If I had just one word to describe the CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P it would be “Fast” and “Smooth.” Wait…that’s two words. Well, that’s because picking just either fast or smooth is like choosing which one of my two sons is my favorite. So let’s just say that these new models are both fast and smooth. Oh yeah, it looks good also.
Last year we looked into CRKT’s relationship with Ruger in a review of the All-Cylinders. This year the duo continues the partnership with several new lineups and one I’m particularly excited about. Knife designer Ken Onion brings us the Hollow-Point series. If you don’t recognize the name Ken Onion perhaps you might be more familiar with his knives that we have reviewed in the past – the Blur and Leek among several others. Ken has a tendency to feed our fascination with curves that are as functional as they are beautiful on a knife.
CRKT offers 3 different size options for the series. The standard size CRKT Ruger Hollow-Point has a blade length of 3.203 inches. The smaller Hollow-Point Compact comes in at 2.147 inches. Finally, our reviewed sample – Hollow-Point +P – at 3.614 inches. Options are great when deciding which knife would fit you better for the purpose you intend to use it.
Firearms Context
If you’re unfamiliar with the gun market, some of these terms may be a little confusing at first. The hollow point refers to the hollowing out of the tip of a bullet. There’s a lot more precision than just taking a drill to the round, though. The basic idea is that the bullet will expand or fragment, doing more damage to your target. Some hunters use them, but it’s most heavily purchased for self-defense ammunition.
Some guns are designed to handle bullets with additional gunpowder to give it some extra kick and deliver more energy at impact. These round carry a +P designation for “overpressured” so you know not to use them in guns that aren’t +P rated. It’s not a bigger bullet, just a bigger powder load. In the case of the CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P, it’s a bigger knife.
Materials and Design
8Cr13MoV Blade Steel
I’ve been carrying the CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P as my primary daily carry blade for about a month and have used it moderately. CRKT’s 8Cr13MoV steel has been used for the blade and it’s a good combination of hardness, edge retention, and value. It’s going to perform to a lower degree than S35VN or S30V but is a more comparable steel to the AUS8 found in the Homefront. However, it’s not nearly as expensive as the aforementioned super steels.
The steel is shaped into something between a drop point and a clip point. While Ken Onion tends to work with a modified drop point style, we’re calling this one more of a modified clip point. Either way, you have an excellent belly for slicing with a pretty solid piercing tip. Aside from other duties, this makes it a good choice for hunting.
Steel Handle
The handle is made from stainless steel with textured plastic inserts. While there’s nothing particularly ground-breaking about the material choices here, it does give the CRKT Ruger Hollow Point the look of a classic folder. Safe use is ensured with a frame lock.
Ergonomics
The overall design of the knife is eye catching and gives it a classic feel and look. The satin finish and hollow grind blade with a swedge (false edge on the blade spine) flow well together with the handle. It has good jimping on the blade spine and on the frame for the reverse grip hold.
It has an excellent aggressive jimping on the flipper tab that becomes a finger guard to the open position. The knife in hand feels secure with no hot spots. The weight is manageable at 6 oz for the +P and has a good balance.
Deployment
Not everyone is a fan of thumb stud deployment. However, the thumb stud design has a solid texture and shape that helps ensure proper blade deployment.
What helps the CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P is the smoothness of the low resistance pivot. The IKBS pivot system allows the blade to open both fast and smooth even without a spring assist.
Clip
The deep carry clip has one of the best retention strength in the pocket I have ever tested. One shortcoming is that it is limited to tip-up and tip-down on one side only.
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
The pictures may look like I put the edge through some heavy use. Primarily my fault in opening a package with… Oops. Wires! Yup, let’s just say you can’t take a Honda Civic on a Jeep trail and expect it to come out without dents or bent axles.
Using a knife beyond what I should gave me the result of a less than perfect edge. I just had bought my 2-year-old son a new dinosaur toy. The toy came in a package with what I thought were plastic ties, and I made a hasty decision to simply cut them. Well, they weren’t just plastic and by trying to cut with a bit too much side leverage, I chipped the blade. Yeah, that’s a big oops on my part. Perhaps it’s time for an article on how to use the sharpening process to recover a damaged blade…
The Bottom Line
For less than $60 on Amazon, the CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P (or its other sizes) is a good knife for light to medium use and would be a great collectible gift idea for any Ruger fan out there.
CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P Knife Key Features
- The Hollow-Point knife features a design by Ken Onion for the exclusive Ruger knife line by CRKT
- IKBS ball bearing pivot system for efficient opening with retro-styling and modern knife feature such as a frame lock mechanism, molded plastic scales
- Two-position pocket clip, lanyard hole and blade flipper for quick one-handed deployment
- This uniquely retro-styled knife is ideal for hunting treks and great for every day carry in the pack or pocket
CRKT Ruger Hollow Point +P Knife Specifications
- Model: CRKT R2302
- Blade Length: 3.17″
- Blade Thickness: 0.128″
- Closed Length: 4.25″
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Handle: Stainless Steel w/ inserts
- Style: Folding Knife w/ frame lock
- Handle: 2Cr13 SS
- Handle Inlays: Glass Reinforce Fiber Polyamide
- Overall Length: 7.5″
- Weight: 4.4 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Price:
$69.99$53.99 on Amazon
