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Which CRKT folder should I purchase first?

Bushido185

Bushido185

Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Messages
449
Looking to expand my knife collection to include CRKT. They have a lot of knives that interest me but where should I start? The M16 series and the Ripple appear promising and are in the price range I try to stay within. Once a knife reaches $75 my interest rapidly declines unless there is something that makes it extra special. I prefer 3-4" blades for EDC.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions :)
 
The ripple and m16 both are fairly nice. CRKT seems to be fairly hit and miss for me at least. I had a bad experience with a $30 ripple. Quality and blade steel seemed to lack a little I thought. There are so many other great knives I have kind of stayed away from CRKT. I would give the m16 a try or the ripple. I do hear good things about the m21 and m16 series.
 
I've carried a M16 model for 10 yrs. Fits my needs, not too cumbersome, and held up quite well.
 
Jake_Lucas said:
We LOVE the swindle here, both versions. Crazy smooth per dollar.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with the swindle... I'll have to look that one up. ETA: Sweet looking knife. Does the clip work good?

Do the M16's hold a pretty good edge?
 
If you go with a M16 be aware that they come in different steels or at least they did . The M16's with AUS8 are the best out of what they have to offer. I like the frame lock Ripple with the Acuto steel.
 
The ripple from crkt is a pretty nice knife, the frame lock version is nicer than the liner lock version
 
Not had great experiences with CRKT tbh if you compare the 8CR13MOV used against the same steel used by Spyderco this is one reason .
The bead blast finish rusts easier isn't as sharp having said that they do make nice knives the folts , the spew , and the Razels .
Me although I'd pay I higher in the uk would go for a Razel but aesthetically there are better in the range ATB .
Tried to quickly gauge price I'd go for the hotanashi ? Or the Carson M4 but I maybe out with converting to your budget :).
 
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I don't know the name of the model, but they make a wonderful assisted opener with a double lock open. It's a "barlow" style with a 1/3 length bolster and beautiful curly maple (or maybe birch) scales. Sharpens up easily, but the blade geometry is fairly hollow ground so it takes and holds a good edge. I love mine. Cost was only around $35 if I recall. To boot, the A/O spring is easily accessible and removable (replaceable) with an allen wrench. So you can use it as an A/O or just a thumbstud opener.

I found the designation; it is the M4 series. Comes in stag, wood, lvory like scales. Foudn it at Knife Depot althought a bit more
expensive than I recall.

Rich
 
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Ripple(s) and Eros are pretty nice knives.
Several versions of the Ripple including an Aluminium handled one for ~$30.

I agree CRKT is a mixed bag. They have a lot of interesting ideas, some don't get implemented very well, others do.
QC can vary quite a bit too.

My latest CRKT purchase was the new Free Range. Seems to me a heck of a nice folder for $30. Good ergos and very good F&F.
 
Personally I hate the M16 series, reason being I had 3 (1 and had it replaced 2x) that has a sticky lock, you literally couldn't apply enough force to disengauged it, you had to pry it wih a key or even screwdriver (yes I was operating the auto-lawks, I've read numerous reports of this)

Now the stainless ripple OTOH is an exceptional knife, Acuto+, smooooth action, its more addictive to flip than an BM axis lock. When a friend asks me about CRKT I tell them they've got 4 knives, nothing else is worth the money- the Ripple (preferably the stainless R.I.L. version but all versions are nice, they don't all have Acuto+ but they all have IKBS), the Eros (another IKBS ken onion design), the razels (any flavor, folding or fixed) and the drifter (which isn't a CRKT at all but a rebranded Sanreaman 707).
 
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Get a Ripple. You can get the budget 8Cr13 liner lock version with aluminum handles for around $30, or you can get the fancier framelock Acuto+ stainless handle version in several different colors for around the $60 mark.
 
The Ripple, the Shenanigan and the M16/M21 models are all great for EDC use.

(If you like the heavy duty ones, try the Foresight or the Williams O.N.K. :) )
 
Cereal_killer said:
Personally I hate the M16 series, reason being I had 3 (1 and had it replaced 2x) that has a sticky lock, you literally couldn't apply enough force to disengauged it, you had to pry it wih a key or even screwdriver (yes I was operating the auto-lawks, I've read numerous reports of this.
Click to expand...

Just had the same problem with a Heiho that I recently bought. I contacted customer service and they told me to send it in and they'd either repair or replace it. Really hope all goes well, I've never had to send any other knife back.
 
I love my Ripple. Very fun to flip open, over and over. I have the liner lock version.
 
UnseenK1773R said:
Just had the same problem with a Heiho that I recently bought. I contacted customer service and they told me to send it in and they'd either repair or replace it. Really hope all goes well, I've never had to send any other knife back.
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Don't hold your breath, a new one will arrive quickly but it'll probabily still have or develope the same issue, my first replacement M16(-10kz) did it out of the box (and it was a new replacement, not a repair), the 2nd replacement was ok for about a month or two before it developed the problem, I didnt bother having it replaced again, just tossed it in the drawer and moved on to other brands. I advise everyone against the M16 series all together.

Good luck.
 
I love the M16s! I've got three: M16-12ZER, M16-14SF, and M16-13Z. All three are great knives! I would buy them again in a heart beat. I think the Auto-LAWKS is amazing and they have the best flipper design of any knife I have held so far. You don't have to flick them at all, the blade just flies out. For your first, I would recommend the M16-13Z.
 
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