patriot 7,197 Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I bought a CRKT Wild Weasel assisted knife some years ago. It was good, until one day the spring broke. I thought, "No big deal, it's American maden and has a lifetime warranty" and arranged to send it in for repair. "No can do" I was told by CRKT, but we'll give you full retail credit for anything from our catalog." I thought "Cool" and when the catalog arrived I ordered a Notorious assisted folder. It arrived. It was so stiff that I almost tore the skin off my thumb trying to open it. Looking at the box, it's made in China. Figures. That explains why the angles on the mechanism are so crooked they look like a drunk monkey with a file did them. I contacted CRKT again, and explained the defect. After telling my how to press on a thumb stud, I got instructions to ship the defective knife back. I told them I'd rather have my knife with the broken spring back. At least I could use it, and if that wasn't possible, I wanted a refund. What good is a lifetime warranty when they replace it with a piece of shit when it needs a part? The company is CRKT. Columbia River Knife and Tool, and I will never buy another product of theirs again. Piece of shit company. Don't buy their crap. They obviously care nothing for quality. Kershaw here I come. American made. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L5K 162 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Buck 110 Not fancy, works every time. My dad still has the one he bought in 1971. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan 2,343 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I have a CRKT knife and it's been a great knife for years. Some of their knives could be crap, but not this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I bought a CRKT Wild Weasel assisted knife some years ago. It was good, until one day the spring broke. I thought, "No big deal, it's American maden and has a lifetime warranty" and arranged to send it in for repair. "No can do" I was told by CRKT, but we'll give you full retail credit for anything from our catalog." I thought "Cool" and when the catalog arrived I ordered a Notorious assisted folder. It arrived. It was so stiff that I almost tore the skin off my thumb trying to open it. Looking at the box, it's made in China. Figures. That explains why the angles on the mechanism are so crooked they look like a drunk monkey with a file did them. I contacted CRKT again, and explained the defect. After telling my how to press on a thumb stud, I got instructions to ship the defective knife back. I told them I'd rather have my knife with the broken spring back. At least I could use it, and if that wasn't possible, I wanted a refund. What good is a lifetime warranty when they replace it with a piece of shit when it needs a part? The company is CRKT. Columbia River Knife and Tool, and I will never buy another product of theirs again. Piece of shit company. Don't buy their crap. They obviously care nothing for quality. Kershaw here I come. American made. That's disappointing to hear. I was going to pick up a CRKT knife at some point, after seeing my buddy's in action. We used his CRKT to pry open a car door, and held it like that for quite awhile. With the force that was on the blade, I was surprised the blade didn't snap in half or at least break off of the handle, so I was impressed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IndyArms 10,186 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I own several CRKT knives, and all have been EXCELLENT for the price. In fact I have a CRKT in my pocket right now. My EDC is the Carson M21-02G. Its a robust, and ROCK SOLID knife that I am CONFIDENT to use as a pry tool, as well as whatever else I need it for. And it holds a wicked edge! It locks up tighter than a Nun's snapper, and is just an all around RUGGED knife. I am surprised your experience was so bad... You got a FLUKE... and I would bet thats all... Sorry to hear it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted March 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Believe me, the quality of workmanship on this knife is awful. The angle where the blade rests against the spring is far too steep, and nowhere near true, making it all but impossible to open. I doubt there's a parallel mating surface anywhere near the spring mating surfaces. The edge looks like it was done on a belt sander, and the liner lock mates with a crooked bevel against the base of the blade. What a piece of crap. The design looks sound, and probably would have been a really nice knife, but poor quality control in that third world toilet China ruined this knife. They replaced a $130 America made knife that was butter smooth and fast with this? Some warranty. They can go to hell. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Juggernaut 11,054 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Horton steel and the ragin' gimp! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I've had a CRKT for years without malfunction of any kind. Mine is marked 'Made in Italy,' not China. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slostang 80 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Ive carried CRKT products for years and i love em. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vitaminb531 0 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I have only handled one crkt and it seemed like a good blade. Personally i am a SOG guy. Their customer service is crazy good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted March 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) Their older stuff was good, which is why I went with them in the first place. Now, all their stuff is made in Taiwan or China. I have email from their CSR stating that. Italian knives are damned good. It's a shame they moved manufacturing to China. They ruined a good product. Edited March 12, 2011 by patriot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 One word. Benchmade. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted March 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 One word. Benchmade. One word: Copies. Nothing original. Sorry, the only thing Benchmade impresses me with is their prices. My posting was to warn of a formerly decent manufacturer whose quality has gone down the toilet. They now don't manufacture. They resell Chinese crap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GREYLUPO 358 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 You want a good pocket knife for edc/defence give the spyderco military a try or the Al Mar sere 2000. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uzitiger 193 Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I've had a CRKT for years without malfunction of any kind. Mine is marked 'Made in Italy,' not China. I also do and I have a knife I got from JPFO which is US made and is a good one. It's a shame that CRKT is bringing crappy knives made in China. I can get a Chinese made knife for a couple of bucks, why should I pay for the CRKT name if they import them from China? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrOneEyedBoh 14 Posted March 13, 2011 Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 Emerson knives all the way. ITs the fastest deploying knife Ive seen/know of. It looks faster than a switchblade and IMO is. With the wAve feature on the Emerson, as you pull the knife out its already in the process of deploying. With a swtichblade you have to pull it out and still hit the release button. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted March 13, 2011 Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 One word. Benchmade. One word: Copies. Nothing original. Sorry, the only thing Benchmade impresses me with is their prices. My posting was to warn of a formerly decent manufacturer whose quality has gone down the toilet. They now don't manufacture. They resell Chinese crap. Sorry for the threadjack patriot. If Benchmade truly copied blades, they'd soon be in court. I have several auto openers and fixed blade models issued by the military. And no problems with any. All have been used and abused while deployed on a daily basis btw. Sorry to hear about your luck with CRKT. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackback 135 Posted March 13, 2011 Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 Italian knives are damn good i.e Extrema Ratio. My CRKT M16-14ZSF has served me well for almost 5 years now. Mine is Taiwan made. So at least its not Chicom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fumes 84 Posted March 13, 2011 Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 Note to OP not all Kershaws are US made either. I have a storm II and it is but some of their others are made in China or from Chinese steel anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrOneEyedBoh 14 Posted March 13, 2011 Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 You cant really knock Chinese/Japanese steels... As long as the QC is there and the company is stiff on their QC then it will be good to go. Spyderco has quite a few knives made in Japan and China. And those are just as good as my USA knives. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted March 13, 2011 Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 Benchmade has their "Eversharp" program where you can send it in to get a factory edge back on it at no cost. If it is a folder or auto opener, they'll give it a free tune-up as well. Not many knife makers do this. If you are military, they expedite the process for you. Of all the various knives the military ever issued me, Benchmades are the sharpest out of all of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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