CRKT’s Robotics-Inspired EDC Knife Gets a Premium Italian Upgrade

The cyberpunk-styled folder gets a pair of new futuristic colorways with some seriously rugged materials.

Published 23 hours ago

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CRKT calls custom knifemaker Princeton Wong “equal parts genius and magician.” While that might sound like the brand is heaping on the praise, it’s warranted.

After all, Wong won Best New Maker at Blade Show and Most Innovative Design at the International Custom Cutlery Exposition just a few short years after he started his knifemaking journey.

His latest project? A premium edition of his mecha-inspired CRKT Nucleus frame lock EDC pocket knife.

CRKT Nucleus Premium pocket knife — The Nucleus was directly inspired by mecha anime — specifically, Mobile Suit Gundam.

Giant robot, meet pocket knife

The form factor of the CRKT Nucleus wasn’t created in a vacuum. It was borne of Wong’s childhood. More specifically, it was inspired directly by his favorite childhood anime, Mobile Suit Gundam.

For the uninitiated, MSG is about giant weapon-wielding robots, piloted by comparatively minuscule humans, that duke it out against one another. Armed with that knowledge, the knife’s styling makes a lot of sense.

All of [the Nucleus’s] stylistic flourishes also serve a purpose.

It boasts a futuristic silhouette and exaggerated angles. Yet, all of its stylistic flourishes also serve a purpose. The skeletal cutouts help reduce weight, while the beveled edges ensure the remaining material retains its strength and structure.

While the original version of this knife was already pretty exceptional, this new, upgraded take — in two colorways — makes it even better.

CRKT Nucleus Premium pocket knife closed — The knife boasts three deployments: back and front flippers and a thumb hole.

(Italian) upgrade complete

The original Nucleus came with a 12C27 steel blade, a stainless steel handle and a G10 overlay. It was offered in a black and red colorway. However, all of that has changed in this new version.

Made in Italy, it now has a robust MagnaCut 3.23-inch modified Wharncliffe blade with a bead-blasted finish. However, it still has its trio of deployments: an oversized thumb hole and both front and back flippers.

CRKT Nucleus Premium pocket knife blade — The knife’s oversized thumb hole makes for easy deployment, while the straight edge makes quick work of cutting jobs.

That blade is now mated to a 4.14-inch handle crafted from lighter, tougher titanium with a carbon fiber overlay. It still has its frame lock and maintains its 7.38-inch length.

The last difference? It comes in silver and black or all-black. The magnificent suite of upgrades helps launch this futuristic knife into the high-end EDC knife conversation.