Crooked River - TOK
Benchmade has made my TOK. You don't seem to see it much these days, but ten years ago, we Internet knife nuts spent quite a bit of time discussing The One Knife. The One Knife was the perfect knife, the knife that could do everything, was indestructible, comfortable, and cool. It had to be tactical and beautiful...two pretty much contradictory terms. The One Knife was the perfect EDC, the perfect hunter, the perfect self-defense knife.
My TOK has always been some combination of the two knives that started my obsession with big high-quality folding knives, the Puma Game Warden, and the Benchmade AFCK. The Puma Game Warden was essentially a smoother, prettier, more elegant copy of the Buck 110, bowie clip blade, brass frame and bolsters, a folding hunter. The AFCK of course, the iconic "tactical folder", high tech materials - G-10, Titanium, super stainless steel - self-defense design. I had been using the Game Warden for many years on my dad's fishing boat and for deer hunting. I bought the AFCK in 1999 because it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, but it soon proved to be a better all around utility knife than the Game Warden. But there were things about the Game Warden I liked, things about the AFCK that got tiring. An image began to take shape in my head, the AFCK with a bowie clip blade, bolsters, some perhaps not so flat, not so black scales. The new HUNT Crooked River embodies all those characteristics, a high tech classical folding hunter.
To me, the Crooked River is the best of both that old Game Warden and the AFCK. It has the bowie clip blade with the fine tip, and sweeping belly. It has metal bolsters, which to me are a classical as well as functional element. It has a well-designed handle, with an index finger cutout, available with G-10 scales if you want high-tech, though the wood scales may be the more tactile of the two. A classical, dare I say beautiful blade, with a modern, ergonomic, high-tech handle. Oh, and the Axis lock. My TOK. The only small niggle is the smooth surface of the bolsters. It is a bit slippery, but the texture on the scales, and effective shape of the handle make the grip secure.
Oh, and a word or two about the knife in these pics. I figured such a brilliant knife deserved some custom grade pimping, so I asked the Keymaster to outfit my 15080-2 with some presentation grade Desert Ironwood burl scales, slightly thicker than the factory scales, and a more subtle and elegant black Micarta back spacer. I knew the burl would give the knife a custom grade look, but I didn't anitcipate how much better the thicker scales would make the knife feel when cutting. It's really a significant difference. I was also a bit surprised at how nice the factory wood scales looked. There is some nice grain in the set that I received, and the wood scales add a nice color contrast to the handle. The G-10 scales make the entire handle kind of monotone grey, in my opinion.
Truthfully, I don't really believe in TOK anymore. There is no one knife that can do everything. A person needs lightweight knives, they need heavy duty knives. They need utility knives, they need self-defense knives. But this knife is as close as I am ever going to come. I'm really curious to see how much of my pocket time this knife will get. I know it will be a lot. There is a part of me who would think it just cool if it really did turn out to be TOK. Nah...never happen.
Tell you what though, I have often said that my 806-1101 would be the last knife I would sell. Now...I think my customized Crooked River will be the last knife I ever sell.
15080-1 and 15080-2 Custom:
The best of both:
Lots of great belly!
Custom elegance:
Strong tip – Crooked River vs. 520BK:
Thickness feels good!
Production scales are not bad – but not as pretty as mine.
My TOK has always been some combination of the two knives that started my obsession with big high-quality folding knives, the Puma Game Warden, and the Benchmade AFCK. The Puma Game Warden was essentially a smoother, prettier, more elegant copy of the Buck 110, bowie clip blade, brass frame and bolsters, a folding hunter. The AFCK of course, the iconic "tactical folder", high tech materials - G-10, Titanium, super stainless steel - self-defense design. I had been using the Game Warden for many years on my dad's fishing boat and for deer hunting. I bought the AFCK in 1999 because it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, but it soon proved to be a better all around utility knife than the Game Warden. But there were things about the Game Warden I liked, things about the AFCK that got tiring. An image began to take shape in my head, the AFCK with a bowie clip blade, bolsters, some perhaps not so flat, not so black scales. The new HUNT Crooked River embodies all those characteristics, a high tech classical folding hunter.
To me, the Crooked River is the best of both that old Game Warden and the AFCK. It has the bowie clip blade with the fine tip, and sweeping belly. It has metal bolsters, which to me are a classical as well as functional element. It has a well-designed handle, with an index finger cutout, available with G-10 scales if you want high-tech, though the wood scales may be the more tactile of the two. A classical, dare I say beautiful blade, with a modern, ergonomic, high-tech handle. Oh, and the Axis lock. My TOK. The only small niggle is the smooth surface of the bolsters. It is a bit slippery, but the texture on the scales, and effective shape of the handle make the grip secure.
Oh, and a word or two about the knife in these pics. I figured such a brilliant knife deserved some custom grade pimping, so I asked the Keymaster to outfit my 15080-2 with some presentation grade Desert Ironwood burl scales, slightly thicker than the factory scales, and a more subtle and elegant black Micarta back spacer. I knew the burl would give the knife a custom grade look, but I didn't anitcipate how much better the thicker scales would make the knife feel when cutting. It's really a significant difference. I was also a bit surprised at how nice the factory wood scales looked. There is some nice grain in the set that I received, and the wood scales add a nice color contrast to the handle. The G-10 scales make the entire handle kind of monotone grey, in my opinion.
Truthfully, I don't really believe in TOK anymore. There is no one knife that can do everything. A person needs lightweight knives, they need heavy duty knives. They need utility knives, they need self-defense knives. But this knife is as close as I am ever going to come. I'm really curious to see how much of my pocket time this knife will get. I know it will be a lot. There is a part of me who would think it just cool if it really did turn out to be TOK. Nah...never happen.
15080-1 and 15080-2 Custom:
The best of both:
Lots of great belly!
Custom elegance:
Strong tip – Crooked River vs. 520BK:
Thickness feels good!
Production scales are not bad – but not as pretty as mine.
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Beautiful and informative writeup as usual PO
TKS0 -
Those look amazing Po! 0 -
Po has just made my day 
Been waiting to see what kinda Crooked River custom jobs would come out of the forums...
And this one is pretty much EXACTLY how I would have done mine up.
Po, props to you and Keyman for the work done here. Looks magnificent.
Obviously, those scales take the knife to an upper class for sure, and I'm absolutely most impressed by the thickness you've attained here, something I myself considered upon first buying mine.
Fantastic job on the black micarta spacer, cleans it up so, so much.
Impressed!!!
Cheers!
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PO, nice trip down memory lane. Your former carries mirror my own preferences in those time periods. The Puma's were "boss".
Nice review of a good knife that surpasses my Pumas of 1976, but bouncing forward 40 years & we have lots of good/ great Benchmade knives.
For me when I need somthing bigger than a 94X, I prefer the 810-1401. Similar dimensions & weight, better steel (M390) & subjectively for me better grip.
Isn't a great time to be a knife enthusiast! Throw in the Loco and all 3 Benchmades run rings around our old Pumas.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bill Hammer:
...Isn't a great time to be a knife enthusiast!...
It sure is, Bill! I think the advances that have been made in just the last several years make these the golden years of premium folding knives. Maybe a person shouldn't speak of golden years unless one sees a decline. Things just seem to keep getting better. Sure, the Axis lock is the biggest advance of all, but the advances recently in 3D milling and blade steels are unprecedented. It just doesn't get any better than an Axis folder with CPM-M4 or M390 steel, or even a Crooked River with S30V.
Thanks for all the positive replies, forumates!0 -
Yup, memory lane. My first quality knife was a GERBER 97223 SPORTSMAN lll which I bought in Barrow AK 1973. Felt the need to have something to protect myself there.
I also thought about buying the Crooked River and then I did a compare against my 810-1401. Exactly what you said Bill.
Not being rich I try to keep my 18 Benchmade knives very diversified for every occasion.
Good thing I didn't see PO's Keyman Crooked River first. That's the same Ironwood scales Keyman made for my 710. And I would probably have pulled the trigger, just because they match. And who knows may still. I like the thickness aspect of it.
PO do the stock Dymondwood scales taper off at the butt like the G10?0 -
Golden Age of Knife Making
Agreed, I do see a transisition in last 20 -25 years. Back then the best knives were from the custom knife makers and from my rounds at the last couple of NY knife shows the younger custom makers creations don't (other than price they place on their own knives)measure up to older makers. Sadly we've lost some very skilled masters & the new makers haven't achieved that skill set. Maybe selling tee shirts, brag patches, & shot glasses with logos on them is a larger part of their income. And while I see a decline in the overall quality of the knives at custom shows, the work of the top factory knives has leapfrogged the customs. With CNC machines & other technology a single artisan can't compete with the actual fabrication of the knife. The custom makers designs maybe great but the precision of the machined parts hard to top.
Maybe it is the collaboration of custom design & factory machines that produces the best product.
I still buy custom knives but fewer & fewer scream buy me.0 -
quote:Originally posted by BM-Butterfly:
...do the stock Dymondwood scales taper off at the butt like the G10?
Yes, I think the wood scales have the exact same dimensions as the G-10 scales.0 -
Po, first of all, that's one beautiful knife! After seeing this amazing custom, I realize that I need something like this. How can I go about getting some custom scales and back liner? You mention 'the Keymaster'. Who is that and how can I get in touch?
Once again, you have one gorgeous Crooked River there.0 -
[QUOTE]Originally posted by AxisofAwesome:
Po, first of all, that's one beautiful knife! After seeing this amazing custom, I realize that I need something like this. How can I go about getting some custom scales and back liner? You mention 'the Keymaster'. Who is that and how can I get in touch?
/|\ Keymaster = Keyman who is a valued member of this Forum. You can see other samples of Keyman's work in several threads on this Forum.
You can send a PM to Keyman to inquire as how he can enhance your knife.
Best of luck & as PO did please share pics of your knife when completed. We all line to drool.
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