The Chris Reeve Knives Small Inkosi Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- The Chris Reeve Knives Small Inkosi is a very small little folding EDC knife, with some brand new features from the Sebenza 25 and the build quality you'd expect from Chris Reeve.
Unfortunately, although it's well made and well engineered, the ergonomics leave a lot to be desired, and ultimately, although it's a great little knife for the eye and the mind, it's just never quite comfortable in the hand, and given the price, it's just not a gem.
Fast forward to 2020: This knife has replaced my Delica, Caly 3, and Dragonfly. Mine has the Natural Linen Micarta inserts which are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. I do love my Spyderco's, but this CRK fits squarely in the small and light, yet high quality and value category.
Regarding the card they include with every knife that warns the owner about how sharp the blade is: Back in the mid 90's, Chris Reeve himself was sharpening every blade by hand, on a slack belt grinder. That creates a "Moran edge", which is convex and cuts unbelievably well when it's done right, while lasting a very long time too. Those knives were so sharp that it was almost shocking. That card was a smart idea then, to warn the owner that this was sharper than any knife they had ever seen and to be careful. Now, of course, the edges are flat ground like any other blade and the card seems dumb. But it would have looked bad to suddenly stop including the card when the edges became average, so they had to keep including it and probably always will.
Just got this knife in s45vn in oct 2021 (knife born sept 2021) and seriously impressed, every grind and edge is perfect. The sand/rock texture on the titanium smooths out very quickly. The edge is very polished right out of box, very well done, i do believe its convex so first sharpening will take awhile but no complaints on edge otherwise. It fits my hand perfectly, id imagine longer fingers/bigger hands wouldn’t fit well. For me what works good opening, is thumbnail flick it out halfway, then slow roll the rest of the way. I can slow roll the blade out the entire way, but other way is faster, and easier on the thumb. Anyway, highly recommended in 2021.
Ps love your reviews nick
Gotta love Nick's OG voice in these early reviews!! :)
Nick, really diggin your vids and just subscibed .. wanted to say I've had my Inkosi now for just over a month. It is my user and been re-sharpened and has some snail trails on it. I also took of the blue..everywhere. Opened and cleaned now many many times. This is one of my favorite knives by a long shot. I do have all CRK's and then some and in many combinations ..in all I have a very decent collection. The 25 micarta I have I think is one of his best, I know this is viewed as a small 25, but it really isn't in the way a small 21 is to the large 21. It is a stand alone knife, and the only high quality small folder around ..I have an Unfaan as well and that is the penultimate high quality smaller folder, alas no longer made. I have large hands size 10 and I find the ergo's superb, a comfy four fingers all the time and all hand positions seem to work for me. It thumbs out like a boss, blade drops free ..always centered. I thumb out left handed just as easy. The Inkosi is the bomb..seriously I feel it's a classic in the making. IMHO worth every penny and I do highly recommend this to anyone.
Great review and really enjoyed your view on this and other blades you do.
I actually love how it feels in my hand. I'm fortunate to have an excellent knife shop in town that always has Chris Reeve knives in stock. It's my favorite EDC.
Are you a voice actor? Your voice has so much character. I think you would play characters from the 1950's really well and I don't mean that as a negative! Great review by the way, you've got a new subscriber!
Mine came razor sharp just got it today and love the texture love the blade thickness!! Just an amazing knife
Nick, I have to agree with you, the finger protrusions have always looked uncomfortable to me, which is why I haven’t bought this knife. Thank you, for saving me some money.
Thanks for another great review. The ergonomic issues seem to be a universal agreement with most users: most guys seem to prefer the small Sebenza 21 over the small Inkosi but the large Inkosi over the large Sebenza 21. I'm curious about the Mnandi's ergos as a gentlemen's folder but can't really justify the price atm since I edc a plain small Sebenza 21. Also, I just took delivery of a grey lightweight Chaparral yesterday so that role may be filled (I would like some nicer dark wooden scales for it though).
Nick, good and very thorough review as usual. I started with a small Sebenza and after getting a small Inkosi, I wished I would have started with it. I might never have bothered with a Sebenza. The Inkosi is so much smoother and the unlock is effortlessly smooth. I also found out that The Inkosi can be opened like a front flipper, a method I have grown fond of. Having both now, at least I have a way to compare the two. Hands down, the Inkosi is the better knife. Time will tell if I keep the Sebenza. I agree with you about the cost. Since they continue to sell after all these decades with no change and few updates to the design, the price probably won't change. Good quality American workmanship comes at a price that those of who own one or more, have agreed to.
thanks your review. ve y good as always. here is something that i have yet to hear any one talk about with Chris
reeve knives. and that is they are not cheap and there is noway to test one without buying one getting one in ones hands and being able to say yea i want it you have to take a leap of faith. i cant help but wonder if a lot of postive reviews are not a result of people justifying there purchase.
+stuart myers This is a great comment, and it inspired a whole video: ruclips.net/video/1ZJZlAandd0/видео.html
Thanks!
The texture is not rough on your pockets at all. Literally every g10/FRN handled knife I've ever owned, is substantially worse.
Nick, you should totally do a disassembly of the inkosi small or large, that would be awesome because no one has any vids of that up.
You're doing a great job with your reviews. Keep up the good work
Excellent and honest review - thanks for posting.
I ask this...if CRK just started and they brought to todays market (filled with ZT, WE, Kizer, Spyderco, etc ) the Sebenza for $400 bucks...would they sell even 5% of what they do today ?? Just saying. ..
Thanks, great review.
literally one of, if not the most important part in me liking and buying a knife is the ergonomics of coarse the steel grade ,build quality and looks are right there , but if a knife isnt comfy in the hands and or gives hot spots how wouild you enjoy using this to do what its intended which is get handled and work and cut, but yeah thanks for the good review
I got a small tanto Inkosi today. The super tight tolerances are impressive, much like how LEGO is, but as a working knife, I don’t think it makes the cut. Luckily I got mine for $165 under the lowest eBay price. I will be reselling it.
did the heavy weight nano oil make the deployment faster over the grease?
I’ve got XXL hands, and I find the Inkosi fits exceptionally well as a 3/3.5 finger knife. No hotspots to speak of. Try using KPL ultralight… action gets spooky good.
That being said, Native 5 does have better ergos. Only slightly though.
thx Nick. You just saved me 620 Euros.
Just bought the Mnandi and love it.
Drinking game.... Drink everytime Nick Shabazz says "thats a wonderful thing"..... F**KING HAMMERED!
I have a 25 with micarta on lays and the micarta and the fact that the choils are actually big enough to fit your fingers in makes a big difference in the ergos. It is also simple to flip as well because there is enough room to flip it straight up. I also found it less painful to use your thumbnail. To me the size of the inkosi dosnt make sense ergonomically. I.E. the handle shape should have been modified because the knife is smaller than the 25 .
Excellent review! keep it up.
I wondered how it would feel in hand and now i know . The handle points are the same problem i have with my ZT 0450 . Too bad about the handle as the blade's a useful size and shape .
Thanks for the review.
This... does have an insert. It’s ceramic.
Many thanks.
Completely agree about the CRK sharpness. Very disappointing in that aspect.
Have this knife and Love everything about this knife. Sell yours to me and I will be twice as happy, please.
+Jack a Hah. If it hadn't been sold already, we'd talk!
It's great in the hand if you hold it the right way. Many folks love it as well. A gem in my pocket.
+TheAidansdaddy17 Yeah, I could just never find "the right way" for my small hands.
+Nick Shabazz I have small hands as well. At first I was thinking wth...this knife doesn't make any sense. So I threw it in my pocket and used it for a week or so. It grew on me and made sense. It's easy for some as I see always when you get into the $325 and up knife market to hate or make the ignorant "overrated or overpriced" comments without actually hanging owned any $300-650 folders. (Other midtechs, higher priced production folders and customs) For sure looking at a benchmade, Spyderco and others then justifying spending 3xs that you start to question yourself and others. Like anything in life until you've experienced it first hand like this Inkosi it's impossible to tell. It's a 50/50 gamble that keeps us crazy knife guys buying again and again.
Even after a week or so of carry, it never did "make sense". But hey, different grinds for different kinds.
+Nick Shabazz for me it's how well it's cuts for the size. I prefer my small sebenza but this flatter grind is much better all around.
Seems like a great knife if you don’t mind the price.Dude do you work with your hands?
Very nice small folder! :)
I'm curious about the tanto version. Do you have any insights (if you've used one)?
Maybe the price will go down? I agree with you there. I want this knife, and I'll probably pay the asking price. But one can dream!
+TheStig ZeroZeroZero They're pretty common on Bladeforums. They get picked up quickly, but you'll see them, and they sell around $60 less than retail.
And thats why I'm a Patreon, as of now.
Nick. Again, you made me save some money with your review. If possible, have you considered reviewing a few of the most common knife sharpeners like the Spyderco Tri-Angle and such and presenting the "the good, the bad and the ugly"?
Done! Check my old videos :)
Hoping they make this in the Insigo blade shape.
This is a very attractive little knife! Also: Cool! You're going to review the Native? AWESOME!
+Peet Sneekes Indeed I am! Look forward to it :)
375?!? Hundred dollar markup since then. How things have changed. The filming background for example.
425 now
I agree the native 5 is very ergo in the '' normal '' grip. but not versatile. I dont know about the inkosi, never handeled one and dont mind it since i like my small 21, but the small 21 is a very versatile knife.
Thank you for your thoughts. Please forgive a simple question; how do titanium knives do in the pocket? Do they get scratched, discolored or other problems. I don't have a titanium knife, I plead poverty.
+Jose Casillas They can get little scratches or "snail trails", depending on the finish. Stonewashed is most vulnerable, "orange peeled" is least. But they're not ugly scratches, and it's not really a problem. And you're only a bit of sanding or blasting or stonewashing away from new. Highly recommend Ti :D
Maybe i have sweaty hands but i dont like titanium for real use. For playing and opening other knives boxes;) its nice tho..
Nick which do you like better inkosi or mini grip with AWT scales, I wanted the inkosi, but after I got the AWT scales on my mini grip I thought this is a very capable knife, less expensive ,similar blade size. great video.
+Harold Cottrell AWT Mini-Grip, all day every day. The ergos on it were not angels-singing good, but they were always passable, and you're getting one hell of a lot more value. Good comparison.
+Nick Shabazz thanks
Awesome video man.
6 years later your voice is unrecognizable… that’s kinda creepy.
Man this knife looks so good especially in the new natural canvas micarta, that I want to buy one. Too bad you didn't crown it a gem.
Silly Plamen I toured the CRK facilities today and this review doesn't represent the knife very well. I'm buying the large Inkosi and I believe that it's a great value for all of the time and technology that goes into making them. This guy misses a ton of the details that make them amazing. good luck
this review echos every other Inkosi review I've watched. Very disappointing and makes me happy I held off getting one. Do you own (or have ever owned) a Seb 25? I really really really like that knife. The handle feels like it was molded from my grip - it's that comfortable. I love it so much, that's why I almost pulled the trigger when the Inkosi came out but at the time was tight on funds...
I own a seb 25 and in its my best knife i own and i have a lot of other knives
+Luc Albert Never tried one. Given the size and my feelings on the Inkosi, I'm not sure I could ever spend the money on it (although I'd love to test one out that somebody else took the hit on!). I do like a lot of the improvements in it, but I just don't trust that any Sebenza is going to fit me worth a damn. But if I ever end up in a place where it's possible to feel one in hand, I'd love to.
one of the best small pocket knives made get hold of your self , such a princess you are !!!!!
I seriously thought about treating myself to an Inkosi, but when I compared it to my Spyderco Techno, it just is not worth twice the price of what I already have.
+MrBooty61 In terms of Fit-and-Finish, the Techno is way above its price. But as a practical cutting tool, the Inkosi blade is much more useful. Just saying.
How does this blade compare to the Small Sebenza in terms of size? Similar?
+James Smith I'm not 100% sure, as I never had the two side-by-side. The Small Insingo blade felt a little more useful and a bit bigger, but there aren't many tasks the Small could do that the Inkosi couldn't.
ill buy it
Chris Reeve Knives. Not for the soft handed
The thumb stud on the clone is father away from the handle .the blade has hollower grind .the clone doesn't have the ball in the lock .i had to cut down the big washers and polish them .washers that big you might as well not have washers .now its smooth as can be .still glade i didn't spend a ton of money on it .and i like the challenge of making it work .
I don't recommend to the average user .only to the people that like to make them work .
Pretty much none functional out of box .
I'm new to all of this edc and knife game, and just watched the Nick sebenza return video for the insigno and now this. Is it just me or do both of these knives resemble mini griptilians? Anyway, seems like a nice knife. Thanks for the video
And how would you compare the Inkosi to the ZT 0450? Which is one hell of a good knife (the 450 that is)
I'd buy two 0450's. But the 0450 is a much larger knife. So they're not as comparable.
+Nick Shabazz you should get the large Inkosi
I've considered checking one out!
+Nick Shabazz yah the inkosi large with tan micarta is so pretty I think. if it still had the bushings it would literally be the perfect knife I think.
I've owned both. All the ergonomic issues go out the window on the large to make a damn good knife that molds to your hand. Thumb stud thing is still an issue though, but not enough to make me not want to keep it. I love the large sold the small.
Its so so impressive that they included a 2 cent allen wrench.
Shabazz is the best.
250 to 275 that would be a good price for that knife...
+Nick G Yeah, I can see that. Closer to $250 would be where I'd reconsider my sale.
No doubt
The knife does not come sharp if you're a sharp-snob. It's a mere legal notice so some dumb-ass doesn't win a lawsuit.
I can't help but fantasize what beautiful Bark River fixed blade I could buy for $375! And trust me you can buy a really nice one.
I dont want to attack Chris Reeves. I am sure he has more talent in making things in his pinky than in my entire body. But there is absolutely nothing about this knife that makes me want it. Especially the looks (design). I believe thumb knobs do not belong on the blades. Its like lets put something on the blade to make it caught on something or interrupt a deep cut. Bad enough sharpening choils or choils in general get caught on cordages somethimes when cutting. IMO frame locks are ugly and monstrous. Nothing about this knife says $375. If it was in a drawer full of knives, I would not pick it to cut open a bag of chips let alone carry it in my pocket. It dont look like it would be comfortable in the hand or pocket.
nick pleas do a dissasembly thanks bro
Check out the new Rike Knives Thor 4s for a very small INTEGRAL gem.
Nick do you offer a sharpening service? I was wondering if you were interested in doing a review on my 25 ? I'd be more than happy to send it to you, even if you don't do the sharpening .
I'd love to review the 25, but I don't tend to sharpen for others. I'm just not quite good enough to feel confident in it :( Shoot me an email!
Nick Shabazz you got it. Thank you.
You do really love about the battoning with mnandi LOL
The “ugly” mentioned about price and bead blasting are not real issues imo.
Hideous handle cutouts and out of place, nipple like pivot kept my wallet safe from this model.
But thats as far as I will go with Chris.
Sabenzas are a myth as Rolexes and Montblanss are -- fruit of a successful marketing strategy. They are well built, but that is it. How come they have developed a sound price/value combination? I guess there are two factors here -- they became a status symbol and they keep their market price. What better than this (satisfying vanity and one's pocket at the same time)? Well... my craving for blades, watches and pens go beyond this. I like objects which can be called "works of art", which sustain virtues like form and funcion in harmony -- good design/project and engineering. Of course I am curious about the fluidity when oppening a Sabenza's blade and the "click" it makes when it gets armed and when it gets back in the handle. I like the materials used in a Sabenza and all other "goods" that you talk about, the smoothness of the back of the blade, the size of the pivot washers, etc. But I definetively do not like the proportion (and general form) of the blade vs. the handle, as I can very well see (and agree with) your "bads" and "uglies" of this Sabenza. So, I am out of it and thank you for being an iconoclast os sorts.
Ricardo Moraes-Pinto -
Wow, that is nice but ya know I am the happiest bird in the tree with my Benchmade 565 Mini Freek for $106. It's my favorite small folder.
Lets deal with the elephant in the room here,the price.Way overpriced for what it is and i mean way overpriced.When you consider what you can get for a quarter of the price.Nice knife,but way too expensive!!!!
Nick you have girly hands
$425 dollars today in October of 2022. I believe they have become a cult brand which fetches more money. 😅
there knives are overpriced not like benchmade but over priced we all know benchmade is overpriced
im probably the only one here that thinks this but that little nub above the word "Idaho" when its closed is unacceptable, again my opinion but the fit and finish needs to be seamless and perfect and for $400 ? gonna be a deal breaker for me and plus I daily my para 3 its the only knife ill ever need.
I sent you a D.M. on instagram , let me know if you got it thanks Frank.
This seems like a purchase made out of boredom. You were just sitting around with $400 burning a hole in your pocket. So you decided for some reason to pay full retail for an overpriced production knife.
$400 in your pocket ▬ *GOOD*
$400 started burning your pocket ▬ *BAD*
Sell at a loss ▬ *UGLY*
You paid $375 for a unlimited, unexclusive production knife that is available everywhere ▬ *CRAZY*
+FOOLS REPLY Oh, it was ugly alright, and probably crazy, but it was a bit more motivated than "boredom". I've been looking for a sub-3" EDC sort of folder that I'm in love with, and I had $550 left over from selling the Stubby Razel to find one. I watch BladeForums for about a month and never quite could grab an Inkosi in time, and finally broke and made the purchase. All told, I paid $25 a week "rent" on the knife, which I'm not thrilled with, and lost about $50 in the process. And I got a good review, and a good lesson, out of it.
But, including the Inkosi, I've only lost about $190 overall for the last two years of buying and selling, across 35+ knives, and most of that is two specific knives (the Inkosi and TSF Beast). Yeah, it sucks to take a loss, but that's part of the game we play. And I've probably gotten $200 worth of pleasure from the process. Such is life.
Oh, damn. I replied. I'm a fool.
+Nick Shabazz Well, you are stronger than me. I just can't seem to pull the trigger on any knife over $150. I have literally had all my CC information typed in for a $320 CKF, I was sweating and my heart was racing, but i could not press PLACE ORDER. I have the money, but what's funny, is when I was broke, I had no problem spending money.
You're a brilliant man. The "heart racing sweating" purchase doesn't tend to work out well. I've had a few of them (including the Norseman, actually) that I have no regrets, but usually that's a sign you're buying way outside your cost-carry-comfort-curve, and about to get into a Safe-Queen.
over priced , so many suckers out there that Reeves is still in business after the
Sebenza design which is SUPER OLD-