CRKT Knives

CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) has been around for some time and today offers an eclectic range. My first encounter was a test I did on the Kit Carson M16-14 folding Tanto, many years ago. In fact, this and my original Spyderco Rescue were probably the two blades that started me collecting.

Modern thinking
As with any industry, there are varying design trends over the years and cutlery is no exception. CRKT distributor, Edgar Brothers Ltd, sent me four models to check out: two fixed blades – the Razel and Razel Compact – and two folders, the Pilar and Dextro.

Everyday carry (EDC)
The Razels are designed by knife maker, Jon Graham, as: “Working class, everyday carry, built to get down and dirty”, blending the needs of a knife and tool in one package.
The Razel’s full tang, plain edge D2 steel blade looks like a straight razor, with its flat-nosed, rectangular shape. It’s hollow ground and measures 2.97” in length and 0.17” wide. The overall length is 6.75” and the knife weighs 4.2 oz, plus 1.2 oz for the thermoplastic sheath. The handle scales are Micarta and riveted on, with a lanyard hole at the rear. The small grip’s deep, contoured belly offers a surprisingly secure hold. On top are two sections of jimping to allow added thumb pressure. The unusual flat, chisel-point nose is also sharpened, offering two different cutting edges - slice (main) or push (tip). The sheath engulfs the knife for 3/4 of its length and locks by friction. On the outside is a clothing clip.

Razel dazzle
The Compact follows the same principle, but with a shorter, D2 steel, hollow ground 2.32” blade and a more angled chisel nose, behind which is a short section of serrations. It has a two-tone, black and stone-washed finish. The full tang build is 0.13” wide, and the handles are black G-10 and shaped to fit the hand comfortably. Finished off by a lanyard hole and paracord braid, the overall length is 5.27” and it weighs 3 oz.
The sheath is like the Razel’s, only smaller. I found retention very tight and had to use the braid to pull the knife out. It should smooth up. If not, you’d be constantly pulling the knife/sheath off your belt together. An interesting design, but the short blade does not have any jimping and it would be easy to push your thumb onto the sharp serrations if you weren’t careful!

Pilar Large
Designed by Danish cutler, Jesper Voxnaes, the Pilar is named after Ernest Hemingway’s boat, which he used for renegade U-boat surveillance in WWII, in the Caribbean.
Another EDC design, this compact folder features an attractive stone-washed finish. The slightly upswept blade shows a tapered grind to its plain edge and is deep. It’s 2.67” long, 0.15” wide, and is made of 8Cr13MoV steel. There is a big finger choil and a bit of belly that locks the knife firmly in the hand. Engagement is by a liner, an integral part of the right-side grip plate. The tool weighs 4.2 oz and measures 6.9” open and 4” closed.
There are two methods of deployment – an oblong cutout in the blade for the thumb and a flipper lug on top for the index finger. It has a steel clothing clip on the right side, by the hinge, with provision for moving it to the rear, for a tip-up carry, which I prefer. I found the handle a bit smooth and would have liked some chequering or texture for more security. There is a lanyard hole at the rear. Overall, an efficient and effective little design that lives up to its EDC credentials.

Dextro
The Dextro is another elegant dual-deployment folder, designed by T.J. Schwarz. It follows on from his other black-on-black creation, the Caligo. The slim build is all-black, with a titanium nitride coating to resist corrosion.
The 3.18” drop point blade is 0.15” wide and features a plain edge on a taper grind. Locking is by a separate steel liner, inset into the inside of the left-hand scale. The opening action is very smooth and fast, thanks to IKBS bearings. It’s actuated in two ways - ambidextrous thumb lugs at the rear of the blade and an integral flipper on top, doubling up as a finger stop in the hand.
The scales are aluminium, and the handle is open-topped, so debris will fall through rather than accumulate, preventing any problems. The handle shows a slight belly and a single finger groove. The feel is a bit too smooth for security but is alleviated by three angled grooves on each side. A clothing clip is positioned rear right, which offers the tip-up carry for fast deployment, plus there’s a lanyard hole. The black look is broken up by green rings around the pivot and a rear filler. The weight is 4.8 oz, and the overall length is 7.8” open and 4.61” folded. Nothing unusual, but a nice, modern, tactile folder.

Thoughts
CRKT has certainly upped its game since the Tanto I tested, which in itself was not too bad. All four models are well presented, with good build quality, finish, and some interesting design concepts. These compare well to knives in a similar price bracket, as well as some of the more high-end products.
Of the four tested, the one I like the most is the Razel. I can’t really conceive a need, but I just like the aesthetics and feel. I’m not so keen on the Compact, ref my comments to the lack of jimping on its very short blade, with its aggressive serrated top edge. Of the folders, it has to be the Dextro. It’s smooth and slick, with a superior opening movement. However, the Pilar is a good bet for a working compact too.
Pricing, as ever from CRKT, is very competitive. Make sure you check out the website to see the huge range on offer.