I got @Andy the Aussie's CRK 25 today to clean, lube and sharpen before it takes a trip to Australia! Whoever had this knife probably never took it apart. It was pretty nasty with what appeared to be dry wall. The action on it was very gritty. Well, it's now been stripped, cleaned, lubed and put back together. A toothbrush, hot water and dish soap does wonders for cleaning! Now it feels like a CRK should feel! Before Cleaned up and ready for re-assembly. I like to put a small dabs of grease along the track and in the detent hole. This ensures the ceramic bearing rides on grease all the way to lock up. I also place a small dab at each notch inside the pivot hole, to ensure there is grease on the pivot bushing. I even put a dab on the lockup point on the tang of the blade. This way, it keeps the ceramic ball covered with a little grease. Ready to put the presentation side scale on. No need to remove stop pin or lanyard bushing...... All re-assembled, smooth as butter and now has the distinct "thwack" of a well-greased CRK 25! Now the function of the knife is back to par, it's time to hit the DMT stones!
I should clarify.... I do clean my knives (instead of blood on the blades I have a small collection of fingers, ears and shrunken heads to remind me of those I vanquished in battle).... I bought this 25 in the US (as a user at a user price) and had it shipped to Bravo for a bit of edge TLC before it made the journey to it's forever home down here...
Oh great Andy got bit by the crk bug, expect a thread full hundreds of rare and beautiful Chris reeves blades in the next month
........ Nah Mate just three... four at the most (I think a micarta inlay 21, I have a normal one on the way, will be my last - at some point). Starbenzas don't count right ??
Great write up @91bravo . I want to expand on something Jonny did in his spa treatment. Pay attention to "wear marks" on your knife or firearms. The wear marks are "tells" of where you are encountering friction. Does that seem overly obvious? Well maybe to some. But the reality is when I watch people work on things like a pistol, when they are cleaning for instance, it is amazing that they put oil/grease, lube everywhere but the rub marks themselves. Let the tool talk to you. That's right. They call me the Tool Whisperer.
Mate, I hear you, been saying this about firearms for years. Even on armourer courses this is often met with looks of bemusement !!! If there is wear, there is friction, where there is friction there generally needs to be lubricant !!!
@Andy the Aussie, I'm done with the initial sharpening of your 25! I just have to refine and strop tomorrow evening and then it should be on its way to you on Friday! Your blade has been bravo freehanded!
Your edgework is complete @Andy the Aussie. It will be headed your way tomorrow!. Once it was cleaned. lubed and sharpened, it revealed a perfect example of a smooth and sharp, hydraulic feeling CRK! I know you'll be happy with this one, especially for what you gave for it!
