Sidearms & Scatterguns CRKT Knives

[ArcticLight]

Review - good or bad?

I picked up one when I was buying my K98, it just said "Get me"...

Mine is the STIFF K.I.S.S.

Rather like it, lightweight, sharp...


Here's one on e-bay, not sure if this is new or discontinued.

Appears to be discontinued, very nice knife.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280700007639

 

[krw]

Re: CRKT Knives

I actually have a Stiff Kiss like yours. Had it probly 5yrs and ain't used it. Have a couple of the M16? series, tanto style and not real fond of them. Not a real CRKT fan.

 

[dvdt]

Re: CRKT Knives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I actually have a Stiff Kiss like yours. Had it probly 5yrs and ain't used it. Have a couple of the M16? series, tanto style and not real fond of them. Not a real CRKT fan. </div></div>

Same here. I've gone through 3 CRKT M16s in the last 5-6 yrs. CRKT makes it right each time, but they fall apart. I found a deal on a benchmade and have had it for nearly 3 yrs and it's been g2g since.

That is a nice looking knife. The M16s were folders and the little knurled piece that locks the blade keeps poping out on mine.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: CRKT Knives

CRKT are not bad knives. Definitely better than most of the brands they sell at Wally world and such. However, I got a Benchmade and the quality is far superior. I prefer the locking system of the Benchmade to the CRKT. The knife locks and unlocks (only when I want it to) like glass.

It is definitely not a bad purchase depending on what you paid. Seeing as it is not a folder may help it out in the longevity department.

Josh

 

[Jim_D303]

Re: CRKT Knives

Their steel is too soft, IMO. The bend at the tanto point wears fast, then it's a bitch trying to get that corner nice and angular again.

For any blades that I'm going to use on any frequent basis, I personally think it's worth it to spend a few more dollars and get a Spyderco/ Benchmade/ ZT/ Emerson/ etc. up front.

I've got 3 years of EDC on a Benchmade 525 and the blade and lock might as well be like new on it.

 

[Schleifalot]

Re: CRKT Knives

Ten years ago I bought a stiff kiss with the drop point. Nice to look at, but dangerous to slip your fingers up to the edge.
The steel was too soft. I mean too soft to whittle something harder than bread without rolling the edge. Mine dulled while i whittled at a fir branch......

 

[paraman1]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have several of the M16's and they pretty much soured me on the rest of the line for the simple fact that the liner locks on both of them eventually failed and they only stay sharp for about 2 minutes . I have a couple 20+ year old Gerbers and an old Schrade pocket knife that I much prefer .

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: CRKT Knives

Thanks, I may have to consider trying some heat treating, maybe do a clay quench on it to harden only the blade itself....

I have a friend who can do this for me....

I only paid $32 for it, decent knife and it will ONLy be used in the event of an emergency...it's a skinny blade and would be a good defensive weapon...

I just like how lightweight it is, slender...

On the other hand Maybe i'll get one of the guys on the Nihonto forum to do me up a blade.

 

[VKC]

Re: CRKT Knives

Agree that it is a decent knife for it's price.

 

[hondakilla98]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have had multiple crkt knives. They are good for the price range they are in. But for a little more I'd rather have a Sog. I e had my Sog x-ray vision for 5 years and it's still great.

 

[maccrazy2]

Re: CRKT Knives

I had 2 folders and had problems with both. First one would fold up on me when using it. the replacement was worse, it did not even come close to holding the blade securely when open.
I will stick with better quality knives

 

[Jig Stick]

Re: CRKT Knives

Go Strider and don't look back

 

[smokshwn]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have had a Stiff KISS in the leg pocket of my turnout gear for just the purpose you describe. I've used it several times for its quick utility and it has proven to be a great little knife for $20.

 

[nashlaw]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have one of the M16 folders in my pocket at this moment. I like it for what it is(cutting twine for tying up tomatoes, most recently). I am pondering a Benchmade- every man needs a good rifle, a reliable handgun and a good knife.

Also, because of the price, I don't cry so much when I lose them.

 

[mlh29]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have had numerous CRKT knives, they are decent for the price, as with most manufacturers there are good to go products and then there are products they make that are crap.
I like the vielle wasp, m21 in smaller styles, anubis( have 2 converted to spring assist) many m16 variants ( lock tight is your friend on these models)
Most are aus 8 or cm154 blades, hold a decent edge and are solidly built for the cash out lay.
They are imho better than gerber, buck, the cheaper spyderco's, kershaws etc.

They are not in the same class as strider, emerson, higher benchmades( although I do prefer my crkt as the blades are usually thicker than the benchmades I have owned) or even the new high quality Ontario folders( not the rats but the XM series )

I guess it all depends on user preference.. If you feel like you got a good deal and you like the knife.. then dont let someone talk shit about your deal or knife.. enjoy it

 

[ubet]

Re: CRKT Knives

ESEE, Emmerson, and soon to own a microtech for me. I am done with shitty cheap knives. Have spent enough money on shitty knives, that I could have bought microtech (not really but you could imagine).

 

[RGraff]

Re: CRKT Knives

When I had my machine shop I cold called them to see if they had any work they might outsource. They were very cordial and friendly but made it clear that they did virtually no manufacturing of their own. Their products were made "over-seas" and they had no need for a local vendor.

Sort of surprised me. I assumed they were a local company (Columbia River Knife and Tool) with made in America products. This was around four years ago and things may have changed but who knows.

 

[mattja99]

Re: CRKT Knives

I guess I have a different opinion, I have carried a titanium M16-14T since 2004 and it has been a great knife. I choose it over my auto benchmade, spyderco's, gerber etc. I have never had it fail and it is actually faster to open with the "nub" on the back than my benchmade auto. It also is thinner and rides better in the pocket. The blade has been just as durable as any of the other quality lockblades I have used. Yes, the corner on the angle of the tanto does get dull...because it's a tanto and that corner bears most of the cutting duty most of the time, when opening boxe's ect. I will probably use it another 10 years. I would check the hardness of your blade before considering another heat treat, it may be unnecessary.

 

[ggmanning]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have a different opinion. I have some real decent knives...skin my animals with a Backwoods custom and Esee 4,5. Also carry a Microtech Troodon often. I also have a CRKT M4 assisted opening. As far as a pocket folder if I am going to need a knife vs a box/letter opener I carry the CRKT and the MT stays home. For a higher dollar piece the MT is constantly needing me to work on it for it to function. It has been back to the factory and a week later same thing....won't spring fully open. Yea the CRKT was cheap by comparison but holds an edge and very much unlike the MT, it works every time!

 

[Arbiter]

Re: CRKT Knives

I've carried various M16 models for 4-5 years now, and unfortunately I can't seem to find any knife at any price that fits me better. The cheap Zytel Chinese M16s that were $20 at Wal-Mart won't hold up for very long, but the Taiwanese aluminum-handle models work well. The blade definitely doesn't hold an edge like a better knife would, but the AUTO-LAWKS is extremely fast and comfortable for me to use; I can open and close one-handed without thinking about it.

As nice as Benchmades are, I simply can't get used to the Axis lock, and most of their models just don't fit my hand. I've been to the Spyderco factory, tried literally every model they have in production, and again, none of them felt right.

The only knifes other than the M16 that I feel happy with tend to be $600+ customs...so I'll stick with the simple stuff until I win the lottery.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Re: CRKT Knives

I have a lot of experience with CRKT products. Like all companies, most of their products are excellent and then there are a couple not so good. Overall, the company goes to great lengths to insure quality control - especially from the overseas products. They have made a real name for themselves with collborations with famous custom knifemakers that allow the "average Joe" to own a custom designed production knife for a fraction of the cost of a handmade custom. To my knowledge, CRKT has always stood behind their products and offered "over the counter exchange" for any defective merchandise.

George P.

 

[Bosshoff]

Re: CRKT Knives

I've had a KISS folder clipped to my pocket for ten years. Only problem is that I find it difficult to sharpen. Good all around knife for boxes, etc.

 

[deersniper]

Re: CRKT Knives

Ive had good with the m16 series. Good for farm work,