Review: CRKT HCK1 Karen Hood Camp Knife

Karen Hood is a knife designer who knows a thing or two about survival, and she has designed a nice one for Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT), the HKC1 Model 3510. I’m here to tell you she hit a home run with this one.

First off, some specs:

• Open Overall Length: 11.31 inches
• Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Blade Length: 6.13 inches
• Blade Thickness: 0.13 inches
• Blade Material: 1095 High Carbon Steel, 56-58 HRC
• Blade Finish: Sandblast with Cerakote
• Grind: Flat Grind
• Style: Drop Point, Plain Edge (Serrated available)
• Handle Material: Linen Micarta, affixed with two screws
• Bright Orange Lanyard Attached to Butt of Tang
• Carry System: Leather Sheath (will fit belts up to 2.5″ wide)
• Sheath Weight: 4.9 ounces
• Made in USA

The knife comes in a beautiful leather sheath that is vegetable oil tanned, so it won’t rust the blade as many sheaths will do. There is a pouch on the sheath, but it was empty. It is perfectly-sized for a small sharpening stone. Shame on you, CRKT, for not providing a sharpening stone. Yeah, I know. A person can add one or use the pouch for something else, but for my money, a sharpening stone should have been included in the pouch.

The Hood Camp Knife is my favorite fixed blade knife in the current CRKT lineup. There’s just something about this knife that draws you to it. Whether it’s the great design, the quality manufacturing, or the nice looking sheath, somehow this knife just cries out to be used.

I live in the boonies of Western Oregon on a small homestead, and we have more than enough trees and weeds to chop down. They are perfect for testing a camp knife. I put this hummer to work, easily slicing down blackberry vines (which are super-tough to cut). I had ample opportunity to chop small branches off trees, and I even split some smaller logs by using another log to drive the knife’s blade through the wood.

During all my testing, I never had to touch up the edge.

I used the Hood Camp Knife around the kitchen and almost lost it to my wife. She thought it was a pretty good all-around kitchen knife. Cutting through raw (even frozen) meat was no problem.

The Hood Camp Knife feels good in the hand, real good. And even though it wasn’t designed for skinning out game, I’m sure it will handle the chore. A combat knife? Sure, why not. It will get the job done. If I were still in the military, I’d be happy to hang this knife on my belt.

If you’re in the market for a new camp knife or a do-all fixed blade knife, the Hood Camp Knife might be just what you’re looking for. Chances are, once you pick one up, you won’t want to put it down.

Full retail on the Hood Camp Knife is $295. A bit steep? You betcha! But quality never comes cheap, and you only have to buy quality once instead of dozens of times, like you do with junk knives. Save up your pennies and get this knife. You won’t be sorry in the least. Oh, and don’t forget CRKT’s limited lifetime guarantee.