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Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
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CRKT Hammond ABC Operator
A Product Review by Phil Elmore
The Columbia
River Knife and Tool Hammond ABC Operator is, as its name implies (“All
Bases Covered”), an attempt to be many things to many
people. Styled as a dive and rafting knife as well as an emergency blade
and “tactical” piece, the Operator is a collaboration between CRKT
and Knifemakers’ Guild member Jim Hammond.
About eight and a half inches long with a
four-inch blade and three-inch primary edge, the Operator also has an inch
and a half of chisel-ground “Triple-Point” serrations on its
spine. The primary edge is ground on both sides of the blade, which is
made of polished AUS 8 stainless coated in black titanium nitride.
Handle scales are textured Zytel plastic held on with Torx fasteners.
My Operator, purchased from Self
Defense Gear with the usual fast and friendly service, was very
sharp out of the box. It cuts well, though the tanto shape means it has no
“belly” for slashing.
The knife feels fairly good in the
hand. It has no guard, which will be an issue for some users, but the
deep contours of the handle help mitigate this somewhat. Those contours
provide a natural index when drawing the knife in a forward grip. The
texture of the handle is pleasant but still feels a little more slippery than
I would prefer.
The Operator’s handle contours work with the
sheath to provide a natural
indexing point when the knife is drawn in a forward grip.
The fully adjustable
plastic sheath is yet another attempt to be many things at once.
There are screws to adjust the retention of the blade, screws to adjust the
secondary panel that also bears the metal spring clip, and slots that provide
a great deal of latitude in how that secondary panel is positioned. The
sheath can be attached vertically or horizontally (inverted or not) to
any number of straps or belts. As pictured above, it can also be used
out of the box for IWB carry. The only drawback to all modes of carry is
that the sheath, because of its design, is wider and thicker than it would be
if intended for a single method of carry.
There’s no doubt that this knife looks
“tactical,” which may or may not be what you want in a fixed-blade
utility knife. Its aggressive appearance aside, however, this is also a
very versatile and relatively affordable knife that could serve in several
capacities well.
You don’t have to be a white-water rafter
or a government agent to find the Operator worth your attention.