- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Messages
- 44
I had purchased a CFK knife (1095HC) last week, and was patiently waiting for it's arrival. I did a search here to see if there was any info on the company. I was shocked to say the least. My heart sank after reading most of the info. The knife arrived yesterday. After spending a few minutes looking it over, I was a little confused. I spent $50 on this knife, but it looked fairly decent.
I decided to contact the CFK guy from the "auction" site. I asked him very specifically if this was a premade stamped out blade he put a handle on and called it custom. I even tried to get fancy and posted the legal dictionary link to Misrepresentation, and False Pretenses. I expected a few days to pass before a reply, but to my surprise I spent a little over an hour with him on the phone, 10 minutes after my email was sent out tonight.
He stated when the company was started a year and a few months ago, they tried to get into the typical outdoor stores and various publications. They had a hard time getting space due to the saturation of well known knife brands already out there. They made a few Tom Brown tracker clones, and copied a few other notable designs to sell on the "auction" site. This, he said, was their biggest downfall. CFK was contacted by those knife makers, threatening with copyright laws. Tom Brown is a TM not just a design they were using. This hurt the name CFK obviously. CFK stopped making that specific design and stopped using the Tom Brown name (they still make a variant of the design, legally). He said they clearly made some mistakes early on trying to become a household name in the cutting business, but was making every attempt at making things better from then on.
Since, they have been making knives to sell at wholesale prices on the interwebs. Their idea was to get their knives in the hands of actual users to show the quality of what they were making at an affordable price for the common working man. Thus, putting their money where their mouth is. They have 2 knife "lines" in production. The CFK label (the traditional knife company starting line) and the newer IPak Line. The Ipak line was created by a guy named Jason (He is the guy you see with all the tattoo's) He is a 15 year Army SF vet. The IPak is the less refined, "budget" line.
During our chat, he offered all the information I could take in. Everything from the guys names in Essex, England that grind the blades, their phone numbers and contact information, to the guys in Oregon who put handles on the knives and do the finish work. He gave me general information on numbers of sales, where the leather comes from, and buying bulk steels. He talked about where the company started, where it was heading, the direction he wants to take it, and everything in between. The guy I spoke with seemed genuine and honest.
I am pleased with the knife I received from them. I work with Army Aviation quite closely, and actually took the knife to the Sheet metal shop to use their equipment to run a test. The knife was listed as 1095HC treated to 58-60RC. It hit very close to it, 3 strikes. Close enough that I can't dispute it. I didn't capture the specific pressure used, but the blade did flex 1/2" before we removed the pressure on a flex test. No bend memory or disfigurement. I have yet to take it out to do any "real" use testing, but I have no fear it will hold up under intended use.
This information is not intended to change any ones mind, or take it as gospel. I did not call the people who's information he offered to me, nor did I fly to Oregon and sit down with him and his legal team. This is simply me letting the masses know what information I got from him and my own personal experience with CFK. This was my first CFK purchase, and I will not run away if another good deal presents itself in the future.
I decided to contact the CFK guy from the "auction" site. I asked him very specifically if this was a premade stamped out blade he put a handle on and called it custom. I even tried to get fancy and posted the legal dictionary link to Misrepresentation, and False Pretenses. I expected a few days to pass before a reply, but to my surprise I spent a little over an hour with him on the phone, 10 minutes after my email was sent out tonight.
He stated when the company was started a year and a few months ago, they tried to get into the typical outdoor stores and various publications. They had a hard time getting space due to the saturation of well known knife brands already out there. They made a few Tom Brown tracker clones, and copied a few other notable designs to sell on the "auction" site. This, he said, was their biggest downfall. CFK was contacted by those knife makers, threatening with copyright laws. Tom Brown is a TM not just a design they were using. This hurt the name CFK obviously. CFK stopped making that specific design and stopped using the Tom Brown name (they still make a variant of the design, legally). He said they clearly made some mistakes early on trying to become a household name in the cutting business, but was making every attempt at making things better from then on.
Since, they have been making knives to sell at wholesale prices on the interwebs. Their idea was to get their knives in the hands of actual users to show the quality of what they were making at an affordable price for the common working man. Thus, putting their money where their mouth is. They have 2 knife "lines" in production. The CFK label (the traditional knife company starting line) and the newer IPak Line. The Ipak line was created by a guy named Jason (He is the guy you see with all the tattoo's) He is a 15 year Army SF vet. The IPak is the less refined, "budget" line.
During our chat, he offered all the information I could take in. Everything from the guys names in Essex, England that grind the blades, their phone numbers and contact information, to the guys in Oregon who put handles on the knives and do the finish work. He gave me general information on numbers of sales, where the leather comes from, and buying bulk steels. He talked about where the company started, where it was heading, the direction he wants to take it, and everything in between. The guy I spoke with seemed genuine and honest.
I am pleased with the knife I received from them. I work with Army Aviation quite closely, and actually took the knife to the Sheet metal shop to use their equipment to run a test. The knife was listed as 1095HC treated to 58-60RC. It hit very close to it, 3 strikes. Close enough that I can't dispute it. I didn't capture the specific pressure used, but the blade did flex 1/2" before we removed the pressure on a flex test. No bend memory or disfigurement. I have yet to take it out to do any "real" use testing, but I have no fear it will hold up under intended use.
This information is not intended to change any ones mind, or take it as gospel. I did not call the people who's information he offered to me, nor did I fly to Oregon and sit down with him and his legal team. This is simply me letting the masses know what information I got from him and my own personal experience with CFK. This was my first CFK purchase, and I will not run away if another good deal presents itself in the future.
