Without exception, those to whom I’ve shown this knife call it “slick.” The word slick defines the Columbia River Knife and Tool “Badger,” which has been my daily utility pocket knife, on and off, for some time now.
Designed by Barry Gallagher (known, according to CRKT’s website, for his high-end custom art knives), the Badger is an assisted-opening liner-lock with a blade of high-carbon 5Cr15MoV stainless steel. Blade length is just under three inches. Both the blade and the liners are black oxide, while the handle is layered and textured black and green G10.
Fit and finish overall are very good. The pocket clip is held in place with three screws and does not shift; the blade locks open firmly with absolutely no vertical or lateral play. The locking liner engages the blade tang fully, almost at the center of the tang. Open or closed, the knife feels solid and taut, making it as pleasant from a tactile perspective as it is from an aesthetic standpoint.
The Badger is a small “gent’s folder” pocket knife, not a “tactical” or working knife. In my big mitts I have to reposition it to open it, although I wouldn’t expect any different. There is an ambidextrous, serrated thumb disc. This is fairly discreet. Because the knife is retained strongly in the closed position, a fair amount of force is required to get it started. Once you do, it snaps open briskly under spring power — so much so that if you weren’t expecting it, you might cut yourself. First-time buyers of the Badger, take note.
The pocket clip is very small. It had good tension out of the pocket and, as I’ve mentioned, doesn’t shift mounted on the knife. It’s set an an angle to the handle, which I found yielded the perfect “hang” within my pocket for comfort and ease of retrieval. The clip is removable (the retaining screws are Torx hardware) but suitable for right-hand, tip-down carry only.
The ergonomics of the little knife are great. It sits in my hand securely and comfortably, the blade and handle perfectly aligned for ease of cutting. From its neatly honed tip to its shark-tooth styling and its sweeping cutting edge, it handled every utility chore I attempted, excelling whenever slicing and cutting was required. The factory edge was razor-sharp and the tip was fine enough to be a needle.
There are some pocket knives that beg to be played with. This is one of them. If you carry the Badger you will find yourself opening and closing it idly, enjoying the authoritative snap of its blade and the ease with which it cuts. The blade holds an edge reasonably well for steel of this type, while the overall package is both attractive and affordable. That is a good buy in a daily carry utility folder, as CRKT blades so often are.