Check out my new blade! (CRKT)

I've been feaning for a new blade ever since I lost my SOG Pentagon awhile back but I haven't really had the money for one. Well, I finally replaced it this week with a CRKT Crawford/Kasper Folder. Mine is the all black model with the black coating on the blade which I think has the "tactical" designation (lay off, it was cheaper). It's also the large sized model with the partially serrated 3.87" blade.

It came in the mail today and it really seems like a quality knife. Definitely heavier than the SOG was and it seems much more solid and well-made. The action is very smooth, probably thanks to the teflon bearings. The knife popped hairs out of the box and it feels REALLY good in my hand. Very well balanced. This knife has the Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS) that works in conjunction with the liner lock and I really like that. You can just go with the liner for quick tasks or if you need to use it for something substantial you can engage the LAWKS lever for that absolute positive safety. The teflon coated clip is also very substantial and attached to the knife by three side-by-side torx screws at the top. That clip ain't goin' anywhere. Time will be the judge but I'm very happy with it at the moment. The only thing I wish was different about it was that I wish it had a flipper on it. I love the flipper on the CRKT M-16. That's my only wish though and I knew it didn't have that when I bought it of course. I've heard a lot of great stuff about this knife and have been interested in it for a while. Now I've got it and I see what the hype was about. It may not be a hunert dollar Benchmade but it's an excellent value in blades IMO.

http://www.crkt.com/tactflds.html

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=974188

brad cook

Here's the other side. Pic's kinda blurry and I didn't feel like retaking though...

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=974192

brad cook

Looks like kinda a microtechesque blade profile. i like it.

Blade is a Kasper design. I believe shape is identical to his custom Kasper fighting knives.

In fact here's a picture of a custom Kasper folding fighter, except this one will cost you $375. OF course I'm sure it's a better made knife than the CRKT but the looks are almost identical:


http://www.ghca.org/kff.jpg

brad cook

Congratulations!

The Crawford/Kasper is a great knife and is an excellent defensive folding knife design. Bob Kasper is a proponent of the sabre grip and the knife is well designed for that style, but it is also excellent in the overhand grip. My guro carries one on each side and thinks it is one of the best commercial defensive knife designs around.

I modified mine by grinding the horn on the finger choil down/round a bit more so that it fit my smaller hand a bit better. The fixed blade version is every bit as good and allows you to sharpen the swedge and still carry it safely.

Good stuff.

One weakness though: if a close-range situation goes down and you end up doing a "draw and immediate attack", get in a mindset where the initial series of moves are cuts/slashes...not stabs.

You may not have time to engage the LAWKS. Do NOT stab with a moderately priced linerlock without that safety engaged. Just don't. Linerlocks at that price level (some would say, ANY price level) are not reliable enough.

If you have to disregard that advice: cock your wrist so the tip is "up" a little, if you have the available arm/wrist strength to do a stab that way. That will shift stresses at the tip towards the spine rather than trying to drive the blade closed on your fingers.

Now, if you spot trouble coming and can engage the LAWKS, different story. But PLAN for not having enough time to do that, thereby limiting yourself to cuts/slashes.

Well personally if I find myself in that kind of situation I'll probably just pull out my XD-9 to deal with it. Even though this knife is billed as a "fighting folder" I really just bought it because I needed a new pocket knife for utility or whatnot and it was a great value. You never know though...I could end up having to use it in some kind of self-defense situation as a last resort but of course I don't plan on it (then again, who does?!) and it certainly isn't my first option.

brad cook

Those of us in California have to take our combat cutlery seriously.

Jim, you are right indeed. Here's my somewhat new one. I had a Kershaw Blackout (I think that's what it was called) for a couple years, and it finally gave up a bit. This was my replacement. I had always wanted a Benchmade, and I finally put down the cash for one. I haven't been dissapointed yet! Mine is the bottom one.

http://store5.yimg.com/I/bestknives_1791_85694856