Greetings and Happy 2022~ had the CRKT M16-02KS model, and was quite pleased with the weight, size, and ergos...However, try as I might, I could not get the blade to deploy fully, unless I accompanied the finger flick with a simultaneous hard wrist flick. That said, two excellent flippers that actually do deploy easily and reliably are the HARNDS Maverick (D2) and the Kizer Junge (N690). Both are extremely sharp out-of-box, well centered blade, very solid, robust, and most reliable for EDC use. I'd like to try another CRKT M Series EDC, but obviously a bit leery of QC issues, at least with the M (16, 21) Series. Thank you.
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Anyone else have QC issues with any CRKT M Series EDC's?
- Thread starter SteveTQP
- Start date
OK, thanks for the feedback. The M21-12G I had, after literally 5 minutes of deploying it, the end knob of the AWK-LAWKS liner lock lever fell off. Not sure if CRKT has any Quality Control or not.
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They do usually need some wrist flick, at least on the couple of liner lock + LAWKS versions I've owned. It's an older design (in the sense of predating a lot of the current framelock+flipper trend) and doesn't have the crisp detent needed or the bearing pivot.
Good utilitarian design, though. More competition at those price points these days and I do wish they'd use better steel. I think mine was Aus-6 or something. Tough but not much wear resistance.
Good utilitarian design, though. More competition at those price points these days and I do wish they'd use better steel. I think mine was Aus-6 or something. Tough but not much wear resistance.
Hell yeah
JBC6650
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CRKT is like KelTec, lots of cool designs and promises but a long history of subpar materials and quality control. They throw out a winner every now and then but overall they are a disappointment.
All but 2 of my CRKT knives live in the junk box now. Drifter and a Ryan Plan B are my only used ones now. I do have some hope for the new m16 dead bolt version.
All but 2 of my CRKT knives live in the junk box now. Drifter and a Ryan Plan B are my only used ones now. I do have some hope for the new m16 dead bolt version.
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The nylon washer makes it pretty hard to get a good action on them. Replacing with a bronze washer improves it dramatically. So does removing LAWKS
Excellent info...thank you! I've since found that the Kizer Junge and the HARNDS Maverick are much better in terms of ease of deployment, blade sharpness (N690 and D2 respectively), and seem very well-built, albeit a bit heavier than the M Series that I had.
DocJD
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I got a good deal on a M21-140SGF .
Mainly got it to try out the Veff serrations .
Flips out OK , Auto -LAWKS is somewhat awkward but works OK for what it is .
But when I went to try out the Veff on some medium thick plastic bottles , the edges just folded over like nothing I want on a supposed hard use , military grade folder .
Crappy steel / HT or burnt edges , whatever the cause ...a huge disappointment for this type of knife .
Mainly got it to try out the Veff serrations .
Flips out OK , Auto -LAWKS is somewhat awkward but works OK for what it is .
But when I went to try out the Veff on some medium thick plastic bottles , the edges just folded over like nothing I want on a supposed hard use , military grade folder .
Crappy steel / HT or burnt edges , whatever the cause ...a huge disappointment for this type of knife .
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I dont have any current ones, but I have a handful of the m16-14sfa....I think they were numbered. old lawks.....non auto version...assembled in America ones. those flip open easily without wrist action. I have an older Taiwan made m16-14 with autolawks and it flips open easily without wrist action. these are from pre 2011.......i dont remember when I got them just know it was before I was here on this forum and I joined 2011.
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Hello and welcome to BladeForums.
I'll echo what others have said. I'd avoid CRKT. Plenty of other companies out there making a better knife then CRKT at the same price point.
I also have a M21 from 10+ years ago. Their QC was better back then.
If you want some alternatives to a CRKT M series. Let us know. We like to help people spend their money.
I'll echo what others have said. I'd avoid CRKT. Plenty of other companies out there making a better knife then CRKT at the same price point.
I also have a M21 from 10+ years ago. Their QC was better back then.
If you want some alternatives to a CRKT M series. Let us know. We like to help people spend their money.
Thanks for the info. The only CRKT EDC that seems to work as designed is the Piet. However, it's a very "light use" EDC, and doesn't replace the M Series. I too, look forward to reviews of the new "Deadbolt" system on the M16 Series.
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Knife center got 2 pages with M16 models, some around $60-65, some around $35 or so. The cheaper models are with 13Mov steel and made in China, the $60 models are mostly made in Taiwan.
I’m wondering how the Chinese can produce quality lines as WE and Civivi with decent QC and for some reason their American orders have the CRKT quality… It must be the CRKT QC, located in US and not the Chinese manufacturers…
So probably that’s why 10 years ago US made M16 didn’t have issues, I think, but of course I could be wrong…
I’m wondering how the Chinese can produce quality lines as WE and Civivi with decent QC and for some reason their American orders have the CRKT quality… It must be the CRKT QC, located in US and not the Chinese manufacturers…
So probably that’s why 10 years ago US made M16 didn’t have issues, I think, but of course I could be wrong…
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You’ll be even more excited if you open it up and check the lock bar’s face or the blade site,
Burnt black curls of steel, rolling on the site on most of those I touched…
DocJD
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I think the vendor does matter , but the ultimate responsibility for QC resides with the name brand company .Knife center got 2 pages with M16 models, some around $60-65, some around $35 or so. The cheaper models are with 13Mov steel and made in China, the $60 models are mostly made in Taiwan.
I’m wondering how the Chinese can produce quality lines as WE and Civivi with decent QC and for some reason their American orders have the CRKT quality… It must be the CRKT QC, located in US and not the Chinese manufacturers…
So probably that’s why 10 years ago US made M16 didn’t have issues, I think, but of course I could be wrong…
They can specify and demand a higher standard from even a PRC vendor , but they must be willing to PAY for that and spot check it independently for themselves .
Lots of top quality goods are produced in China . So are lots of shameful crap . Just depends on what you're willing to pay for as a brand name .
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I have an original M16 with no LAWKS and no flipper it is a wonderful knife and does the design proud, great action and great quality. I stopped after getting the first revision version of the M21 with manual LAWKS and a flipper. The quality, heat treat & fit and finish of CRKT has been a constant disappointment for many years.
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Oh, I agree, I don’t think it’s some Chinese conspiracy. I’m sure it’s all tied up with contracts and so on.
I could be wrong of course but thinking out loud - the cost of the product suits CRKT, they accept the level of quality associated with the manufacturing price.
On the other hand It’s just amazing to me how the Chinese can manufacture a shitty product for CRKT for $30 and in the same time to do much better quality level for itself and produce a better knife with better materials for the same price… I’m sure the profit margins are relatively the same.
To me both parties are guilty in some way-CRKT for putting up crappy contracts and Chinese for not offering the same manufacturing conditions they have for their own companies. CRKT makes profit to its satisfactory on the US market, but with the low quality of their Chinese product, they open up the door for the other Chinese companies that sell better product, with better materials on the same market and for the same price… And, without being political or conspirative - both manufacturing processes in China are in fact controlled by the Communist Government, what do you think about it ?
I could be wrong of course but thinking out loud - the cost of the product suits CRKT, they accept the level of quality associated with the manufacturing price.
On the other hand It’s just amazing to me how the Chinese can manufacture a shitty product for CRKT for $30 and in the same time to do much better quality level for itself and produce a better knife with better materials for the same price… I’m sure the profit margins are relatively the same.
To me both parties are guilty in some way-CRKT for putting up crappy contracts and Chinese for not offering the same manufacturing conditions they have for their own companies. CRKT makes profit to its satisfactory on the US market, but with the low quality of their Chinese product, they open up the door for the other Chinese companies that sell better product, with better materials on the same market and for the same price… And, without being political or conspirative - both manufacturing processes in China are in fact controlled by the Communist Government, what do you think about it ?