Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) have impressed year after year with their wide assortment of innovative and affordable knives, thanks in part to collaborations with some of the best knife designers in the business. As 2023 kicks off, we round up some of CRKT’s new compact knives to see if they deserve a spot in your EDC kit this year.
CEO Microflipper Aluminum
Low profile, no frills–that’s how the full-sized CEO folding knife was designed and maintained its popularity, and the CEO Microflipper keeps that spirit intact, just more compact, more discreet, and more lightweight. The aluminum handle and its 2.36” Sandvik 12C27 steel blade make it capable of handling tough jobs, while its IKBS ball-bearing pivot ensures a quick and smooth deployment every time. It’s everything you loved about its minimalist big brother, now in an even more pocketable size.
CEO Microflipper Blue Aluminum
If you’re looking for a change of pace from standard drop-point blades, the CEO Microflipper also comes with a 2.21” sheepsfoot blade with a blue aluminum handle and a silver liner. It may be the smallest and lightest version of the renowned CEO folding knife, but if you do a lot of slicing and chopping instead of poking and puncturing, this knife is worth a look.
Burnley Tuna Compact
Designed by Lucas Burnely, the Tuna Compact’s bullet-shaped profile and spear-point 2.73” stonewashed 8Cr13MoV blade give it the ideal geometry for cutting down packages and boxes. Retaining all the elegance of the original Tuna, this compact version’s strong steel frame lock, coupled with the blade’s corrosion resistance and edge retention and high-grip G10 handle, makes it a great all-arounder.
Schwarz Overland Compact
Just like the souped-up 4×4 off-roading machines of its namesake, the Overland Compact is overbuilt and equipped to handle even the roughest cutting tasks while still maintaining an ultra-portable form factor. The 2.24” plain-edge, resilient D2 steel blade drops below the handle for easier cutting on a flat surface, while the grippy G10 handle provides a secure, comfortable hold in any weather condition.
Burnley Squid Compact
It may be the smallest knife in the family, but don’t let the Squid Compact’s easy accessibility lead you to believe that this knife is anything but capable. Based on Lucas Burnley’s ultra-popular compact custom knife (and a very easy recommendation for someone making their initial venture into EDC knives), the Squid features a black stonewash finished handle and a black 1.75” 8Cr13MoV blade. The low-profile clip lets the knife find a subtle home in your pocket, and the lanyard hole allows you to attach it to your favorite key ring. The Squid combines simplicity, usability, and performance in one ultra-compact package, making it the ideal take-anywhere tool.
S.P.I.T. Small Pocket Inverted Tanto
The S.P.I.T. features a high-carbon steel 2.3-inch 5Cr13Mov blade with a highly-visible bright orange G10 handle combining a sturdy all-weather grip with the precision an inverted tanto blade shape brings to the table. The included sheath keeps it secure and portable, always ready when you need it in a pinch. Perfect for opening boxes or your next outdoor adventure, the S.P.I.T. knife proves that a good EDC knife doesn’t have to be complicated.
