CRKT M16 01S vs M16 10Z vs Buck Vantage Select

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PyroSpaz316

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Mar 10, 2010
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First off, sorry guys, I know there are a lot of these threads.

So after buying my first good quality folder a couple months ago, I again felt the urge for a new knife. I love the design of the M16 series, and it fits most of the things I want in the knife: smaller, around 3 in, a fast flipper design, and under 25 dollars.

So, I'm stuck between two variations, the spearpoint, and the the tanto combo edge. I want to try a tanto blade, but I don't want to deal with the serrations. I know they'd be useful, but it irks me knowing I can't sharpen them. I like the plain edge on the spearpoint, but I have heard that they are chisel ground.
Any thoughts?

Also, I wanted to get the bead blasted finish over the coated blade. I have heard that these are made in China, not Taiwan, and the steel is AUS 4 not 8CR15MOV. Can anyone clarify this for me?

I'm also looking at a Buck Vantage Select for a little more money. Does anyone know if they solved the QC issues yet, because I've heard conflicting answers.


Thanks for all your help
 
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The tanto edge on the 10Z is also chisel ground. They are small and useful for many day to day tasks plus if you lose it's not a big dent in the wallet. (got mine for 10 bucks) I had one in my pocket just today.
 
I have CRKT's and Buck, but I would go with the Buck. They are much better if you had any warrantee issues, and the knife is US made if that makes a difference.
 
I would go with Buck as well, in fact, I did. :)

Ask your dealer to 'cherry pick' one with good centering and lock-up. Yes, Buck fixed the problem (incorrect manufacture of the liners from a second party contract), but who knows how long it will take the old ones to get flushed out of the supply chain.
 
Hey, I have spearpoint model of the M16, the M16-01kz and it was my very first knife. I haven't handled the Buck Vantage Select model but I own the Vantage Pro.

Personally I would have to recommend the M16 because I do not own the exact Buck you are looking at. The CRKT is cheap enough to beat up and not worry about losing, and it works well enough for me for EDC stuff. The flipper is fast and acts as a guard which keeps your fingers slipping forward, and the zytel doesn't feel bad at all. I know a lot of people complain about the Autolawks, but it actually feels pretty safe and is easy to close one handed with practice.

I've never tried the Buck Vantage Select, but if you can find it, try looking for the Vantage Pro, its a bit more expensive, but it has really good steel, and feels awesome in your hand because of the G10. It is also a flipper, but the flipper is a bit small. Like A.P.F. mentioned, make sure to check the knife in person, because I actually ended up getting one with a weird liner. Its not a huge problem for me since the lock works, its just that it locks up further right than I would like.

Good luck with your new knife, hope you have fun.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. I was a little worried about QC issues because I have heard some bad things about both. But you said that Buck resolved the issue with the liners, and from what I gather, the issue was years ago. CRKT seems iffy to me because from an email they sent me, the M16 Zytel series can be made in either China or Taiwan, and you won't know where it's from until you get it.

A question I have is how fast is the Vantage's flipper and can you use it without a wrist flick? The flipper is something that the M16 definitely seems to have an advantage on.
 
The crkt m16-10kz is the worst knife I have ever owned !!! Cheap POS with useless aus4 steel , horrible blade play and all around poor execution of an otherwise good design!!! The buck vantage series is leaps and bounds ahead of this horrible knife !!!
 
Where did you get the knife? Is it possible that you got a fake CRKT? I feel like 1/2 of the feedback condemns this knife and the other half are glowing, positive reviews.
 
I got it from my local knife shop , so I know it was legit. I ended up returning it (only time i ever returned a knife) even tho it was only like 20 bucks ! The vantage select has a much better steel (buck 420hc) and nice solid lockup! Plus it's made in USA and comes with bucks forever warrenty !!! IMO aus4 steel is a big enough reason not to buy the crkt !!
 
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Good choice ! You will really be impressed with the vantage select (I was and it's probably the least expensive folder I own !!!
 
From my personal experience, the Buck has too small a flipper to open without some wrist flicking. It was also a combination of tight pivot point and that I could exert the force necessary to get the knife out all the way due to the tiny flipper.

The M16 has a really nice flipper and it has some jimping on the sides which helps with traction, but can rip the skin off your index finger if your too aggressive.

Also, another difference is the Buck has the flipper at a slight angle, while the M16 has a flipper perpendicular to the knife, which helps it deploy much easier for me.
 
Busted up tin cans hold a better edge then aus 4... Definatly go with the Vantage or even consider a Sanrenmu for an inexpensive good value folder
 
Go with the buck or even better look at Ontario RAT 1, or spyderco tenacious persistance ambitious or resilliance family of blades.
 
That is a BIG THUMBS UP there :thumbup: The RAT 1 folder is easily one the world's best <$30 knives and very far from being a CPOS. I revere mine just as much as a lot of other knives I own that are more valuable. A lot of my adoration is just handling it and inspecting its incredible F&F and the materials then considering the street price. Keep in mind the scales are G10 look alike Zytel type material but it makes no difference on the quality of the RAT 1 folder. Mine looks like a $100 knife from a few inches away and looks like one close up too. It flies open, locks up perfectly and the blade work is just fantastic. Blade is dead center too and AUS 8 too ;) Oh, and made in Taiwan, not China . . .

rwasham said:
Go with the buck or even better look at Ontario RAT 1, or spyderco tenacious persistance ambitious or resilliance family of blades.
Click to expand...
 
I have this Crkt m16 model http://www.crkt.com/M16-14-Special-Forces-Black-Tanto-AutoLAWKS-Combo-Edge and it's lock up is SOLID . I have stabbed it downward into an old wooden chair,did the spine wack test and other things testing out the lock and it's in perfect condition with no play. Even if for some reason the lock was to fail , the guard is big and is part of the blade so your hand would get in the way of it closing on it.
 
PyroSpaz316 said:
I have heard that these are made in China, not Taiwan, and the steel is AUS 4 not 8CR15MOV. Can anyone clarify this for me?
Click to expand...

I have the Chinese made version which uses 8Cr15MoV and it is *not* a chisel grind. Despite definite signs of sloppy fit and finish (most noticeably the ragged cut jimping,) the blade centres fairly well and locks up tight. The Taiwan version uses AUS4, but I have no idea if it's chisel ground or not.

Hope this helps!
 
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