CRKT knives are made by Columbia River Knife and Tool, a privately owned American company based in Tualatin, Oregon. CRKT designs its knives in house but outsources most production to contract factories in Taiwan and China.
CRKT is not owned by a larger corporation and remains independently run by its original founders. The company has built its reputation on collaborating with well known custom knife designers rather than on domestic manufacturing.
This article covers who owns CRKT, where its knives are actually manufactured, its founding history, and how it compares to fellow Oregon based knife maker Kershaw.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns CRKT?
CRKT is a privately owned company with no outside parent, run by its cofounder Rod Bremer as president and sales executive, with Peggy Bremer serving as finance executive. Current product lines are shown on CRKT’s official website.
The company was founded in 1994 by Rod Bremer and Paul Gillespi, both former employees of Kershaw Knives, and has stayed privately held ever since. Estimated annual revenue sits around 25 million dollars, with a relatively small in house team of roughly 40 to 60 employees handling design, quality control, and business operations.
CRKT holds around fifteen patents covering mechanisms it has developed with its design partners, including the Outburst assisted opening system and the Veff Serrated edge.
Where Are CRKT Knives Made?
CRKT knives are designed at the company’s headquarters in Tualatin, Oregon, but production runs through contract factories overseas rather than a CRKT owned plant.
Most CRKT knives are manufactured in Taiwan and China, where CRKT works with established blade factories that specialize in the precision grinding, heat treating, and assembly needed for folding and fixed blade knives.
CRKT selected this approach from its earliest days rather than building its own domestic factory.
Despite overseas production, CRKT maintains its own quality control standards and design specifications, and its Oregon team handles engineering, testing, and collaboration with the outside knife designers whose names appear on many CRKT product lines.
When Was CRKT Founded?
CRKT was founded in 1994 by Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremer, both of whom had previously worked at Kershaw Knives before starting their own company. More on the company’s history is documented on Wikipedia.
The company’s breakout moment came at the 1997 SHOT Show, when it introduced the K.I.S.S. folding knife designed by Ed Halligan.
The compact folder sold out within days of the show and established CRKT as a serious player in the knife industry.
Since then CRKT has worked with prominent knife designers including Ken Onion, Kit Carson, and the Graham Brothers, and has expanded into fixed blade knives, multi tools, sharpeners, and tactical carrying systems alongside its original folding knife lineup.
CRKT vs Kershaw: Who Makes Each?
CRKT and Kershaw share unusual roots, since CRKT’s founders both worked at Kershaw before starting their own company in 1994, but the two brands have followed different ownership paths.
CRKT has remained an independent, privately held Oregon company throughout its history. Kershaw, by contrast, is owned by Kai USA, which is itself part of the Japan based Kai Corporation, giving Kershaw access to a larger parent company’s manufacturing and distribution network.
Both brands manufacture the large majority of their knives overseas, primarily in Asia, and both rely heavily on collaborations with outside custom knife designers rather than building every design entirely in house.
Are CRKT Knives Good Quality?
CRKT is generally well regarded within the knife community for creative, designer collaborated blades at accessible prices, with many owners praising the fit, finish, and smooth action on models like the CEO and Pilar III.
Budget models built with 8Cr13MoV steel are considered a solid value, easy to sharpen though they do not hold an edge as long as pricier steels, and CRKT has increasingly offered higher performing D2 steel on select models.
Enthusiast forums like BladeForums generally rank CRKT above entry level brands like Gerber, though below premium American makers.
The most consistent criticism involves quality control on liner locks, with some owners reporting play or misalignment on individual units, along with occasional complaints about warranty service requiring the customer to pay return shipping.
Most reviewers agree that CRKT delivers strong value and design for the price, provided buyers stick to well reviewed individual models rather than assuming uniform quality across the entire catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes CRKT Knives
Are CRKT knives made in China?
Yes, many CRKT knives are made in China, alongside production in Taiwan. CRKT designs its knives at its Oregon headquarters but outsources manufacturing to contract factories in both countries.
Is CRKT an American company?
Yes, CRKT is an American company headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, and it remains privately owned by its founding team. Its manufacturing, however, is based overseas rather than in the United States.
Who founded CRKT?
CRKT was founded in 1994 by Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremer, both former employees of Kershaw Knives. Rod Bremer continues to lead the company as president and sales executive.
Is CRKT owned by Kershaw?
No, CRKT is not owned by Kershaw. The two companies are separate businesses, though CRKT’s founders both previously worked at Kershaw before starting CRKT as an independent company in 1994.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.