CRKT Knives

CRKT (Columbia River Knife and Tool) is one of the latest brands that Edgar Brothers have added to their portfolio. This American knife manufacturer produces a wide range of innovative and good quality knives, all at very reasonable prices.

Squid XM

This very compact assisted folder has a 2.95” D2 steel blade with a flipper and ball-bearing pivot, making it quick and easy to deploy. Edge retention is very good, and the frame lock holds the blade securely. The textured G10 handle gives an effective grip, even when wet, and at 0.10” thick, the blade is capable of doing tough jobs without flexing.

Minimalist Cleaver Blackout

With very deep finger cut-outs, far larger than your average finger grooves, the knife gives an exceptional hold, and it fits closely into your palm giving total control of the 2.13” 5Cr15MoV steel blade. This very hard and corrosion-resistant steel, more commonly found in kitchen knives, combined with the cleaver design, makes this a very good cutting/chopping tool. Supplied with a lanyard and a good quality thermoplastic sheath, this is a great camp knife for general use.

S.P.E.C. (Small Pocket Everyday Cleaver)

The name really says it all. At just over 5½” long overall, this is a very compact, but effective chopper. The 2.44” 5Cr15MoV steel blade is razor sharp, making it ideal for cutting, chopping, trimming, and dicing, plus the cleaver shape is very strong. Despite being small, the G10 handle is shaped and textured to give a really comfortable and firm hold. The knife is strong and rigid, plus edge retention is very good.

Bear Claw

Described by CRKT as an emergency tool, for quick deployment, the Bear Claw can be used to cut rope, webbing, and netting. It’s a very effective cutting tool. The 2.02” curved blade with triple-point serrations is made from AUS 8 steel, which is similar to 440 steel, but it has a higher vanadium content to increase hardness, meaning it will cut through just about anything. A large finger hole enhances the hold on the knife. This combines with the glass-reinforced nylon handle to give a great grip. The adjustable thermoplastic sheath locks the knife very securely and keeps it close at hand.

CEO Compact

This very sleek knife has a straight 2.61” blade that’s made of 1.4116 steel, and it has a flipper for quick one-handed operation. The liner lock operates smoothly, holds the blade very securely, and is fully ambidextrous. The steel used is best known for its use in Swiss Army Knives, and is particularly strong and corrosion-resistant, plus has good edge retention qualities. As a simple and effective cutting tool, this knife takes up very little space, and the pocket clip holds it securely.

Conclusion

Most CRKT knives are small, and the majority have stonewashed or bead-blasted finishes on the blades, rather than polished steel. Despite their relatively low prices, the build quality and design are much better than you might expect, making them well worth a look.