CRKs are one of those brands that tend to require a break in period. This isn't shoddy fit on their part, it just allows for a finely tuned knife to work itself in pretty near perfect spec.
I have a large Inkosi I bought in 2019, and while I don't carry it all the time, it's worn in to be one of the most glass like folders in my collection.
When I first got mine I took it apart to remove the lanyard. I found that after I put it back together with the grease and locktite that perfect action for me was to crank it just north of snug then give the wrench a backspace of loose. I don't care for floppy and drop-shutty, and this resulted in a knife that was silky smooth if not "fast". I've taken it apart maybe 3 more times since then, and this configuration seems to work well for me.