All too often, when you look for a pocket knife with the right modern features and performance to be your daily driver, you’ll find your EDC knife options skew towards the tactical side of things. But what’s left if you look at a tactical knife and don’t love it because it doesn’t suit your needs or style? Hunting knives offer a more traditional style, but they’re usually too big for EDC and lack standard features from modern folding knives. Leave it to Benchmade, with decades of experience in American manufacturing of both tactical and hunting knives, to fill the void with the Mini Crooked River. It’s a scaled-down and more EDC-friendly version of their original full-sized Crooked River hunting knife, which paired classic styling with premium materials and modern features.
Although it might look like it at first glance, The Mini Crooked River isn’t your grandfather’s hunting knife. You’ll find modern premium materials throughout the knife: aluminum bolsters, contour-stabilized “Dymondwood” handles, and high-vis hunter orange details in the G10 backspacer and pivot accent. It still features a classic clip-point shape on its 3.40” blade but comes in a premium CPM S30V steel.
Materials aside, the made-in-the-USA Mini Crooked River operates and performs like a modern folding knife thanks to its ambidextrous thumb stud manual deployment and AXIS lock mechanism. Slight jumping near the blade’s spine offers more control, but its otherwise smooth stabilized wood handles and sweeping lines result in an elegant overall aesthetic. Its tip-up pocket deep carry clip makes it easy to carry and retrieve, while its 4.5” closed length, 0.5” handle thickness, and 3.3 oz weight keep bulk to a minimum. For an EDC experience from Benchmade that’s less tactical and every bit as practical, check out the Mini Crooked River at the link below.
Benchmade Crooked River Mini Review
Blade
The blade is made from CPM S30V stainless steel that’s been hardened to a 58-60 HRC. Its blade steel features excellent edge retention. The blade style is a clip point, making it suitable for outdoor skinning and survival tasks.
Pocket carry
This EDC folding knife has a deep carry clip for discreet carry in any environment. Its perfect size makes it okay to carry loose in your pocket too.
Use
The Mini Crooked River is a great all-around EDC folding knife from its smart looks and blade style. Stabilized wood handles make it easy to pick up and are very comfortable even during extended use.
Overall
The stabilized wood handles give this knife a unique look when set against the sea of stainless steel and G10-handled folding knives you typically find.
Benchmade Mini Crooked River: Features
AXIS lock mechanism
The AXIS lock is Benchmade’s hallmark folding knife feature. Its ambidextrous design allows you to pick up and use this EDC knife with either hand. It also eliminates blade play even during hard use.
CPM S30V stainless steel clip point blade (58-60HRC)
CPM S30V stainless steel features excellent edge retention and a high hardness at 58-60 HRC. It has enough blade length at 3.4” to be considered full size, but it’s not so huge that you’ll find it too unwieldy as an EDC folding knife.
Anodized aluminum bolsters with contoured Dymondwood scales and stainless steel liners
The stabilized wood handles are made out of Benchmade’s “Dymondwood,” and they provide a handle material that stands out from the pack. They look great but also offer a lot of utility because of their grippy surface. The aluminum bolsters help keep this great knife lightweight overall as well.
Orange G10 backspacer and anodized aluminum pivot ring
Contrast is the name of the game when it comes to the orange G10 backspacer and the anodized aluminum pivot ring. Overall this is an EDC folding knife that realizes it’s important to look good and cut well. It will be a handsome addition to your everyday carry.
Reversible tip-up pocket clip
Just as the AXIS lock mechanism is ambidextrous, the reversible tip-up pocket clip allows for discreet everyday carry of this EDC knife in either your left or right front pocket. You can also choose to remove it if you prefer.
Benchmade Mini Crooked FAQ
Is the Mini Crooked River a good EDC?
Yes, the Mini Crooked River is a good EDC folding blade. Its beautiful looks and excellent materials come together in a practical folding knife.
What steel is the Mini Crooked River made out of?
The Benchmade Mini Crooked River is made of CPM S30V stainless steel. This stainless steel features excellent edge retention and maximum sharpness.
Is the Mini Crooked River a folding or fixed blade knife?
The Benchmade Mini Crooked River is a folding knife. It features an AXIS lock that holds the full-size blade open during use like a fixed blade knife, but it’s easy to pocket when you’re done with it.
What is the best place to buy a Benchmade knife?
The best place to buy a Benchmade knife is at the link below. You can also find it in specialized outdoors and tactical retail stores if you prefer the brick-and-mortar route.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily lives. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why you should trust us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
