The original CRKT Squid designed by custom knifemaker Lucas Burnley became a community favorite EDC pocket knife when it was introduced in years past thanks to its practical design that was well-suited for hard use. It was the kind of knife that gave you the confidence to take on tasks much larger than its size in your pocket. In 2022, CRKT has given the venerable Squid some upgrades, resulting in the larger and even more heavy-duty version: the Squid XM. With a larger size, some ergonomic and quality of life improvements, and better materials, this new version of the Squid is a great choice for everyday carry whether you’re upgrading from the original or just starting out on your gear journey.
The new Squid XM is sized up from the original, with a 2.95″ blade and a closed length of 4.11″ in your pocket. The extended drop-point blade has a well-defined point and enough thickness at 0.11″ that you can be confident it won’t crumple under pressure. The blade steel has also been improved with D2 tool steel at the core, which exhibits superior hardness to the original 2015 Squid (more recently, CRKT also made a D2 version of the Squid). Deployment of that blade is much easier compared to the original as well, as the Squid XM features a spring-assisted one-handed flipper opening made even more smooth with IKBS ball bearings in the pivot. The ambidextrous thumbstuds still feature on this knife if you prefer that style of opening as well. And where the original featured smooth stainless steel handles on both sides of the knife, the Squid XM features grippy G10 scales on one side and a stonewashed stainless steel frame lock on the other for sure function under heavy use.
With a larger, even more practical yet immensely pocketable size along with the substantial improvements made to the handle and opening system, the CRKT Squid XM brings welcome upgrades to a crowd favorite everyday carry blade. If you’re looking to pick up a new EDC knife this year, the Squid XM is a great place to start. Click the link below to add one to your collection today.
