I owned the CRKT Twist Tighe Compact Auto for maybe four minutes. That’s how long it took for my wife to notice it. She grabbed the knife, fired it open and closed a couple of times, then slid it into her pocket while saying thanks and walking away. So, going forward, understand that this review and discussion are centered on my wife’s knife that she graciously allowed me to borrow for the sake of this article.
The CRKT Twist Tighe
The Twist Tighe is an OTF automatic, a first for CRKT. Open, it runs 6.78 inches end to end, with a 2.69-inch blade. The handle is a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum. This results in an incredibly light knife, just 1.60 ounces.
The handle is about 0.875-inch wide and maybe 0.3125-inch thick. It’s equipped with a deep carry pocket clip that is reversible.
The MagnaCut spear point blade is double-edged and arrives with a keen edge on both sides. There are no serrations, and the blade has a stonewash finish. It’s available in three handle colors – green, black, or rose quartz.
There is no safety switch or button on the Twist Tighe, as it’s unnecessary. The deployment button has a fairly long slide, so there’s virtually no chance of accidental openings. This is a double-action knife, meaning you push the button forward to release the blade, then pull it back to retract it.
The Twist Tighe was designed by Brian Tighe. He’s a highly regarded knife maker who has collaborated with CRKT on numerous projects. This knife is 100% made in the USA.
Twist Tighe Performance
During the stolen moments when I was able to sneak the knife away from my wife, I was very impressed with it. The Twist Tighe Compact is a fun automatic in that the action is quite snappy without much recoil. That’s probably one of the reasons she likes it so much.
The texturing on the handle provides a secure grip, but is quite comfortable as well. The carbon fiber side is mesmerizing in its beauty, too.
MagnaCut is still somewhat new, having arrived on the knife scene in 2021, but it’s been around long enough to establish a solidly positive reputation. It takes a wicked sharp edge and keeps it for quite a while.
As a carry knife, it all but disappears in the pocket. It’s so slim and lightweight that you might forget it’s even there. And that’s part of what we want in an EDC knife, right? Most of us aren’t looking for a boat anchor that we’ll have to drag around all day long.
Now, the Twist Tighe isn’t the type of knife you’d typically use for heavy chores, especially bushcraft sorts of projects. It’s more dagger than it is carver. That said, it’s great for a lot of the more mundane and routine stuff around the house or office, like opening mail and packages, breaking down boxes, cutting cordage, and such.
The CRKT Twist Tighe has an MSRP of $300. You can find it at CRKT.
