road so they don't dry out. I'm assuming she meant if both were open they would dry out. But, I had never thought if them drying out or the grease breaking down over time.
 
They sent me a dry tube, all I got was a BB size ball and the tube was empty. Wonder if I should of asked them about it....
 
For me honestly just about all CRK's I've had have been good to go right out of the box, no breaking in necessary, everything has been just right.
 
I was able to flick mine open the after a handful of slower openings. This goes for both my large insingo and my small sebenza. I am not using any wrist action, and you have to hold the knife flat and the thumb stud pointed towards the ceiling to do this.. Make a few slow sweeping openings and then let your thumb take that trip really quickly. The inertia should take the blade all the way open, it has worked on both of mine right out of the box pretty much.. They don't open the same as benchmades, you cannot have the knife tilted much at all and get the clean motion to open a CRK..
 
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