CRKT is a big name in the market for EDC pocket knives, and they offer incredible value at a remarkable price. Better yet, the company collaborates with the knife industry’s greats to come up with some seriously unique (and practical designs).
The following are some of the best CRKT knives in the game. If you’re looking to freshen up your pocket dump, you have to check these out.
The CRKT Squid
Designed by the legendary Lucas Burnley, the Squid is a winner not on aesthetics, but on ergonomics and function.
Let’s just get this out of the way. This is a tiny knife, and it’s absolutely plain. It won’t be winning any pageants anytime soon.
But when it comes to practicality, comfort, ergonomics, and number of use cases, this might be the single best entry from Columbia River Knife & Tool on this entire list.
The thing about the Squid is it’s such a generalist that it’s highly practical for so many different uses. It’s also ergonomic, indexes well, is comfortable in a variety of grips, and the blade profile is a sure winner.
It has a basic spear point that’s great for everything from cutting bait to breaking down boxes and everything in between. It’s a real everyman’s knife.
The CRKT Pilar
The CRKT Pilar, designed by Jesper Voxnaes, is like a specialized version of the squid. Made largely with the same steel and materials, it is far more refined.
It is a much larger, heavier knife with a sturdier framelock and a more robust sheepsfoot blade. The whole thing is one big dense piece of steel.
The downturned point might be less practical for some applications, but if you put a lot of power behind your pocket cleaver, it’s a good design; the tip will be less likely to break.
Also, though the knife is also small, there is a cutout in the handle that corresponds to a similar cutout in the blade that results in a choil when the knife is opened.
This makes the Pilar a lot more secure in the grip, despite the fact that in sheer dimensions it is not all that much bigger than the Squid.
If you’re looking for a practical folder from CRKT that can put up with a monumental amount of abuse, you’re probably looking for a Pilar.
The CRKT Biwa
Last we have a fixed blade, an Alan Folts design – the CRKT Biwa. The Biwa is a lightweight field knife ideal for hunting and fishing that’s a true featherweight capable of taking on more than appearances would suggest.
Made with slim G10 scales and a thin, almost needle-pointed 8Cr13MoV steel (a 12C27N version is also available), this knife packs away minimalistically but is designed for practicality with sportsmen in mind.
Thin, lightweight, and slim, the Biwa is well-designed for those who need a slightly more robust version of a “bird and trout” knife. This one is perfect for that. As small fixed blades go, it’s one of the best of the best, CRKT or otherwise.
Where to Get These and Other CRKT Knives
Interested in learning more about any of these CRKT knives? Want to learn about others from the same brand? Check out White Mountain Knives. Not only do they carry these and countless other gems from Columbia River Knife & Tool, but they also carry a lot of exclusives, too.
Visit their website today. There’s a wealth of CRKT knives waiting for you, along with highlights from the industry’s other top brands, including but not limited to Buck, Gerber, Cold Steel, Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, Zero Tolerance, ESEE, OKC, Morakniv, Byrd, QSP, Kizer, Artisan Cutlery, and many others.
