CRKT Overland, the “4x4” folding knife

Inspired by the aesthetics and lines of off-road vehicles, the CRKT Overland has been defined by T.J. Schwarz – who designed it – "the knife version of a 4x4".

T.J. Schwarz is a knife maker and designer from Boise, in the US state of Idaho, where national parks and forests abound and where camping and hiking activities are very popular. T.J. Schwarz is a keen hiker himself and loves to test his creations in the field.

This model, the Overland folding knife, created for the Columbia River Knives & Tools company – or CRKT for short –  does not escape this logic. Instead of suggesting improbable and adventurous uses, with a disarming candor the company describes the knife as "perfectly suited for slicing the campfire-charred sirloin". In fact, the handle geometry and the angle of the blade, which features a modified sheepfoot profile, have been designed to facilitate the cutting of food on a cutting board.

An essential and inexpensive frame lock

There are knives that strike you at first sight for their design, and in fact when CRKT proposed us some knives samples to test we immediately chose the Overland (and also the Tuna) just for its essential and captivating lines. As you will have surely understood if you regularly follow our articles dedicated to blades, we like knives without too many useless frills. And the CRKT Overland is one of them. Also considering the retail price, it's definitely interesting. The handle of the CRKT Overland consists of a green G10 cheek on the left side and a 2Cr13 SS stainless steel plate on the right side. The Overland is a frame lock knife – the steel plate locks the blade. The backspacer and the pivot ring feature orange accents that contrasts nicely with the olive green of the G10 cheek and the stonewashed grey of the steel plate. This aesthetic choice is also found on other models, such as the already mentioned Tuna, which adds a pleasant touch of color to the whole.

The blade has a modified sheepfoot profile, with a slightly convex smooth edge. The finish of the blade is very dark stonewash, well made as usual. The opening is assisted by a knurled stud on both sides. It must be said that as it comes out of the box, the Overland was quite hard to open and I had to loosen the pivot pin slightly using the very useful Knife Maintenance Tool that I always keep at hand..

The machining level of the Overland is the standard level of cheap CRKT knives, so more than fair. Of course, to contain the price we have to renounce to some niceties, such as a repositionable clip; the Overland's one, which allows for tip up carrying can only be removed. The G10 handle checkering, together with the small grooves in its central area, are very good instead, allowing for a firm and secure grip of the knife.

CRKT Overland: wrap-up

The CRKT Overland is a low cost knife, but in the end it is well made, also with a touch of style thanks to the orange anodized accents that brighten up a bit the aesthetics. Surely, it's a good choice for an EDC to take on a camping or hiking trips, including gastronomic use. The geometry of the blade facilitates its use on cutting boards or flat surfaces. Mind you, it is not a kitchen knife, and the sheepfoot profile – as is well known – lends itself well to precision jobs, so it could also prove to be an excellent all-rounder for your desktop or pocket.

The price-quality ratio is certainly reasonable.

CRKT Overland specs and price