CRKT Copacetic Knife Review

Columbia River Knife and Tool Company, or CRKT was born in Oregon in 1994. This is an American company that is known for distinction in design, selection, and quality. For over 20 years, CRKT has put innovation and integrity first, making a commitment to build products that inspire and endure. They collaborate with the best designers in the world and operate on a simple principle: that the greatest thing they can give their customers is Confidence in Hand.

This company was founded by Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremer. These two men were both formerly employed by Kershaw Knives. However, the company did not truly take off until 1997. They took one of their new knives, the K.I.S.S (Keep It Super Simple) to the Shot Show that year. This was a small folder that had been designed by Ed Halligan. Within the opening days of the show the years’ worth of the product had sold out.

CRKT 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 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 they have patents pending. Some of these patents are the Outburst assist opening mechanism, the Lock Back Safety mechanism, and the Veff Serrated Edges.

Over the past twenty years, CRKT has built a reputation of being reliable, durable, and long lasting. You know that when you purchase a CRKT knife, you are purchasing a lifelong adventure partner and a blade that will be able to get the job done, no matter what the job is. CRKT has recently released a brand new knife and they call it the Copacetic.

 

The Designer:

Larry Hanks is the man behind this knife. He was practically born a woodworker but had plenty of other talents. He designed jewelry and foundry work and then culminated in a decorated career as a tattoo artist. After all of that, he met Ken Onion. Larry’s knife engravings were so skilled that Ken Onion enlisted his talents shortly after they met, and now they’ve been working together for over twenty years. It wasn’t until four short years ago that Larry took on his own projects. The progression was natural, and there’s no doubt around here that his knife making career will soon eclipse his tattooing career.

 

The Blade:

The blade on the Copacetic is made out of 8Cr13MoV steel. This type of steel belongs in a series of Chinese steel. In the series, 9Cr steel is the highest quality. However, 8Cr steel falls closely behind in quality. This steel is best compared to AUS 8 steel, however, AUS 8 is the better steel between the two. 8Cr steel is softer, less durable, and rusts easier than AUS 8 steel. The biggest advantage that the 8Cr steel boasts is how inexpensive the steel is. Because of this, it can drastically reduce the cost of the overall knife. And this is an average steel that is able to get the job done. Because of how soft the steel is, sharpening is a piece of cake. And you can get a very fine edge on this knife that lasts for a while. While this steel has a variety of benefits, but it does not excel at anything.

The steel has been coated in a black oxide finish. This is a blackening coating that is used to coat metals. This type of coating is used to add mild corrosion resistance, as well as for appearance, and to minimize light reflection. However, because it is a coating finish, it will eventually scratch off. This finish helps to add a sleek essence to the all-black knife.

The steel has been carved into a clip point shape. This is a great all-purpose blade shape and is one of the most popular shapes on the market. This blade shape is commonly found on Bowie knives, but it is also popular on many pocket knives and fixed blade knives. To form this blade shape, the back of the knife runs straight from the handle and then stops about halfway up the knife. At this point, it turns and continues to the point of the knife. The spot where it turns and continues on to the point looks as if to be cut or clipped out. This is where the blade shape gets its name from. The clipped out portion can be either straight or curved, but on the Copacetic, it is straight. This type of blade shape has a lowered point, which makes it similar to the drop point blade shape. This lowered point provides more control when you are using this knife. And because the tip is controllable, sharp and thinner at the spine, a clip point knife lends itself to quicker stabbing with less drag during insertion and faster withdrawal. However, the tip is also the spot that makes the clip point and the drop point blade shape different. While the drop point has a broad tip, the clip point has a thin and sharp point. This is a disadvantage, because it is more prone to breaking or snapping when you are doing the harder tasks. However, it is an advantage because you do have stabbing capabilities. One of the last reasons that makes this blade shape so versatile and so popular is that it features a large belly area that is perfect for slicing. This large belly provides you with plenty of length that will help you have plenty of room for slicing. This is one of the key characteristics that you should be looking for in an everyday knife, because the majority of your everyday tasks include some form of slicing. The clip point blade shape is the perfect blade shape to be prepared for any situations, whether they are the expected or the unexpected.

On the unsharpened edge of the blade, near the handle, there is some deep, chunky jimping. The edge of the blade is a plain edge. This is when the edge is one continuous sharp edge. This type of edge is the most traditional type of edge. The plain edge serves a wider range of uses compared to other types of edges. One of the biggest benefits of a plain edge knife is that it is much easier to sharpen than a serrated edge. Some people worry that their plain edged blade is not going to be able to cut through the stronger or thicker materials, but when your edge is sharp enough, it can manage these tasks.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of Polypropylene with Glass Fiber; Thermoplastic Elastomer. This material is lightweight as well as being more chemical and heat resistant than many of the other handle materials. And, because of the glass reinforcement, there is plenty of texture to provide you with a secure grip. The Thermoplastic Elastomers is a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers, which are usually a plastic and a rubber. This consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. Thermoplastic elastomers show advantages typical of both rubbery materials and plastic materials. These two materials will provide you with a very secure grip in almost any environment.

There is a deep, rounded finger groove carved into the handle to make this a more comfortable handle to hold for long periods of time. Plus, CRKT has added a finger guard to protect your fingers from slipping and getting cut.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife is black to match the rest of the knife. This is a deep carry pocket clip that is kept in place by two small screws. The handle has only been drilled to carry tip down on the traditional side of the handle. All of the hardware on this knife is also black to blend in with the all black knife.

 

The Mechanism:

This is a manual opening folding knife that sports a flipper mechanism to assist you in opening the Copacetic. The flipper mechanism is a shark’s fin shaped protrusion that juts out of the spine of the handle when the knife is closed. To deploy your knife, you push down on the flipper protrusion and it puts enough pressure on the blade to flip the knife open. It is also the section of the knife that turns into the finger guard when the knife is opened. Once, the blade has flipped open, the blade locks into place because of the locking liner that this knife sports.

The liner lock is a locking mechanism that many folding knives sport. This is the most popular knife lock that is found on folding knives. It was invented in the early 80’s by knife maker Michael Walker and was quickly adopted by a number of mainstream knife makers. The liner lock functions with one section of the liner angled inward toward the inside of the knife. Form this position, the liner is only able to go back to its old position with manual force, therefore locking it in place. The tail of the liner lock, which is closest to the blade, is cut to engage the bottom of the blade under the pivot. If the user wants to disengage the lock, they must manually move the liner to the side, away from the blade bottom. The liner lock was a great advancement in knife lock technology and assisted in the evolution of the tactical knife and the one handed knife.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife is 3.054 inches long with a blade thickness of 0.115 inches. When the knife is opened, the length is measure din at 7.625 inches long. When the blade is closed, it measures in at 4.551 inches long. This knife weighs 4.7 ounces.

 

Pros of the Copacetic:

• The steel chosen for the blade is very inexpensive.
• The steel is very easy to sharpen, because of the softness that it is.
• The steel can hold a very fine edge for long periods of time.
• The clip point blade shape is very versatile.
• The clip point blade shape features a large belly that offers you plenty of length for slicing.
• The clip point blade shape has a fine, thin edge that provides you with great stabbing capabilities.
• The clip point blade shape has a lowered point which gives the user more control over their cuts.
• Because it is a plain edge, this blade is extremely easy to sharpen.
• The handle is lightweight and extremely durable.
• This is a manual knife, so there are none of the pesky knife laws that surround a switchblade.
• The flipper mechanism helps to efficiently deploy your blade.
• Because of the liner lock mechanism, you won’t have to worry about the blade closing while you are using your knife.
• The pocket clip is a deep carry pocket clip.

 

Cons of the Copacetic:

• The steel that has been chosen for this knife is an average steel that does not excel at anything.
• Because the finish on the blade is a coating, it will scratch off eventually.
• The clip point has a very fine and thin edge that is prone to breaking or snapping when you are performing harder tasks.
• Because this is a manual opening knife, it will be slower to deploy than a switchblade and much slower to bring into action than a fixed blade.
• The pocket clip can only be attached to carry your knife tip up and can only be attached on the traditional side.

 

Conclusion:

CRKT has earned a reputation of being reliable, durable, and giving you long lasting knives. They deserve this reputation because their knives are game changers. To start off in the design of this new knife, they started with a steel that is easy to sharpen and will hold an edge for long periods of time. They matched it will a very durable handle that provides you with a secure, comfortable grip. The deep carry pocket clip is the cherry on top of this knife. This knife will change the way you think about everyday carry knives and you can pick yours up here at BladeOps.