Home / Outdoors / Knives & Multi-Tools

This Beautifully Blacked-Out CRKT EDC Knife Is a Monument to Minimalism

The ultra-compact, satisfyingly symmetrical MinimalX offers everything you need and nothing you don’t.

crkt minimalx edc knife macroCRKT

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published

·

Updated

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

All Killer No Filler isn’t just the title of Sum 41’s critically underrated debut studio album.

(“Fat Lip” might have been the biggest hit, but “In Too Deep” is wonderfully melodic, not to mention the track behind the greatest competitive diving-inspired music video of all time.)

crkt minimalx beauty
When its 2.19-inch blade is deployed, the MinimalX remains compact at just a bit over five inches long.
CRKT

But I digress. That phrase is also an incredibly apt description of one of CRKT’s most compact and efficient knife designs, Darriel Caston’s MinimalX Frame Lock.

Even better? This knife just got a blacked-out treatment that costs a bit more while adding immeasurably to its appeal.

Smooth operator

An alternative moniker for this knife could be the mini Mbombo, as it offers many of that Caston design’s coolest qualities in an even more pocketable package.

crkt minimalx off side folded
The brushed and blacked-out stainless steel carries over seamlessly from the handle to the pocket clip.
CRKT

The blade, what I might call an “aggressively modified tanto,” measures a tidy 2.19 inches and is made of 12C27 steel, an affordable high-chromium material popular for its high hardness as well as strong wear and corrosion resistance. 

The blade nests oh-so-neatly into the stainless steel handle. When deployed via the subtle but grippy flipper, the silhouette takes on a satisfying symmetry.  

crkt minimalx framelock
Common in higher-end EDC knives, the ultra-reliable frame lock streamlines the MinimalX’s moving parts.
CRKT

Both blade and handle have an aesthetically pleasing brush finish and a corrosion resistance-boosting titanium nitride coating.

Holding everything in place is a sturdy frame lock, while a deep-carry clip keeps it safe in your pocket.

crkt minimal x pocket clip detail
The offside of the blade displays the knife’s author as well as the blacked-out skew’s unique code.
CRKT

That should help you keep track of this 2.6-ounce small wonder, which measures 5.3 inches open and just 3.12 inches closed.

Availability and pricing

The blacked-out CRKT MinimalX Frame Lock is available now for $70. The original silver and gray version costs $60.

Read More