As a manufacturer of quality knives and tools, Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) has worked hard over the past 15 years to build a brand recognized for quality and value.
Columbia River knives are sold throughout the world, and have received many accolades from international knife expositions and magazines.
The downside of this success is that Columbia River products, like those of Rolex and Microsoft, are now being counterfeited by unknown and unauthorized companies which are believed to be in China. Many of these knives are sold on web sites at ridiculously low prices, although Columbia River has also found blatant knockoffs being retailed in Iraq and other countries. The counterfeiting is taking two forms.
Cheap copies of actual Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) designs. Some rip-off artists are making cheap copies of popular CRKT designs. These copies look similar to Columbia River products, but are usually shoddily made using inferior steels, coatings and handle materials. They illegally feature the CRKT logo and markings.
When viewed on a low-resolution web site image, these knives can't be distinguished from the real thing. However, when handled and compared to a real CRKT knife, their lack of quality, poor assembly, and inferior folding and locking action is obvious. The buyer will also notice lesser edge-holding ability after a little use.
Beware of counterfeit knives bearing the Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) trademark.
Comparison of real and fake Columbia River (CRKT) M16-14 knife. Packaging is visually very similar, but poorer quality printing on the counterfeit package, which is difficult to identify on low resolution web photos.
This counterfeit knife is not in the Columbia River product line. It is not made or designed by CRKT, yet it displays counterfeit "CRKT" trademarked branding.
It is a fake product.
This counterfeit knife is not in the Columbia River product line. It is not made or designed by CRKT, yet it displays counterfeit "CRKT" trademarked branding.
It is a fake product.
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