Looking for a small, sleek knife equally as at home breasting birds and cleaning fish as it is gutting deer? Look no further than the Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) Kasilof.
As with many knives whose form is inherently utilitarian, the Kasilof's story starts not in the boardroom, but in the mind of a veteran hunting and fishing guide. Russ Kommer got into making knives after he watched a custom knife a client brought to camp struggle to dress out a moose. Since then, in addition to his own custom work, Russ has partnered with CRKT to design some of the most popular knives in their lineup, including the Bear Claw and the Soldotna. That latter model is based specifically on Russ' own, personal hunting knife and excels at big-game work, but Kommer decided he also wanted something more precisely tailored for smaller fare.
To such an end, he put his head together with the experienced designers over at CRKT and created the Kasilof. Crafted from 1095 Carbon Steel, this is a knife that will hold a razor's edge, but retains the ability to be easily sharpened in the field—while I would always recommend you pack a field sharpener, I've sharpened 1095 with sandpaper stretched on a flat rock. It's dimensions, however, are where the knife really shines. With a blade length of 3.87 inches and a thin, pairing-knife profile, this is a knife that will excel at the sort of long, narrow cuts often needed to free up organs in narrow cavities (deer hunters, you know what I'm talking about), or filet meat from spine or breastbone while wasting as little as possible. A Micarta handle allows for excellent purchase when hands are slick with rain or cold, and the skeletonizing holes punched clean through it also help the knife stick to your palm. Overall, the knife is 8.63-inches long with a full tang, and weighs in at a mere 2.4 ounces, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. It also comes with a leather sheath that hangs easily on a belt for your trek in.
For more information on the CRKT Kasilof, made right here in the USA and named for Alaska's Kasilof peninsula, visit crkt.com. And to learn more about the design of the knife, check out this conversation between Russ Kommer, and CRKT Founder Rod Bremer. MSRP: $250
Kasilof Specifications
- Brand: Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT)
- Name: Kasilof
- Blade Length: 3.87”
- Blade Material: 1095 Carbon Steel
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Handle Material: Micarta
- Weight: 2.4 ozs.
- Overall Length: 8.63”
- Special Features Leather sheath, skeletonized Micarta handle, Made in the USA.
- MSRP: $250.00
