Where does CRKT seem to be going?

I had the Triumph & sold it.I'm just not that impressed with their AUS-8.However,it(Triumph) did have one of the most comfortable & grippy handles I've ever had.I had the My Tighe too & sold it for the same reasons.The only CRKT knife I have left is the Voodoo.It has a 154CM blade,with AO & a milk bone shaped handle.It's the only CRKT I bought & liked.
As far as where I think they stand as far as production knives go.I would put them along the lines of Kershaw's lower priced models & Spyderco's Byrd series.
 
It's basic Marketing 101:
You have a 'budget' product line and a 'luxury' line. Just look at what Spyderco did with their Spyderco line-up vs. their Byrd value-based line-up.
Even auto manufacturers get it. Look at Lexus vs. Toyota, Infiniti vs. Nissan, etc.

If CRK&T would have a more budget-based line-up and then have another tier above it (or even several levels like Benchmade), they could have better Brand Identity where the higher-end models could and would use ATS-34 or 154CM steel. Maybe the mid-grade line could use AUS-8A and the low-end could be the 420 or AUS-4.

I hope CRK&T are paying attention to all these posts and 'tips'...

Regards,
Mike
 
From what I see they are trying to compete with the lowest common denominator (which is usually the most popular).
To get my interest they will need to use frame locks and high end steel on more than three new models every five years.
 
As far as being made in Taiwan ? Who gives a rip.... Benchmade , Spyderco , Kershaw , Buck and others are all having knives made in mainland China now, at least CRKT sticks with an ally and not a potential enemy
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I agree.


Recently I picked up an M21-04 and a Desert Cruiser which are both AUS8 which is a steel that I am actualy fond of. Both knives made me want more but as others have said the other steels they use in many of their knives keep me from buying more. As one poster said the designs they use are not all predictable and are very interesting.
 
97guns said:
i have been EDing an M16 with the lawks device for over 4 years and bought a current produced model to replace it. the current production knife felt low quality to me compared to my early model piece and i was very dissapointed. the auto lawks device is a horrid design and i would never buy one with it. this experience left a slightly sour taste in my mouth in reguards to crkt's products and won't really be looking at any of their current models for purchase.
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I too have been EDCing an older M16 for years, and when I checked out some new ones a few weeks ago, they seemed to made with very different materials. Not nice at all; I wouldn't buy one and they were pretty much the same price I paid for mine...

In all, I think CRKT has plenty of nice designs, but they drop the ball when it comes to materials quality and details like grinds, liner thickness, etc. just to keep prices once notch below BM, Spyderco and the like. I think they'd do well in that same market if they just stepped up those issues a bit; I for one think they have, overall, more interesting knives than either of the others.
 
ZAXDAD66 said:
Does CRKT seek to become a "quality" knife company or a playground for mall ninjas around the world? My two newest examples, the Triumph and the Pharroh, are so close to being really nice knives but are held back by "something".
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Join the club.

I've been unhappy with CRKT mostly because their chisel grind knives don't seem to cut worth a damn. I keep one in a nearby drawer and when I have nothing to do, I try to sharpen it. It's a Desert Cruiser and it is as sharp as some Chinese knives out of the box, but I can't get it "hair popping" sharp. Just about every other knife I have I can get sharp, but not that one. And I have others that are still in my collection that I haven't used much for fear they'll end up with the Cruiser.

Now CRKT's M21-04 is a v-grind and it's one of my favorite knives, and though the Cruiser will cut open boxes and UPS packages, it's a lousy letter opener. Just the other day I tried to cut one of those plastic ties (you know, those single-use things). I sawed on it for about 15 seconds and only put a small mark on it, so I pulled out a Cold Steel Recon One and cut it in a quarter-second. I can always resharpen that if it goes dull, but not the Cruiser. All my other knives, including the M21, cut paper with no problem. The Cruiser cuts about and inch, then begins ripping.

And these are the knives they're marketing to our troops in Iraq! They even make the handle a sand color so, I guess, when our soldiers realize just how bad these knives are, they can throw them into the desert where they'll blend in with all the other junk over there.

7914DSF.jpg
 
Confederate- Odd, I've been able to get a hair popping edge on all 26 of mine. Could the problem be the sharpener?
 
Columbia River Knife & Tool has devolved, IMO, into a 'pretend' company.

They pretend to run with the big boys... Spyderco, Benchmade, now Kershaw.
They pretend to offer you cutting excellence when in fact you don't get that.
They pretend to use quality steel compositions but I see more AUS4.

Their AUS 6 is markedly poorer than the superior AUS 6 I happily use from Spyderco or SOG.

Where I believe they do excel is in their designs. They have some wonderful designs. If they just would stop cutting corners they'd regain our patronage.

Somebody before wrote about certain CRKT knives missing that *something* and I concurr. Where is CRKT's 'sleeper's' like Benchmade's Stryker or Tsek?

Smith and Wesson's Badge knife outcut their Bear Claw, for crying out loud.

Why can my $20 Byrd Meadowlark outcut anything CRKT makes these days?

That is the problem.
 
It seems like quite a few people feel the same about that "something" missing. They do have interesting designs but their execution of them seems to be falling rather than rising. I also have a small "Ichi" that I use as a money clip. Neat little knife but the blade is so soft it's almost useless. I think it's 420. This knife would make a good everywhere carry as it wouldn't scare away the sheeple. Opps, the blades to soft. I think they could make 154CM blades on this at it's price point. In these soft economy days I won't be impulse purchasing as many knives and CRKT is fast taking themselves out of the running for my dollars.

Brian
 
I have a M21 that I keep in my car. It's a good knife for the price, but isn't an EDC.

They fill their niche well imo, make a decent knife for a low price and make sure it looks good.
 
I think CRKT has reached the point where they have a pile of great ideas but haven't fully committed to either pursuing these ideas to their potential or continuing to favor keeping their production costs down.

I believe that the most powerful thing CRKT could do to boost their popularity is do short runs (a few hundred) of higher quality versions of their most popular knives. For example, a couple runs of D2 or S30V Ichis would probably fly off the shelves faster than anything in their current lineup. CRKT could then use these sprint runs to gauge the popularity of different steels and designs among their customers and expand the quality of their lineup accordingly.

Are people interested in super steel M16s but not higher quality Triumphs? Could a lightweight Hissatsu folder with a better steel achieve popularity as an edc knife? These are the kinds of questions CRKT could benefit greatly from researching. It's much easier to expand product quality when you know exactly where to do it rather than having to upgrade everything all at once.
 
In the past I was a great fan of CRKT. I still think they have some great makers with some really great designs. But, alas they are like that person you know. You know, the one with great potetial but can't quite complete the job well. He dribbles through all the defenders impressively only to choke miserably on the final shot on goal. You know who I'm talkin' about. They fall short of greatness simply for lack of effort. Such as, the talent that could make the big time but doesn't want to commit. You know, the kid who cleans his room and it looks great until you open the closet.

IMO, if I'm gonna put my name on something that I created, installed, repaired or touched in anyway. I either need a disclaimer or it better work the way it's supposed to or better than the way it's supposed to. I want to make it the best that I can. So that it is beyond reproach, hopefully.
There is no doubt, that with the right materials some of CRKT knives would be sweet, very sweet. But, this fan is tired of waiting. CRKT's behavior is so predictable. CRKT, if you're listening, Listen to AfterTFD. He is totally right! A move like that, limited runs, would gain you so much respect with the knife nut community. OK, OK rant off.
 
Confederate said:
Join the club.

I've been unhappy with CRKT mostly because their chisel grind knives don't seem to cut worth a damn. I keep one in a nearby drawer and when I have nothing to do, I try to sharpen it. It's a Desert Cruiser and it is as sharp as some Chinese knives out of the box, but I can't get it "hair popping" sharp. Just about every other knife I have I can get sharp, but not that one. And I have others that are still in my collection that I haven't used much for fear they'll end up with the Cruiser.

Now CRKT's M21-04 is a v-grind and it's one of my favorite knives, and though the Cruiser will cut open boxes and UPS packages, it's a lousy letter opener. Just the other day I tried to cut one of those plastic ties (you know, those single-use things). I sawed on it for about 15 seconds and only put a small mark on it, so I pulled out a Cold Steel Recon One and cut it in a quarter-second. I can always resharpen that if it goes dull, but not the Cruiser. All my other knives, including the M21, cut paper with no problem. The Cruiser cuts about and inch, then begins ripping.

And these are the knives they're marketing to our troops in Iraq! They even make the handle a sand color so, I guess, when our soldiers realize just how bad these knives are, they can throw them into the desert where they'll blend in with all the other junk over there.

7914DSF.jpg
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Thanks for posting that. I just got one of those knifes and have not used it a lot yet. I am going to get it out to day and see how it does woth stuff. I have some of the larger plastic zipties that I will use it on with other knives and see how they compare.
 
Well I cut a large plastic ziptie with the cruiser and it cut it about like every other knife I have cut them with including my Spyderco Native, Voyager, and Kershaws. The serrated part blew through through it and the blade was on par but not spectacular. The factory edge was not super either so after the little test I sharpend it. The single edge grind is not the greatest edge in the world.
 
Still screwing around with the Triumph. I loosened the pivot a little bit and that made the closing action much easier one handed. I love the idea of limited High quality test runs. I'de buy an "Ichi" in S30 in a heartbeat. The "Pharoh" has production flaws a plenty. It looks like the cutter used in shaping the frame bolsters had worn out so you get one smooth side and one side with OBVIOUS ridges. As I said earlier, I think that one's in for some major surgery. Since it's also not the most practical blade, I have no problem taking it into my "lab". I may shine it up a bit to. Giving the blade a dull gray finish and adding a bright gold piece of useless trim is just the kind of thing that make me wonder about CRKT's vision.

Brian
 
ZAXDAD66 said:
......... The "Pharoh" has production flaws a plenty. It looks like the cutter used in shaping the frame bolsters had worn out so you get one smooth side and one side with OBVIOUS ridges. As I said earlier, I think that one's in for some major surgery. Since it's also not the most practical blade, I have no problem taking it into my "lab". I may shine it up a bit to. Giving the blade a dull gray finish and adding a bright gold piece of useless trim is just the kind of thing that make me wonder about CRKT's vision.

Brian
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The Pharoh is one of CRKT's collaborations with knifemaker Allen Elishewitz and that gold dot is one of his signature things, IIRC.

As for CRKT in general, I too wish they would offer some higher end or at least mid-grade stuff. It doesn't have to all be S30V and carbon fiber, but something more than 420J2 and zytel would be nice. They do come out with a fair amount of interesting designs each year and I would definitely buy more if they were slightly more upscale.
 
Thanks for the info on the logo. I still think it's useless added to the blade as it is. It just looks cheap. I'll have to check out his knives to see how he adds it.

Brian

I just looked at his web page. It looks better there but even he keeps it off many designs. CRKT could have saved the bling money and sharpened the cutter for the bolsters.

B
 
CRKT could have saved the bling money and sharpened the cutter for the bolsters.
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Imagine that. LOL:D I would rather have a knife that worked better than bling myself.
 
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