The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

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don’t like the solutions [available to you], come up with your
own.” 
Dan Webre

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Copyright © Phil Elmore, all rights
reserved.

CRKT Convergence

Review by Phil Elmore

Columbia River Knife and Tool’s
website calls the
Convergence folder “the convergence of three great ideas.”  These are
knifemaker Aaron Frederick’s blade shape (which enables the blade to be opened
with one hand), the RealEase™ lock release system (invented by Charles Kain,
Steve McCowen, and Ric Chopra), and the Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS). 
The resulting knife is an aesthetically pleasing, streamlined pocket folder
that can be operated with one hand and which can be used for extended periods
without fatigue.

The Convergence from Columbia River Knife and Tool.

The Convergence is built around CRKT’s rigid “InterFrame.” 
It has liners of 420 J2 steel, handle slabs of Zytel plastic held on with Torx
screws, and a tapered blade of AUS 4 stainless whose shape reminds me of a
filet knife (though it is not flexible like a filet knife would be).  The
company calls the blade a “modified drop point.”

The LAWKS, common on CRKT knives, is right where
you’d expect it.

The three and a quarter inch blade opens smoothly on its
Teflon® bearings if one uses two hands.  In theory, the grooved terminus
of the blade (the serrations in which are nicely cut – regular, sharp, and
deep, but not too sharp to be comfortable) provides purchase for the thumb or
index finger so one may open the blade with one hand.  I found that quite
a lot of leverage was needed to make this happen; the blade is reluctant to
begin its arc.  Once you get it started, it slides open quickly and locks
positively.  My sample had no detectable blade play.  The liner
engages the tang fully, at the left of the tang.

Considerable leverage is needed to start the blade
open.

In testing, the “modified drop point” – which is ground on
both sides and tapers to a very sharp point – cut well thanks to its fine tip
and nicely curved belly.  My test knife has opened a couple of weeks’
worth of my mail and packages and the edge has held up pretty well (though it
is starting to get dull – AUS 4 is fine as an everyday working steel but will
need periodic honing).

The Zytel handle scales bear the company’s hexagonal
“Operator’s Grip,” which provides very good traction.  The ergonomics of
the knife are great;  it is very comfortable in my hand, curving in all
the right places.  One thing it does lack are thumb grooves of any sort. 
The Convergence is 7.625 inches overall when open and has a closed handle
length of four and a half inches.

The “Operator’s Grip” texture provides very good
traction.

The black Teflon® coated pocket clip is removable and
reversible for left-hand use.  The Convergence is configured for tip-down
carry only.  My sample’s clip had good tension, though it is very narrow
and I think I would prefer it slightly wider.

The Convergence has extremely clean lines thanks to
its design..

The RealEase™ lock release is a flange of metal that moves
freely in a tiny slot cut into the blade tang.  When the knife is locked
open, this flange (which rattles in its housing if you shake the open knife)
can be pushed down with the thumb.  It eases the liner out of the way and
starts the blade closed.  The operator may then shift the thumb to the
blade spine and snap the knife shut.  The flange also forms a minimal
guard, though it is too small to offer true protection for the fingers.

The lock release presses the liner aside…

…And starts the blade closed when it is pushed with
the thumb.

The Convergence, thanks to its unusual opening and closing
mechanisms, seemed awkward to me at first.  After I carried it and used
it for a few days, though, I really came to appreciate it.  It is very
comfortable to use, easy to operate with one hand, solidly built, and quite
functional in its blade design.  For day-to-day utility I like a blade
that has a good sharp point, so this knife was perfect for me.  I even
got used to the narrow clip, though I think I will always prefer something
wider.

The pocket clip can be installed for right- or
left-hand, tip-down use.

I review so many knives that encountering something new is
always a treat.  The Convergence kept me interested without seeming
gimmicky or impractical.

This knife is the convergence of several
interesting ideas producing a single intriguing package.