- Joined
- Jul 1, 2014
- Messages
- 2,097
I have been actively collecting knives for the last three years or so. I've carried a knife with me every day for the last 10 years, but it wasn't until 3 years ago that I made the decision that I was no longer happy carrying a cheap, throw away folder. Up until March 1st of this year I was only interested in traditional slipjoints and fixed blades. I had owned a Benchmade Griptilian, but didn't care too much for it as a carry knife. It was a fine knife, just not for me.
On March 1st of this year I received, via trade, a Spyderco Manix 2. I traded for it mostly to give somebody else the opportunity to get some use out of some slipjoints that were just gathering dust in my basement. I really didn't think I'd like the knife, but figured I could trade it for something I did like or give it away. To my surprise, I really liked the knife and started carrying it. I knew that it wasn't something I'd carry long term, as it was just too big for my needs, but I did enjoy flicking it open and closed and the feel of the knife in hand. I ended up giving the Manix 2 to my father, and he carries it every day and loves it.
I decided that I was going to try to find some modern folders that I could really get into and start using on a regular basis. I had an opportunity to obtain a Hinderer XM-18 and did so, mostly because of the good reviews that they get. I knew it was too big for me, but I was trying to figure out what I liked and what I didn't. I carried it around for a couple weeks and was eventually offered a small carbon fiber Sebenza in trade for the Hinderer.
The Sebenza is another knife that I knew I would not like, but again it's on many people's list of "must have knives". I figured I'd play with it for a while, figure out what I liked and what I didn't, and then I could move it for a knife that I actually wanted using the knowledge I had gained. I have always shaken my head at people that spend thousands of dollars on Chris Reeve knives. To me they all look the same, and they're very plain jane. There isn't anything unique or inspired about the design. They're just a couple slabs of metal screwed together with a blade between them. Nothing special at all. We'd go to knife shows and I would point out the tables that had dozens of CRK knives on them and be baffled at how people could get sucked into the marketing of a product that's so obviously run of the mill. I knew that people touted the high tolerances, but whatever. That's not something I care about, and certainly not something I'm going to spend a small fortune on.
Then my Sebenza came. Within five minutes of opening the box I knew that I'd found my knife. Not that exact knife, it was a righty and I'm a lefty, but I knew that there was something to this CRK thing. I felt like I was holding the modernized version of a classic slipjoint knife. Other than it being made for the wrong hand there was literally nothing I would change about that knife. I didn't carry and use it a whole lot because I knew that I'd be flipping it and didn't want to damage it and lose a bunch of money. However, I was taken with the design and execution.
This week I was able to meet with a dealer and check out the entire Chris Reeve lineup. I handled large and small Sebenzas and Inkosis with and without inserts and graphics, Mnandis, and Umnumzaans. I was able to sell off my Sebenza and use that money to buy my new CRK. My choice was the plain jane small left handed Inkosi.
My knife came in today and I think I'm done. I'm not done buying knives, but I'm done looking for something better. This is it. I can carry this knife for the rest of my life and be fully satisfied. It's everything I've been looking for. If I spent $2000 on a custom knife I would hope that it came out exactly like this Inkosi. There is nothing about it I would change.
I know that this might not be the most interesting read to those of you that have drawers full of CRK knives. However, I'm hoping it might be of interest to somebody that's considering their first CRK. I never thought I'd be a CRK fan and I felt kinda stupid even getting one, but I'm so glad that I listened to those of you who say that everybody should try one.
Here's my new favorite knife:
On March 1st of this year I received, via trade, a Spyderco Manix 2. I traded for it mostly to give somebody else the opportunity to get some use out of some slipjoints that were just gathering dust in my basement. I really didn't think I'd like the knife, but figured I could trade it for something I did like or give it away. To my surprise, I really liked the knife and started carrying it. I knew that it wasn't something I'd carry long term, as it was just too big for my needs, but I did enjoy flicking it open and closed and the feel of the knife in hand. I ended up giving the Manix 2 to my father, and he carries it every day and loves it.
I decided that I was going to try to find some modern folders that I could really get into and start using on a regular basis. I had an opportunity to obtain a Hinderer XM-18 and did so, mostly because of the good reviews that they get. I knew it was too big for me, but I was trying to figure out what I liked and what I didn't. I carried it around for a couple weeks and was eventually offered a small carbon fiber Sebenza in trade for the Hinderer.
The Sebenza is another knife that I knew I would not like, but again it's on many people's list of "must have knives". I figured I'd play with it for a while, figure out what I liked and what I didn't, and then I could move it for a knife that I actually wanted using the knowledge I had gained. I have always shaken my head at people that spend thousands of dollars on Chris Reeve knives. To me they all look the same, and they're very plain jane. There isn't anything unique or inspired about the design. They're just a couple slabs of metal screwed together with a blade between them. Nothing special at all. We'd go to knife shows and I would point out the tables that had dozens of CRK knives on them and be baffled at how people could get sucked into the marketing of a product that's so obviously run of the mill. I knew that people touted the high tolerances, but whatever. That's not something I care about, and certainly not something I'm going to spend a small fortune on.
Then my Sebenza came. Within five minutes of opening the box I knew that I'd found my knife. Not that exact knife, it was a righty and I'm a lefty, but I knew that there was something to this CRK thing. I felt like I was holding the modernized version of a classic slipjoint knife. Other than it being made for the wrong hand there was literally nothing I would change about that knife. I didn't carry and use it a whole lot because I knew that I'd be flipping it and didn't want to damage it and lose a bunch of money. However, I was taken with the design and execution.
This week I was able to meet with a dealer and check out the entire Chris Reeve lineup. I handled large and small Sebenzas and Inkosis with and without inserts and graphics, Mnandis, and Umnumzaans. I was able to sell off my Sebenza and use that money to buy my new CRK. My choice was the plain jane small left handed Inkosi.
My knife came in today and I think I'm done. I'm not done buying knives, but I'm done looking for something better. This is it. I can carry this knife for the rest of my life and be fully satisfied. It's everything I've been looking for. If I spent $2000 on a custom knife I would hope that it came out exactly like this Inkosi. There is nothing about it I would change.
I know that this might not be the most interesting read to those of you that have drawers full of CRK knives. However, I'm hoping it might be of interest to somebody that's considering their first CRK. I never thought I'd be a CRK fan and I felt kinda stupid even getting one, but I'm so glad that I listened to those of you who say that everybody should try one.
Here's my new favorite knife: