I recently got two Columbia River knives as pre-Christmas presents - a Companion and a M-18. Fantastic knives! Both came shaving sharp and were impeccably ground. The companion has one of the most ergonomic handles I've ever held and is the perfect size for IWB carry. The much maligned sheaths work fine for me, holding the knife securely and releasing easily with a sharp tug. Granted, they're not as nice as a custom kydex sheath but they are entirely adequate. The M-18 is just awesome. The blade shape is just beautiful and the flipper was really a revelation - you can snap this baby open as fast as (or faster) than any automatic. Lock up is perfect with no hint of play in any direction. The handle is completely devoid of sharp edges even if not especially ergonomic. The LAWKS is very low profile - you won't accidently put it on or off. (And speaking of the LAWKS - why didn't they spring load it to deploy automatically when the blade is opened? Oh well, that's another post.
) The only imperfect part of the M-18 are the thumb studs/blade stops. They are very grippy - especially on the edge of pants pockets. Other than this minor quibble, this is one hell of a knife. Oh, I did get the large size and it is one massive looking, sturdy bad boy.
) The only imperfect part of the M-18 are the thumb studs/blade stops. They are very grippy - especially on the edge of pants pockets. Other than this minor quibble, this is one hell of a knife. Oh, I did get the large size and it is one massive looking, sturdy bad boy.