Why do you carry a CRK?

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BMCGear

BMCGear

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They're expensive.
They don't have the edge retention that the new super steels have.
The heat treat isn't as high as it should be.
They are not ergonomic.
They need a steel insert on the lock bar and a stabilizer!


Those are the critiques of CRK when I began looking to buy my first. When I joined Bladeforums I had never heard of a Chris Reeve knife and I had never spent more than $65 on a knife. I usually carried something from Wal-mart or a Case. I began dipping my toes in the water of better production knives and thought I'll never spend more than this. But the Sebenza caught my eye and slowly and surely I justified buying my first. :)

Many of the reasons not to buy one were actually reasons that I wanted a Sebenza. I like that the knife is servicable and not heat treated super hard. I don't like the super steels that are flooding the market currently. I want to be able to easily sharpen my knife at home. I don't want to buy a 300 dollar sharpening system and I don't want to send it to someone to have it sharpened. I find the Large 21 to fit my hand perfectly. Although the Sebenza is expensive for me their is something about owning a tool that I know will last and that I can take care of. The Sebenza is well thought out and has been refined over the years. It is extremely dependable. Those are the reasons that I decided to carry a $400 pocket knife. :)
 
1. Debatable, when compared to other knives of this quality.
2. Learn to sharpen a knife.
3. I don't like my blade chipping.
4. False.
5. False.

I agree, there's a lot of people who speak out against buying a CRK. A lot of these points held a lot of sway with me, back when I was obsessed with getting super-steel and choils above all other things. While I definitely think that high-hardness super-steels and fit like a glove ergos have their value/place, they are no longer the only criteria that I consider.
 
I've handled an incredible number of knives, and for me CRK's just have it all... Not Ergo???!!!! They are for me, Had a Randall Galbreath 25 years ago that was incredibly similar, but not as refined, first CRK, still have, a lefty large regular unique... don't remember how I got so lucky to find it, but strong side carry a .45 so weaksided the CRK . Had them all, 21, classic, UM, Minandi , Um's.... if you find one you like better, go with it! 21- Micarta, teeth, ... made breakfast with it, shaved a guitar bridge, opened boxes and mail, only 11 AM ... bring on the day!
 
First off, I don't carry knife - I like to play with it at home only!

That said.

1. CRK price is fair.
2. Yes - Assuming super steel, including current CRKs, having correct heat treat to reap its max benefit. Common sense. It is a trade off, if it is easy to sharpen, then it was soft to begin with. There are sharpening complaints over at the hyped "first response knife" camp with same steel, but having claimed over 60 RC.
3. Yes - CRKs are more for the average. Too high on HRC scale not gonna work for an average owner, imo, current scale is skewed for ease of maintenance.
4. Fine for me.
5. Debatable - not gonna get involved.

All in all, only reason I ended up with my 21 was curious over here says and I want to find out for myself. Inherent low HRC with resulted low edge retention were not an issue for me, since my 21 is just a toy and I have an arsenal of dedicated tools for any form of cuttings. I like working with with titanium, it was fun doing mods to the scales and CRK is great, while shares fantazy fondling duties among my "other" fun folders in my idle moments. :)
 
Mine is decorated. It's always nice to have something pretty that is the "best" in its class :)

The reasons given are only pertinent to those who think they know about knives but really don't know. For example, the sebenza has been fine for years w/o a stabilizer or lock bar insert. Those are solutions in search of a problem :)

That being said, I would never own a plain sebenza, just too ugly :)
 
I find that I carry my used lefty Umnumzaan every day without fail. My original thought was that this was primarily a tactical SD knife. I have yet to find a task needing a blade that this won't handle in a super efficient manner. I'd dare say that if I was limited to just one knife forever, this Umnumzaan would be my choice. I flirt with other knives, but this has become my old faithful friend.
 
brownshoe said:
Mine is decorated. It's always nice to have something pretty that is the "best" in its class :)

The reasons given are only pertinent to those who think they know about knives but really don't know. For example, the sebenza has been fine for years w/o a stabilizer or lock bar insert. Those are solutions in search of a problem :)

That being said, I would never own a plain sebenza, just too ugly :)
Click to expand...

How is your's decorated? Mass produced or had added on personal touch - other than lanyard, beads, out sourced and such?

Although some mod are done with skills, while some not so much. But a plain handle lends itself to imaginations, all without nor to accept, run-of-the-mill pattern/design from a manufacturer and enable one to be personalized.

On the other hand, designs offers from CRK are very nice, if one lacks skill with necessary resource to create something uniquely their own, than, nothing wrong with that. :)
 
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I carry it because they work well, are left handed like me and easy to maintain.
 
- I like how easy it carrys
- its titanium
- how simple it is to dissasemble
- the lockup, This is the thing I noticed right away, ZERO play anywhere. Every single knife i have owned had some play in some direction but not the sebenza.
- The more I carry it the more I like it
 
They are just the best folding knife I have found so far, I have been through a very large amount of knives both production and handmade but the CRKs are the folders I like. :)

The amount of disinformation with CRK is just madness, people say the oddest things and one really has to wonder how much they actually know what they're talking about.....
 
cigarrodog said:
I find that I carry my used lefty Umnumzaan every day without fail. My original thought was that this was primarily a tactical SD knife. I have yet to find a task needing a blade that this won't handle in a super efficient manner. I'd dare say that if I was limited to just one knife forever, this Umnumzaan would be my choice. I flirt with other knives, but this has become my old faithful friend.
Click to expand...
:thumbup:
 
Haze said:
The amount of disinformation with CRK is just madness, people say the oddest things and one really has to wonder how much they actually know what they're talking about.....
Click to expand...

You don't usually have to wonder to very long though;)

I carry a CRK because I like to. If someone questions it (other than here), I generally do not respond...what would be the point?

Another question that I walk away from begins with:
"Why would you pay that much for..."

It's really just a long version of the question, "Want to have a pointless argument?"
 
The amount of disinformation with CRK is just madness, people say the oddest things and one really has to wonder how much they actually know what they're talking about.....[/QUOTE]

LOL thats so true.
Their just the best.
 
unit said:
Another question that I walk away from begins with:
"Why would you pay that much for..."
Click to expand...

Because I can. It didn't cost anymore than their XBox, Coach purse, or whatever. Usually the people that ask that have spent more $ on stupid stuff that they don't even use.
 
I carry a CRK because it is the most dependable knife I own. Enuff said.
 
My Sebenza is the only knife after all these years of other knives that I have grown to appreciate more & more. I became so sure that this is the one knife I would keep forever, I had CRK put my initials on it.
 
They're expensive.
Spend a lot more on cheap knives!
They don't have the edge retention that the new super steels have.
More than sufficient for my needs.
The heat treat isn't as high as it should be.
Says who?
They are not ergonomic.
That's a god one. I've been told that for years, until I found out for myself.
Or as Rick (Casablanca) said: "I've been misinformed".
They need a steel insert on the lock bar and a stabilizer!
Very interesting. If one needs the steel insert, the solution might be an Umnumzaan or the 25.
The stabilizer; while I get the concept I don't feel the need for one on the Sebenza.
I carry my CRK, because it's like a good friend, that won't let me down.
red mag
 
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