CRKT, or Columbia River Knife and Tool, has been producing excellent fixed and folding knives since 1994. One of the big players in the pocket knife space, many of their top-selling models are pocket knives.

On that top, and with no further ado, here are four of the best CRKT pocket knives, hands down.

CRKT Pilar

The Jesper Voxnaes-designed CRKT Pilar (named after Ernest Hemingway’s sailboat, by the way) is the industry’s definitive pocket cleaver.

With handsome lines, graceful, ergonomic, grip-pleasing curves, and a memorable sheepsfoot blade, the Pilar is both attractive and functional.

The Pilar is also built tough, with an all-steel construction and a very sturdy frame lock. There are several models available (with copper, steel, and Micarta scales) so weight varies, but the flagship model is over 4 ounces.

It’s dense, but not heavy, and this little CRKT pocket knife can tackle jobs that are, categorically, out of its weight class.

The Pilar packs thumb holes instead of thumb studs, which take some getting used to, but the action is slick as silk once broken in, and the thumb holes are naturally ambidextrous.

Also, the Pilar is made with an 8Cr13MoV blade, which is not a super steel, and far from it, but it’s soft enough to easily touch up the edge, and is reasonably tough.

Ergonomically, this is an excellent knife, with a deep finger choil that gives you the ability to get a full, four-finger grip on the knife, even if you have larger hands. The spine has a gracious thumb scoop that aids in control as well.

It’s sized perfectly, too, 5.9” overall with a 2.4” blade.

CRKT Squid

The CRKT Squid, designed by Lucas Burnley, doesn’t have the same aesthetic features as the Pilar. In fact, it’s almost forgettable.

But you know the saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? Well, in the CRKT Squid, Burnley applied the basics of knife design and did so dazzlingly. It just works.

Like the Pilar, the basic Squid features all-steel construction, with a frame lock mechanism. It’s a little smaller and lighter than the Pilar but it’s still downright tough.

Unlike the Pilar, it has a short spear point blade, with a generally rounded handle design. Instead of holes, it features dual thumb studs, and the action, once broken in, is also silky smooth.

The basic Squid is made from the same blade steel - 8Cr13MoV - which is, once again, reasonably soft and tough. It will hold an edge, not forever, but it’s also easy to resharpen.

Ergonomically, the Squid is also a dream. It’s lightweight (3.6oz) and compact, with a 5.75” overall length and a 2.25” blade. Think of the Squid as a generalist. It’s not specialized to any one task, but at the same time, there really isn’t much it can’t do, even though it’s small.

CRKT Provoke

Very different from the Pilar and Squid, we had to feature the CRKT Provoke in this list, if only for its popularity.

The CRKT Provoke is designed to be a folding, pocket karambit that is easy to open with one hand.

Designed by Joe Caswell, the Provoke features “Kinematic Technology” that enables a user to carry it closed, but open it one-handed with a simple push of the thumb.

The knife’s mechanics (for lack of a better word, as this non-traditional design doesn’t have scales in the same sense as the other knives on this list) are made of aluminum, keeping weight down, at 6.1oz.

The standard model’s karambit-style blade is made of D2, an excellent tool steel that can take and hold a wickedly sharp edge. It’s also impressively tough and resistant to abuse. The one ding is that D2 will rust without proper care, so keep your Provoke well-oiled if you get one.

This CRKT pocket knife has proven so popular that it has spawned a whole “Provoke Family” including Aluminum, Aluminium Compact, Grivory, EDC models (with a different blade shape), and even a trainer.

CRKT M16

In many ways, the CRKT M16 is the quintessential CRKT pocket knife. It is without a doubt one of the most popular designs the company ever developed.

It’s hard to speak in generalities about the CRKT M16, in part because its popularity has spawned a whole line of CRKT pocket knives. There are many different variants available, with different blade steels and handle scale materials.

But, this is the design that arguably popularized flipper knives in the industry, period. Regardless of the blade steel and style you choose, you’re getting a flipper knife with slim handle ergonomics and a classy drop-point blade. (They call it a spear point, and the M16 family also includes tanto point and partially-serrated models.)

The standard model comes with a 3.125” 8Cr13MoV blade and perforated Zytel handles, with a thick frame lock mechanism, but there are CRKT M16 variants with 154CM, AUS-8, and other steel alloys, and with aluminum or titanium handle scales, among others.

It’s tough, it’s iconic, and it’s one of the best CRKT knives out there. C R K T might not even be  a thing today if it weren’t for the M16, which was one of their earlier designs and which has been in production for more than 20 years.

More Where That Came from: Other Great CRKT Knives

While these are four excellent CRKT knives, there are many, many others. The company makes excellent fixed blades, too. Here are some of the best of them.

Other great folding CRKT knives:

• Tuna
• CEO
• Homefront
• Eros
• Razel
• Scribe
• Facet
• Ripsnort
• Razelcliffe
• Ibi
• Fossil

Great small fixed CRKT knives:

• P.E.W.
• Biwa
• CRKT Minimalist Bowie
• CRKT Minimalist Cleaver
• Testy
• Hissatsu
• Sting
• Obake
• Hunt ‘n’ Fisch

Great larger fixed CRKT knives:

• Bugsy
• Catchall
• Razel Nax
• Razel
• Chanceinhell

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