Convince me.

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Alpha3

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I own MANY knives, but not a Chris Reeves. I keep thinking about it, but haven’t yet taken the leap. I understand they make a high quality knife, that is a grail for many, but then I think it’s just two slabs of titanium with a blade, and washers: not even ceramic ball bearings. I can buy 2 or 3 nice quality knives for the price of one CRK. Knives with so much more machining and unique designs, rather than a CRK that is so basic. So please talk me into buying a CRK Sebenza 31 or an Inkosi. Thanks in advance for your input.
 
You should never let yourself be talked into a knife.

But,

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The attention to fit , finish and minutia is superior to everything else I own . I appreciate that . I tend to be a nit picky bastard when it comes to my tools so . . . they impressed me.

As far as bearings in the pivot that is actually kind of a bad idea as far as a work knife the design is weaker and when grit gets into it . ..
Lets just say a pivot with washers is stronger twisting / prying wise (lets say you fell down a well and had to twist and pry to save your life . . . OK . . . OK ) .
When a knife is well made : surfaces truly parallel and flat and smooth the washer pivot is going to drop or pivot about as well as bearings . And I am a guillotine like dropper fan .

The blade on my 21 drops with a "hydraulic" like pace ever so slightly slower than one of my Spydercos that I have put VERY light lube in and left some play in the pivot these latter drop WHAMMO quick even though they are washers.
I left my 21 as it came from the factory . I know that if I put the light lube in it and backed off the pivot screw like a degree it would drop quick as well.
I just enjoy it as Chris Reeve intended and am HAPPY as it is .

The blade on mine came with pretty much the best edge / geometry / sharpness I have experienced on a stock from the factory knife .
My BBB 15V cuts very well and is very sharp but the Chris Reeve has a touch thinner blade behind the edge so it trims finger nails effortlessly ; one of my tests for my own edges that I put on .

Here is a link to my old "review" of mine after I got it . Bare with my silliness at the start . . . there really is a 21 there eventually .
 
Here is something else , some would say fair warning , I don't think there is ANY ISSUE here but some get kind of scared of the thumb studs.
Read my post there then . . . if you dare read the rest of the thread .
 
They are very well made knives, easy to maintain and have exvellent customer service, if you need it. They make a great edc, but they don't have have a lot of needless bells and whistles. As already stated, it is best to try one and see how you like it. Trying one is the only way to get it out of your system, one way or another. No knife is going to be everyones favorite.
 
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If you value more machining, ceramic ball bearings, and 2-3 knives for the price of one; then maybe it's not for you. If you value a design icon of the utmost precision made by American workers, then it's hard to beat. In your living room, would you prefer a La-Z-Boy, or an original Eames lounge chair?

I've never felt like mine lacks in uniqueness

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Here's my honest thoughts: You don't want one. You want to be convinced that you don't want one. The Sebbie is considered a grail by many because we came up in a time when a full slab titanium handle married to a blade that was to such tight tolerances that your could take it apart and put it back together and it would behave EXACTLY like how it was out of the box.

My grail/reward knife was an Inkosi I purchased in 2019. I was bummed because the 21 was discontinued then, and if I was going to go with a ball bearing lock up, then I was going to get a bigger knife.

Even still, the CRK is the one knife I have that is easily tuned to whatever I want to do with it. It's a prized possession.

Now, if you asked me which knife I have that out Chris Reeves a Chris Reeves in terms of functional quality yet still old school? Spartan SHF checks off the boxes of tight tolerance titanium and premium steel using an old school Ti on Steel lock up.

Even still, I would give up my Spartans over my Inkosi simply because of what it means to me.
 
I had an Inkosi Insingo and liked it. But it was more knife than I cared to carry much. And I prefer a good lockback. Gave it to my grandson. It was a worthwhile experiment for sure. You won't know unless you try one. Second the motion to buy used. Lower cost and possibly broken in. Which they do need.
 
DMG said:
I'm not sure why you think ceramic ball bearings are some sort of necessity or even an advantage in a knife that will see real world use. A CRK is a pure example of form following function.
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+ 1! I’ve sold off all but one folder with bearings and springs. The CRK’s ( Emerson’s, SHF’s & Les George’s ) can be dropped in dirt, submerged, and require minimal maintenance at most. CRK’s seem to age well - they break in, not down.

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Alpha3 said:
I own MANY knives, but not a Chris Reeves. I keep thinking about it, but haven’t yet taken the leap. I understand they make a high quality knife, that is a grail for many, but then I think it’s just two slabs of titanium with a blade, and washers: not even ceramic ball bearings. I can buy 2 or 3 nice quality knives for the price of one CRK. Knives with so much more machining and unique designs, rather than a CRK that is so basic. So please talk me into buying a CRK Sebenza 31 or an Inkosi. Thanks in advance for your input.
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If your metric is buying a nice knife that does all you need a knife to do at a cost effective price, then you can do much better than a CRK folder.........

If your metric is owning something just a little bit special. Built with excellence, exactitude and elegance and something you hope will be a family heirloom, then CRK is for you.

I respect both views.......it's up to you. ;)
 
I remain unconvinced, myself. It's as simple as just not liking them enough to justify the cost. I recognize everything good about the brand, but also that they're not for me. The good news is that you don't have to decide today - if they're as well built as everyone says, they'll be around a while. Convince yourself in a couple years. Or not.
 
I own seven CRKs. My first was a gift from my wife in 1998. They were the first high end (non-custom) knives I ever owned. Even custom makers admitted to me that they couldn't necessarily make a better knife, only a knife which was made to a given customer's desired specs.

There's something special about CRKs to me...but if they don't have the same allure to you, (or anyone else), there is no shame in that and many other options available. Mine, on the other hand, would be among the last knives I would ever consider parting with.
 
ferider said:
I was late to CRKs. What makes them a joy to use compared to my many other knives are the blades. _Very_ good cutters, and the Insingo and single bevel Tantos are unique. Where else can you find a hollow ground sheep’s foot?
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Just to add a pic:

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Unique and useful bladeshapes that cut.

Combine this with the fact that Inkosi and Zaan have (1) custom-made, 0.25" fine threaded pivots, (2) not just PB washers, but PB washers that retain grease, (3) a framelock that is guaranteed to work (will pass spine whacking, etc.), and (3) a great product warranty, and you have winners. If you have other framelocks and like them, might as well get a CRK to try out the original invention.
 
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