CRKT KISS 18

I thought CRKT had stopped making this little cracker years ago, so I'm pleased to see it on sale from HH which is where I found them originally. One of these has been part of my knife collection and that of my brother who received his as a gift from me, lucky chap. We've each owned the K.I.S.S. for about 14 or 15 years and both knives still perform beautifully, even if they aren't quite as sharp as they once were - the blade needs careful attention to get right because it has to be exposed, even when closed. Like it or hate it, it starts conversations about its individual style and is a sweet little knife, worthy of a place in almost any collection.

Yep, personal preferences can vary, but for my part I have had mine for 15 years and there is not a day I haven't used it. It's a proper part of me now. I absolutely LOVE the tanto blade and flat reverse- means you can use it as a glass scraper, chisel, and anything else you can think. Wish more knife manufacturers did this format. The edge dulls a bit more frequently than some knives, but a quick rub on a whetstone and it's razor sharp again. The other thing that could be improved/thought about by CRKT is a non-locking version of the mechanism (no- NOT like the slip-kiss!), so we could carry this little gem legally. Even with these detriments, I believe it's near perfect for me. R.I.P. Ed.

Had 1 for years now well beaten up a little bit shorter from sharpening but still takes a good edge . The clip still works fine & the blade stays shut. Like all things mechanical you need to service it every now & then I take the blade off clean the washers apply some oil & reassemble , then it works like new job done

One way to judge a knife's utility is by how much you actually use it. I have quite a few knives and most of them, even ones I really like, I don't actually use much or at all. I was given one of these knives by a friend and its simplicity and lightness plus a sharp blade with a good locking mechanism and good strong clip mean that I actually use it quite a bit.. Not for heavy use but very good for light day to day use.

As with most tools, you judge them based on their intended purpose and as a major breakthrough design (Ed's won more awards than a cow can s**t for this design) it is unsurpassed and collectors should value it for that if nothing else. It doesn't hold and edge well, but every time you take it out the drawer, pocket etc... it makes you feel good. For cutting things though, use a SAK... This is a true icon and every collector should have one.

I love the finish of this knife, the build quality is high, the edge is good and has decent retention. However, this knife, is more of a novelty rather than an EDC. The reason is the lock, when you open the knife the lock pops out at an angle of about 5 degrees. The problem with this is that when you grasp the knife tightly the lock disengages and I have had instances where the blade has started to shut on me when carrying out heavy cutting tasks. This is not good and is a fundamental flaw.

The K.I.S.S, or "Keep It Super Simple" is a wonderful knife for the money. Solid as nails with its frame lock and tough American tanto style blade this is a real classic. It also features a clip that can be used to store money. This was my first knife I purchased and it's not going anywhere.