CRKT Lake: "$16 of Class" by Nutnfancy

Here's another winning CRKT EDC blade: the Lake 111. Designed by Ron Lake, it provides amazing class and cutting utility for its low price. The 8Cr14Mov clip blade is an excellent and precise cutter, arriving extra sharp from the box. Man that 8Cr14 and 13Mov steel sure can take an edge...almost scary. The tips are strong but precise on these satin finished hollow ground 3.1" blades. As of 2011, this little lockback folder came in two choices of handle materials, both excellent: milled aluminum or basket weave patterned Zytel. The aluminum-handled Lake #7256 is a bit more classy as it features a milled pattern and the added visual interest of brass liners (!). It's a bit heavier at 3.8 ounces than the Zytel-handled #7256Z Lake. I would like to see full skeletonizing of the Lake series to lighten them up. But both have surprisingly rocket fast deployment and solid lockups. You can thank a well though out lock bar, spring, and slick pivot bushings for this. Both knives excel in their slenderness, making them a pure joy to carry in the EDC role. You won't be bumping and scaping into things with the Lake along for the ride. The thumb studs are set into the back blade spine and provide good traction since no handle occlusions exist. The pocket clip is excellent abeit non-positionable to any other corner than where it's at (tip down). The polished finished clip on the Zytel version is exceptional in appearance. Another win is how deep these Lakes carry in the pocket. Value is tremendous at current pricing levels: amazingly the CRKT Lake 111 Zytel can be scored for around $16. Acquistion by any knife lover is almost a given at that price. Thin, strong, fast, and good looking, the Lake 111 gets the job done with class. It will be our little secret that it cost close to nothing.///////////////////////////Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 9 out of 10 (VALUE considered)