Why Buy a CRK?

sfknifeguy

sfknifeguy

Joined
Feb 14, 2019
Messages
585
Hello all,

This is absolutely not meant to be a negative post, I am simply curious and want to hear your thoughts. I am somewhat new to the knife world still. I am in the midst of a trade where I am receiving a CRK Umnumzaan. This will be my very first CRK. I am very excited to see what all the hype is about.

What makes a Chris Reeve's knife such a standard in the knife world? What makes them as highly regarded as they are? To you, are they the golden standard and why, and if they are not, also why?

Why own a Chris Reeve's knife?

Thanks!
 
For me, A simple three screw make up, bronze washer, hollow grind, Ti body framelock did it for me. You are incouraged to take apart to clean it. Consistently on all models across a simple lineup of models. Carried for a couple of years, still the same as the day I got it with scars that are memories.
 
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For a very long time a CRK was the gold standard in tolerance, fit and finish. With the recent advent of CNC technology for production knives, the CRK lead on the rest of the industry has diminished. There are lots of companies out the making knives with great tolerance, fit and finish. But...there's more to CRK than that.

CRK also embody a great design, particularly the Sebenza. There's a beautiful simplicity in a high precision tool that functions perfectly. Not all the CNC shops can match that functionality, in fact many of the new precision CNC knives seem to LACK functionality.

CRKs also bring longevity. Because of the precise fit, they're a knife that you can use for 10 years then pass on with another 10 years of life in it. The CRK shop provides the kind of support needed to enable a lifetime of use.

Now...a couple of caveats. There are some folks for whom a CRK just doesn't work. If that happens to be you, it's not your fault and it's not he knife's fault. We all have different hands and brains and the same tool will never perform optimally for each person.

The other caveat...the Umnamzaan is fairly unique and has it's own learning curve. The opening action is distinct to it and it performs like a much larger knife than it really is. I have a Zaan and love it but I think I still prefer the small Sebenza 21 or the large Inkosi.

Precision, fit, finish, design, functionality, durability, simplicity and excellent support. CRK covers a lot of bases in terms of needs/expectations of a knife user.

Good luck and welcome to the dysfunctional, enabling neighborhood!
 
My boss is an avid hiker/camper. He doesn't accumulate knives or gear , he just buys high quality stuff.
He has a few fixed blades and one folder, a Sebenza.

But he uses it hard, and every few years he sends it back to CRK for a spa treatment, it's returned looking like new.
So for him it's one knife for a lifetime.
 
woodysone said:
For me, A simple three screw make up, bronze washer, hollow grind, Ti body framelock did it for me. You are incouraged to take apart to clean it. Consistently on all models across a simple lineup of models. Carried for a couple of years, still the same as the day I got it with scares that are memories.
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Wonderful, thanks for this, I appreciate it!
 
I have Sebenzas and the simplicity, ease, speed and convenience of disassembly, cleaning and reassembly are extraordinary. In addition to that, the blade always and effortlessly goes right back to being perfectly centered. The % of lockup is at a level that almost no other manufacturers can rival. The overall build quality is as robust and durable as could be hoped for. CRK tolerances and quality control also set industry standards that few if any other manufacturers rival.

Look at the CRK website and check out the awards CRK designs have received. I believe no other manufacturer has a string of awards like what you’ll see there and the reason for that is that CRK designs are industry leaders. I don’t have any other framelock thumbstud openers that even approach the CRK design or manufacturing quality levels.

Others will likely cry about the thumb stud being problematic, but I don’t see that as a valid complaint. My Sebenza thumbstuds haven’t yet caused me to be hospitalized, necessitated surgery or even injured me. Others will likely cry about CPMS35VN not being an adequately trendy/stylish/popular steel for them, but it works fine for me and it’s not hard to sharpen. I don’t find it critically important to have all my blades made of the single most popular fashion rage steel of the moment.

I have more knives made by other manufacturers and made of more currently popular steels than I have S35VN CRK’s, but my CRK’s remain as the workhorses of my stable. They’re not the be-all and end-all of folding knives and they aren’t perfect in every imaginable way, but they’re the working class core of my collection. In addition to that, CRK also puts out collectible-quality CGG and UG Sebenzas and occasional LE’s and show special LE's that I think are pretty cool. On top of all the above, CRKs resell at price levels that knives made by very few other manufacturers even come close to rivaling. That last point alone pretty much says it all.

Thus endeth today’s sermon.
 
Agree w/ all of the above and especially Hackenslash Hackenslash 's point about the Zaan.

The Zaan can be a love it or hate it design for some. It's just as high quality and impressive as the Sebenza and Inkosi but the physical design can turn some people off. It can have a couple hot spots for some, especially around the lock bar where you thumb hits. For me, it's a non issue. For some, it's a deal breaker. Although I say "suck it up buttercup" to most of those people.

Having said that, if you don't fall in love with the Zaan for some reason, don't give up on CRK. Trade it for a Sebenza. There will be plenty of takers. But, I'm guessing you will love the Zaan. It's one hell of a knife and I love mine.

Be sure and post your thoughts when you get it and even if not immediately in love with it, carry it for a couple weeks. It will grow on you!
 
I have owned several. They are no better than the myriad of nicer modern CNC made folders out there. Their claim to innovation is diminishing daily as the next high end maker puts out the next greatest knife.
They have positioned themselves in the middle of the road where next level less expensive knives are passing them by with tighter CNC tolerances and the same quality materials plus in many cases much better steel.
I recently picked up watch repair as a hobby, if you work under magnification you will only be lying to yourself to say CRK is really better than the average ZT in precision and materials.
 
I'm getting my first CRK tomorrow, a Zaan as well, although one the shop owner modded a bit per my request. What do I expect? A functional no frills tool that will cut things. I don't think it will neither particularly blow me away but at the same time I think I'll be quite happy with owning and using it. To me it feels like getting a Lexus GS, it's not gonna wow me like a LC500 would, nor would it bore me like a Camry would. It will be good quality, reliable and something that will be able to get my commute done well enough.
 
They are top notch quality(and have the awards to go with it), without a lot of bells and whistles and CS is great . I prefer the Sebenza, and it is extremely easy to maintain To me they are what a knife was intended to be and make a great EDC-carry well, not too heavy, durable , but blades not too thick as to be pry bars. That said there is a lot of Hype surrounding them as with all the top makers. I think they are well worth giving them a try( and I suggest a good try), but only you will be able to say if they are the knife for you. They are still only a knife and it won't be a life changing experience.
 
I have handled CRKs, but never owned one, so I don't have as much experience as others who have commented. I picked it up, thought about it, looked at the price tag and returned it to the clerk. In my view, CRKs surpass the point of diminishing marginal returns. Then yesterday I ordered yet another knife that I need like a size 12 boot in the ass. Don't listen to me.
 
sfknifeguy said:
To you, are they the golden standard and why, and if they are not, also why?
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Not at all. I do not like framelocks. I do not like thumbstuds. I do not like metal handled knives.

sfknifeguy said:
Why own a Chris Reeve's knife?
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So you can show everyone that you're a serious knife person and that you obviously care about quality unlike those peasants who don't like CRK knives.
 
Stumpy72 said:
I have Sebenzas and the simplicity, ease, speed and convenience of disassembly, cleaning and reassembly are extraordinary. In addition to that, the blade always and effortlessly goes right back to being perfectly centered. The % of lockup is at a level that almost no other manufacturers can rival. The overall build quality is as robust and durable as could be hoped for. CRK tolerances and quality control also set industry standards that few if any other manufacturers rival.

Look at the CRK website and check out the awards CRK designs have received. I believe no other manufacturer has a string of awards like what you’ll see there and the reason for that is that CRK designs are industry leaders. I don’t have any other framelock thumbstud openers that even approach the CRK design or manufacturing quality levels.

Others will likely cry about the thumb stud being problematic, but I don’t see that as a valid complaint. My Sebenza thumbstuds haven’t yet caused me to be hospitalized, necessitated surgery or even injured me. Others will likely cry about CPMS35VN not being an adequately trendy/stylish/popular steel for them, but it works fine for me and it’s not hard to sharpen. I don’t find it critically important to have all my blades made of the single most popular fashion rage steel of the moment.

I have more knives made by other manufacturers and made of more currently popular steels than I have S35VN CRK’s, but my CRK’s remain as the workhorses of my stable. They’re not the be-all and end-all of folding knives and they aren’t perfect in every imaginable way, but they’re the working class core of my collection. In addition to that, CRK also puts out collectible-quality CGG and UG Sebenzas and occasional LE’s and show special LE's that I think are pretty cool. On top of all the above, CRKs resell at price levels that knives made by very few other manufacturers even come close to rivaling. That last point alone pretty much says it all.

Thus endeth today’s sermon.
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Thank you for this, I really appreciate all of the insight! It seems so strange to me that CRK is either loved or hated in the knife community.
 
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