columbia river knife and tool

Evan Martin

Evan Martin

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
521
I an trying to pick out a tact. folder for my brother and I realize that their are probably better folders on the market but I ran across some Columbia river knives they seam pretty cool but are they worth having most of the blade steal i have seen from them is aus 8 anyway If someone has heard anything about them or had some personal experience with them let me know

thanks evan
 
they make good quality knives. i have several and have had no problems with them.,,VWB.
 
CRKT usually runs their steel soft, and I've read more stories than I'd like about the LAWKS system failing.
You'll get a much more solid knife from Kershaw, Benchmade or Spyderco.
Just about anything from them will be well made and hold a good edge.
 
They are fine knives and if you like the looks of them, then go for it. Benchmade's AUS 8 is treated to a higher hardness, and you can alot for your money if you go with one of several spyderco models. I can also recommend the Benchmade Griptilian. It all really depends on how much money you want to spend. I don't regret the CRKT I bought my brother, but I wish I had looked around a bit more first.
 
I have several CRKT's myself. I like most of them alot. The designs are in keeping with ergonomics, and construction is great for a production piece. However, you might think about your sharpening skills if you plan to go to a harder steel than they do. The AUS8 is easily sharpened where say VG-10 and S30V require a little more skill and time. I'm glad to have my CRKT's depending on the chores I have to do. I don't EDC one, and I particularly don't like the LAWKS or Auto LAWKS is even worse. The fewer gadgets I have to worry over the better for EDC. I'd look over the Spyderco or Kershaw line, you can get great steels, great designs, and a knife more conducive to every day carry. Choose a blade shape that works in most of your applications, you'll be happier with your purchase over the long run.
 
CRKT = :thumbdn::thumbdn: for materials and execution.

Get a standard Spyderco Delica or Benchmade Griptilian. Same price point, better materials, better execution - fit and finish are good and the locks are solid.
 
I think an argument could be made by some on execution, but I have not seen a CRKT that was poorly executed, and I have owned/handled several. Materials? The materials they use are fine, are used by a number of companies all of which have good reputation. AUS8 will take a razor edge very easily, and is an excellent steel for this kind of knife. Since the AUS8 knives can be found at a reasonable price in the 40 dollar range it competes with the Delica and Native from Spyderco. VG10 and S30V are better steels and may in and of themselves be more bang for your buck. But they certainly look nothing like the CRKT models. I would only warn you away from 420J steel in knife blades unless you are looking for a really cheap beater. Keep in mind that a similar knife from Kershaw comes with A/O and decent steel 13C26. The intent here is not to steer you away from CRKT but to provide comparisons and perhaps insight to ask yourself some questions. I cannot fault CRKT on the materials they use.
 
I have and have used the LAWKS, on a Titanium M16, and an older Gerber Covert. I works just fine and does exactly what it's supposed to - keep the liner engaged with the lock ramp so it can't slip off.

Mass produced liner locks are a fussy thing to make, and some less-than-secure fit ups do slip through - I have two bad ones from major makers. Everyone has reported some. The LAWKS and AUTO LAWKS stop liner locks from unlocking in use, which can be pretty disappointing when it happens. To get a failure with them, two locking systems must be compromised, which is pretty rare. CRKT went to the point of including LAWKS just to provide more security. There are those who just don't like any extra gadgets on a knife, but like me, they were raised in the slipjoint age. You quickly learned what not to do when a knife had no lock at all. We also drove with no seatbelts, no air bags, no car seats, and a complete sense of personal responsibility when we screwed up.

Not so much today, eh?

I would take the time to choose which particular CRKT you want to give. I lean toward the M16 series - the better models don't use Zytel, and will give good service and be a good gift.
 
The produce a broad spectrum of designs. Their knifes have always come to me extremely sharp. I think they are a great entry level knife to collecting and good using knives for moderate use.
 
I thought they were ok until I bought a Benchmade. The one that I had for years I had to sharpen after every use and I have 2 friends with CRKT knives that had the thumb studs almost immediately fall off after purchase. Benchmade is a much better knife IMO and about the same dough. 154cm so much better than aus anything. Get him a griptilian from new graham knives and he'll use it for years.
 
Soulrack223 said:
I thought they were ok until I bought a Benchmade. The one that I had for years I had to sharpen after every use and I have 2 friends with CRKT knives that had the thumb studs almost immediately fall off after purchase. Benchmade is a much better knife IMO and about the same dough. 154cm so much better than aus anything. Get him a griptilian from new graham knives and he'll use it for years.
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I would agree that Benchmade makes a good product, and some of them are much better than CRKT, but not the ones in say the M16 AUS 8 Category. you can get an Aus 8 CRKT for 30-40 dollars. Griptilians are more expensive. And 154CM is probably not much better than AUS10 for instance, if at all. Aus 8 is a fine steel for everyday use. Also the grain structure of AUS 8 allows it to take a slightly finer edge than ATS 34 or 154CM. 154 will hold it longer though.
 
M16 in Aluminum comes with AUS8
Fine solid knife, a real user.
Look for it on ebay for less than 40

Also the E-Lock in AUS8, is a nice knife.
Two styles with steel liners are very solid.
Again on ebay for 25.

Do not get the M16 on Zytel with AUS4, not worth it!

Don't spend more than 40.
If you do go to Spydrco or a Benchmade Mini-Grip

But southerntackle have some Apache on closeout.
 
I have more CRKT knives than any others in my collection, and I really like most of them. I think they are one of the best knives you can get for the money. Some of my favorites...the M-16, the Corkum First Strike, the rarely mentioned Bud Neely Pesh-Kbaz, and the Stiff Kiss. You can do far worse for your money than CRKT...find the ones you like and try them out!
 
While I have seen some CRKT that had lock issues- they were not my CRKT's!! I watched one guy who said how much crap his Ryan Model 7 was SMASH it into a tabletop to do the spine whack test. When I looked at the knife my response was simply- Tighten the pivot to an appropriate level and it will work like it was meant to. Hmmm... 2 minutes later it was fine. I just question what many people do to get failures.
CRKT is one of my favorite brands, they use good materials, all of mine were put together properly, and they make an incredible amount of designs so there should be something for everybody in their line.
Only my opinion.
 
I have several CRKT's and all have been acceptable. They are probably one of the best value for money knives, and several come in AUS-8. I prefer Benchmade and Spyderco, but for the money I have some CRKTs I rotate in my colletion. The only CRKT to give me any problems is the Van Hoy. It broke. The pins that attached from the blade into the handle broke off. I opened and closed it allot before it broke. They offer life time warranty, so one day it will go back for repair. Good luck on your hunt.
 
crkt quality has been right up there in comparison to my spyderco, benchmade, sog, and kershaw knives...i do perfer spyderco, but the m-16 m-14 are great knives in design and build
 
I have the M21, both the large and the small one. The AUS8 steel is pretty decent, I think. I recommend the small M21-02, which has a 3.2" recurve blade. It can be had for around $42 plus shipping.
 
I've never read a poor review of a CRKT knife with an AUS8 blade and the LAWKS. I, too, have a goodly number of them and have never had one fail. I'm not crazy about the chisel grind that comes on them, but if I sharpen them as if they were V-grinds, I do get a good edge.

For all the garbage I read about Cold Steel, I find that their knives are sharp out of the box, their steel appears to be heat treated very, very well, and their locks tend to be strong. For this reason, I'd have to rate CS better. It's true they don't produce knives in premium stainless (like 154CM or CPM S30V), but then their mainstream knives don't skyrocket up to the hundred dollar mark and beyond like Emersons, Benchmades and Spydercos. CRKTs are priced about the same as CS in many areas, but CS offers more in the way of durability and blade quality.

CRKT M16s are beautiful, though. Just handling both one would assume CRKTs make the better knife. But when one looks at reliability, strength, and edge retention, CS, I think, comes out on top.
 
I too have many CRKT knives as mentioned in an earlier post, but I find myself reaching for the M-16 Titanium and my M-21 when I head to the field. The Carson Design just seems to work for me. I also have a Van Noy Snaplock but haven't experienced any problems with it. If you're a gadget person....grab a Kershaw External Toggle Lock! A fun knife to own and piddle with! I don't yet have anything in S30V, but it's top of my list, just haven't put my thoughts on which model and maker.
 
For all the garbage I read about Cold Steel, I find that their knives are sharp out of the box
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Just keep in mind that half of what you read on here is opinion and not fact.

We all have opinions. :)


That said , I love all of my CRKT's they have not failed me yet and I do not expect them too , that said , I would also be picky about which CRKT I bought.
IMO some of their cheaper knives are not all that great but would work for menial tasks.
I.E. , last week I was at one of our stores , cleaning the scale platter on a scanner/scale , if you've ever seen underneath a scale platter it is disgusting/sticky/slimy to say the least.:barf: My cheapie M-16 with its long skinny blade did the job quite well.
 
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