Columbia River Knife,good choice or not?

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This has been covered ad nauseam and in my opinion helps prove "no publicity is bad publicity." Spyderco has just shown their classy business practices again by getting a good Chinese product...their secret? Good quality control.
I take exception with your statement conwict. Spyderco knives, just like their knife making counterparts like: Kershaw, Buck, SOG etc. have lowered their standards by building substandard knives in China. They utilize sub par labor (some consider slave labor) and poor quality materials to produce these low cost products that they then sell to the ignorant masses who wouldn't know good blade steel and quality workmanship if it kicked them in the backside.

They prostitute their previous good name to peddle there cheap Chinese products. It's a disgrace; and, IMHO will soon cause their demise.

To everyone here: Buy some good American or European made knives while you still can. Someday, in our lifetime, they won't exist.
 
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Because, they'll all have to move their production to China and make cheap knives just to compete. Those who can or won't comply will be driven from the market.
 
You are incorrect, Bill. Buck stopped the bulk of it's Chinese production some time ago, and it is my understanding they are phasing it out completely as material stocks run out. It is very unlikely that Spyderco will need to move the bulk of it's production to China to compete, as there is only a 30 dollar difference between the Persistence and an Endura (which is made in Seki City, Japan) and about the same difference between the Persistence and the Native, which is made in Colorado. They make Chinese knives because there is a market for inexpensive knives, not because they have to do so to compete.

Fact of the matter is, the bulk of the market is going to laugh uncontrollably at the thought of buying a $100.00 pocket knife, let alone something like a Sebenza, and they couldn't care less about what steel is used. My work buddy thought that "S30V" was a serial number. More to the point, he is as happy with his little 30 dollar CRKT M16 as I am with any one of my more expensive theoretically better knives, as are the bulk of users that buy Smith and Wesson knives, gas station knives or flea market knives. Anyway, my point is that there is room in the market for all of these things. They don't have to be and aren't mutually exclusive. Though I would go so far as to say it is a general truth Chinese knives are suspect, as you yourself admit not all Chinese knives are crap. I maintain that the reverse is true and there are some less than quality knives made here in the US.
 
I was ready to buy one until I read a few comments on their own website review section and people said their knives where stamped made in Taiwan. Turned me off and their only a few hours from me.
 
Got one just like it that I carry at work. I'm a paramedic, so it's used to cut seatbelts, clothes, shoelaces, etc... Not a huge fan of serrated edges, but they work well for ripping/cutting heavy stuff like the above.

Only problem I've had with it is the screws holding the clip in place wallowed out & then backed out. Went online to CRKT and ordered more screws, used loctite on them & haven't had any problems since. And CRKT didn't charge me a dime, not even shipping.

I'll buy again from CRKT just because of the great customer service.
 
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Timbo - a well made knife with great steel and other superior materials will always cost more $; and, there will always be educated and discriminating consumers willing to pay more money for that quality. However, companies are cutting corners simply because there are many people just like your buddy that doesn't know the difference between a good knife and a turd. It's too bad.
They make Chinese knives because there is a market for inexpensive knives...
I thought that's what I was saying. And, that market is driven by people like your buddy, who could care less. So, good companies are forced to make knives like Taylor Brands just to remain solvent.
 
i currently own two CRKT knives, the Plan B and the Hissatsu. i bought the Hissatsu to satisfy my mall ninja cravings, but the Plan B turned out to a great little knife. i've never owned any of their folders, but i've never heard anyone say a bad word about them, and they seem to be pretty popular.

the only negative thing i have to say about CRKT fixed blades are the crappy sheaths they come with.
 
a well made knife with great steel and other superior materials will always cost more $; and, there will always be educated and discriminating consumers willing to pay more money for that quality. However, companies are cutting corners simply because there are many people just like your buddy that doesn't know the difference between a good knife and a turd. It's too bad.

Here we go, the knife equivalent of the 1911 discussion. Read the May, 2009 issue of Knives Illustrated. On page 30 is an article by Michael Black. In it, he tests multiple pieces of the same Model of knives. The result? many of the "high end" knives don't cut as well as the "cheaper" knives. It appears that QC is lacking at the steel mills, and a less "spec" knife of that steel will perform poorly.

Face it, many "good steels" aren't really particularly different in overall performance for anything but emptying one's wallet. What you do with a knife should determine the quality of the blade, as well as the shape and grind. Most people don't use a knife enough to be able to say what is the best "steel".

I was in Fire/EMS for 35 years, and a good knife was almost a requirement. I started with a Buck 110, and that knife, with it 420HC steel was just about the best that many of us could find. I traded it's position with an original Spyderco Standard, with SpyderEdge. This was the early version, with the clip cut from the scale on the right side. That knife performed well beyond it's size for years.

For the average person in today's PC world, a knife is something to open letters, boxes, and cut cord and string with. It needs to be small, light, and easy to open and use. With that usage, carrying anything with "special steel" is an exercise in preference, not need.
 
For the average person in today's PC world, a knife is something to open letters, boxes, and cut cord and string with. It needs to be small, light, and easy to open and use. With that usage, carrying anything with "special steel" is an exercise in preference, not need.

I agree with this, and I guess that's the point I was trying to make. My buddy isn't in the dark because he doesn't know what steel his M16 is, he is happy because it works. What he does know, and that I failed to mention, is that this is the best quality knife he has ever owned (outside of his only other non-kitchen knife, a Case Trapper, which was a gift to him). He has owned crappy flea market knives, and he can see and appreciate the clear difference in quality between his knife and those knives. He can also see, but not necessarily appreciate, the difference in quality between my Endura (most often carried) and my Griptilian and his M16 and does occasionally ask questions about them and why they are "better" than his knife.

Since he works with knife knut me, he may eventually become more educated and interested in "better knives", because none of us start off knowing that a Sebenza is awesome. Heck, I only got seriously interested in this hobby maybe two years ago. I have done a lot of reading and studying to learn the little bit I know about knives, and the quality of my collection and my interest in knives has slowly expanded from that knowledge.
 
Erik,

I carried a Desert Cruiser for a while in Afghanistan. It was a pretty good knife, if heavy.

Bill,

You are hijacking the thread. Start your own thread if you need to pontificate about what countries people should buy products from. Spyderco has made knives in various countries for years. They only began making two models in China (with the Spyderco brand: they've sold their Byrd bargain line for some years) when they were certain they could maintain high quality control. I've bought one. It was a good knife, and better than many US-made knives.

John
 
I have several CRKT knifes and they all have been highly reliable knifes. I use one as an EDC and it has never failed me. The company has excellent customer service. Nothing more to say except that they are a quality product.
 
Every time someone asks "is this a good self defense weapon" I think of this:
http://www.designobserver.com/archives/shiv1.html


It's not the tool, it's the user. In a fight I doubt the difference between, say, a Mora craftsman's knife and a $300 custom will be the difference between survival and getting killed.

Note that I don't say "winning" because in a knife fight you're gonna get cut even if you walk away.
 
Good knives for the most part. Best thing about them is they are pretty inexpensive, so if you lose it, you won't cry.
If you are in a line of work where the probability of using it to save your life or someone else is high, I'd go Benchmark as they are pretty much top of the line in the production field. Spyderco makes some crazy sharp edged knives that are very nice as well. I'd trust one of those without a problem.
I've had three CRKT knives and they have all done what I asked of them. Not the smoothest folding actions, don't hold an edge like some others, but you can get into a very functional folder for under $40.00, so if that's your budget range, go for it.
If you can drop $100+ (very plus in some cases) go with a Benchmade or Spyderco.
 
I carry a CRKT M21 w/ G10 handles every day, and it's a real workhorse. I touch it up often (as I do all my knives, necessary or not) and it will shave you at any moment. It gets used hard and hasn't disappointed me yet in the year or so I've carried it. There's just something about a big, beautiful spear point that I love.
 
I agree Limpsalot...I followed your link and thought "hey that's my knife" but then after I pulled mine out of my pocket I have the M-1603Z which is a little brother with a thinner blade profile.
Either way, they work and work and work.
For non-everyday outings, the Benchmade Emerson CQC7 is my choice, but I'd hate to hurt it doing evil things to the blade (turning screws, prying hinges, etc...). The M-16...it can take it and if it's damaged...I can get a new one
 
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