CRKT

CRKT S.P.E.W. Review

Last updated: May 13, 2018
Ah, the CRKT S.P.E.W…. would a knife by any other name sound so sweet?

With that out of the way, lets get down to business because I really like this one. The SPEW (really, the S.P.E.W.) stands for Small Pocket Everyday Wharncliffe, and it is a really interesting design from custom maker Alan Folts. Alan makes his knives in a small shop on the Florida coast (a couple hours away from me actually) and he is an exceptionally nice guy. He is a classically trained artist, and has been refining his approach to knife making for many years now.

In addition to crafting beautiful custom pieces Alan partnered with CRKT and released a production knife, the Folts Minimalist, in early 2010. I reviewed that knife a while back and was extremely impressed so I was really excited to learn about the SPEW. The SPEW fills a similar niche to the Minimalist. It’s a small fixed blade, designed for every day carry.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SPEW has an overall length of 6.25″, features a 3″ blade, and it weighs 3 ounces. As I mentioned earlier, this would make a great fixed blade for EDC. This knife is also small enough to be used as a neck knife. Personally, I like to just carry this one in my pocket (in the sheath of course – more on that later).

The blade is a wharncliffe shape with a high hollow grind and an extremely sharp tip. This tip is perfect for detail tasks and will make quick work of whatever it is applied to. Now, a tip this thin is useful, but it’s also delicate. The SPEW is a knife you will want to be careful with if you expect that needle fine tip to survive daily use. Dropping this knife on concrete could end it all and you will not want to pry with this tool either. But since I knew that this tip could be an issue, I took it upon myself to thoroughly test. I put this knife through a fairly rigorous cutting test that included stabbing the knife through a stack of cardboard about 50 times. The tip held up really well.

Columbia River chose 5Cr13MoV stainless steel for this one, which isn’t my first choice, but it actually worked out really well. During my little cut test I created a mountain of cardboard shavings, and stabbed with the knife dozens and dozens of times. After the entire ordeal was over the SPEW was still held a paper cutting edge, which frankly came as a surprise since this is a soft steel heat treated to around 56 HRC.

My only issue is that the 5Cr did not want to take an edge easily and I was never able to get my knife absolutely hair popping sharp. While I’m no sharpening wizard, I attacked this thing with both diamond stones and Japanese water stones and was never able to get the edge quite up to spec. I know I’m not alone in this discovery, and I suspect it’s because of the low carbon count of this particular steel.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle on the SPEW is G10 over a full stainless steel tang. The G10 is red and black it is a nice material to see on a knife at this price point. The G10 has been machined to offer enhanced grip and visual interest and the corners have been nicely rounded. Everything screws together, and I am very pleased with how well all the pieces line up. The handle is definitely well made.

The ergonomics of the SPEW really interested me because the Folts Minimalist is one of the most comfortable edc knives that I have ever held. While the ergonomics of the SPEW aren’t as aggressive as the Minimalist I was not disappointed with the way this model felt in hand. Like the Minimalist the SPEW is designed for a 3 finger grip, and it also features a small lanyard for your pinky. This is a comfortable way to wield a small knife and I am very pleased with how well that lanyard performs. Alan also included a nice finger choil in the design along with a jimped thumb ramp. The jimping that lines up with the G10 doesn’t offer any traction, but the jimping at the top of the ramp works as advertised. All in all I am very pleased with the “ergos” of this little knife.

Sheath

The SPEW comes with a very nice molded plastic sheath. The blade slides in with a firm snap and retention is very good. There is a little rattle, but this knife is not coming out unless you want it to. I like how a place for your thumb is included on this sheath, it means that you can easily pop the knife out with your thumb. I like carrying this one in my pocket, and it’s great to be able to deploy the knife with one hand and not have to remove both the knife and sheath from the pocket.

If you would rather carry the SPEW another way, the design offers a couple other options. CRKT includes a piece of paracord so you can lash this knife down or use it as a neck knife. I will say, if you want to use the SPEW as a neck knife, use a break-away chain or a cord lock so if the cord does get caught up you won’t strangle yourself! CRKT also offers a more traditional belt loop with this knife too – and you could mount the SPEW either horizontally or vertically. I like the sheath and the variety of carry options you get.

CRKT SPEW Review – Final Thoughts

The SPEW is another awesome knife from CRKT and Alan Folts. Fans of the Minimalist should be excited about this one, and I am happy to report that the SPEW does not disappoint. You get a wonderfully functional and compact design from Alan that has been well-executed by the folks at CRKT. I like the variety of carry options and just the overall package – it’s all been really well done.

My only issue pertains to the steel, and I think it is a pretty minor issue. Sure, I would love something that can take a finer edge, but the SPEW cuts, and it cuts surprisingly well. I gave the knife a series of hard tests and it passed them all with flying colors.

I think this is a good knife for the money and I recommend the SPEW if you are interested in the design, or want a little fixed blade for daily use.

CRKT S.P.E.W. EDC Fixed Blade Knife with Sheath: Compact Utility Neck Knife, Bead Blast Blade, Textured G10 Handle, Nylon Sheath, Belt Loop 2388

Bead Blast Blade Finish
Compact Utility Neck Knife
Glass-Reinforced Nylon Sheath
Designed by Alan Folts in Melbourne, Florida
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

I recommend purchasing the SPEW from Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

CRKT Shenanigan Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Last Updated: September 6, 2019
I find myself typing this review as I usually do, in the wee hours of the morning. Dregs from a once cold beer are drying on the side of the glass at my desk, and knives scattered across the room are glinting faintly under lamp light. I had trouble with the intro on this one so I decided to save it for the end. Now that I’m done I still haven’t come up with anything witty to say. Not that I would classify my typical intros as “witty,” but I mean, the knife is called the “Shenanigan.” This should be an easy lay up – even for a hack like myself. Unbelievably, I’m still drawing a blank here…

Buy the CRKT Shenanigan at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

That’s probably for the best though, because this knife is no laughing matter. Despite the goofy name the CRKT Shenanigan is a seriously well thought out knife at a price that you would be silly to ignore. Designed by Ken Onion, and manufactured by the good folks at CRKT, the Shenanigan brings great utility to anyone willing to cough up enough money to cover the very modest $35 price tag. While the knife is by no means perfect I think that the good here far outweighs the bad.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Shenanigan sports a 3-1/4″ blade and an overall length of 8-1/4″. CRKT claims that the PPS (plastic handled version) weighs 4.1 ounces, but in my hand it feels much lighter. I’ve seen listed weights fluctuate from 4.1 all the way down to 3.7 ounces, and I’d put it closer to 3.7. Anyhow, not like that really matters too much, but my point here is the knife feels light for its size. It is a bigger knife, straddling the gap between EDC and tactical. Depending on your preferences I think it could lean either way.

The blade is a long and elegant modified-drop point design with a slight recurve and a swedge. The blade shape is one of my favorite features of the knife. The recurve, high hollow grind and good belly are all excellent for slicing, and the reinforced tip enables good penetration. CRKT did a very nice job with the edge; it is both well ground and extremely sharp from the box with an almost mirror-polished appearance. The blade’s good looks have been rounded out with a bead blasted finish and laser etched hallmarks.

Blade steel on the Shenanigan is tried and true AUS 8. For a knife at this price point I am very pleased to find AUS 8 here. A good mid range steel from Japan, AUS 8 easily takes an edge and holds up well to EDC tasks.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Shenanigan PPS gets its name from the PolyPhenylene Sulfide (PPS) polymer that has been used for the handle material. This is some sort of highly engineered plastic, and it didn’t take a chemistry degree to figure that out. The PPS material is both lightweight and durable and is part of what enables this knife to be had at such a great price. CRKT set out to make a high value work horse, and I think this material selection fits the bill. The PPS is dense enough to feel satisfying and is virtually indestructible. Inside the handle are some partial steel liners adding strength and rigidity to the design.

For those that would like an upgrade to the handle material, CRKT offers just that. An aluminum version is also available if you absolutely cannot stand the idea of carrying around a plastic-handled knife. I think for many people the PPS will be totally sufficient as the aluminum scales almost double the price, but I’m really tempted to check out this upgraded version as well.

Ergonomics are excellent with the Shenanigan. First of all, it is a larger knife, and there is a good amount of palm swell to fill the hand. Curvature to the handle design allows for a precision fit into the palm. Meaningful texturing adds grip and feedback. Additionally, there is a good deal of functional jimping on the thumb ramp and the choil is large and well placed. The net result is that the Shenanigan is extremely comfortable in hand.

Unfortunately, the many things that make the Shenanigan so great in hand work to make it not so great in pocket. Being a longer knife I found the Shenanigan to take up a good deal of room, and the thick handle made it a bulky carry as well. Certainly this won’t be a problem for folks who like to carry a bigger knife, but the size and thickness could be a turn-off for those who want to streamline their EDC.

I will say, the pocket clip position doesn’t do the knife any favors. It’s mounted for right side tip down carry only. I’d love to see CRKT make this a 4 corners clip, or at the very least allow for tip up carry. That said, I found retention on the Shenanigan’s clip to be nice and snug. It’s a discrete looking clip that rides low and looks pretty good.

Deployment and Lock-up

Some will be surprised to learn that the Shenanigan is not an assisted open knife. Ken Onion is famous for designing assisted open folders so it could be easy to assume that the Shenanigan would feature a spring assist as well. This one does not have a spring assist however, and you need to use a flipper to get it open. The blade still deploys fast and smooth, with a combination of nylon and bronze washers inside. I don’t miss a spring assist at all with the Shenanigan. The blade jumps open with very little effort.

The Shenanigan uses a liner lock to hold the blade open. First impressions were that the lock looks kind of thin. Upon closer inspection I think it should work for EDC and utility tasks, but for harder uses I’m not as confident. Then again, the handles are made of plastic, so I wouldn’t suggest hard using this one in the first place. I got to play with two Shenanigans and both had good engagements. One had no blade play at all, the other had a slight amount of play (or an off-center blade – could never get it to balance 100% perfectly). For a $35 knife the lock meets my expectations, but if you can visually inspect the knife before purchase I’d go ahead and do that.

CRKT Shenanigan PPS Review – Final Thoughts

Ken Onion really hit this one out of the park when he designed this incredibly comfortable and functional knife. If you need big utility out of a small budget blade, I think there is a lot to like with this one. Stuff that I really liked included the blade shape, the steel, and the ergonomics. I wasn’t quite as wild about the position of the pocket clip, and found the lock bar a little on the thin side given the size of the knife and its potential purposes.

However, for $35 I think you are getting a hell of a knife here. You could pick up a couple without breaking a sweat and have a nice dedicated folder for the car, work or anywhere in else. I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest the CRKT Shenanigan to anyone looking for an inexpensive large utility blade. And that my friends, is no joke. 😉

CRKT Shenanigan PPS Folding Pocket Knife, Serrated Edge K480KKS

Bead Blast Blade Finish
Glass-Reinforced Nylon Handles
Triple Point Serrations
Designed by Ken Onion in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

I recommend buying the CRKT Shenanigan at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

CRKT M16 Review

by Dan Jackson 24 Comments

Last Updated: July 16, 2018

My recent reviews of the CRKT Minimalist and the Drifter have proven that CRKT is legitimate contender in the affordable EDC game. But for many this is old news as knives like the popular CRKT M16 have been around for years delivering excellent every day performance at a price that can’t be ignored.

Buy the CRKT M16 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

In fact, I’m no stranger to the M16. I owned one years ago (a small black tanto version) and for around $20 it provided me with years of trusty service. At one point I thought that I lost the knife, but several years later I found it in the pocket of one of my fishing bags. In between losing and finding my original M16, I picked up the one shown here – a medium size version with a spearpoint blade and flashy orange handle scales.

Purpose

This is a very popular knife from CRKT. Designed by Kit Carson, this blade comes in a variety of sizes suitable for EDC all the way up to Tactical applications. My old M16 was pretty small but I feel like the medium sized one straddles the EDC / tactical gap nicely with it’s 3.5 blade and 3.5 ounce carry weight.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

As I said before, the exact dimensions will vary slightly depending on the exact model you select. There are so many variations I’m not going to even bother trying to cover them all, instead focusing on materials, fit and finish, and other more general aspects of the knives. The exact model in my review is a M16-13ZER and it has a 3.5″ blade, an overall length of 8.25″ and a weight of 3.5 ounces. This is the middle of the road for the M16 series as CRKT makes versions that are both smaller and larger than the 13ZER.

My model came with a spear point blade, although you also have the option of a tanto. I like the spear point because it has a great tip and a decent amount of belly. It’s not really my first choice for EDC, as I do like having even more belly, but it will get the job done fine. The knife comes with a hollow grind and the option of serrations.

I found the edge on my knife to be very asymmetrical – it’s almost like the knife has a chisel grind. CRKT states that they grind the knives this way to avoid thinning the serrations. While it may look a little different, my knife came very sharp; shaving hair and zipping through paper without an issue.

CRKT has offered the M16 in a variety of different blade steels over the years. The knife pictured here comes in AUS4, which is a lower end version of AUS8 (there is less carbon in AUS 4 than AUS 8, and the amount of carbon impacts edge retention and ease of sharpening). Performance on this AUS 4 blade is nothing to write home about. As of 2015 it looks like CRKT is now offering this in AUS 8, which is fine for the price. AUS 8 is a hearty inexpensive steel that takes a good edge, has decent edge retention, is easy to sharpen, and is relatively stain resistant. I would suggest acquiring this knife in AUS 8 steel or better if possible.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

Depending on the knife your M16 may come in aluminum or even titanium scales. For most people (including the knife shown here) the scales are made of Zytel (plastic) over full stainless liners. I don’t mind the Zytel scales as they are comfortable and help keep the knife light. I really like the choice in colors, I thought the orange version was cool (and practical, being a highly visible color) and kind of gives the knife a “rescue blade” vibe. A series of holes in the handle forms a basic yet attractive pattern. These holes will attract dirt and pocket lint and in my mind serve a purely decorative purpose on the FRN scaled versions.

Ergonomics on my medium sized M16 are nice. The reason I like the medium sized version (the M16-13Z) is because it has a larger handle allowing for a full grip. The zytel scales give the knife some thickness and the corners are nicely rounded so it comfortably fills the hand. The spine of the blade has some fairly aggressive jimping and the flipper forms an integral guard that keeps your hand from slipping onto the blade. These are nice ergonomic features on an otherwise basic (but highly functional) handle.

I am a little ambivalent about the pocket clip. The design is nice – it’s a simple clip that rides low and has good retention, but it’s located for right side tip down carry only. At the very least I’d like to see an option for tip up carry – let alone fully ambidextrous mounting options. Still, this medium size M16 carries reasonably for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment of the M16 is absolutely stellar. The first time I deployed the blade I literally had to check if it was an assisted opening knife – it’s that smooth and fast. Upon closer inspection it looks like the M16 uses a teflon and phosphor bronze washer. Whatever it is, it works and I’m not complaining. Deployment is accomplished by way of a flipper. At first glance it looks like the knife has 2 large thumb studs, but these are actually stop pins mounted in the blade. They sit flush with the handle and cannot be easily activated with the thumb. This is fine as I happen to like flippers.

The M16 uses a liner lock and it bites in nice and early. There is plenty of room for wear and I detected zero blade play. However, this is not your normal liner lock. This lock has been equipped with CRKT’s Auto LAWKS safety system. The Auto LAWKS system requires you to pull back a lever before you can disengage the lock – handy for aggressive use, but also a source of mild inconvenience for simple tasks. In fact, I know that for a lot of people, the Auto LAWKS is pretty annoying. Personally, I can deal with it, but would much prefer if it wasn’t spring loaded – so you could turn it on and off at will.That said, if it really bothers you you could take the knife apart and remove the LAWKS all together.

CRKT M16 Review – Final Thoughts

So how does the M16 stack up? Well, I’m sure for many the tip down carry and Auto LAWKS will be mild to moderate turn offs. It is not that hard to use, and some people have managed to disable the secondary locking system. Auto LAWKS aside, this is a good budget EDC option. I would avoid any AUS 4 versions and recommend acquiring the knife in AUS 8 steel or better.

At the end of the day there is a lot to like about the M16. It is one of CRKT’s oldest and most popular designs. The snappy deployment is a lot of fun and the fit and finish is nice. There are many different colors, blade shapes, and configurations so there is some element of collect-ability here as well. All in all the knife is solid and the price is right. Recommended if you secure one in AUS 8 steel or better.

Sale

CRKT M16-13Z EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Everyday Carry, Serrated Edge Blade, Automated Liner Safety, Nylon Handle, Pocket Clip

Automated Liner Safety
Triple Point Serrations
Glass-Reinforced Nylon Handles
Designed by Kit Carson in Vine Grove, Kentucky
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

I recommend buying the M16 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit

by Dan Jackson Leave a Comment

As a guy who runs a website that revolves around knives, I feel responsible to set a decent example for the knife community. While I try not to make a huge deal out of it, it’s something I do take seriously.

[easyazon_cta add_to_cart=”default” align=”center” asin=”B0054QCDXC” cloaking=”default” height=”42″ key=”tall-orange” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ width=”120″]

So nothing pains me more than to hear people spouting misinformation about knives – you know, stuff like “knives are evil weapons and must be outlawed.” Usually these people are so close-minded it’s not worth getting into an argument (like the lady who insisted a “neck knife” meant a knife “designed for slitting throats” …I can’t make this stuff up). That said, I’ll certainly put my best foot forward and continue to advocate responsible use. And if I get a chance to educate someone well, hey, I’ll try my best.

That’s why when Glenn and Nathan Klecker of KleckerKnives.com approached me with [easyazon_link asin=”B0054QCDXC” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Nathan’s Knife Kit[/easyazon_link] I jumped at the opportunity to share something that is not only fun and educational, but also sends a very positive message about responsible knife use. For those unfamiliar with this product, it is a wood modeling kit of a lock-back folding knife. The kit is designed to be a craft project and toy for children 7 years and older.

So this will be a little departure from my typical reviews. I won’t pretend to compare this with a production folder, but lets cover some of the high points and then talk about the more intangible qualities of a kit like this.

The Kit

First of all, the kit is manufactured by CRKT and is designed to be a craft project for a child assisted by a parent/grandparent/mentor. The kit comes with everything you need to assemble one working knife. Naturally, when mine arrived the first thing I did was put it together. It took me about 5 minutes, but then again I’m 27 years old, so I guess I don’t win any prizes. Hopefully (for my sake) this takes a child a little while longer to fit together.

That said, putting it together is just the start. I think the real fun comes with sanding and painting everything, maybe even doing some wood burning or carving and then gluing it all together – you know, to make it your own. If you were to do this the kit could make for a nice afternoon project or be stretched out over over a couple days.

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a lot of time or tools this summer so I just left mine stock (although I might throw some thumb studs and a pocket clip on there… ). After assembling everything I spent the next 15 minutes flicking the knife open and closed. Maybe I’m easily amused, but I was surprised how smooth and crisp the locking action was. The knife opens and shuts with a really cool snapping sound that I found strangely satisfying.

Good Clean Fun

I’ll confess that when I grew up we played plenty of video games, listened to our cd players and spent more time than we should have in front of the TV. However, my fondest childhood memories include playing outside with kids in my neighborhood, riding my bike, fishing, swimming… you know, generally running around and getting into trouble. By anyone’s standards this was a privileged all-American childhood (and it was), and these activities turned into life long passions that I still enjoy today.

Kids Today

Ok, I don’t want to come off like an old codger, but kids today seem to have a lot more distractions – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. If my parents thought my generation engaged in too much sitting and not enough doing, well, one look around shows this has only gotten worse.

That is why I love stuff like this knife kit. It takes me back to my days tooling around in my parents garage, building a skateboard ramp or carving little “boats” to float down the creek by my house. This little blade embodies so many of the great things from my youth – it’s just good clean fun. If there was ever an excuse to power down the iphone and hide the remote well, in my opinion this knife would be it.

And lets not forget the potential for education here. I’m not saying this is Timmy’s ticket to the Dean’s list, but kids will learn the mechanics of a back-lock, use fine motor skills for assembly and can be as creative as they would like with the finishing work. Furthermore, parents could use this knife as a tool to teach their child about responsible knife use. And if we educate our children about the value of knives today, we can help ensure that Americans will continue to enjoy all kinds of knives tomorrow.

CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit Review – Final Thoughts

Nathan’s Knife Kit is fun project that I would definitely recommend. Whether there is a child in your life you want to inspire and educate, or you are simply looking for a trip down memory lane, Nathan has you covered. Based on my experience your kids will learn some new skills, and get hours of entertainment out of this kit. For those reasons Nathan’s Knife gets my full endorsement.

You can check out the kit at Glenn and Nathan Klecker’s Website.

[easyazon-block asin=”B0054QCDXC” align=”center”]

I recommend buying Nathan’s Knife Kit at [easyazon_link asin=”B0054QCDXC” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Amazon[/easyazon_link]. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

CRKT Drifter Review

by Dan Jackson 22 Comments

Last Updated: August 8, 2019
For those who can’t get enough high value EDC knives, or simply need a tool for every day use that is both well made and inexpensive, I think it’s going to be tough to ignore the CRKT Drifter. For some, this may be their first “real knife” that sends them down the slippery slope that is blade collecting. Others might want to spice up their EDC rotation without breaking the bank. I think that for many reasons this inexpensive offering from CRKT is a great ambassador for the knife world, and its review here is long overdue.

Buy the CRKT Drifter at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Drifter comes in two major variants, a liner lock version with G-10 scales and a stainless steel (SS) framelock version. Both share the same overall length of 6.5″ and the same 2.88″ blade. The stainless steel handled version weighs 3.2 ounces while the G10 clad Drifter weighs a mere 2.4 ounces. If I had to pick between the two for EDC, I’d say the G10 version gets my vote. I love the ultra light carry weight, it really disappears in pocket. Regardless of the version that strikes your fancy the sub 3″ blade and reasonable weight make these ideal EDC knives.

The blade is a classic drop point shape that reminds me a lot of my Benchmade Griptilian. It features the same swedge and hollow grind that starts about 3/4 of the way up the blade. The Drifter is given a gentle recurve that adds a little spice without making it too difficult to sharpen. The tip is fine enough for detail work, but not too delicate. This is an all around solid blade shape.

The G10 version of this knife comes with a handsome gray Titanium Nitride (TiNi) coating while the stainless steel version comes satin finished. I really like the look of that TiNi coating – it’s a handsome gun metal gray and mine has held up pretty well considering.

The Drifter’s blade comes in 8Cr14MoV. Anecdotally 8Cr14MoV is considered to be slightly better than 8Cr13MoV, but I really haven’t noticed a difference… apparently that extra chromium molecule does something. Fans of 8Cr13MoV will like this steel and those who don’t like 8Cr13MoV may find a soft spot for its high Chromium counterpart. I like it because it’s easy to sharpen, holds an edge reasonably well and has decent corrosion resistance.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

Depending on what model you get, the handle will be full stainless steel or G10 over stainless steel liners. Either way the handle is a simple minimalist design with two pillars and a lanyard hole. On the G10 version the liners aren’t milled, which begs the question, how light would this thing be if they did that? Honestly my guess is any weight savings probably wouldn’t be worth the premium in price. Both handles are nicely finished, they did a great job here.

At 3.6″ long, the handle of the Drifter is a decent size and will comfortably accept a 4 finger grip, even with larger hands. The G10 version is definitely the grippier of the two, and the black G10 has been given a nice light texturing. The SS version lacks any meaningful texture, but I have no problem with it for EDC. There is jimping on the thumb ramp and choil. It’s not super aggressive, but it gets the job done. All in all I think the ergonomics here are quite reasonable.

The clip is my only real source of constructive criticism. It’s a right hand tip-down carry only clip – not my first choice for positioning. I’d love to see the option to carry tip down, and preferably 4 corners style clip, but really for a $20 knife I think what we have here works.

Perhaps the best part of the clip is that it’s removable, and the small size of the knife allows you to carry it loose in your pocket. There is a lanyard hole which could be a nice option if you decide to go the “clipless” route – it should take hollowed out 550 cord without protest. I will say it is a sturdy clip, it rides sorta low and it’s been darkened in both versions (gunmetal grey like the handle for the SS version, black for the G10).

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment for both Drifters is very smooth – almost surprisingly smooth for such inexpensive knives. Thanks to the oversize thumb studs and metal washers it takes very little effort to get this knife ready for work. One minor thing to note is that due to the size of these thumbstuds the knife can get caught up on your pocket. That’s the tradeoff with having nice big thumbstuds.

Lockup on both the G10 and Stainless steel versions is solid. My stainless steel version has broken in a bit, but there is no blade play at all. My liner lock version bites in nice and early. Some may feel that the frame lock is stronger, but honestly I don’t think it particularly matters with these little knives. Both should handle all your EDC tasks without issue.

CRKT Drifter Review – Final Thoughts

All in all I really like both the Drifters. For well under $25 a piece, these are two high value blades that have absolutely been done right. You get a nice no-frills design that totally works. Good deployment and lockup, nice materials, solid fit and finish. Everything you would expect from a much more expensive knife. If I had to find something to complain about, it would be the lack of placement options for the pocket clip, but even then I think the clip is passable. Again, for ultra light weight EDC I’d go with the G10 version, but you really can’t go wrong with either knife (or both!).

CRKT Drifter EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Everyday Carry, Gray Ti Nitride Blade, Thumb Stud Opening, Black G10 Handle, Pocket Clip 6450K

Tough G10 Handles
Gray Titanium Nitride Blade Finish
Thumb Stud Blade Deployment
Designed by CRKT in Tualatin, Oregon
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

CRKT Drifter EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Everyday Carry, Gray Ti Nitride Blade, Thumb Stud Opening, Stainless Steel Handle, Pocket Clip 6450S

Satin Blade Finish
Stainless Steel Handles
Frame Lock Safety
Designed by CRKT in Tualatin, Oregon
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

I recommend buying the CRKT Drifter at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thank you for reading!

CRKT Ripple Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
The CKRT Ripple is a design that had me doing a double take. The flowing lines and sharp looks were very “Ken Onion-y” and upon closer inspection the knife was in fact designed by Ken Onion. It turns out Mr. Onion has parted ways with the folks at Kershaw and he has been picked up by competitor CRKT.

Buy the CRKT Ripple at BladeHQ

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The Ripple was one of Ken’s first designs for CRKT. It’s something of a gentleman’s EDC knife, with Ken’s signature flowing curves in a low profile package.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ripple comes in a few sizes. What you see here is the large version with a 3 1/8″ blade, an overall length of 7 1/2″ and a weight of 2.9 ounces. This is a nice size for an EDC knife. Not only is the Ripple lightweight at under 3 ounces, but it’s thin too. The whole knife is less than 5/16″ thick. Plenty of blade in a lightweight package. It’s a slim design that begs to be carried.

The blade is an attractive drop point design. There is an absence of the typical organic curves that Ken Onion is known for, but it still has his style and I find myself wanting for nothing. This is a really slender and refined blade and it comes with an exquisite tip. The swedge running 3/4 of the top of the blade is another elegant touch and the high hollow grind makes this a nice slicer as well. Personally, I love this blade shape.

CRKT has released this knife in several different steels over the years, but 8Cr14MoV is going to be the most common configuration. 8Cr14MoV has been discussed at length before, but this is a Chinese steel that is best known for being expensive, easy to sharpen, and holding an adequate edge. It’s on par with AUS-8, but below VG-10 and 154CM in the steel hierarchy. Feel free to check out my knife steel article for more information on different types of steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Ripple is either made of 420J2 stainless steel (the framelock version) or aluminum (the linerlock version – shown here). The handle pieces have first been CNC milled with a ripple pattern. The handle has then been either a blue or black titanium nitride coating and then has been rubbed to reveal the silver look of the steel. It is a very unique look and can be difficult to capture in photographs although darkchild69, our featured photographer, has done an excellent job here. Another design element is the series of 44 small holes milled into the side of the handle. This is more for decoration I think, although it does lighten the handle up slightly. Finally, the handle is bolted together with two pillars. Very simple and as always, very easy to keep clean. This is a very slim handle and all the detail is unlike anything else currently on the market.

This is a thin metal handle so logic would suggest that this won’t be the most comfortable knife. In fact, the ergonomics are surprisingly good. The handle has been rounded and the flipper helps define the choil. Additionally, there is nice jimping on both the thumb ramp and handle. This provides plenty of traction and makes this a very easy knife to use for general tasks.

The clip is another interesting component. It is mounted high for tip down carry. It sits flush with the top of the handle and follows the line of the handle. One gripe is that the pocket clip it is tip-down right hand carry only. With the assisted open and the flipper, I can totally see why CRKT opted for tip down carry, but with 44 holes already in this knife, they really need to drill a couple more and make this clip ambidextrous.

Deployment and Lockup

The Ripple is a non-assisted open knife actuated by a flipper on the back of the handle. Those familiar with Ken Onion’s Leek, Chive, ZT 302, etc will be very familiar with this style of deployment. The flipper has been given some aggressive jimping that really bites into your thumb, you will not be slipping on this flipper. There are no thumb studs.

An interesting feature of the Ripple is the IKBS opening system. IKBS stands for “Ikoma Korth Bearing System” and means just that. There are a total of 16 ball bearings (8 per side of the blade). The bearings are uncaged and sit in little grooves machined into the handle and are used in place of teflon or phosphor bronze washers. Initial impressions are very good – the bearings make for a very fast and smooth deployment. This is one of the smoothest opening knives currently on the market (production blades at least). The IKBS combined with the assisted feature makes for effortless blade presentation. And apparently the bearings do not need much maintenance, which is good because I would not want to take this knife apart.

Here is an update from 2019: Over the past 8+ years I’ve owned countless bearing equipped knives. Generally they have held up real well. The versions with caged bearings are easier to take apart. This IKBS equipped knife includes loose bearings. You can take these knives apart too, but you need to be careful. Here is a great video from CRKT on how to clean an IKBS equipped knife.

The Ripple uses a steel frame lock, which is plenty strong for the kind of EDC tasks this knife was designed. Due to the intricate design on the handle you can hardly tell the framelock is there. I like how this looks and I also like how the framelock and adds to the simplicity of the design. However, I have noticed on multiple knives, the framelock extends very far over (see below) while others lock up early. Frame locks are designed to slowly break in and will travel over with extended use. Having the lock engage “late” from the start means that you may get less life out of the lock. If you get a Ripple with this late lock up, I would recommend talking with CRKT and getting it fixed because in my opinion, this shouldn’t happen with a new knife.

Here is a parting size comparison with my Boker Plus Urban Trapper:

CRKT Ripple Review – Final Thoughts

The Ripple is a beautiful knife. Ken Onion took a sexy blade shape and melded it with a wonderful handle. This knife “flows” from an aesthetic standpoint and I think the design is just phenomenal. The IKBS is both interesting and functional, long term testing will tell if this is a mere novelty or truly a revolutionary way to deploy a blade. The Ripple is made in Taiwan, which we now know (thanks to Spyderco) is capable of making some great higher end blades at a terrific value.

All things considered the CRKT did a great job with the Ripple. I would prefer if they re-worked the pocket clip so that it was ambidextrous, and a little less weird, but beyond that you get a lot of nice knife for the money. The Ripple is one of the knives that laid the foundation for Ken Onion / CRKT collaborations, and continues to be a great lightweight high value option for folks years after its original release.

CRKT Ripple EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Gentleman Everyday Carry, Satin Blade, IKBS Ball Bearing Pivot, Locking Liner, Textured Aluminum Handle, Pocket Clip K415KXP

IKBS Ball Bearing Pivot System
Flipper Opening
Aluminum Handles
Designed by Ken Onion in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

I recommend buying the CRKT Ripple at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading and Stay Sharp.