CRKT and the new Piet

Hackenslash

Hackenslash

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Sometimes I pick on Columbia River Knife and Tool. I’ve referred to them as “making the best knives in the worst way”. I own a lot of CRKT, mostly for the novelty of some of their designs, but it had been years since I’d bought one new. The other day I was looking at a BladeHQ sale and on a whim I bought a CRKT Piet. It’s been in my pocket for a week now and I have to admit I’m impressed. I’m posting this in GKD because I hope we can discuss the brand as a whole and not just this one model…but Dang, if this Piet is any indication, CRKT may have changed their game around!

View attachment 1316960

This knife is a Jesper Voxnaes design and I’ve found his other designs to be ergonomic. The Piet is no exception. What got my attention is CRKT got it right in the exact areas that it usually gets it wrong. First and ugliest, it’s 8Cr13MoV steel with Teflon washers. It’s also a $30 knife. But what goes above the pricepoint is fit and finish, details and the feel of the materials.


The GFN is some of the better quality I’ve encountered with a very effective and subtle texture. No pocket shredding Cold Steel cheese grinder here. The blue aluminum back spacer is a tasteful touch but also fits entirely fine for a knife this cheap. The pocket clip is set into the GFN and so are the screws!

View attachment 1316962

I’ve had opening holes on Byrds and even some expensive Spydercos almost sharp enough to cut, but this little Piet has a very comfortable, chamfered edge to the opening hole.

View attachment 1316963

There are so many things about this knife that are done uncharacteristically the right way, for CRKT at least. This is exactly where so many great and interesting designs fell apart in the past…poor execution of a great idea.

There’s more but I’m not trying to make this a review. Has anyone else had experience with the Piet? What are your thoughts on some of the new CRKT knives in general? If the Piet is any indication of the work they’re putting out for $30, they’ll have to be part of my recommendations for inexpensive but well-made knife options. Well done, CRKT.
 
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I have several CRKT; Carson M2-04W, Incendor (my only 2 a/o); Drifter, Cuatro. Like them all, but don't carry a/o much anymore. The Cuatro is a great 3" flipper (my favorite flipper) - clean design, smooth action, good lock-up, sharpens up well. I also have several Kershaw and LOTS of SAKS (I carry a Tinker 99% of the time; even with the Cuatro). Don't have any CRKT long blades, prefer circa 3" blades. They make a 3.6" in the same design if you prefer longer blades (the Maven). Basically like CRKT knives that I've handled; no problems with them. The Piet looks nice, but I don't like holes in my blades (won't own any Spydies).



Rich
 
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Oh well, maybe a bump will get a little more comment. I'm still enjoying my Piet although I didn't carry it today.
 
I have one crkt... The caligo. It's not a bad little knife! Nice hollow grind, slices well, it's light, on bearings, flips well, drops with a little shake, and it locks up solidly. I have no complaints. Screws for the pocket clip are recessed as well... Most of my knives dont, and it's probably one of the cheapest I own...

I don't carry it a whole lot, but it does the job when I do. I've thought about picking another up, I like the seismic, but I don't think the price warrants a buy for the materials. Maybe I'll change my mind one of these days.
 
I just got this one, CRKT Psych. It just came out for 2020.
Completely impracticable, but I love the retro - dagger look of it.
It has their "glide-lock" , with practice it can be opened and closed with one hand.

View attachment 1318137
crkt_p2a.jpg
 
I was at a gun show shortly before all this virus stuff.

I remember handling CRKT knife with a thumb hole like that. I liked the blade but I don’t remember the handle looking like that. I did like the knife though.

I have to admit CRKT does have some nice designs.
 
I have a Swindle that has the smoothest action it's quite impressive for a 30 dollar knife! My crossbones is pretty cool too but yeah I don't venture into CRKT that much.

I have a Pilar and Snarky that perform ok, that's about it for CRKT for me.

Wait, I bought a CRKT Ruger LCK as it was mentioned as being a great budget folder a few years back and it's ok too.
 
JPD1998 said:
I just got this one, CRKT Psych. It just came out for 2020.
Completely impracticable, but I love the retro - dagger look of it.
It has their "glide-lock" , with practice it can be opened and closed with one hand.

View attachment 1318137
View attachment 1318138
Click to expand...
That reminds me of the mechanism on the Fulcrum and Fulcrum 2, unfortunately that knife wasn't terribly well made. The Psych looks nicely done.
 
Well, as the self-identified CRKT fanboy, I suppose I should weigh in.

The thing about Columbia River is that they're not into meddling with basic designs, so it all depends on the quality of the collaborator, and Vox is one of the better ones.

Where they fall short of knife knut expectations is in materials choices, and blade heat treat. I have had a few that would hold a reasonable edge, and some that would not get sharp at all.

I don't think that cutlery cognoscente are their target audience, though. I've described CRKT as the first step into serious knife collecting, and I think that's what they want to be. People who learn that there is something better than Mtech and S&W knives, but aren't quite ready to pay Benchmade or Spyderco money, yet, find "crickets", and it gives them a taste of good knives, for a price they're not scared of.

At least, that's what happened to me. I may be way off in the weeds, but experience has taught me that I am not a different and unique snowflake, so I imagine CRKT has been a lot of other people's gateway drug.

The problem may be our expectations, as connoisseurs, rather than Columbia River's marketing strategy.

Also, the Piet looks kind of neat. I don't really want another to add to any of the lists, but now I am at least going to give it a look.
 
I really want to like CRKT. I think if they can keep their quality reasonable and their prices down they will do fine, but I do feel like they charge too much for what they are.
 
I'm down to one CRKT, a M21 (smaller one 3" blade). Some great designs. Hopefully they keep going with D2 and some of the newer steels.
 
MarkN86 said:
I really want to like CRKT. I think if they can keep their quality reasonable and their prices down they will do fine, but I do feel like they charge too much for what they are.
Click to expand...

Some of their offerings are very optimistically priced, but for the most part, I feel like they give good value for the money, and sometimes, I feel like I got more than what I paid for. The trick is to get one with good edge-holding.

The Piet's price seems about right: alphabet steel, frn handles, heck, you even get liners. Voxnaes knows what he's doing with ergonomics, too.

80$ is about the tipping point for CRKT knives. If you're paying more than that, it's because Ken Onion signed the blade, or it comes with a hat, or something. Knowing about their inconsistent HT, and just average fit and finish, I would steer anybody away from paying any more than that.
 
RoyalHolic said:
I have a Swindle that has the smoothest action it's quite impressive for a 30 dollar knife...
Click to expand...

I really like the idea of the Swindle and feel that it would make a fun gentlemen’s knife. I also like the fact that it is offered with Sandvik steel.

My problem is that I want the plain handle of the lower priced model with the better Sandvik steel.

Shorttime said:
...Where they fall short of knife knut expectations is in materials choices, and blade heat treat...

The problem may be our expectations, as connoisseurs, rather than Columbia River's marketing strategy.
Click to expand...

The materials and heat treatment issue has always been a problem with them. A shame really. They have some nice designs.

The thing is this, they could be the king of the budget knives with just a little work.

Their marketing strategy is ok but not great. They have so much potential. They could also hold their own as the intro knife for the serious knife market.

MarkN86 said:
I really want to like CRKT. I think if they can keep their quality reasonable and their prices down they will do fine, but I do feel like they charge too much for what they are.
Click to expand...

They do charge a little to much for what you get. Just part of the reason I haven’t bought any lately.

Just think what they could do if they only used AUS 8 or better steel and improved the heat treatment.

The other thing I would like to see them do is split the company kinda like Kershaw/ZT.
 
I’ve hated on CRKT plenty. Had one close on me during regular yard work once and it cut my finger literally to the bone. I swore them off after that. Then, years later the Crossbones came out and since I loved the design, I bought it. Was very impressed with the quality (and the solid lock-up). After that positive experience I decided to give the Pilar a shot, since the design also speaks to me. Again: pretty damn well made for the price and no lock issues. Keep meaning to give the CEO a try now. The thing with them is that they do have some great designs. It’s always been a fit/finish issue for me, and the cheapish materials for the cost.
 
If you had one that could cut you that badly, then you got one of the good ones!

It's not all of them. My large Batum will shave hair with a little time on the stone, all three of my Ripples are nicely sharp, both my M1's take a decent edge....

My Hammond Cruiser and my Carson M16 would not hold good edges. I could get them to a 220 diamond, and that was it.

It seems like maybe one out of every ten to fifteen Columbia River knives will not hold an edge. But when you also consider that pull-through sharpeners still sell, maybe it's not something they worry about.
 
I am down to two CRKT knives.

First is an M16-02 Tanto that won’t hold an edge very long.

The other is a 6103 Prowler. One of my all time favorites. If they just would have used better steel.
 
The only CRKT I like is the Wrinkle II. And only because the novelty of having it look like a turd when folded.
 
Hackenslash said:
Sometimes I pick on Columbia River Knife and Tool. I’ve referred to them as “making the best knives in the worst way”. I own a lot of CRKT, mostly for the novelty of some of their designs, but it had been years since I’d bought one new. The other day I was looking at a BladeHQ sale and on a whim I bought a CRKT Piet. It’s been in my pocket for a week now and I have to admit I’m impressed. I’m posting this in GKD because I hope we can discuss the brand as a whole and not just this one model…but Dang, if this Piet is any indication, CRKT may have changed their game around!

View attachment 1316960

This knife is a Jesper Voxnaes design and I’ve found his other designs to be ergonomic. The Piet is no exception. What got my attention is CRKT got it right in the exact areas that it usually gets it wrong. First and ugliest, it’s 8Cr13MoV steel with Teflon washers. It’s also a $30 knife. But what goes above the pricepoint is fit and finish, details and the feel of the materials.


The GFN is some of the better quality I’ve encountered with a very effective and subtle texture. No pocket shredding Cold Steel cheese grinder here. The blue aluminum back spacer is a tasteful touch but also fits entirely fine for a knife this cheap. The pocket clip is set into the GFN and so are the screws!

View attachment 1316962

I’ve had opening holes on Byrds and even some expensive Spydercos almost sharp enough to cut, but this little Piet has a very comfortable, chamfered edge to the opening hole.

View attachment 1316963

There are so many things about this knife that are done uncharacteristically the right way, for CRKT at least. This is exactly where so many great and interesting designs fell apart in the past…poor execution of a great idea.

There’s more but I’m not trying to make this a review. Has anyone else had experience with the Piet? What are your thoughts on some of the new CRKT knives in general? If the Piet is any indication of the work they’re putting out for $30, they’ll have to be part of my recommendations for inexpensive but well-made knife options. Well done, CRKT.
Click to expand...

The Pilar (also a Vox design) was one of the hit knives of 2018, and really helped improve CRKT's reputation in the marketplace. The other thing they did was do sprint runs and dealer exclusives of popular models in materials that are up to "knife guy" standards (e.g. the Pilar in carbon/S35VN, the micarta/D2 CEO). They still make some low-end stuff that's overpriced compared to what you'd get from Chinese brands like Civivi or Ruike, but number of designs they pick up are top notch. If anything, they could be a little more discriminating in what they put out, because they come out with a ton of SKUs every year, and only a handful are really good.

Rich S said:
I have several CRKT; Carson M2-04W, Incendor (my only 2 a/o); Drifter, Cuatro. Like them all, but don't carry a/o much anymore. The Cuatro is a great 3" flipper (my favorite flipper) - clean design, smooth action, good lock-up, sharpens up well. I also have several Kershaw and LOTS of SAKS (I carry a Tinker 99% of the time; even with the Cuatro). Don't have any CRKT long blades, prefer circa 3" blades. They make a 3.6" in the same design if you prefer longer blades (the Maven). Basically like CRKT knives that I've handled; no problems with them. The Piet looks nice, but I don't like holes in my blades (won't own any Spydies).



Rich
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I got a Cuatro when it was new, mainly because I liked the design. It was a little thicker than I'd hoped, and the usual 8Cr13MoV steel not really worth it at $40ish, but overall a decent knife. The jimping on the flipper tab was way sharper than in needed to be, and the lock bar needed some tweaking. I think you're the first other poster on here who I've seen mention it.
 
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