CRKT – Knife Collaborations and Original Creations

Hey guys, Brian here.  I talked to George Poulos, one of the product specialists here at OpticsPlanet, about some of his favorite hunting knives by CRKT, and he agreed to write up a guest blog to give us all some more info on these incredibly cool knives.  Read on!

I’ve been associated with CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) on and off for nearly 15 years, and these folks are one of the top knife companies in my book.  About 18 years ago, and completely new to the knife industry, the owners embarked on a venture that has set the standard for offering custom designed knives to the average customer at a fraction of the cost of a custom original.

Originally, with only two or three custom knifemakers in their stable, CRKT has built a reputation for fine quality, affordable custom-designed production knives. Possibly the most popular series is the Kit Carson designed M16 group of knives.

For nearly 15 years, there have been numerous variants available to suit a broad spectrum of cutting and carry applications. Today, the number of collaborative associates numbers 30 and growing, not to mention the knife models that are CRKT’s own designs!

An example of an original CRKT creation is the IGNITOR Series. It is a great size for everyday carry with a 3.38” blade, comfortable ergonomic handle design and my favorite of all handle materials – G10 – which resists slipping when wet and stays a moderate temperature even when exposed to extremes.

Among the newest CRKT collaborative efforts is the amazing ERASER from the bench of Liong Mah. This has become another one of my instant favorites! It’s formidable 3.875” modified tanto provides optimal piercing strength yet offers a long cutting edge.  The Mah ERASER ergonomics allow for low fatigue during prolonged usage and maximum comfort. Once again the use of G10 scales is a plus, not to mention the integrated blade flipper which makes opening lightning fast and reliable. They use state-of-the-art materials suited to the task at hand as well as the most popular handle materials. In addition, they are true innovators of some of the most sophisticated locks and safeties available to today’s knife buyer.

Although most of the knives are imported, CRKT goes to great lengths to insure quality control, and this keeps them affordable. The company has always been very attentive to maintaining a meticulous level of quality and insuring the safety and reliability of their locks, releases and safeties.  I‘ve always been impressed by their genuine concern with preserving the integrity of their brand and always stand behind their products.

In addition, these guys listen to their customers’ thoughts and ideas about how to improve a product.  What more can you ask of a knife manufacturer? So, if you want a quality knife for any application at a reasonable price, look at the offerings from Columbia River Knife & Tool. You’ll find that you’ll be able to afford several custom-designed production knives for less than the cost of one custom made blade!

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4 Responses to CRKT – Knife Collaborations and Original Creations

  1. DUDLEY. FIELD says:

    I WOULD PURCHASE THIS IF IT ALSO HAD A RAIL SYSTEM SO i COULD ADD OTHER LIGHTS, OR A LASER TARGETING LIGHT.

  2. Shawn Bayles says:

    Ok what is new Surefire has been making replacement forearms with lights for year for both Remington and Mossberg, problem is the cost low in being 300.00. You can get a replacement forearm with a rail and attach a 1 inch mount with a tac light a do the same thing. I set up 3 shotguns for what one would cost if I did a surefire replacement forearm.

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