Columbia River Knife and Tool, entrenched in the minds of collectors, outdoorsmen, hobbyists, and the knife crew as CRKT, is one of the biggest brands in the industry, and one of the most popular.
It’s also relatively new, compared to companies like OKC, Buck, and Gerber, all of which have been around for generations. But CRKT didn’t get to the top of the pack by chance. It did so by producing tried-and-true designs like the Biwa, Pilar, M16, and what will be the focus of this article, the humble Squid.
The CRKT Squid is, to be frank, one of the most popular knife designs out there. Despite its small stature, it has made decidedly big waves. This short post will investigate some of the reasons why with a straightforward review.
Materials
The basic Squid (there are several iterations available now) feature a 2.16” spear point blade of 8Cr13MoV steel. Overall, it is only 5.7” and weighs only 3.5 ounces.
The blade steel is everyman’s selection from the XCrXXMoV series, a high chrome, moly-vanadium steel that offers a decent balance across corrosion resistance, toughness, durability, and sharpenability that really can’t be rivaled at this price point.
To be honest, it’s fair to have low expectations of this alloy, but using one of these knives would shatter them. For whatever reason - grind, bevel, or heat treatment - it is possible to get the Squid really sharp.
It dulls easily, that is true. But this also means it is easy to retouch up the blade in the field and makes chips and shattering unlikely. Moreover, the alloy is about as rust-resistant as they come.
As for the handle material, that’s steel, too, presumably the same as used for the blade. You get the same virtues here: excellent wear resistance and resistance to rust, in what are effectively maintenance-free handle scales.
Handling and Ergonomics
All told, as commendable as the materials used in the squid are, they are actually one of the weakest points in design. In overall design and handling, CRKT has hit it out of the park.
Yes, the Squid is tiny - very - but it handles beautifully, in such a way that you wouldn’t believe it was the size that it is.
The grips have a gentle swell that fills the middle of the grip beautifully, and there’s a nice flat ramp on the spine with a bit of jimping that makes the Squid a joy to control in a saber grip, too.
The spear point is highly versatile and utilitarian, and despite the tiny size of the blade profile, it’s quite adding for most slicing tasks. As a little EDC folder, you really can’t do much better.
The pivot mechanism is smooth, the lock is strong, it comes with a reversible pocket clip, and there’s even a lanyard hole.
If you use and carry a CRKT Squid, chances are you will forget the size before long. It’ll just be another knife, and one you reach for more than most.
Don’t believe it? Get one for yourself and put it to the test. It is easily one of the best in the CRKT catalog, and highly affordable, too.
Big Hits: The High-Level Takeaway
All in all, CRKT has used solid budget-friendly materials in the Squid that perform well in a wide range of circumstances, and has produced an ergonomic, utilitarian design with a lot of use cases. The Squid is a great knife, all around, at an attractive price point.
Where Can You Get a CRKT Squid (And Other CRKT Knives)?
Looking for a CRKT Squid to add to your collection? It won’t set you back much, especially if you get it online at White Mountain Knives.
They carry several different versions of the Squid, along with other popular CRKT knives including but not limited to the M16, Ritual, Homefront, CEO, and many others.
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