Do I still love Chris Reeve Knives after TEN years? | Large CRK Inkosi REVIEW

Before getting this knife I had been carrying the Medford Fat Daddy. Handling this when I unboxed it was quite the shock!
The Inkosi, our most technologically advanced model, pushes the characteristics of the Integral Lock®, blade strength, pivot and lock tolerances as well as overall ergonomics. A 97 RC ceramic ball runs interface between the Integral Lock® bar end and tang of the blade, preventing wear and ensuring accurate lock up for the lifetime of the knife. Blending the benefits of a flat grind and hollow grind, the blade’s 20” hollow grind provides a thicker stock and more overall strength. Available with a drop point, insingo, or tanto blade in Large or Small. All models are available with a dedicated left or right-handed orientation.

[@MosMatically]

Been a collector now for 13 years. If I had to keep just 1 knife for the rest of my life and pass it down to my son… it’s my Inkosi. Just fits perfectly in my hand. It was made for my hand. My Strider ain’t half as nice and fitting, nor any of my customs. Give me an Inkosi and GEC #74 Mustang and I am complete

[@drinkwater1915]

I just got the large Inkosi recently. It's fantastic I love carrying it.

[@edged_mindset]

👊

[@AntOfEgypt]

Well said Carter! The Inkosi is my go-to boring but epic tool. In environments where I want to be less than tacticool, this thing is a refined heavy hitter.

[@edged_mindset]

Now I need one with inlays...

[@manuelvega2915]

Simplicity at it's Best..... For the past 30 years, not alot of knife makers/companies can make that claim that.

[@edged_mindset]

Good point!

[@stanwilson7040]

@@edged_mindset Your old Chris Reeve Knives are vastly inferior to modern day version CRK knives made with magnacut not that you really need it you use your knives as fidget toys not as tools

[@tarik1816]

The Inkosi is amazing. Bought one 7 years ago. It is still my daily carry. And btw, it is made for hard work. Look at how thick the stop pin and the pivot is. That in combination with the shallow hollow grind and the stock thickness. It's a beater!! Enjoy it!

[@miked6367]

Hows the lockup with the ceramic ball holding up after 7 yrs? How much wear had the ceramic ball caused on the blade tang?

[@tarik1816]

@miked6367 there is hardly any wear on the blade tang other than the wear from the break in period. And the lock up hasn't move. And its still one of my most used knives

[@946vasil]

Well said.I have 5 CRK and there’s something really special about them, I do have lots of other high end stuff including Shirogorov and Grimsmo and they are masterpieces in their own way but the way I feel when having Chris Reeves is special.

[@jamesstephenson2346]

Blth those brands suck balls, but ok. (Ive owned both.. now happily own zero)

[@renechavez870]

Glad to see your making vids again! I’ve been a follower for YEARS!!!!

[@ericmack001]

Awesome content. I’m glad you came back to the hobby

[@satudave]

Definitely top tier production in my opinion. Say what you will about the design or function….in my eyes top self all the way around. Simple and effective 🇺🇸🤘🤘

[@jacobselman4718]

I’ve recently purchased my first Chris Reeve knives, the PDW Sebenza 31 with the milled lines and the PDW Inkosi Waves, both large drop point Magnacut. I’m not a big guy, but I’m really glad I went with the larger size. I love them both, but the Inkosi just feels perfect in my hand. I should have an Umnumzaan arriving tomorrow. I’ve been carrying the Sebenza as my EDC, and the sandblasted finish is getting really smooth and satiny. It almost feels like the stonewash on CWF Flashlight… super silky. Anyhow, I enjoyed the video and I’m really enjoying my experience with these knives. No lock slip, no side to side play… I have a lot to learn about knives in general, but I’m impressed with both knives and I’m sure the Umnumzaan won’t disappoint.

[@edged_mindset]

Two awesome scores!

[@KandKo]

I sure won't hold my breath as it will likely never happen but my dream knife is a Sebenza with the pivot/washers from the Inkosi. Just imagine... the iconic, perfect style of the Sebenza paired with the perfection that is the Inkosi adjustable action.... Maybe some day.

[@DavidV4444]

I have several models of the Inkosi (S35,S45,Magnacut and BHQ exclusive) and have carried an S35VN version every day since 2018 - it’s just absolutely spectacular. Medford and Microtech make up the rest of my collection and my secondary knife is always some version of a Microtech OTF. The CRK’s are classics, they are rock solid perfection.

[@stevek8829]

I have the precursor, the Sebenza 25. It has a flat side on the stop pin. Does the Inkosi also have this design? You know if you disassemble it. I didn’t know and mine jammed. Now it’s glued in to resist turning.

[@joemommaganja]

just got my second chris reeve , a large glass blasted tanto inkosi. thinking of selling all my other knives but my 940 and just rolling with these two

[@bladecollector7]

Still the best no question!

[@2arrowknives]

I have zero issues with lock. The most solid lockup I have ever had on a folder

[@ajamesg77]

You can easily get rid of the blue anno thumb studs using Whink Rust Stain Remover. Works with no effort. Put one drop on each stud one at a time and it will magically disappear in seconds. Rinse with water after. The thumb studs will not have a polished finish when done but ever so slightly matte silver.

[@cowboysilver4838]

I think you’re right. We knives are impressive quality. But the one sebenza is the pride of my collection

[@kf_boston]

Sick new intro Carter 🤘🏻 CRKs have a place In my collection I just started carrying them again they are a good cleanser

[@edged_mindset]

Nice! Thank you for your support!

[@corny155]

I mean, I’d like to see the list of companies that manufacture on the same level. “For a lot cheaper”

[@corny155]

I’m actually really srs with this inquiry.

[@JustAnotherDayToday]

It has the blah, blah, blah; pretty much sums it up. What you have there in hand is functional art.

[@mikester6192]

Love the videos, looking for a left handed Sebenza. A lot of knife KZbinrs review and I want to try one now.

[@jlock9085]

Are they comparable to other $600 knives? I think so. Can you get 90% of the quality for 50% of the price now? Yes I think so.

[@edged_mindset]

Good way to say it

[@gottfriedschimann7672]

No other Item comes near to Reeve Inkosi !!! Never ever!!!

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

Now I'll have to get rid of my CRK tattoo. j/k Honestly I have 20+ year-old CRKs with the "old titanium/steel lock interface" and there is NO wear-out. Same goes for my 20+ year old Hinderers.The new lock interface is marketing nothing more. Sell more knives. A solution in search of a problem. The Inkosi is from the Sebenza 25 lineage. The Sebenza 25 is a more stout Inkosi. The smoothness of the older CRKs refer to the pivot bushing. The newer Sebenza 31s are not as smooth, generally speaking, as the old 21s because of some machining differences around the stop pin. So this plays into the smoothness and "bank vault" quality of the action. Anyone interested in the smoothness, check out a Sebenza 21 or an earlier Sebenza for a point of reference.

[@stevek8829]

Can that one jam on its stop pin like it’s ancestor the 25? That was a bad defect. They renamed the 25 to Inkosi. Is the stop pin improved?

[@edged_mindset]

I have not had any issues

[@stevek8829]

@@edged_mindset Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. In the 25 the stop pin has a slightly flattened side which is easy to miss if you don’t know. If the flat side turns away from the pivot the Sebenza 25 won’t open or close, a major flaw. I was wondering if the Inkosi, otherwise identical, had corrected that flaw? I have mine glued, but i shouldn’t have to. Still, after eight years, it’s my favorite and I’ve learned to trust it.

[@logancashion2797]

can’t decide between a crk, medford tff-1, emerson, or microtech stitch. more just focused on the best bang for buck not in materials but in overall build quality and ability to be used hard

[@nibrasge6375]

You get what you pay for. Hinderer and Spartan, in my experience: are equal. Would love to get more. Koenig, Medford...and so on. I doubt I could pick a higher standard than CRK...

[@edged_mindset]

I agree. Love my Inkosi

[@ericmack001]

I wish Chris Reeve used Damasteel, and offered mirror polished blades

[@markm148]

I have the Inkosi, Zaan, and both sizes of the 31. They are all slip free except for the small 31. I’m not thrilled with it and don’t know if sending it in would resolve the issue. It would be the one I’d carry and use the most due to size but it just bothers me that the slip is present if looked for.

[@DustinCasler]

I just got a large Sebenza 31 for my first Chris Reeve. Everything seems great so far except for the titanium texturing. I'm hoping it won't be too abrasive with slacks at work.

[@neillevy4087]

You can always send it to crk for glass bead blasting. Much smoother than bead blasted

[@Smatnm]

@@neillevy4087 Not to mention it does smooth out over time.

[@neillevy4087]

@@Smatnm 100% right My normal bead blasted Seb 31 came pretty rough, like 800 grit sandpaper. Smoothed out pretty quickly. Handling the knife takes that grit off pretty quickly But i still think the glass blast is more modern, more refined and a great evolution

[@Phiz787]

To me the CRK's are dinosaurs. You put them against any ultramodern knives, and the differences are apparent immediately. However, as a tool its a timeless piece. It won't fail, it's not so artsy that buyers are afraid to use it, and its the original. It's also a reminder of how economies of scale work. There are relatively few steps to making a CRK compared to... a Grimsmo Rask or a Shirogorov. It would be incredibly hard to mass produce the Rask. But the Sebenza can be pumped out much faster, and it hits the price point better for high end knives (even though, all knives are starting to hit extremely high prices).

[@Hepta.Asteras]

Preference, ....inlays or no inlays on large inkosi? I hear inlays fill in the hand nice and good. But so many prefer plain jane.

[@longbowsafari9974]

Inlays. I have a large 31 with bog oak. Feels the hand a bit better and is more attractive to boot! User for me though as all my knives are/

[@ajamesg77]

I’ve had inlays and prefer plain. I have large hands and just prefer the look and feel of pj CRKs

[@mikeritter2979]

Classy

[@mikeflamion7915]

the only thing that i ever had aginst crk knives is the stupid goddamn finish would get snail trails fast and like crazy but now theres a glass bead finish that fixes that

[@Karrio73]

Anyone with larger hands find the inkosi to be too “narrow” to fill the hand properly?

[@Loyalhusband]

Yessir! The narrow grip, extra small finger grooves, small access to framelock. The sebenza is better in every way but the "fidget" factor. But do we buy crk to fidget with?

[@clo2715]

Buy the ones with micarta inlays.

[@stevendalton7686]

Do you think the previous owner sanded the washers? I can't believe how that knife flips. Very uncharacteristic.

[@edged_mindset]

Really? I took it apart to add new grease and dint notice polished washers. Next time I have it apart I will look closer.

[@jpf5920]

My new Inkosi was that smooth out of the box. The PB washers on the Inkosi are big on both sides.

[@werner134897]

It's not perfect. At least mine isn't. Disassemble it and check the flatness of the frame scales against a straight edge. Mine are not flat. Leading to out of center blade.

[@werner134897]

Nevertheless it is in my opinion tecnically the best folder I have. The lateral strength of the blade pivot is the best I think, due to these large bronze washers and the tight tolerances on the pins/spacers.

[@Xanduur]

My Chris Reeve knives, all two of them, are like my platinum wedding band. The wedding band has a patina on it and it is nothing fancy to look at. It’s boring to look at. No bling at all. Just like my Chris Reeve knives, no one thinks twice about my knives when I pull them out.

[@dcamnc1]

I have 3 CRK's, and had a few older ones in the past. But honestly I don't care for them, they sit in the drawer. They leave me cold, like they have no personality. Just imo.

[@THEMAX00000]

Please don’t add any stupid sound effects or intros

[@edged_mindset]

Okay