[Rupestris]

Nope. No pics yet. I haven't had a chance to take photos of my newest knife.

I just got back from south Georgia where Tropical Storm Fay put a damper on my fishing. I spent a little time hitting the gun shops and found a new shop (opened December 2007) in Statesboro, GA. The service is outstanding there and the prices were very good as well.

I couldn't buy a firearm so I had to settle for a souvenir. A plain edge, CRKT Dogfish. After reading the reviews and recommendations here, I had to have one.

Initial impression:

I love this thing!

The edge was a bit toothy from the factory and the grinds are a bit uneven but nothing that the casual user would ever notice. I'll try to get some pics of what I mean later this week.

I've been using it since I got home last night. This morning I got the stones out and put a cleaner edge on it that scares hair off my arm. I took a couple rubber bands and stretched them to about twice their normal size, just touched the blade to the bands and it went right through.

Afterwords I used it on tonights dinner. A little on the thick side for cutting Roma tomato's but overall, it took care of dinner nicely.

On to a little abuse. After dinner I took my empty Faygo Cola (its a Detroit thing) can and filled it with pool water. Set it on the edge of the pool and took a nice level swipe at it. The Dogfish left a 3" slice in the can with little deformation of the can. The can turned about 180 degrees and bled out into the pool. My teenaged kids were noticeably impressed with this little trick. :p

After a full days use, I just stropped it on last months Field and Stream, grabbed a Post-It not and made a few passes to check sharpness and I can say, I'm quite impressed.

Unfortunately I have to fly to MN in the morning with just a carry-on so I'll be without this handy little knife for a few days. I'll post more when I get back. Some pics too. If you're on the fence about the Dogfish, don't be. Go buy one! Buy two! These things are just too handy. Bigger than the Buck Hartsook, smaller than the Becker Necker. Just right as Goldielocks would say.

Chris

[ArfinGreebly]

I like the overall design, especially the Wharncliffe blade.

I see that it's a Tom Krein design.

I also see that Tom does a custom version of this knife.

Hmmm.

The CRKT version is made in . . . ?

My only comment on the "modified" Wharncliffe is that, being something of a sentimental old stick-in-the-mud, I kinda prefer the more classic "rounded" Wharncliffe profile.

I guess that kinda makes me a Wharncliffe snob.

That said, I do like the [I]art of the design, and the straight cutting edge actually presents as much directly useful linear tool face as a longer blade with various curves.

And the bottle-opening-shark . . . really nice finishing touch.

What's the steel in the CRKT version, any idea?

[JShirley]

Hm. Juggalos in the house?

I wouldn't mind picking up a Dogfish at some point.

John

[TimboKhan]

Hm. Juggalos in the house?

By the Dark Carnival, I hope not.

[sm]

Mine reads:

Krein
*( dawg logo)*
Mid-Tech

Opposite side S30-V
Plain edge.

Kydex Sheath with beaded chain

I only have one now.
The others I had went to Iraq and Afghanistan early on.

I really like mine and wished I had another one or two.
This one is sentimental and I admit not using it much due to sentimentality.
Err...I attached the idea of mine I had being where they are and hate to sort of use this one out of respect for those folks and others serving.
Just how I can be about stuff...

Real light and handy, can opener works real well and doubles as a lifter and pry tool.
I often times just cow-hitch the chain over my belt and stick in my back pocket.

[Valkman]

Tom would have to clarify but I think on Steve's Tom did the finishing and sharpening - I know it came from Tom. So it's a midtech but he did work on it.

[sm]

Preface: I am as dumb as a brick.

So what I am hearing is Mid-Tech is different from CRKT - correct?

Okay, who is Mid-Tech?
Can one still get a Mid-Tech?
What steel(s) are CRKT using?

What would happen if I whined, pleaded and begged to get one like I have?
What would happen if I whined, pleaded and begged to get one made like I have in another steel like 01, 52100...?

*cough*, *ack* *I'm sick* *whine*

Hey, I just use the darn things, I keep telling you folks I ain't that smart.

Tom most likely figured this out, I shared some of my ideas about this design and some others.
Valkman also knows how I am.

If either of these two come out with some ideas and includes leather and kydex sheaths, I might of had an influence.

Dawg-Fish is a neat knife, proven by me, and others.

Recommended.

*i'll go sit in the corner now*

[Rupestris]

From CRKT:

Blade: Length: 2.25” (5.7 cm)
Thickness: 0.14” (0.35 cm)
Steel: 3Cr13, 55-57 HRC
Knife: Overall length: 5.25” (13.3 cm)
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g)

Yep, its imported from China.

I'd love to have one of the S30V models but I really can't complain. This one only cost me $20.

Have a good week folks. I'm off to *shudder* Min-ah-so-dahh, dontcha know.

Chris

[Valkman]

I hope Tom comes along, but the CRKT is completely made by CRKT using Tom's design. The mid-tech is one that Tom made and someone else did some of the work. An example is if I send steel out and it's laser cut, then it goes to someone else to be machine ground. Then I logo and sharpen it. It wouldn't be a mid-tech to me if Tom ground it.

But no the mid-tech is a way better knife than the CRKT one. I think it cost about 4X more.

[Tom Krein]

Rupestris, glad to hear you are enjoying your CRKT Dogfish! Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner...

Hopefully this will clear up the confusion...

CRKT makes the factory version using my design. They are made in China :banghead: but thats just how it is. I think they have done a really good job on them and kept the price pretty reasonable.

I make two versions of the Dogfish, the Mid-techs and the Customs. Both are made 100% right here in the U.S.A. from US made steel/materials!

Here is the difference...

On the Mid-techs I have the bevels ground on a machine (flat grind) and then I do all the finishing work. They are etched Krein Mid-tech.

On the Customs I hollow grind the bevels in addition to doing all the finish work. They are a true custom just like my standard knives.

The first batch were S30V. I am currently working on a batch of Dogfish in CPM 154. They are still a bit of a ways out, but coming along nicely.

Hope that helped clear the water.

Tom