Written by: Casey K.
Over the past few years I have been collecting pocket knives from various different manufacturers. I like to use these for Every Day Carry (EDC). There is one knife that has really topped my list, the CRKT Linchpin. Here are my thoughts on this fantastic pocket knife.
The handle:
When I first took this knife out of the box, I immediately noticed how durable it felt. The handle is made of glass reinforced nylon with two different styles of texture to offer more grip. One thing that I really appreciate is that the screws on this knife are countersunk which keeps the screws from snagging in your pocket when you go to remove the knife.
The lock:
This knife features a large button lock that I personally love! Anytime I lend this knife to someone, they always tell me how much they like the button lock. Mainly because it’s larger and easily unlocks. The button lock does not easily unlock while the knife is in use though. The button also features a really nice texturing design that makes it hard for your thumb to slip off of.
The blade:
This has to be one of the best blades I’ve ever had on a pocket knife. The blade material is 1.4116 stainless steel, which is slightly stronger than 420HC. The blade is a spear point that turns serrated halfway down the blade. The serrated section of the blade has great, bat-wing style, serrations that cut through thick stuff like it was nothing. The serrations are called “Veff” serrations. I recently moved and this was the knife that I used during the moving process, and wow! After cutting tons of packing tape and boxes, the blade still has a sharp edge! On the back side of the blade it offers a nice thumb grip (jimping) that keeps your thumb in place very nicely.
Opening:
One thing I really appreciate about this knife is that it offers 2 different styles for opening. It has the flipper on the back which is what I prefer. But sometimes you are cutting something and your hand may be in an awkward position, so in those situations it’s nice that it features thumb studs as well.
The CRKT Linchpin is a fine knife to use as an EDC. It’s incredibly durable and holds an edge very well. This knife is a little larger giving you more of a grip to hold onto. It has a serrated spear point blade which gives you different options for your cutting needs.
Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points
Claim to fame:
Large and sturdy EDC
Target market:
Anyone who would like a great EDC pocket knife that’s a little on the larger side.
Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:
Overall Length: 8.875"
Blade Length: 3.75"
Cutting Edge: 3.50"
Blade Width: 1.13"
Blade Thickness: 0.15"
Blade Material: 1.4116
Blade Style: Spear Point
Blade Grind: Flat
Edge Type: Serrated
Handle Length: 5.25"
Handle Width: 1.25"
Handle Thickness: 0.68"
Handle Material: Glass Reinforced Nylon
Frame/Liner: Steel
Weight: 6.20 oz.
User: Right Hand
Pocket Clip: Tip-Up
Opener: Flipper
Lock Type: Button Lock
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?
None
What others are saying?:
Super Sharp Serrations
Sharpest serrations by far on any knife in my collection. Cuts through vines with almost no effort. Much easier than any other knife used for the task. My chickens love grapes so every day lately, I've cut off a few bunches for them. The other day, I was carrying the CRKT 5406 and cut through a vine with the tip of the blade. Whittled through the vine a few times and removed the grapes as usual. I decided to use the serrated part of the blade, touched it to the vine and the bunch of grapes just fell off. Thought it was an anomaly so did it again another few times with the same results. Wow. As to the rest of the knife... Good fit and finish. The locking mechanism is a bit sticky. It improved a bit after oiling and many deployments, but still sticky. Overall a great knife for cutting stuff in the garden.
Link to other reviews:
Price point:
MSRP- $145.00
Retail- $39.95 at Knife Center
I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:
CRKT Linchpin - Columbia River (CRKT) - Knife Center
Our Rating:
Pros:
This is a really solid feeling pocket knife. I really believe that it can take whatever you throw at it. It feels incredibly durable when it’s closed and when it’s open and being used. It holds a sharp edge for a good long while. I personally also love the button lock style on this knife.
Cons:
The price point of $145.00 is pretty high for this knife, I think the sale price of almost $40.00 is a great deal!
