Home / Outdoors / Knives & Multi-Tools

This Extraordinary CRKT Gentleman’s Folder Is Just Dripping with Unique and Handy Details

An elegant, intuitive design by the legendary Michael Walker, plus premium materials, add up to something pretty special.

Close-up of a silver folding knife with a blue thumb stud and textured handle against a green background.CRKT
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published

·

Updated

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

It can be tough to follow up an absolute smash. Just think of all the hot young pop artists that have topped the charts only to be relegated to the one-hit wonder bargain bin.

The same fate could have befallen Michael Walker, who began designing knives in 1980, when he was in his early 30s, and pretty quickly perfected the modern liner lock, which remains one of the most fundamental locking mechanisms to this day.

Blue and silver folding knife with a patterned handle and a partially serrated blade marked "CRKT.
Stunning good looks are among several reasons this edition of the Fidus costs more than twice as much as the original.
CRKT

But instead of letting success go to his head, the New Mexico-based whiz kid went on to invent more than 20 different knife mechanisms, partnering with the likes of Böker, CRKT, Spyderco and more on a spate of cool blades over the next four decades.

No wonder basically anything with his name attached to it catches our attention, the latest being a high-end makeover of a CRKT staple called the Fidus Frame Lock.

Scaling up

Let’s get that moniker sorted out right off the bat. Derived from a Latin word meaning trustworthy and loyal, it is indeed pronounced “fee-dus,” which is so dang close to fetus that you’d better believe I cracked a “knife begins at conception” joke in our morning editorial meeting.

This new knife is essentially an upscale version of an existing CRKT offering, the Fidus Liner Lock, which features Walker’s signature mechanism and costs $70.

Blue and silver folding knife with a patterned blade and a clip on the handle.
You know you’ve made it as a knife designer when they print your name right on the blade.
CRKT

Shelling out more than twice that for the Frame Lock edition may seem like a tough pill, but keep reading, as it does offer a number of upsides, both aesthetic and functional. 

First up is the blade, a 3.25-inch drop-point made of Damascus steel, a big step up over the original’s 12C27 that offers not only that trademark rippling sheen but a winning blend of edge retention and toughness.

Folding knife with patterned steel blade and blue textured handle with silver accents.
Damascus steel never fails to impress aesthetically, but it’s pretty damn reliable in day-to-day use as well.
CRKT

The blade rotates on IKBS ball bearings aligned with a pivot wheel, which is more decorative here but plays a big role in other signature designs, such as the Walker Blade Lock.

Actual deployment is a multi-dimensional affair, as you can brandish the blade using either the cool blue titanium thumb studs or the subtle front flipper.

Blue and silver folding knife handle with a metal pocket clip and decorative pattern.
The handle is artistically grooved and ergonomically shaped for easy gripping.
CRKT

As the name suggests, the blade is held in place with a sturdy frame lock, a feature not uncommon to premium knives.

The handle itself is made of titanium with a brush finish, complemented by a titanium back spacer and pivot ring. 

The textured zigzag pattern along its body adds not only visual interest but also a bit of extra grip, augmented by an ergonomic silhouette with convenient cutouts for the forefinger and pinkie.

Folded blue and silver folding knife with a textured handle and metal clip.
The coup de grâce is that little roller wheel, which adds a touch of class you won’t find on the original.
CRKT

In addition to the big-league materials accounting for most of its price, the 2.3-ounce Fidus Frame Lock boasts another touch that solidifies its gentleman’s knife status. 

The titanium clip is outfitted with a small roller wheel, enabling it to glide over pockets when you go to carry it, whether you’re wearing a pair of Levi’s or the finest Prada tuxedo pants in all the land.

Availability and pricing

The CRKT Fidus is available now for $200.

Folding knife with a patterned silver blade and blue and silver textured handle.CRKT

CRKT Fidus Frame Lock

This upscale treatment of a utilitarian design by the legendary Michael Walker features a 3.25-inch drop-point blade made of Damascus steel, a premium frame lock and a titanium handle with a brush finish, complemented by a titanium back spacer and pivot ring. Adding to its functional panache are a grippy textured zigzag pattern, deployment via thumb studs or a subtle front flipper and a titanium clip with a small roller wheel, enabling it to glide over pockets in an elegant, gentleman’s folder-worthy fashion.
About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

Read More

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google
,