When did CRK start making their own hardware?

O

Omega Leather Works

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Jun 13, 2007
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I searched to no avail.

I'm new to CRK. Never owned one, but I have a large Sebenza arriving tomorrow.

I heard that CRK machines their own hardware, is that true? When did they start doing that, and why?
 
Strigamort said:
I searched to no avail.

I'm new to CRK. Never owned one, but I have a large Sebenza arriving tomorrow.

I heard that CRK machines their own hardware, is that true? When did they start doing that, and why?
Click to expand...

You mean the screws? Seem to remember the guys that used to make the hardware (at some point they had amazing quality hardware, best I've ever seen in my life) either moved or shut down. Their replacements were too poor in quality so CRK took it into their own hands
 
I'd be interested to know also? I know my 25 has CRK made hardware but I don't know about my 21's or Umnum? I do remember awhile back some complaint's about off center screws and what not so I'm guessing that's when CRK decided to make them in house.
 
I'd be interested in more info also. The last post I remember from anyone at CRK was lamenting the variable quality of small hardware they were able to get, but I don't remember seeing any posts about them making their own now. I certainly could have missed it.
 
They are making their own screws now. I know this for a fact as far as the 25 goes.
 
I wonder how that sorts out on a net basis? Per-fastener cost must have gone up a few thousand percent. On the other hand, production time and warranty costs must have gone down a lot (faster to assemble a knife with good hardware, fewer warranty issues).
 
It's a challenging business, producing a product that is of a higher standard than the rest of the industry. You either 1) purchase custom parts that are significantly beyond what the vendor is used to providing, 2) purchase standard parts, sort and reject some percentage of them and alter the remainder to fit the higher standard, or 3) make the parts yourself. CRK did #2 for many years, with good success for some shipments, challenging results from others. Sometime around 2008 or so, I'm surmising that the business case became apparent to Chris and Anne that #3 was the way to go.
 
This is true as far as I can see. I have had problems with produced parts my self, as have many others in many industries I presume. It seems to me that the high quality stuff (that I need) was made by smaller companies that either didn't survive the last few years, dropped the quality to keep them selves a float or now just do something different. I don't know what things are like in the US but I think it is pretty similar the world over. I saw a vast drop in quality but my supplier was telling me nothing had changed.....a bit of digging proved that was not the case and things had indeed changed for the worse. IMO CRK are totally spot on with this as today we are living in different times indeed. As the saying goes, "if you wan't something done properly do it your self". :)

Fooj said:
It's a challenging business, producing a product that is of a higher standard than the rest of the industry. You either 1) purchase custom parts that are significantly beyond what the vendor is used to providing, 2) purchase standard parts, sort and reject some percentage of them and alter the remainder to fit the higher standard, or 3) make the parts yourself. CRK did #2 for many years, with good success for some shipments, challenging results from others. Sometime around 2008 or so, I'm surmising that the business case became apparent to Chris and Anne that #3 was the way to go.
Click to expand...
 
I received the large Sebbie 21 today. It was made this time last year (its birthday is in a few days) and the hardware appears to be just about like the rest of the knife. Perfect.

StrigaMort= Mind... Blown...
 
Wilson Combat faced this same challenge with varying QC from outside vendors, so they have moved almost all manufacturing in-house. The costs increase on the front end, but the money is off set on the back end I think.
 
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