New CRKT Knives for 2025: A First Look at the Latest Designs

As one of the most consistently innovative and interesting brands in the knife industry, we’re always excited to see what’s next from Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT). So, what’s new from CRKT for 2025? In addition to one of the wildest new products we’ve seen in years, they unveiled a mix of high-end USA-made knives, refined EDC options with upgraded materials, and appealing budget-friendly options—all designed by renowned custom knife makers. Read on for a detailed overview of everything new in stock and coming soon.

Kinematic Provoke X: The World’s First Pocket Tomahawk?

CRKT has a lot of awesome stuff on offer for 2025, but there’s no doubt that the Kinematic Provoke X is the coolest new release from the brand this year. Designed by Joe Caswell, the new Provoke X aims to do to axes what the original Kinematic Provoke did to karambits.

So, what makes the Kinematic X so special? Its morphing design allows the locking blade and spike to fold into the handle for storage or carry, and also enables lighting-fast inertial deployment: just a flick of the wrist and the it unfurls into a formidable tomahawk. Strength is provided by a novel lock, which utilizes deadbolt-like pins and leverage from the handle to keep everything secure under impact.

Joe Caswell proves again why he is the mad scientist of the knife world by redefining what is possible from a folding design!

Watch Our Video Overview For Even More Knife News

High-End Highlight: The Twist Tighe OTF Automatic Knife

The Twist Tighe OTF is a standout in the new lineup. It’s designed by Brian Tighe. The knife is made in the USA by Hogue Knives. We think this partnership is a great match, combining Hogue’s engineering and manufacturing with CRKT’s design and product development skills.

This automatic knife comes in just under $300 at the time of publishing. You have a few handle options to choose from:

• Green and Black Carbon Fiber
• Pink and Black Carbon Fiber
• Black Marble Carbon Fiber

All versions feature a double-edged MagnaCut steel blade. The green/black and pink/black options have a stonewashed finish. The black marble version features a black-coated blade.

Is this knife good for everyday carry (EDC)? Unlike many OTF knives, we think its manageable size absolutely makes it suitable for daily carry, even for those who might not otherwise consider carrying a switchblade. The blade length is 2.65 inches. It also has a deep carry pocket clip. The automatic action is crisp and reliable, just what we like to see.

Lucas Burnley Designs: Squid Button Locks, Ibis, and Tuna Compact

Lucas Burnley brings his design expertise to the new Squid Button Lock series, the Ibis, and the Tuna Compact.

Squid Button Lock Series

The Squid series has added a button lock mechanism to the family for 2025. It’s available in two sizes:

• Standard Squid: Features a 2.25-inch blade length.
• Squid XM (Extra Medium): Features a 3-inch blade length.

Both sizes offer either D2 or 14C28N stainless steel for the blade. The standard Squid is priced around $54, while the XM starts around $60.

The Standard Button Lock Squid comes in these handle options:

• Black G10
• Blue Micarta (with a smooth texture)
• Pink G10 (with Sandvik 14C28N blade steel)

For the Squid XM, you can pick from these handle options:

• Slate Blue G10 (with a black-coated D2 steel blade)
• Green Micarta
• Purple G10 (with Sandvik steel blade)

Both Squid models feature dual thumb studs and a hollow grind on the blades. The pocket clip is a folded-over style. It’s not quite a deep carry clip, since it leaves the lanyard hole exposed, and it’s set up for right-handed carry only. Whether you choose the standard or the larger XM model, you choose, we think the handle shape works well for all different hand sizes.

Ibis

Also designed by Lucas Burnley, the Ibis is the Squid‘s slimmer, more curvaceous cousin. The new version is less expensive for 2025, priced around $54. It has a black G10 handle and a stonewashed D2 steel blade. The blade is just over 3 inches long. The blade shape is distinctive with a bit of a distinctive Wharncliffe flair, making it useful for cutting on surfaces.

Other features include an inset liner lock, ball bearing action, and protruding backspacer that contains a lanyard hole. You can open it with the flipper tab or thumb studs.

Tuna Compact

The Tuna Compact is another Lucas Burnley design. The premium version boasts S35VN blade steel. This offers good edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The blade is 2.75 inches long. It has a titanium handle with a Topaz finish.

Key features include a frame lock and ball bearings in the pivot. It’s a compact size with a substantial blade feel. This knife is right-hand biased, with a premium sculpted pocket clip set up for tip-up carry.

Budget-seekers will be happy to see that there’s also a less expensive version. It features a teal G10 handle with a stainless steel frame lock and a 14C28N blade. This version costs around $68.

Angular and Sleek: The Straight

TJ Schwartz designed the Straight. It has an angular and sleek design. It’s priced around $54. The blade is D2 steel and 2.6 inches long. We like that it’s very thin and slicey.

The handle features a stainless steel frame lock and a G10 front scale. The blade has an acute tip with a slight drop to the edge. This makes it good for box cutting and craft work. The action is more deliberate, thanks to the solid washers in the pivot. The profile is nice and compact. It sits thin in the pocket.

Small Fixed Blades: HangTi

Richard Rogers designed the HangTi fixed blades. They are priced around $44. They’re made entirely of titanium, which makes them incredibly lightweight.

There are two versions:

• Wharncliffe/Kiridashi Profile: It has a chisel grind which should make it great for craft knife use. It features a blue finish and the blade is just over 1 inch long.
• Small Drop Point: The blade is 1.7 inches long. It is double beveled. This one is more general-purpose. It weighs only 0.4 ounces!

A Kydex sheath is included.

Narrow and Tough: The LCK Plus

The CRKT LCK series is designed by Matthew Lerch. It costs around $68. The blade is 3.4 inches long. It’s made from Sandvik 14C28N steel. We appreciate that it’s tougher than the usual D2 steel, which should help the acute tip stand up to harder use. It has a hollow grind.

The handle is blue G10. It’s narrow in the pocket. The clip is a folded-over style with a recessed attachment point that makes it easy to slide in and out of the pocket. It features ball bearing action.

Classic Redefined: The M16 with Crossbar Lock

The M16 is a long-running classic in CRKT’s lineup. The new version features a crossbar lock. The model shown above is the M16-14XD. It has a nearly 4-inch D2 steel blade with an aggressive tanto profile featuring partial serrations. The handle is injection molded for light weight and good grip.

The thumb studs act as the blade stop, which should add to the strength and stability of the design. It has ball bearings in the pivot for smooth action. The pocket clip is almost deep carry, and reversible for left- or right-handed carry.

Other versions are available:

• M16-O2X: D2 stonewashed tanto blade (just over 3 inches, ~$68).
• M16-O3XK: Black spear point blade (about 3.6 inches, ~$75).

Unique Mechanisms: The Snap Lock

Ed Van Hoy designed the CRKT Snap Lock, a unique mechanism that flips the folding knife on its side, literally! The new black version has a stealthy titanium nitride coating, and is priced around $80.

The blade steel is 420J2. The main draw is definitely the opening and closing experience, which is incomparable to anything else on the market. It has copper-colored accents, a Wharncliffe profile, and a finger guard.

Return of a Classic: The Michael Walker Blade Lock Folder

Designed by Michael Walker, the CRKT Blade Lock Folder is a bit of a throwback. It costs around $85. The blade is 3-inch, 14C28N steel. It has a modified Wharncliffe shape. The handle is made from two-tone G10 with a cool intersecting milled pattern that adds a bit of grip.

Here’s what’s so special about this knife: the thumb stud actually operates the lock! And unlike the vintage CRKT version, this one is fully manual, not assisted. The mechanism keeps also has the advantage of keeping your fingers out of the blade path during closing. It features a standard pocket clip for right-side, tip-up carry.

Assisted Opening Options: The Bamboozled

Kenny Onion aka Ken Onion Jr. is the son of famous knifemaker Ken Onion, and he designed the CRKT Bamboozled. The blade is 3.34 inches, and made from D2 steel. It has contoured G10 scales laid over stainless steel liners and bolster.

Two blade shapes are available for 2025: a drop point or a tanto. It features assisted opening and a flipper tab. The grind is thin and full flat for good cutting geometry. It has a deep carry clip (right side) and a liner lock.

Another Layer From Ken Onion: The Homefront Compact

Coming on the heels of his standout CRKT Homefront series, Ken Onion followed up with the premium Homefront Compact. It has a smaller blade than the original Homefront (2.9 inches) made from American-made S35VN steel. Two new-for-2025 versions bring it back to basics with black aluminum bolsters, black G10 scales , and your choice of a stonewashed or black-coated blade finish.

Both also feature deep carry pocket clips (right side only), a liner lock, and ball bearings in the pivot.

Richard Rogers Creates a New EDC Superstar: The Q

Richard Rogers‘ knives are known for their powerful simplicity and careful precision, and the all-new CRKT Q embodies those characteristics. Available in two sizes with either a 3.3″ blade in MagnaCut or 3″ blade in S35VN, this refined pocketknife design is sure to please EDC aficionados.

It features a full flat grind with a fuller on each side, which allows for multiple opening methods. The compact versions feature aluminum handles, G10 inlays, an inset liner lock, and ball bearings in the pivot, while the full-size version boasts a titanium frame with carbon fiber inlays.

Narrow and Inspired: The CEO

Richard Rogers‘ most popular design by far is the CRKT CEO. With its ultra narrow profile, perfectly straight handle, and pen-like pocket clip, the original version defined the emerging category of the “executive knife.” New for 2025, this version features a 3.4 inch blade made from AUS-8 steel. The handle is injection-molded, but has an linen-like texture that feels pleasant. Ball-bearing flipper deployment and an ambidextrous tip-up deep carry pocket clip make it easy to recommend for anyone, executive or not!

Unique Blade Shape: The Viento

Last of the new releases designed by Richard Rogers is the CRKT Viento. Subtly blending modern and traditional design cues, the modified sheepsfoot blade is 3.2 inches long and made from D2 steel. The way the flipper tab visually flows into the line of the bolsters in both the open and closed positions is very satisfying, and helps elevate this utilitarian design.

The handle features stainless steel bolsters and black G10 inlays. It has full-length fullers and a classy crowned spine. There’s a right-side pocket clip and a liner lock.

Self-Defense and USA-Made Options: Fixed Blades

HZ4

James Williams designed the CRKT HZ4. Inspired by Japanese-style daggers, this thoroughbred tactical knife is a smaller version of the HZ6. The blade is 4.75 inches and made from tough SK5 high carbon steel. The grooves and crosses on the handle are reminiscent of a katana, but are made from very grippy G10 for unshakable traction.

The Kydex sheath has a low-profile J-style clip for easy carry, and should accommodate a number of standard clips to suit your needs.

Kasilof

Commercial hunting guide Russ Kommer designed the CRKT Kasilof, an agile bird-and-trout hunting knife made in the USA in partnership with TOPS Knives. We love to see CRKT partnering with USA-based manufacturers to deliver a premium product, and the Kasilof comes through with its beautiful leather sheath, full tang construction, hand-sculpted Micarta handles, and 3.9 inch 1095 steel blade.

Accessory Highlight: Big Boy Driver and Storage Block

Joe Wu‘s latest designs will make your knife life run more smoothly. The Big Boy Driver Tool is made from solid aluminum with a fatter grip section with knurling for more leverage, more grip, and better control over the delicate screws that hold your favorite knives together. The bearing at the end allows you to brace your hand while the driver spins freely.

The new Aluminum Storage Block is made to keep all the drivers and bits you need organized and close to hand. Milled from solid aluminum, it has a reassuring heft, and can even be mounted to a worktop.