CRKT’s Provoke line has to have one of the most unusual EDC lineups. It started with a karambit released back in 2019, followed up by a more traditional EDC knife back in 2023. This year, they’re adding another type of bladed tool to the roster in the form of the CRKT Provoke X, a folding tactical axe.
Why such a varied collection? Apparently, the Provoke line is, basically, about tools that employ the original karambit’s kinematic opening mechanism, which draws the blade upwards and outwards for easy opening. In the case of this folding axe, you do that by simply releasing the safety and flicking the axe head away from you, at which point it will automatically deploy all on its own. It’s quite the unusual design, with the outfit even billing it as “the first-of-its-kind morphing axe.”
The CRKT Provoke X is a folding tomahawk axe that measures 8.7 inches long in both collapsed and deployed modes. With a blade edge measuring inches, this offers enough chopping and cutting power to let you take on a whole host of tasks around camp. Even better, the collapsed size is compact enough to fit in most pants’ back pockets and backpack side pockets, making it incredibly convenient to take a camping axe with you during your next outdoor adventure (it doesn’t feel that much bigger than most hunting knives).
The head features a traditional tomahawk blade on one side that should be perfect for chopping wood, cutting ropes, and similar tasks, while coming with a pointed spike on the other for various piercing and stabbing needs. When deployed, by the way, a deadbolt lock on the head secures it in place, ensuring there’s no chance it accidentally closes. For collapsing, you just press a button on the head to release the deadbolt lock, at which point you can simply fold each side of the head into the frame until you hear an audible click. It’s one heck of a unique design. The button, by the way, is situated between the two blades, making it easy to reach with either hand.
The CRKT Provoke X has a safety that automatically deploys as soon as you fold the blades in, so you don’t have to remember to adjust anything to secure the whole thing tightly. The blades, by the way, are cut in SUJ2 steel, a high-carbon chromium alloy that’s touted for exceptional hardness, fatigue strength, and impact resistance. They’re also covered in a titanium nitride coating to help protect it from corrosion.
The handle is cut in stainless steel with a glass-reinforced overlay to keep it comfortable in hand during use, while sporting a large hole at the end similar to other tools in the Provoke line, which you can use for a more secure grip or even to hang it from a D-ring on your pack. There’s also an adjustable pocket clip that you can orient for left or right hand carry. The whole thing weighs just 13.2 ounces, so it doesn’t add all that much weight to your stash.
The CRKT Provoke X went out of stock quickly despite being limited to one per customer, but you can sign up to be informed when it’s back in stock. Price is $350.
