Russ Kommer is a bright young custom knifemaker who was based in Anchorage, Alaska, for many years. Conditions there are rugged, either from the climate or the work folks are doing. He thought a knife that was easy to grip and hard to lose would be a big hit, and since he made the first Bear Claw™, he hasn’t been able to meet the demand. His original concept was a self-defense knife for women that would be lightweight, easy to access and control. But it seems that every parachutist, bush pilot and commercial fisherman who sees one, wants one.

As a result, Russ and CRKT have teamed up to make the production Bear Claw, a cutting machine that, thanks to the generous size finger hole, acts just like an extension of your hand. The Bear Claw is the perfect emergency cutting tool for anyone who needs to quickly cut rope, webbing or netting, especially if their life depends on it.

Blades are full-tang, taper-ground AUS 4 stainless steel with a fine bead-blast finish. Friction grooves are placed on the blade spine, choil and near the tip for maximum blade control and safety. The contoured Zytel® handle fills the hand neatly. The Bear Claw weighs in at a lightweight but stout 3.2 oz.

We’ve developed one of our CRKT trademark high-tech sheaths for the Bear Claw that’s only 1.1 oz. of tough, durable, injection-molded Zytel. It allows efficient quick release of the knife—just thumb push against the sheath to release smoothly and quietly—or give a sharp pull.

It features molded-in threaded fittings for attachment of the new wider black stainless steel Teflon®-plated pocket clip at either end, using the Torx® tool and screws provided. The sheath also has a total of seven lanyard holes and belting slots to permit a variety of carry positions, and a lanyard is provided.