Columbia River Knife & Tool
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Knife manufacturing |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Paul Gillespi, Rod Bremer |
| Headquarters | Tualatin , United States |
Key people | Rod Bremer (President and Head of Sales), Peggy Bremer (Financial Operations) |
| Products | Fixed blade knives, folding knives, multi-tools, sharpeners, carrying accessories |
| Website | www |
Columbia River Knife & Tool, Inc. (CRKT) is a U.S.-based knife manufacturer established in 1994 and headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon. The company's executive team includes founders Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremer, with Bremer fulfilling the roles of president and head of sales, while Peggy Bremer oversees financial operations.
History
CRKT was founded by Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremer, both formerly employed by Kershaw Knives. The brand achieved notable recognition at the 1997 Shot Show through the introduction of the K.I.S.S (Keep It Super Simple) knife, crafted by designer Ed Halligan. The initial inventory sold out within days, leading to a production increase exceeding three times the original volume.
In 2000, CRKT encountered a significant obstacle when U.S. Customs detained a shipment of 80,000 folding knives manufactured in China, valued at more than $4.3 million. Although these knives had previously cleared inspections, Customs reclassified them as switchblades under the U.S. Switch Blade Knife Act of 1958. After intervention from Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley and Senator Gordon Smith, a federal investigation ensued. Eventually, the shipment was released; however, the company suffered losses surpassing $1 million in sales and incurred legal expenses over $30,000.
Products
CRKT produces an extensive selection of fixed blade knives, folding knives, multi-tools, sharpeners, and carrying accessories. The company partners with esteemed custom knifemakers 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, Flavio Ikoma, and the Graham Brothers.
Among its flagship offerings is the M16 folding knife series available in various models. The M16-13 Military (M16-13M), designed by former U.S. Army Sergeant Major Harold "Kit" Carson, is acknowledged as a durable combat knife featuring a liner lock combined with an additional safety mechanism to prevent accidental blade closure. This model bears the unique "1*" emblem representing "one ass to risk." The series also includes larger variants such as the M16-14D "Desert Big Dog" and its titanium-framed counterpart, the M16-14T.
Patents
CRKT possesses fifteen patents and pending patent applications that cover innovations including the Outburst assisted opening system, Lock Back Safety (L.B.S.) mechanism, Veff-Serrated blades, and Deadbolt Lock technology.
The Outburst system facilitates assisted blade deployment on standard pivot joint liner or frame lock knives. It incorporates a spring tab that engages the blade tang during manual opening; once the blade reaches approximately thirty degrees of opening angle, the spring swiftly completes the deployment.
The Lock Back Safety mechanism—conceived by Ron Lake—is a lockback folder equipped with a switch that prevents depression of the locking bar. Internally, a rod connects this switch to a flange that obstructs unlocking when activated, thereby enhancing blade security in both open and closed positions.
Veff-Serrations—exclusively licensed to CRKT and developed by Tom Veff—are distinguished from conventional serrations by their larger size and a 60-degree angle relative to the cutting edge instead of 90 degrees.
See also
External links
- Columbia River Knife & Tool (official site)