Tool Box Adds: Benchmade Crooked River and the Snap-on PWZ 0GA Pliers

Introduction

Some tools arrive with a specific job in mind, and others earn their place by being genuinely pleasant to hold and use. This roundup covers two very different additions to a working tool collection: a full-size folding hunting knife from Benchmade and a compact lever-action pliers tool from Snap-on. One is a deliberate purchase for a defined purpose, the other is a tool that grew on the moment it was picked up. Both are worth understanding before you spend.

Benchmade Crooked River: A Traditional Design in Modern Materials

The Benchmade Crooked River takes a classic hunting knife silhouette and rebuilds it with contemporary materials. The blade is S30V steel, a premium cutlery steel known for holding an edge, and the folder uses Benchmade’s axis lock mechanism. G10 scales provide a confident grip, with orange highlights on the pivot and an orange plastic spacer at the back adding a touch of visibility.

One practical detail stands out for anyone who actually uses a knife hard: the open back design, which makes cleaning easy. That matters on a hunting knife, where debris inevitably finds its way into every crevice. It is a solid, aggressive knife, and notably large for a folder.

This is not a cheap knife, but for hunters and anyone who wants a traditional-style folder backed by modern steel and lock technology, the Crooked River makes a strong case. You can get one directly from Benchmade.

Snap-on PWZ 0GA: The Lever-Action Pliers Worth the Hype

The PWZ 0GA is the small version of a tool many mechanics insist belongs in every box. It is made in Argentina, manufactured within the Snap-on corporation, and its defining trait is a lever-action design that opens and closes remarkably fast in the hand. The action has a feel closer to what you would expect from a premium Knipex-style mechanism, and the speed of operation is immediately obvious the first time you squeeze it.

The honest takeaway: there was no specific job lined up for this tool when it was bought. Yet the more it is handled, the more uses become apparent. That is usually the sign of a genuinely useful design. Anyone working mostly on smaller fasteners and components will find the compact size well matched to finer work, while those tackling bigger jobs may prefer a larger variant.

Overall Buying Advice

If you are choosing between the two, the decision is straightforward because they serve entirely different needs. The Crooked River suits anyone after a large, well-built hunting folder and who accepts a premium price for S30V steel and a well-executed axis lock. The PWZ 0GA suits anyone whose work involves lots of gripping, squeezing and manipulating small parts, and who values speed and comfort of operation above all.

It is also worth noting that neither tool exists in isolation. A full-size folder and a fast-action pliers cover complementary ground: one handles cutting and field tasks, the other handles workshop manipulation. Building a box one genuinely useful tool at a time tends to work better than buying sets on impulse.

Conclusion

The Benchmade Crooked River is a confident, traditional-inspired hunting folder with modern steel and a proven lock, ideal if a premium price is acceptable. The Snap-on PWZ 0GA is a compact, fast-acting pliers tool that earns its reputation quickly, with a strong chance it becomes the first of a full set. Both are easy tools to recommend once they match a real need in your own work.