Squid Folding Pocket Knife: Compact EDC Straight Edge Utility Knife with Stainless Steel Blade and Framelock Handle

I first bought the Black Stonewash a few years ago as a cheap EDC for about $24. At such a cheap price it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was lost or damaged so I could be rough with it. It held up perfectly well to this day, still almost as good as new. The original Squid is short, sturdy as hell, and nonthreatening in shape, perfect for less permissive environments. The steel of the Squid is 8Cr13MoV, perfectly reasonable and serviceable for its low price point, but you'll be honing the edge a little more frequently. The grip is a little small, but a short paracord lanyard helps the pinky get a little more purchase on the handle while assisting on the draw from the pocket. The frame lock is strong and locks up very positively, and it's wonderful to fidget with, making a satisfying click when it engages. The tightness of the pivot screw is tough to keep perfectly adjusted with its nylon bushings, with a tiny sweet spot between too tight to smoothly open and so loose as to be wobbly and flaccid. The tricky tightness is also key to keeping the blade centered in the grip when it's stowed. Then the Squid XM released and I purchased it immediately. First from a different site before it was available on Amazon, then again as a gift once it came to this site. The XM is a direct and total upgrade to the Squid. The D2 steel is tougher stuff than the original's chinese steel, but that doesn't mean you should slack on edge maintenance. Honing the edge will keep it razor sharp for longer, and I find a 25° angle edge is the best for this blade. The longer blade and handle make the XM better for bigger mitts and jobs where you need a little extra to bear down on. The G10 is incredibly grippy while being gentle on the hands, as opposed to the smooth steel face of the original. The assisted open is seriously strong, bordering on overkill, to the point where the knife has jumped out of my hands before I got used to it. The XM's assisted open does lower the fidget factor, but it's an entirely welcome upgrade over the thumb-stud-only of the Squid. The flipper on the heel of the blade serves as a finger stop so you can choke up higher on the blade than the original. The ball bearing pivot means that you can torque down the pivot screw a little more without seizing up the action, keeping the tip centered in the grip. In summary, this is seriously my favorite knife, and with proper care and cleaning it will last for years. The XM is absolutely worth the price over the original.

Really sweet little knife. Sturdy and sharp right out of the box

Awesome knife. Easy opening and well made.

The only thing better than a folding CRKT knife would be an Esee fixed blade, but those aren't as portable. CRKT knives provide a lot of value compared to more expensive knives. This is a fantastic first knive to own, a fantastic gift for a knife collector, a fantastic recreational camping knife, a fantastic box opener, a fantastic defense tool. The M21's flipper tab is somewhat less sticky for rapid opening, and the M21's spine is the most reliable ferrocerium rod striker I own. But the Squid XM provides a local maximum in terms of price and compactness. CRKT knives tend to avoid the worst of the crazy bells and whistles that other manufacturers foist onto customers. Need a bottle opener? Use the bottom corner of a (G10) handle. I accent my CRKT knives with paracord snake knot lanyards, which provide tactile feedback for orientation, as well as ease of visual detection if dropped and lost. I have never been anything other than extremely satisfied with CRKT knives. I have owned the KISS, the original Squid, and now the Squid XM. All of these knives are easy to use, sturdy, and applicable for a wide variety of cutting tasks.

This is just about everything you could want in a pocket knife. The blade is incredibly sharp out of the factory, we're talking closer to katana than your dad's Swiss Army knife. If it holds onto the edge with occasional honing over time, there is literally nothing to complain bout. Opening is an assisted flipper. Press the tab with enough force (or use the thumb studs) to overcome the detent and bias, and it will snap open. Perfect for one handed use. It is not strong enough that you should fear dropping it or anything like that, just enough to pay attention that nothing is in the way. The frame lock is sturdy, and easy to disengage. The opening assist also gives it some resistance to being closed, which is probably safer for folks who want to close their knife with one hand as well. It's important to properly set the spine's backside so it wrests against the seam of the pocket (i.e., make sure it's as close to the pocket's edge as it will go, so the pocket physically prevents the blade from opening) as with any other flipper. Given the assist, it would probably be less forgiving of improper carry. Testing this with an old pair of BDU trousers and trying to (safely) press the tab, I'd say if it gets opened while carried properly, you shouldn't be jamming rocks in your pocket or were being groped quite vigorously. We're talking less it's stored with your keys and comb and more someone tried to grab hold of you and ended up ripping it out of your pocket. The grip is nice and solid despite its lightweight. It's probably the perfect size if you prefer a larger handle (or have larger hands). It's also easily to disengage the frame lock without accidentally pressing on it, and it's not so terribly stiff as to be difficult. Presuming you don't toss it out of the back of moving truck, or try and hammer with it, there's nothing negative there. It also gives a fairly decent handgrip, unlike many of the smaller pocket knives I've had, this one doesn't skimp on being able to use the bottom fingers for a steadier grip. In terms of blades, the shorter/chunkier style makes it pretty stable for light stabbing and very effective to cut with, since you can readily apply pressure. Tasks like breaking down furniture boxes, which are often larger and unruly cardboard that won't fit a recycling bin, is a breeze. If I ever needed to demonstrate why you use a sharp knife for safety, this would be the one. I don't know if I should thank the knife designer or whoever designed the machines edging the blades, but it's superb for a pocket knife. IMHO--an excellent tool both for household utility and everyday carry. Just be mindful of it being an assisted flipper. This is not the kind of knife that you give children as their first knife. Nor that you let fools borrow. It's a good tool. Respect it as such. Worst thing I can really say? It tempts me to acquire another, so there's one for my EDC pocket load and another could be near the garage as the goto "Knife, household, utility."