Why are Koenig,Grimsmo,Holt.etc considered a higher tier of knife than Chris reeve,Hinderer,Les George.etc

I’ve owned a Holt before, and while I didn’t personally enjoy the feel of their detent system, I think the Haptic is a more impressive knife than any of the Hinderers or CRKs I’ve had the pleasure of handling and using.

Higher tier is a very subjective term, given price plays a large factor, but if we are comparing regardless of price, I would call a Holt higher tier because of…

Incredible milling inside and out. Incredible action (completely frictionless and drop-shut despite the small blade). A really high level of refinement in their finishes and finishing. Really fine attention to detail on everything from the clip to the lockbar access to the jimping and grinding of the blade.

In the end though, it couldn’t push my NeOn R20 out of my pocket as a small carry, and so I traded it for a very very nice Hinderer.

The Hinderer XM-18 3.5” suffers from just a couple of design flaws in my opinion that make it a slightly less enjoyable large carry for what I want a larger EDC to do. Things like the annoying flipper tab shape (subjective), and lighter detent made it less fun to play with, and though mine had lots of aftermarket niceties, I traded it for a Shiro Quantum Ursus that fits what I like a little better.

So, rant over, what “tier” a knife falls into is completely subjective, even if we remove price as a factor, because everyone likes different things and aspects. Heck, there are a lot of people (myself included) who will ascribe additional value just because a knife was made in a specific place or a small batch with more soul put into it.

…but the Machinewise Sonora might live at the top of my tier list for a while
 
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Opinions are far less powerful than personal experience.

Is your question based on personal experience?

Or a hypothetical position?

Only a few can answer the former.

1,000 times that can answer the latter.
 
Leo Greer said:
I’ve owned a Holt before, and while I didn’t personally enjoy the feel of their detent system, I think the Haptic is a more impressive knife than any of the Hinderers or CRKs I’ve had the pleasure of handling and using.

Higher tier is a very subjective term, given price plays a large factor, but if we are comparing regardless of price, I would call a Holt higher tier because of…

Incredible milling inside and out. Incredible action (completely frictionless and drop-shut despite the small blade). A really high level of refinement in their finishes and finishing. Really fine attention to detail on everything from the clip to the lockbar access to the jimping and grinding of the blade.

In the end though, it couldn’t push my NeOn R20 out of my pocket as a small carry, and so I traded it for a very very nice Hinderer.

The Hinderer XM-18 3.5” suffers from just a couple of design flaws in my opinion that make it a slightly less enjoyable large carry for what I want a larger EDC to do. Things like the annoying flipper tab shape (subjective), and lighter detent made it less fun to play with, and though mine had lots of aftermarket niceties, I traded it for a Shiro Quantum Ursus that fits what I like a little better.

So, rant over, what “tier” a knife falls into is completely subjective, even if we remove price as a factor, because everyone likes different things and aspects. Heck, there are a lot of people (myself included) who will ascribe additional value just because a knife was made in a specific place or a small batch with more soul put into it.

…but the Machinewise Sonora might live at the top of my tier list for a while
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I am actually looking at getting a Quantum Ursus!!
 
I've never handled a Koenig that was less than perfect. I've seen a lot of variability in the action in Hinderer and even Les George. I think Les is underrated at the price point, though. CRK will always be a gold standard, but there are people who want more than what CRK offers, and CRK wants to stick in their lane, so you get these other high-end brands.
 
I think it's more that they're smaller shops, so they don't have the same level of output. Like anything else, that drives up the demand and pricing. It also means they're a little more hands on with each knife. That's why you'll see so much more variability on some of them. Grimsmo is a good example of that. Hinderer, CRK, etc. are more geared towards batches with their production. It doesn't necessarily make one better than the other. The smaller shops just tend to have a more personal feel to their knives. That's my view of it anyway.
 
As someone who's spent years and years of time here, and a few years on Reddit (for all sorts of different topics, including knives, although my knife time there is fizzling out there), and some time on Instagram (strictly knives), I find it funny and strange how different knives become 'top dogs' on different platforms. We talk about the 'Holy Trinity' of knives; CRK, Hinderer, Strider have been the standard here, although Strider has kind of been phasing out over the years for a couple/few other makers. Then on Reddit and Instagram it's been Koenig, Grismo, and Holt, (as well as a few others) like you said.

So it's just different thought pools with different opinions. This place has been around for a very, very long time, I would hazard a guess to say it's the oldest successful, constantly running and relevant knife group online, so we have a lot of tradition that we've run on. Also social media campaigns dont effect us nearly as much except for people coming here from over there. So, it's just different opinions. I much prefer it over here because there's much less drama and I think more people over here who have generally been in the knife game for much longer, and have more knowledge and experience in the field.
 
LimpCroissant said:
As someone who's spent years and years of time here, and a few years on Reddit (for all sorts of different topics, including knives, although my knife time there is fizzling out there), and some time on Instagram (strictly knives), I find it funny and strange how different knives become 'top dogs' on different platforms. We talk about the 'Holy Trinity' of knives; CRK, Hinderer, Strider have been the standard here, although Strider has kind of been phasing out over the years for a couple/few other makers. Then on Reddit and Instagram it's been Koenig, Grismo, and Holt, (as well as a few others) like you said.

So it's just different thought pools with different opinions. This place has been around for a very, very long time, I would hazard a guess to say it's the oldest successful, constantly running and relevant knife group online, so we have a lot of tradition that we've run on. Also social media campaigns dont effect us nearly as much except for people coming here from over there. So, it's just different opinions. I much prefer it over here because there's much less drama and I think more people over here who have generally been in the knife game for much longer, and have more knowledge and experience in the field.
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I agree with my buddy above!!😉👍👍👍
 
I have several CRKs and a Grimsmo Rask. IMHO, the Rask is a step above with respect to milling, action and finish (edges are all very smooth on the Rask). These things, apparently cost.

Other differences include
CRKs need a fairly long time to break in. The Rask is beyond buttery smooth on arrival. The 3.5” bladed Rask weighs about as much as a 3” small Sebenza.

Whether those differences are worth the extra cost depends on the buyer.

For me, there is a place for both in my rotation. Sebenzas are still my go to knives when there’s planned work to be done. The Rask just makes me smile everytime I grab or open it.
 
Told me I'd stay out of this, but I lied. Feels rather trollish, hope I'm wrong.

I think Hinderer offers a broader offering at their production numbers and capabilities. As a more production centric business model. So they have everything from stripped affordable models to silly priced offerings. Add a Ti horsehead scale to a Henderer and boom, you're not far from Grimsmo/Holt/Koenig price territory.

These smaller shops focus on a higher level of attention to aesthetics and don't offer G10, micarta or bare bones PJ. Even the base models are tricked out.

CRk's get up there quick as well with some inlays or etching.

LG is an anomoly. This wont be popular, but frankly I feel that his offerings are 20%-30% less than they could be, all things considered. He is a peoples champ of a King. :)

So not so much a different tier or major qaulity differences, just different marketing and offering approaches.
 
Fonedork said:
They focus on how the knife feels and sounds when you flick it open
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I guess that's different for everybody, and that's why I don't own Koenig, Grismo, Holt, etc. .....

I like them loud and fast instead of "buttery smooth" ! ;)

PS: and, BTW, one can spend silly money on a Hinderer, just an additional Ti scale puts it in Koenig territory .... I once got a $2000 offer on a signature series. Ended up trading it instead, though.
 
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11 years on the forums, and I still don't get the appeal of full titanium handles, milled or plain. But for years Ti knives are what most of these higher end makers (especially American) offer. This is why I buy some of the lesser known brands and outright customs for less money.
 
K.O.D. said:
11 years on the forums, and I still don't get the appeal of full titanium handles, milled or plain. But for years Ti knives are what most of these higher end makers (especially American) offer. This is why I buy some of the lesser known brands and outright customs for less money.
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I see your bet and raise you LG
 

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K.O.D. said:
11 years on the forums, and I still don't get the appeal of full titanium handles, milled or plain. But for years Ti knives are what most of these higher end makers (especially American) offer. This is why I buy some of the lesser known brands and outright customs for less money.
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Strong and substantial with enough heft. No surface maintenance required. Corrosion, sun, salt, heat, cold fortified. Handsome while taking a wide variety of anodizing, heat ano, coatings, stonewashes, blasts, paint, etc.

What's not to love? :)
 
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