CRKT 2020 Sting Fixed Blade Knife Review

 

CRKT says, “CRKT® (Columbia River Knife and Tool®) was founded in 1994. From day one, we put innovation and integrity first. We made a commitment to build knives and tools that would inspire and endure. We collaborate with the best designers in the world and operate on a simple principle: that the greatest thing we can give our customers is Confidence in Hand®.”

This company was founded in 1994 by Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremer. Both of these men were formerly employed with Kershaw Knives. The company did not actually take off until the 1997 Shot Show when the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple) knife was introduced. The small folder, designed by Ed Halligan was a success. Within the opening days of the show the years’ worth of the product was sold out. In fact, they sold at 4-5 times original production numbers which resulted in a tripling of production efforts.

The company produces a wide range of fixed blades and folding knives, multi-tools, sharpeners, and carrying systems. CRKT has collaborated with custom knife makers such as Ken Onion, Harold “Kit” Carson, Allen Elishewitz, Pat Crawford, Liong Mah, Steven James, Greg Lightfoot, Michael Walker, Ron Lake, Tom Veff, Steve Ryan, and the Graham Brothers.

CRKT owns fifteen patents and patents pending.

Today we will be talking about the CRKT 2020 Sting fixed blade.

 

The Designer:

The man behind this knife is A.G. Russell, who is from Rogers, Arkansas. CRKT says, “Simply put, A.G. Russell eats, sleeps and breathes knives. He was the first member of the Knife Digest Cutlery Hall of Fame, a founding member of the Knifemakers’ Guild, founded the Knife Collectors Club™, and started the first mail order knife business. Even with a pedigree like that, if you ask him what he enjoys most, he’ll still tell you it’s designing custom knives.”

 

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of 1050 steel that has been hardened to a 52-55 HRC. This is a carbon steel with only carbon and manganese added to the iron. This series is known as the 10xx series, because the second number, in this case 50, refers to the amount of carbon in the steel. This steel will have .50% carbon. This is one of the lower levels of this steel, but will work well in this fixed blade. This steel is also often found in swords.

The blade has been finished with a black powder coat. This powder coat is going to help prolong the life of the blade because it protects the blade by acting as a barrier in between the elements and the steel. Because of the coating, the wear resistance and the corrosion resistance of this blade are going to be significantly improved. Not only that, but this knife is designed for stabbing and this coating can help lessen the drag on the blade for quicker stabbing and faster withdrawal. Unfortunately, coatings also do have their drawbacks. For example, this coating is a lesser quality coating which means that it is going to chip or scratch off with use and time. While all coatings eventually do this, the powder coating is going to be more likely to scratch off as well as scratching off more quickly. Also, sometimes the coating is applied unevenly, which creates ridges and spots where the knife is not even. This can hinder how well you can stab or slice with the knife.

The blade has been carved into a spear point blade shape. A spear point is similar to the needle-point because they are both designed for piercing. However, the spear point does have a stronger point as well as a slight belly that can be used for slicing. The blade is made out of a symmetrically pointed blade with a point that is in line with the center line of the blade’s long axis. Both edges of the knife rise and fall equally to create a point that liens up exactly with the equator of the blade. This blade is double edged, so you can pierce very well with it. The spear point also has a tip that is durable enough for piercing—ideal for this tactical blade. Spear points also do contain a belly that can be used for some cutting and slicing, although if you compare the belly to that of a drop point or clip point, it is going to seem extremely small. The spear point is known as a hybrid blade because it has a good balance between piercing and slicing. It also has the sharp point that you would find on a dagger with the strength that compares more to a drop point, while also having a belly that can be used.

The blade on this knife does have a dual plain edge. Both edges of the spear pint have been sharpened and both have a plain edge. The plain edge is going to provide you with cleaner cuts, while also being easier to sharpen, even if you are in the field. However, plain edges do need to be sharpened more often than serrated blades do. The plain edges are going to allow you to take on a wider variety of tasks as well, so if you ever need to use this knife for more than a tactical blade, you are going to be able to do that. The plain edge is not going to inflict as much damage as a serrated edge would, but it will be easier to push into your target and then pull it out as well.

 

The Handle:

The handle is also made out of 1050 steel, because it is a full tang knife. This is a durable steel that is going to get the job done. However, in its series, it is one of the lower end steels.

The handle is relatively simple for a tactical knife. The spine and the belly mirror each other, each with a large finger guard that will keep your fingers safe in the rare case that you slip when you are using this knife. Following the finger guard is a deep finger groove which will give you a solid and comfortable grip—even if you have to be using this knife for long periods of time. After the finger groove, the spine and the belly are straight and angle towards the butt of the handle. For texture on the handle there is a divot carved out near the blade as well as another divot carved out in the middle of the knife.

The butt of the knife does sport a wide lanyard hole, which will be able to fit almost any lanyard that you want to put in it. Having a lanyard on a tactical blade allows you to take on messier tasks, because it can provide texture.

 

The Mechanism:

This tactical knife is a fixed blade. The knife has been made out of one long piece of continuous steel. This means that it is not going to have any spots on the knife that are weaker than others. Because it has been made out of one piece of steel, the knife is going to be more durable and tougher—allowing you to take on harder and more complicated tasks without worrying if it is going to break your knife. This is ideal for a tactical blade; where you need it to not fail you in the heat of the moment.

A fixed blade is a type of knife that does not have a mechanism. Some people prefer their knives to be a folding knives, even their tactical knives, because they are more easy to conceal, more convenient, and can be almost as tough as a fixed blade. That being said there are plenty of benefits to having a fixed blade as your go to tactical knife. For starters, they are big and strong. This means that the blade is going to be longer and thicker because it does not have to fit inside of a handle. The thicker the blade is, the tougher it is going to be. Plus, because the blades and handles are bigger and more durable, the knife is less likely to break. Another reasons that they are less likely to break is because there are no moving parts on a fixed blade. This also makes them easier to maintain because you don’t have to worry about the innards rusting or not being able to get clean, thus destroying the knife. You also don’t have to worry about the hinge, which is extremely important for a folding knife. Along with maintenance is cleaning, which is ten times easier with a fixed blade. All you really have to do is wipe down the blade and the handle and oil the blade occasionally. Lastly, fixed blades are the superior tactical tool because they can be brought into play faster than a folding knife. These situations are ones where every single second counts; the fixed blade is definitely the better option.

 

The Sheath:

            The knife comes with a nylon sheath. Nylon is a very common material when it comes to knife sheaths. They are often compared to leather, because those are some of the most common used materials. Just like leather, they are tough and strong. However, they are resistant to rot and mildew, which is something that leather is not. This means that a nylon sheath is also going to be tough to scuff or tear. As for its disadvantages, nylon sheaths don’t last as long as leather ones. Nylon is cheaper, which is great, but it also means that it is not going to last as long as a leather sheath. While leather sheaths fit your knife better as time goes on, nylon sheaths get stretched out over time which means that your knife won’t always fit securely inside it’s sheath. While the nylon sheath will continue to work after it is stretched out, it just won’t keep your knife as safe as it could.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 3.197 inches long with a blade thickness of 0.137 inches. The overall length of this fixed blade measures in at 6.85 inches long. This knife weighs in at 3.9 ounces, which is a lighter weight for a fixed blade.

 

Conclusion:

When CRKT is discussing this knife, they say, “This Blade Was Meant for Walking. A fixed blade tactical knife featuring two edges and one solid piece of hot forged steel, it knows its place—clipped to your boot.

Crafted by A.G. Russell of Rogers, AR, The Sting™ displays one of the inventors of the modern knife industry’s attention to detail. After all, despite all his awards and achievements, he is first and foremost a custom knife maker.

A virtually indestructible spear point blade begins life as an ordinary blank of 1050 carbon steel, similar to the alloy used in traditional Samurai swords. It’s then hot forged and precision ground into its final shape. Dual cutting edges give you twice the protection and double the attitude. We then apply a black non-reflective powder coat finish to resist corrosion in tactical environments that are as tough as you are.

Grab hold of the handle and feel how it’s perfectly contoured to fit your bare or gloved hand. Notice its heft, balance and thumb detents for grip. There’s even a large lanyard hole so you can use it with a wrist lanyard, or carry it as a neck knife. When it comes to defense, this blade means business.

The CRKT® Sting™ comes complete with a custom nylon-stitched sheath with a glass reinforced nylon insert and a strapping option for versatile gear attachments or a clip for attaching it to your belt, pack or boot. Wherever it sits on your gear, it won’t be sitting there for long.

Strap it down and take it into any situation. It’s ready to battle with any environment.” You can pick up this knife today at BladeOps and have yourself a new favorite tactical knife.