What's with CRKT? Attractive knives, poor quality materials?

I have one crkt knife. It is the kasper wharncliff. I was gifted it. I bring it with me when I go to the junkyard.
 
CRKT makes products in all price ranges and of all quality levels. I love the CRKT blades I've handled, and I intend to buy more.
 
Sunyata said:
What? My M16 liners were downright scary if it wasn't for the fact they knew their locks were shit and added a second lock instead of fixing the issue it would have been unsafe
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Try an Eros, Hootenany, Ripple, Swindle, Carajas, No Time Off, Outrage, Journeyer, Wrinkle, Squid, etc. These are all knives I've owned and which have been great quality for the price. Your one experience with a dud M16 does not mean you have an informed opinion about the quality of their knives in general.
 
Crkt is always a let down to me. They have some awesome collaborations with some great custom makers. To me it sucks because there all in the budget line. I'd rather pay $100 more and get some quality materials that match the quality designs just my opinion though.
 
Cutlover said:
I like CRKT's goal of producing some of the most innovative designs on the market, experimenting is always cool. Seems like most people here prefer the tried and true systems (benchmade axis lock (awesome design), spyderco spydie hole thumbstud replacement, traditionals, etc). This may be just me, but designs that aren't common and perform equivalent or better than common designs get my interest a lot more than a new super steel, though I do thoroughly enjoy steel performance statistics.
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That's quite an endorsement! Can you tell us more about the unique designs that CRKT uses which outperform more-common designs? Locks, maybe? Any experiences to share?
 
Insipid Moniker said:
....but I would bet money that the reason you don't see a CRKT subforum here is that knife knuts and aficionados who are willing to drop a few hundred on a blade just isn't an audience they care much about.
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And vice versa, experienced knife nuts willing to spend a couple hundred bucks on a knife may not be willing to spend that kind of money on CRKT's "all style, little substance" product.

That said, they are OK. Wouldn't buy another myself, but my CRKTs didn't crumble into dust or explode or anything like that.
 
I've had mixed results with CRKT knives, but generally positive. They make some awesome designs, but often undermine the design with budget materials. It looks like they're starting to change that. For example, I loved the CRKT Squid, it was an awesome, affordable production version of a very expensive Lucas Burnley custom knife. Unfortunately, it was just too heavy for me and CRKT 8Cr13MoV isn't as well done as the stuff Spyderco and Kershaw uses.

Now they've come out with a limited "deluxe" Squid for twice the price of the original. They've gone with Sandvik steel, carbon fiber, Ti and managed to shave almost an ounce and a half off of a 3.5 ounce knife. Yowzah! I'm waiting on mine to arrive, hopefully today. Blade HQ exclusive in case anyone is interested...

If CRKT can keep on this path and issue premium versions of some great designs like the Persian, Eraser or even an M16, I'd be all over adding more to my collection. Please, no more paper thin liner locks and LAWKS protection systems!
 
I cannot justify paying the kind of money CRKT is asking for with their 8Cr13MoV folders when an Enlan or Sanrenmu knife using the same kind of steel can be bought for 1/3 to 1/2 the price.
 
brancron said:
Try an Eros, Hootenany, Ripple, Swindle, Carajas, No Time Off, Outrage, Journeyer, Wrinkle, Squid, etc. These are all knives I've owned and which have been great quality for the price. Your one experience with a dud M16 does not mean you have an informed opinion about the quality of their knives in general.
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Sadly enough it was two knives made over a year apart. Purchased in different states but I see what you're saying.
 
Putting aside the fact that CRKT has a long history of quality control and fit/finish issues their knives are far too expensive for what you get. If I want an 8cr knife made in China I can do much better price wise from other companies. Their Taiwanese knives are also over priced. The knives not made in China or Taiwan are ridiculously over priced. That, and CRKT doesn't even make anything. Their knives are made in factories the don't own and designed by people who aren't them.
 
420j2 vs 8cr13mov for knive Steel
Is like comparing ramen noodles to store bought box spaghetti... It's all about the cook an final preparations, bit, you can only go so far with ramen, no matter who the chef is.

8cr is nearly identical to aus8, and a good batch head to head, is arguably even better; (harder/more-hardedenable, slightly more carbon and half as much nickle).

420j2 is (IMO) unfit for knife blades, outside of dive knives due it's stainless properties. A high carbon batch vs a low carbon batch of 8cr (there are given parameter limits, rather then set numbers), is half the carbon, no added Vanadium, no added Molybednum, and 5x the Nickel (added corrosion/rust benefit and toughness, but also added softness). Can it make a knife, sure... Can it make a "good" knife? Weeeeeellllll, that's a different debate...

As for CRKT, they have done a GREAT job getting custom designs and the names of custom knife makers, out to the general public in a very financially friendly package...

Yes, IMO today's CRKT is right there on par with Kershaws cheap import division. It's not a Benchmade or Spyderco, and doesn't pretend to be, it's a budget friendly brand bringing many custom designs to the general public at affordable mass production, import level prices.

Are they a "great knife"? Absolutely not... But from $20/to up around $80, they're typically a dang good knife for the price. The downside is, they're higher end stuff is often priced more on the name of of the collaboration designer then any real upgrade in real materials.
 
I like plenty of CRKT knives, and I carry some of them semi-regularly. The Carajas is my go-to checked baggage knife for flying, and I like it a lot--it's an excellent knife that has performed well for me. I've lost too many expensive knives to TSA luggage theft to pack anything nice any more (after they stole a Southard that I'd pushed into a roll of socks and stuffed into a shoe I realized there was no stopping them). I carry an Eros sometimes when I'm wearing dress pants. If the goofy Wrinkle was tip up carry, I like it enough that I'd probably carry it for fun sometimes. The Liong Mah #5 is my current favorite oddball slipjoint.
 
I think CRKT would do well to heed Kai's business model. Kershaw had some custom collaborations at a big box blister pack price and generally low-quality materials. But then we got Zero Tolerance, which kept the custom collaborations and really boosted quality. CRKT has such a huge pool of collaborations and innovative design, that I'd happily pay if they could produce the same at a higher price point with better materials and manufacturing quality controls.
 
madcap_magician said:
I think CRKT would do well to heed Kai's business model. Kershaw had some custom collaborations at a big box blister pack price and generally low-quality materials. But then we got Zero Tolerance, which kept the custom collaborations and really boosted quality. CRKT has such a huge pool of collaborations and innovative design, that I'd happily pay if they could produce the same at a higher price point with better materials and manufacturing quality controls.
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I would love to see CRKT, an "American" based company, with all their connections in the knife world, release a high end American made line in premium materials with premium finishes, much like ZT is to Kershaw...
Maybe even some "tweeners", like a Blur and Leek, releasing some US made CRKT's with better materials.
 
strategy9 said:
Yes, IMO today's CRKT is right there on par with Kershaws cheap import division. It's not a Benchmade or Spyderco, and doesn't pretend to be, it's a budget friendly brand bringing many custom designs to the general public at affordable mass production, import level prices.

Are they a "great knife"? Absolutely not... But from $20/to up around $80, they're typically a dang good knife for the price. The downside is, they're higher end stuff is often priced more on the name of of the collaboration designer then any real upgrade in real materials.
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At their price range, even an S&W knife with 7Cr17 steel or a Schrade with 9Cr14MoV sells for a lower retail price than a CRKT.
 
craytab said:
Putting aside the fact that CRKT has a long history of quality control and fit/finish issues their knives are far too expensive for what you get. If I want an 8cr knife made in China I can do much better price wise from other companies. Their Taiwanese knives are also over priced. The knives not made in China or Taiwan are ridiculously over priced. That, and CRKT doesn't even make anything. Their knives are made in factories the don't own and designed by people who aren't them.
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Or how about the MSRP $750, made in Taiwan, 154CM Buy Tighe?!? Even at 500 ish retail...gadzooks.
 
Etna said:
At their price range, even an S&W knife with 7Cr17 steel or a Schrade with 9Cr14MoV sells for a lower retail price than a CRKT.
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Yup! The Chinese made Kershaws are cheaper and come from a company with a far better reputation. QC & F/F are better as well.
 
marcinek said:
Or how about the MSRP $750, made in Taiwan, 154CM Buy Tighe?!? Even at 500 ish retail...gadzooks.
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That one is insane. I am surprised no one has mentioned the famous Hijinx that won knife of the year! Designed by someone else and made by a different company in a foreign company with limited numbers. Slap that CRKT name on it though!
 
BluegrassBrian said:
I've owned one crkt. A burnley obake. I recently tossed it in the can.
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Second time I've heard that recently about that exact model.

Their whole Japanese styled knives look great on paper, just underwhelm in performance. Hard to open, shitty fit and finish, terrible clips, shitty steel and poor QC.

It really sucks as they look very cool
 
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