New CRKT Minimalist

[wlewisiii]

So, I have my nice CRKT M21 but it can be a bit "big" at times. I also have a CRKT Turtle which is cute, makes a great money clip but is just a bit too small and a bit of pain to use as a folder. So I wanted somthing fixed and in between...

Enter the Minimalist Tanto - Designed by Alan Folts & made by (yep) CRKT. I find I like them for a nice balance of cost vs quality.



It's about as small as a useful fixed blade knife can get. I love the handle - the grooves fit right to my hand with a good spot to rest my thumb on top. The jury's out on the usefulness of the tanto shape but if I decide I don't like it, the same knife is also made in bowie & wharncliffe shapes. I'm thinking the wharncliffe might be better for EDC but the tanto's not bad just different from the leaf point I'd gotten used to.

It's a chinese stainless steel, very very sharp out of the box, and the little plastic sheath snaps onto the blade. It has a belt loop and comes with a length of paracord for wearing around the neck but I do not wear sharp things that way.

All in all it looks to be a neat and useful tool for $21 from Amazon.

 

[Storm]

I have three of the four Minimalists (other than the newest which I believe is a karambit/hawk) including your tanto. I find the knife to be an incredible value. I carry mine around the neck but suppose that it could just as easily be thrown in a pocket.

As to a neck knife I have never had concerns about wearing sharp things around my neck. I have thought about sharp things in my pocket down by the wedding tackle ;-) I think that you may find the wharncliffe blade to make for a very good EDC, but over the years I have realized that the tanto is much better in that role than one would imagine. Best yet might be the "Bowie" profile that offers belly and probably greater overall utility.

 

[Double_J]

I have wanted one of those knives for several years and have not gotten one for myself. I think that might be my "Christmas Present to myself from myself" this year. I lost my edc knife a few months ago and have had to resort to a wal-mart special, it does not hold an edge worth a darn and is sloppy in fit/finish.

I do enjoy hearing about others who have used them and say they are a good value.

 

[rcmodel]

I bought a a Keramin CRKT back in June.

Mainly for hooking & cutting creepers & saplings out of chain like fence.

It works good for that.

But not much else!!!

Still pretty cool though!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9348512&postcount=33



rc

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Nice Knifes.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I like that whole line of knives from the Minimalist to the SPEW. They are a great value. They come with an excellent sheath and attachment system and they are lighter and easier to carry than a folder.

My only complaint is that the Chinese steel dulls pretty fast - though it also sharpens up just as fast if you don't mind the maintenance. I suppose I could spend $150 and buy the originals from Alan Folts in 154CM if I really get tired of the steel though.

 

[ugaarguy]

My only complaint is that the Chinese steel dulls pretty fast - though it also sharpens up just as fast if you don't mind the maintenance.

The minimalist line use GB 5Cr15MoV. That steel has essentially the same composition as American AISI 425M and German DIN X50CrMoV15 - http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=5Cr15MoV , X50CrMoV15, 425M&hrn=1&gm=0. The performance has to do with the alloy chosen rather the country of origin.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

The Folts customs are an incredible deal for the money. The CRKT models are fine, but if you're a knife person at all, the Alan Folts customs are available and affordable.

 

[wlewisiii]

I'd love to be able to afford an actual Folts (or Ashworth turtle for that matter), but where I am these days is a place where the CRKT versions are all I can afford (at my present place in life there is a huge difference between $20 & $100 for a pocket knife) and sharpening it on occasion is not that big of a deal.

So far it does what I ask it to do. Tomorrow morning's food delivery at the hotel I work full time at will be the first real test.

 

[USAF_Vet]

The minimalist Bowie is on my short list. They look extremely handy.

When it comes to tanto style, I'm much more traditionalist.

 

[Mp7]

... look what the Postman brought 10 mins ago

For what it is it seems pretty nice.
The sheath is well made, the grip is very good
for the size.

Will have to get a clip for it.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The Folts originals are very affordable as custom knives go. Finding one available for purchase on the other hand is more challenging.

 

[Praxidike]

I own the tanto and bowie. I EDC the tanto as a neck knife, but the bowie is my favorite.

 

[hamp sandwich]

I just ordered one for my wife. I was needing an extra birthday gift idea for her. Thank you for staying this thread, wlewisiii!

 

[Madcap_Magician]

The Folts originals are very affordable as custom knives go. Finding one available for purchase on the other hand is more challenging.

I usually see Minimalists and Baby Bears pop up with some frequency at Arizona Custom Knives.