BoxBladeMora, Sanrenmu, budget Bestechs, Ruike, and Kizer's Tangram line all use steels that are only slightly more pricey than 4116 and 8cr13, but are hands down better blade steels and their costs are comparable or better than CRKT prices.
Especially once you consider the fact that CRKT typically has lower-grade fit and finish than any of those companies.
CRKT even has the nerve to make their really well designed small EDC fixed blades in 3cr and 5cr, it's absolutely insufferable. I would like them if they quit offering interesting looking KLOs at minimum possible cost/highest tolerable margin.
OmniseedI agree. However their one try at better materials was a disaster with the Hootenanny. They better upgrade some because what you said about other budget lines is right on. Sad thing is they have some nice designs.
BoxBladeAh, the infamous "S30v" hootenanny that rusted if you looked at it funny. Turned out it was stamped S30v but was actually far cheaper non-stainless carbon steel. If their production facilities can't tell the difference between carbon and S30v, they're incompetent (the machining time/wear on tooling and machinery would make this OBVIOUS). If they substituted knowingly, they are corrupt. I can't decide which is worse, but neither is representative of a company I would buy something from.
Notsurewhyibother"Incompetent at best" is exactly the kind of company you don't buy tools from, it's amazing that they allowed that Hootenanny debacle to happen.
NotsurewhyibotherThey don't have production facilities. They have offices. Everything is outsourced. CRKT is just the store front selling marked up knives under an American facade. Not that they claim anything is American made.
Only buy CRKT when you are really in love with the design. I want the HVAS, but I don't think it is worth the field strip gimmick mark up.
Why is CRKT so scared of good materials?
Especially once you consider the fact that CRKT typically has lower-grade fit and finish than any of those companies.
CRKT even has the nerve to make their really well designed small EDC fixed blades in 3cr and 5cr, it's absolutely insufferable. I would like them if they quit offering interesting looking KLOs at minimum possible cost/highest tolerable margin.
Only buy CRKT when you are really in love with the design. I want the HVAS, but I don't think it is worth the field strip gimmick mark up.