History

In 2009, CRKT® will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary by offering its largest product array ever, including innovative sport and work knives, professional knives, and tools.

Columbia River Knife & Tool® (CRKT®) a Tualatin, Oregon-based manufacturer of knives, tools, and accessories founded in 1994, has announced its new product line-up for 2009.

Company president and co-founder Rod Bremer notes, "We continue to grow, requiring our full-color 2009 catalog total 88 pages, the largest in our fifteen-year history. It is divided into three sections: Sport & Work Knives, I.D. Works™ Tools, and For Those Who Serve™ Professional Knives & Tools."

Fifteen years of growth. Bremer says, "To better serve our loyal customers around the world, in July we completed the move into our new Tualatin, Oregon, facility—which tripled our warehouse and office space. This not only lets us provide better and faster service, but also gives us room for future expansion. In April 2009 we will celebrate fifteen years of solid growth."

Sport & Work Knives. CRKT also continues to expand its design resources, working with some of the world's leading custom knifemakers, and also tapping new talent on the knifemaking scene.

That means surprising new shapes, like the Fulcrum™ Flame, Razel™ Folders, Tuition™, Minimalist™ and Hole In One™. It means new patented (or patent-pending) folder actuation, assisted opening and locking systems like those found in the Ignitor™, Lift Off™, Yea-Go™, Rave™, and Badger™. And it also means some unusual products that are just, well, different, such as the Crossover™ camp shear/knife, the Neckolas™ whitewater fixed blade, the Cicada™ multitool, and the Edgie™ 2 lockback selfsharpening knife.

I.D. Works™ Tools. This exciting line is dedicated to multifunctional tools that are uniquely creative. Their motto is simply "Inspired Design works. ™" You won't find any me-too products in this line, but every one is a functional work tool that also has a bit of style and personality. Look for many more products in this line in the future.

Professional Knives & Tools. The CRKT "For Those Who Serve™" line of professional knives has proven very popular with operators in the field. This year CRKT has added three tactical fixed blades, the Williams Hisshou™, the Kommer I.F.B. ™, and the Elishewitz F.T.W.S.™

More natural and premium materials. Whenever possible, CRKT is committed to using the natural and premium materials that are common in the best custom knives. This year the line includes more knives with layered Micarta®, G10, stag, jig bone, white bone, ram horn, and hardwoods such as thuya root, cocobolo, ebony, walnut, and bamboo.

CRKT is probably best known for its K.I.S.S.® series, the original two-piece money clip knives designed by Ed Halligan, and its M16® series, designed by Kit Carson. "These knives were pivotal to our success," says Bremer. "We recognized them as successful custom designs which deserved to be put into production to reach a wider audience. Our collaborations with custom knifemakers have been good for us, good for the knifemakers, and most importantly, good for our customers."

You will find CRKT knives at fine cutlery, select sporting goods, specialty stores, and U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine exchange stores worldwide. The company was founded on the belief that knowledgeable sales people are still valuable in helping you select the right knife for the job, advising you on care and maintenance, and supporting the product after you buy it. Their products are also available from reputable web site purveyors.

All CRKT knives and tools are built incorporating the most advanced equipment and production systems available, and quality is controlled from beginning to end. Knives are built the way they should be built—without compromising quality in any part of their creation. CRKT accessories are crafted to the same standards as the knives, so that each sheath, for example, lives up to the customers' high expectations.

For more detailed information on individual CRKT products, please see the 2009 CRKT catalog, the specific 2009 product press releases, or their web site, www.crkt.com, New Sport and Work Knives from CRKT for 2009 are:

Ignitor™. An exciting series of folders features premium blade steel, OutBurst™ assisted opening, our new Fire Safe™ system, layered G10 green and black scales. Available with optional Veff™ Serrations.

Ignitor™ T. The Ignitor is available in black tactical dress, with dark gray blade coating, OutBurst™ assisted opening, our new Fire Safe™ system, and black G10 scales.

Lift Off™. This striking new design features premium blade steel, stainless steel build and scale insert, with OutBurst™ assisted opening, our new Fire Safe™ system, and polished stainless steel clip.

Lift Off™ 2. A smaller personal-carry version of the Lift Off, with all the features of the big boy.

The Natural™. Here is one big hunk of Crawford knife with premium blade steel, OutBurst assisted opening, frame-lock build, black G10 bolsters, bone scales and custom stainless steel clip. Also available in a smaller size as The Natural™ 2.

The Natural™ 2 Jig Bone. This smaller version of the Crawford Natural has all the features mentioned above, but the stainless steel frame and clip are engine turned, and scales are jig bone.

The Natural™ 2 Micarta. This smaller version of the Crawford Natural has all the features mentioned above, but the stainless steel frame and clip are engine turned, and scales are black Micarta®.

Van Hoy Yea-Go™. A creative concept in folder mechanisms from Ed Van Hoy, the Arcuate Opening System (A.O.S.™). Just press down and flick the thumb disk for instant opening. A very cool design.

Renner Scharrd™. This striking Terry Renner folder uses an open 6061 aluminum build with Micarta scales and a unique blade tang lockup system with locking safety. A totally new approach.

Renner Mini Scharrd™. Here's the gentleman's version of Terry Renner's Scharrd with a lightweight open build, bone scales, and a remarkable blade tang lock for opening and closing.

Renner Neckolas™. This lightweight fixed blade/sheath system is a study in high-tech Micarta lamination with steel and aluminum inserts. The knife locks in place for inverted or whitewater carry.

Pink Fulcrum™. Russ Kommer's design and Charles Kain's patent-pending mechanism have a unique opening action that has won awards worldwide. Now available with pink swirled CPL scales.

Mini Fulcrum™. By popular demand, here's a smaller, lighter personal-carry version of the award-winning Fulcrum. It's similar in design to the original with swirled mother-of-pearl CPL scales.

Fulcrum™ Flame. It's still based on Charles Kain's patent-pending Fulcrum action, but Tom Stokes has come up with a wild flame-inspired design with free-flowing curves that is really hot!

Gallagher Rave™. Barry Gallagher does it again with the Rave: premium blade steel, OutBurst assisted opening with our Fire Safe™ system, eye-popping contoured layered black/gray Micarta scales.

Gallagher Glide Lock™ 2. Here's a cool variation on Barry Gallagher's award-winning Glide Lock folder, with a drop point blade and handle with a swell at the pommel, with silver CPL scales.

Pink Turtle™. Boyd Ashworth's little knives are also money clips, pendants and/or key fobs. They've proven very popular and many ladies demanded we add a model with pink scales.

McGinnis Tuition™. Gerry McGinnis designed this compact and powerful work folder with a broad sheepsfoot blade and pronounced flipper. InterFrame build with black/green layered Micarta scales.

McGinnis Summa™. This sleek full-size Gerry McGinnis folder features premium blade steel, stainless steel ti-nitride coated InterFrame, stainless steel clip, and blue/black layered Micarta scales.

McGinnis Black Summa™. The Gerry McGinnis Summa folder is also available in tactical dress with a non-reflective black oxide blade coating and combination Veff™ Serrations.

Folding Razel™. Here's a folding version of Jon & Josh Graham's popular Razel. with two cutting edges, hand-shaped Micarta scales and two custom clip options. A powerful, comfortable work knife.

Stubby Folding Razel™. This little folder is the ideal knife for the serious woodworker and model maker. Strong and beautiful with two straight edges and ram horn scales. A perfect gift for dad.

Edgie™ 2. Now our patented self-sharpening knife is available in a lockback folder with dual diamond sharpening strips, American Eagle Wharncliffe blade, Zytel/TPR scales and stainless steel clip.

Ritter RSK Mk5™. Survival expert Doug Ritter came up with this skeletonized wide-chord drop-point knife with lanyard, Kydex sheath, neck chain and carry tin. It's the basis to build your own survival kit.

Folts Minimalist™. Alan Folts designed this very small knife with a shaped and choiled Micarta handle to give exceptional control and comfort. Comes with a fitted Zytel sheath and neck paracord.

Crossover™. One minute it's a camp shear useful for dressing birds and fish and general camp chores. Then you rotate to release the pivot, and voila! You have a well-balanced camp chef's knife.

Kommer 2-Shot™. Here's Russ Kommer's favorite skinning fixed blade with bright orange G10 scales, with horizontal carry leather sheath, which holds two cartridges so you are never out of ammo.

Kommer Surf 'N Turf™. Russ Kommer also designed this versatile folder which makes a perfect big game boning knife, and is also a great folding fillet knife. We hope you'll use it both ways.

Hole In One™. Tom Hitchcock's lightweight side-opener is all stainless steel. It's a tough and versatile outdoor knife with a carry carabiner and bottle opener too. It will last for decades to come.

New to the 2009 CRKT catalog in the I.D. Works™ tool line is:

Cicada™. Yes, it looks like a little bug, but it's a multi-functional knife, scissors, bottle opener and LED flashlight in a clip-on carry caddy. Or carry it alone as a key fob. Hundreds of daily uses.

Get-A-Way™ Driver Torx®. We now offer the Get-A-Way Driver Model 9095 which includes four hex Torx bits. It is an ideal CRKT knife maintenance kit.

Black Guppie™. The popular Guppie is available in black-on-black finish for those who want a non-reflective tactical look.

Black Li'l Guppie™. The smaller Li'l Guppie is also available in black-on-black dress. New to the CRKT 2009 Professional "For Those Who Serve™" line are:

Hisshou™. Martial arts trainer James Williams designed this military knife for special ops teams. Mirror-polished blade and traditional cord-wrapped handle also make it a fine ceremonial sword.

Kommer I.F.B.™ Russ Kommer's Integral Fixed Blade is a one-piece forged carbon steel knife that is just about indestructible. It comes with a custom Kydex® sheath designed for versatility.

Elishewitz F.T.W.S.™ An Allen Elishewitz advanced-design full-size fixed blade for military and special ops use. The custom multi-function sheath is jump and water operation accepted.