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This Smart, Affordable New EDC Knife Proves Simpler Is Often Better

Meet CRKT’s Pup Liner Lock, which just might be the rightful heir to the award-winning CEO.

crkt-pup-liner-lock-heroCRKT

By Steve Mazzucchi

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Longtime GP readers are probably familiar with the CRKT CEO. Released five years ago, this slender $50 flipper became a knife world sensation, winning Best Buy of the Year at the 2019 Blade Show.

The Pup Liner Lock is incredibly portable, stashing easily in a fifth pocket (with a low-profile, reversible pocket clip) for you to forget about until you need it most. It’s easy to deploy, too, courtesy of a rear flipper and smooth IKBS bearings. 

Now, a week out from 2024 Blade Show West (October 4-5 in Salt Lake City), we’re getting a sneak peek at what could be its successor — or at the very least its hungrier, huskier younger brother.

Designed by the man behind the CEO, New Mexico-based cattle rancher Richard Rogers, this sensible, affordable flipper is called the Pup.

CRKT Pup Liner Lock

Before we get into the Pup’s features, let’s quickly revisit the CEO. Thanks to a shape resembling a pen (closed length, 4.45 inches) and a 3.11-inch plain-edge 8Cr13MoV blade, this gentleman’s pocket knife is optimized for desk usage but qualified for outdoor tasks in a pinch. 

A handle made of glass-reinforced nylon (that resembles carbon fiber) and a reliable liner lock leave it most comfortable slicing open letters and cutting through boxes in a brisk and satisfying manner.

No wonder CRKT has since spun it off into an entire “family” with four different categories and more than a dozen variants.

crkt-pup-reverse-angle
Unlike the CEO’s unusual pocket clip placement, at the top of the handle, the Pup’s resides in the traditional spot.
CRKT

With those attributes in mind, consider the Pup. As you might expect from the nomenclature, it’s on the smaller side, with a weight of just 1.2 ounces, a closed length of just 3.01 inches and a plain-edge blade measuring 2.09 inches — and made of durable, corrosion-resistant AUS 10 steel.

That makes it incredibly portable, stashing easily in a fifth pocket (with a low-profile, reversible pocket clip) for you to forget about until you need it most. It’s a breeze to deploy, too, courtesy of a rear flipper and smooth IKBS bearings. 

crkt-pup-liner-lock-folded
The fidget-friendly rear flipper can deploy the Pup’s frisky little blade in a flash.
CRKT

As the name indicates, this Pup is held open with a liner lock — and can be closed with one hand. Like the CEO before it, the knife boasts glass-reinforced nylon handles, lending a touch of class.  

If you find yourself yearning for a heap more class, and have the cash, there’s always its fancy fraternal twin. The equally new Pup Slip Joint features a titanium handle with carbon fiber inlay, a Super Dense Twist Damasteel blade — and a price tag of $275.

Availability and pricing

Coinciding with Blade Show West, the CRKT Pup will be available October 4th for $69.99. 

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