Hello everybody. I am new here and thought I'd post a mini review of the crkt wild weasel. I already posted this in a response to another thread, but I figured I would give the wild weasel its own thread in the reviews forum. I have not put much use into the wild weasel so I will follow up this mini-review with a testing review after my three month trip to the amazonian rainforest in peru with the knife.
The CRKT Wild Weasel seems like a keeper. It has 154cm steel(same as ATS34?). The linear lock is a little tight to unlock in my model. I examined two models of this knife in the store. One had a smooth easy to use linear lock and the other's linear lock was tight and stiff. I bought the stiffer one because I figured that it would proove to be more hardy in keeping a tight lock, and in hoping that it will break in with use. After a day's use it has become easier to unlock. The satin finish on the blade and handle is nice, seems scratch resistent, and feels good to the touch. The rubber inserts on the handle are flush with the metal and they give me a secure feeling of grip while holding the knife. I have large hands and I do not think the handle is too small for me. I just bought a crkt M16-10ke EDC(green handle w/black tanto combo edge) and returned it right away because the handle was too small(although nice for a tiny sized cutter), and because it had a single hollow ground edge for lefties. I exchanged it for the Wild Weasel, and I love it. The Weasel opens hard, fast, and smooth with a lot of force. The thumb opening is quick and easy(just like a regular one handed thumb stud opener). I have no worries about cutting myself when opening the blade. The assisted opening spring does not come into action until the blade is about 1/2 inch open, and the blade opens a little stiff until it does. I like this because it eliminates any fear of the knife opening in my pocket and it means that a safety lock in unecessary. The stiff opening until the spring comes into action does not affect the quickness...It opens extremely fast with just a nudge or flick of the thumb. It is also easy to close with one hand with not too much resistance. This knife filled all my requirements when searching for my new EDC knife: zero play in the blade when open, fits great in my large hand, blade is super sharp straight from the factory, and its made out of 154cm. It just feels like a high quality production knife.
I was at the knife dealer for about 2 hours looking at different knives. I handled the SOG flash 2, Sog trident folder, Kershaw Ken Onion Leek, and the Buck Tempest with ATS34 steel. All of these knives are great. It came down to either the buck tempest or the wild weasel because of the 154cm/ATS34 steels. Out of all the knives(except for the Leek)these two had the least amount of play(virtually zero play). I chose the wild weasel mostly because it just felt right in my hand(although i do like the point up clip and flipper opener on the buck a lot). I probably would have gone with the Leek if it had 154cm/ATS34 steel although the Wild weasel still felt more natural in my hand than any of the other knives I looked at. It also feels like it has substance, not too heavy, not too light. It feels like a solid knife and time will only tell when it comes to performance. I think this is a knife that can bring new light to crkt in the eyes of knife handlers and collectors. I will still probably buy the Leek as a back-up/cardboard cutter for the thin blade and because the design and assisted opening is very attractive, but I will wait for the S30V version with G10 handle.
So far I am really enjoying this knife! It says made in the U.S.A.(I'd rather see that on my knife than made in Taiwain), and it says 154cm on the blade. The Weasel would be even better with the addition of a flipper opener on the back, and a point-up positioned clip.
-j
The CRKT Wild Weasel seems like a keeper. It has 154cm steel(same as ATS34?). The linear lock is a little tight to unlock in my model. I examined two models of this knife in the store. One had a smooth easy to use linear lock and the other's linear lock was tight and stiff. I bought the stiffer one because I figured that it would proove to be more hardy in keeping a tight lock, and in hoping that it will break in with use. After a day's use it has become easier to unlock. The satin finish on the blade and handle is nice, seems scratch resistent, and feels good to the touch. The rubber inserts on the handle are flush with the metal and they give me a secure feeling of grip while holding the knife. I have large hands and I do not think the handle is too small for me. I just bought a crkt M16-10ke EDC(green handle w/black tanto combo edge) and returned it right away because the handle was too small(although nice for a tiny sized cutter), and because it had a single hollow ground edge for lefties. I exchanged it for the Wild Weasel, and I love it. The Weasel opens hard, fast, and smooth with a lot of force. The thumb opening is quick and easy(just like a regular one handed thumb stud opener). I have no worries about cutting myself when opening the blade. The assisted opening spring does not come into action until the blade is about 1/2 inch open, and the blade opens a little stiff until it does. I like this because it eliminates any fear of the knife opening in my pocket and it means that a safety lock in unecessary. The stiff opening until the spring comes into action does not affect the quickness...It opens extremely fast with just a nudge or flick of the thumb. It is also easy to close with one hand with not too much resistance. This knife filled all my requirements when searching for my new EDC knife: zero play in the blade when open, fits great in my large hand, blade is super sharp straight from the factory, and its made out of 154cm. It just feels like a high quality production knife.
I was at the knife dealer for about 2 hours looking at different knives. I handled the SOG flash 2, Sog trident folder, Kershaw Ken Onion Leek, and the Buck Tempest with ATS34 steel. All of these knives are great. It came down to either the buck tempest or the wild weasel because of the 154cm/ATS34 steels. Out of all the knives(except for the Leek)these two had the least amount of play(virtually zero play). I chose the wild weasel mostly because it just felt right in my hand(although i do like the point up clip and flipper opener on the buck a lot). I probably would have gone with the Leek if it had 154cm/ATS34 steel although the Wild weasel still felt more natural in my hand than any of the other knives I looked at. It also feels like it has substance, not too heavy, not too light. It feels like a solid knife and time will only tell when it comes to performance. I think this is a knife that can bring new light to crkt in the eyes of knife handlers and collectors. I will still probably buy the Leek as a back-up/cardboard cutter for the thin blade and because the design and assisted opening is very attractive, but I will wait for the S30V version with G10 handle.
So far I am really enjoying this knife! It says made in the U.S.A.(I'd rather see that on my knife than made in Taiwain), and it says 154cm on the blade. The Weasel would be even better with the addition of a flipper opener on the back, and a point-up positioned clip.
-j
