Three inches is the number that quietly decides whether a folding knife rides in your pocket every day or lives forgotten in a drawer. The CRKT Squid XM lands at 2.95 inches of blade, long enough to break down boxes and trim cordage while sliding just under the limit plenty of cities set at that mark.
Price: $75
Where to Buy: Amazon
Lucas Burnley designed it as the oversized cousin to the original Squid, and this button lock version uses a push-button release instead of the frame lock found on earlier Squids, so you can work it with one thumb. That sounds like a small change on a spec sheet, and it changes how the knife actually feels in your hand.
What Sets the XM Apart
The original Squid built its reputation on being short, stout, and almost tank-like for the money. The XM stretches that footprint to a 7.03 inch overall length and a 4.11 inch closed length, so it fills an adult hand instead of vanishing into it. You still get the chunky, purposeful look Burnley is known for, only scaled up to a size most people can use as a primary blade.
The Blade and Steel
CRKT offers the Squid XM Button Lock in two steels, D2 and 14C28N, both ground into a drop point with a stonewash or black oxide finish depending on the variant. D2 is a semi-stainless tool steel that holds an edge longer than the cheap stainless you find on bargain folders. The tradeoff is that it wants a little more care to keep rust away.
The blade measures 0.10 inches thick, sturdy enough to trust without turning every cut into a wedge. At 2.95 inches long it clears most everyday jobs while staying under the length limits some states and cities enforce.
How the Button Lock Changes Carry
The headline change is the button lock, which lets you open and close the knife with one hand and no finger sitting in the blade path. Press the button, the blade drops free, and an IKBS ball bearing pivot underneath keeps the action smooth when you push the thumb stud to open it. Burnley tuned this as a manual knife rather than an assisted one, so how fast it deploys depends on your thumb, not a spring.
Size, Handle, and Everyday Carry
Weight runs from 3.4 to 3.5 ounces depending on the handle and steel you choose, noticeable in a pocket but not heavy for a knife this size. CRKT builds the handle in G-10 or Micarta, both grippy materials that shrug off sweat and rough use better than smooth aluminum.
A tip-up pocket clip handles carry. The knife ships set up for right-handed use. If you want something that reads as a tool rather than a toy, the blocky Squid silhouette leans hard in that direction.
What It Costs and Where to Buy
CRKT positions the Squid XM Button Lock as a mid-priced everyday carry knife rather than a bargain-bin folder, and CRKT sells it directly for $73. The Amazon listing linked below runs $75, while other retailers list inflated $97 to $100 MSRPs and discount into the $50s and $60s. It pays to check the live listing for your exact variant, since the price moves with color and steel.
Price: $75
Where to Buy: Amazon
Who Should Carry It
This is a knife for someone who wants one do-everything folder that looks tough without costing collector money. If you already carry a slim gentleman’s folder and want something that disappears in dress pants, the chunky Squid XM is probably more knife than you need. But if your day involves boxes, rope, and the occasional pry-when-you-know-you-shouldn’t moment, the D2 blade and button lock make a strong case. Burnley fans get the bonus of a recognizable design at a price that does not sting.
Gerber Gear 22-47162N Fast Draw Folding Assisted Opening Pocket Knife, Fine Edge, Black
(as of July 12, 2026 18:58 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
