CRKT M16-13Z Question, Anyone have one???

TheBadGuy

TheBadGuy

Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
5,868
I received a CRKT M16-13Z today in the mail and for the most part I like it. I love the Flipper, but I see that there is one FATAL flaw. The liner lock release area (where you disengage) doesn't stick out away from the handle at all!! Not even a 1/2 a centimeter. This is making it impossible to close the folder using one hand; In fact, I have to use my left hand thumbs fingernail to disengage the lock. Is is not only frustrating, But it take all the joy out of even owning one. I personally think that this one I have has a defect. Surely they can't be designed with a liner lock like this. So anyone out there that has one Please let me know if this is the case with yours. Hopefully I am the only one and I can have it fixed or replaced by CRKT. Well let me know what you guys think. Thanks

I know it’s not the best wording, but to emphasize my point, the release is almost indented inside the handle
 
I used to own that exact model. I never had a problem closing it one handed, im not sure what you are talking about when you say not indented but mine was easy to unlock one handed, just like any other liner lock.
 
All of my knives minus 2 spyderco JD Smiths are Linerlocks, So its not like I do not know how to use one. Its hard for me to put in words. The liner that you press with your thumb to unlock is almost indented in the handle and is impossible to disengage with your thumb. Anyone know how to contact CRKT and try to get this thing sent back. I know you can't expect the world for the price I paid. But if its a defect I would like a new one. Thanks
 
Funny, I was just sitting on the crapper, fondling my... knife. My M16-13Z :) and thinking to myself, "What a great knife".

About the liner lock, it doesn't stick out much, so that you won't accidentally unlock it. If you look at mine from the side, I'd say that the indentations on the lock stick out about half a millimeter. Not very much, but since they are ridges, they let your thumb grip the lock so you can unlock it with a slight leftward-downward pressure. Even without the protrusion (i.e. if the ridges were flush with the scales, I think it would be possible to close the knife one-handed.

Perhaps it's the lack of space to the right of the liner (when viewing from underneath) that doesn't allow the flesh of your thumb to go slightly under the liner to push it over. Your thumb's too skinny :)

Give it some time, you might figure out the exact secret to closing it. Don't feel bad, I still haven't figured out how I'm supposed to close a Kershaw Chive without slicing my fingers up.
 
Perhaps it's the lack of space to the right of the liner (when viewing from underneath) that doesn't allow the flesh of your thumb to go slightly under the liner to push it over. Your thumb's too skinny

Give it some time, you might figure out the exact secret to closing it. Don't feel bad, I still haven't figured out how I'm supposed to close a Kershaw Chive without slicing my fingers up.
Click to expand...

You may be right, But after I read your post I took the knife out and messed with it some more. And I think I am pretty much convinced this may be a small defect that slipped by, When trying to disengage the lock with the same hand, all I acomplish is allot of scrapped skin on the inner scale of the handle. From what I understand CRKT has been contacted and I am going to await a response from them. I will probably scramble to a few local stores that may carry one, Which is hard in my area. And try to make sure its just mine. I would be really embarassed if I sent it back and it ended up just being me.


I agree with you that these are some awesome knives and pending my findings in regards to the linerlock, I plan on buying several similar models. The price allows you to do so. I liked my first Gray Ghost so much, I have 6 mirages now. That might seem odd or not a big deal to most here. But my collection is small but growing and CRKT offers the quality I want for a price you can't beat.

Thanks for the responses guys.
 
I traded for a CRKT 13Z last year, and really liked it. I have big hands, and I could release it just fine, so it may be the knife you received. The flipper was great, but my brother wanted it more than I did, so I gave it to him.
 
I had a M16-13SF, I took it back the next day. I noticed similiar problems, if you use the flipper and then snap-it open, the damn thing would get stuck. The liner lock would go completely to right side of the ramp. I had to push it HARD to get it to unlock. Luckily I had the lady at the knife store perform the same thing, I chuckeled when she tried to unlock it, and she barely snapped it open. She actually handed it back to me to get it unlocked.
I just didnt like this knife, the handle was way to small for my hand. Anyhow I ended up trading it in for a CRKT Crawford/Kasper Pro. Much better knife IMHO, I would have to say the best knife CRKT offers.
 
On the contrary, I found it quite easy to disenguage M16's lock as long as I don't flick it open very hard. It's not built to have an indent to allow easier closing, but it has some "scalloping" that helps your finger with disenguaging the lock.
I found this setup safer than indented or more exposed liners because they may disenguage if you twist your hand while using the knife.
 
If the pivot pin is too loose, flicking the blade open will result in the kind of jamming that you're describing. Come to think of it, this happened in my knife when the pivot pin became loose after many flickings. I thought it was liner wear causing the liner to move further to the right, but a pivot tightening solved the problem.

Try tightening it, I usually keep mine fairly tight, since I don't need to use the thumbstuds to open it. I like to keep my linerlocks tighter than normal anyway, because I don't really trust ball-bearings and detents to keep my knives closed.

Experiment a little. Let us know how it works out.

***

6 Mirages!? That's sick. :) I like mine too, but I just wish that the liner would be less flimsy-feeling.
 
Usually the m16's lock only engages if you flip it too hard. Like Caylth said, the lock is easy to disengage if u push it a little bit. The thing i hate about it is that the abrations on the m16 tears on whatever pants i am wearing.
 
Just sand the thumbstuds down, after removing the blade from the handle. You can also sand down the pivot pin, but it's not terribly necessary. My thumbstuds are smooth now, and I rubbed the pivot pin against some 200 grit sandpaper a few times.
 
I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on what followed after this thread disappeared. I was contacted by Colombia River the very next day. The offered to either repair or replace the knife and send it back via Fed Ex. I decided to make sure it wasn't me. So the next day I ordered another verson of the M16 and am still waiting for that to arrive. If you ask me, I can't say enough about Columbia River and their customer service. To be contacted in less than 24 hours and offered a solution to my problem says allot about them. Thanks for everyones help and advice, Now either way I am set.:p
 
TBG: CRKT's customer service is great. However I think someone in the Warranty department is slacking off... I've typed up a list of what should be fixed on my KFF 3" PE, and the Warranty guy only did half of them. I phone them up, and the production manage agreed to ship (right off the bat) the screws to me with no charge because I've specified that the screws needs fixing and it was not done.
 
I saw this late, but want to add that I have had great interactions with their customer service.
Great knives for the money. I don't have an M16 yet, but will likely pick one up soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top