CRKT CEO - A Sleek, Modern, Gentleman's Knife for Today's Businessman

-

 My collecting style is eclectic.  I don't favor one brand, or one type or style of knife.  I like the unique, the different, even the specialized.  The CRKT CEO is just one of those knives.  I also wanted to keep adding some of the major manufacturers to my collection, such as CRKT, and this model is truly different than the typical tactical knife one might associate with this brand.  And it was on clearance at my favorite store - Fleet Farm - so I saved at least $10 off the list price ($44).  The blister pack that it came in notes that it was designed by Richard Rogers* and that it has a IKBS ball bearing pivot system along with a glass reinforced nylon blade.  The packaging also notes: "A knife that’s dressed for success. At first glance, it could be mistaken for a pen tucked into a shirt pocket, that’s exactly the way the CEO folding knife was designed.

A supremely low profile and no corners cut on usability and ergonomics, this design embodies the working spirit of everyday carry." As one can see from the picture below, it is actually shorter than the Paper Mate ballpoint pen I carry, and not much wider.  As one who wears sports jackets and occasionally a full suit as a pastor, this is a perfect EDC for dress wear.  

It has a truly slim profile and is lightweight, which, again, works perfectly for wearing dress clothes. This is what is considered a Gentleman's Knife. The knife opens easily and secures closed with a liner lock.  As the CRKT** website notes, it has a "recessed thumbstud with IKBS™ ball bearing pivot deploys the blade fast."  They are right.  Very smooth.  That said, with such a slim, narrow handle utilizing the thumb stud is tricky, and I don't feel comfortable deploying it one handed yet.  Nevertheless, now that I've unwrapped it, I'm impressed by how it feels, looks and handles overall. The model number is 7096C.  The blade's steel is 8c13MoV, a Chinese-made steel that is considered good for this price-range and type of knife.  It is a budget-friendly stainless steel with decent edge retention which makes sharpening easier, while D2 (used in other more expensive versions of this knife) is a higher-end tool steel known for its high wear resistance and toughness.

The CRKT CEO comes in a variety of styles with prices ranging from my $44 model (or lower to $39) upwards to around $50 to $80 dollars, as per a quick review on Amazon.  I'm not quite sure why the wide range in cost, although I suspect it has to do with different methods of deployment, the steel (as noted, some have D2), the construction of the handle (one has aluminum), and other characteristics. 

*Richard Rogers, of Magdalena, NM, has design awards going back to 1997 (and has been making knives since 1996), although he modestly claims he has been seriously designing knives only for four years.  He also operates the cattle ranch.  His more recent designs have been what can be called "gentleman tactical".

**CRKT, which I'll admit always made me think of "cricket", is actually the acronym for Columbia River Knife and Tool, Inc..  It is an American knife company established in 1994 and currently based in Tulalatin, OR, and founded by two former employees of Kershaw Knives.  

Note: The CRKT CEO won "Best Buy of the Year" at the 2019 BLADE Show. 

   


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higonokami Knife - An Affordable Japanese Classic Combines Simplicty with Effective Style

-
  Higonokami (肥後守) knives are a  type of traditional Japanese pocket knife that goes back to 1896 . The blade of these friction folding knives is secured in the 'open' position by applying thumb pressure to the Chikiri ('Tail' lever) that is built in to the blade.  The handle is brass.  The knife is hand-crafted and supposedly the only one allowed to call his knives 'Higonokami' now is 5th generation blacksmith Mr Nagao, based in Miki. It is a light duty knife and clearly not intended for any hard or heavy task.  Usually used for opening packages, sharpening pencils, or cutting fruit.  Would make a nice EDC.  It's light and thin and fits easily in any pants pocket.   As I noted in another post, I wanted to add some unique knives to my collection, and this Japanese knife truly fits the bill. I purchased mine from Amazon for around $30.  Higonokami knives are to the Japanese what the Swiss Army Knife is to the Swiss, in being the iconic...
Read more

NexTool Mini Sailor Lite Multi-tool - Small, Well Built and TSA Compliant - A Sure Winner!

-
While this site is dedicated primarily to my knife collecting, this post represents a slight exception. As noted in a previous post my EDC pouch includes an inexpensive multi-tool. The NexTool Mini Sailor Lite Multi-tool , however, is a 'blade-less' version of their multi-tool. It appealed to me primarily because it is TSA compliant .  I still remember having to turn over a small pocket knife at security some years back (it was a cheap K-Mart knife, not a loss), and the hassle in the years since of having all kinds of things from keys to other items flagged by the screening system.  I just purchased this, so it hasn't been tested, but others have and it seems okay. It feels solid for its size; not cheaply constructed at all.  It is a 9-in-1 multi-tool which includes: 1.) needle-nosed pliers, 2.) regular pliers, 3.) Philips screwdriver, 4.) regular screwdriver, 5.) key chain ring, 6.) scissors, 7.) wire cutter, 8.) SIM card remover, and 9.) a bottle opener.  I doubt...
Read more

BUCK 110 - The Alltime Classic that Makes All the Lists, A Must Have for Any Collector

-
 In reviewing the lists of knives all collectors should have, this model surfaced repeatedly.  I have a 'knock off' version of the Buck 110 from China (it is a highly copied knife), but knew that I needed to finally invest in the genuine article.  It is a heavy knife, to be sure, especially for a folder (probably twice the weight of typical folders today with synthetic handles).  But the weight betrays its quality.  As the photos demonstrate, this knife is constructed with brass, both on the end caps, but also in the liner.  The blade is constructed of 420HC steel, which, as some will observed, is not necessarily impressive in itself, but it is the heat treatment of the steel that makes the difference.  The handle is constructed of genuine ebony with brass bolsters. All around an impressive piece of workmanship that shines brightly in the world of knives. Although large, by comparison, it also comes up in lists of "gentleman's knives" (which are usuall...
Read more