Columbia River Knife & Tool is a relative newcomer to the American knife market, having only been established in 1994. Based in Oregon, Columbia River Knife & Tool, or CRKT for short, was founded by two former employees of Kershaw Knives, a well-known knife maker. The founders were Rod Bremer and Paul Gillespi. Many of the revolutionary new features of CRKT were designed by these two men.

The first CRKT knife to see widespread success was the Keep It Super Simple, or K.I.S.S., introduced in 1998 and designed by Ed Halligan. This small folding knife immediately sold out, causing CRKT to triple their original production figures for the year. This small folding knife is known for smooth operation and a precision design. The K.I.S.S. was originally designed with a Tanto-inspired blade, and can be opened or closed with one hand thanks to innovative new design features. This knife is designed to be carried anywhere; it can be placed on a keychain, and also includes a money clip. This simple and elegant design is known for its small size and good performance. Several versions of this popular knife are still available today, over a decade since its introduction.

Today, Columbia River Knife & Tool produces a wide range of knives, bladed tools, and accessories such as sharpening rods and systems. Their knife selection includes fixed blades and folding knives for nearly any purpose. CRKT currently owns fifteen patents, with many more pending, and prides itself on constantly developing new features. Although relatively new to the knife market, Columbia River Knife & Tool is known for including major developments and features in each new knife model.

One of their most popular knife design features is the AutoLAWKS locking mechanism. This system keeps the knife locked once it is opened, preventing the knife from being closed unless the lock is disengaged. The Outburst system is another one of their proprietary features. This spring-assist quickly opens the knife once it is opened 30 degrees. Other patents include other opening or locking mechanisms, as well as Veff-Serrated knife edges. Veff-Serrations are different from regular serrated knife blades because they are much larger than typical serrations, and are set at a 60 degree rather than 90 degree angle. Overall, these new developments have made Columbia River Knife & Tool products much easier to use than other knives on the market.

The CRKT sharpening system is based on sharpening rods. The "Slide Sharp" system uses a patented system to hold the knife blade at the correct angle, which is very important when sharpening a knife. This sharpening system can be used for Columbia River Knife & Tool blades as well as knives from other manufacturers.

Columbia River Knife & Tool is known for pocket knives, hunting knives, and military or tactical knives, as well as a wide selection of tools, carrying cases, and knife sharpeners. Simple yet well-designed, each product in the CRKT lineup is practical and purpose-driven, with an innovative design and great value without compromising on quality.