CRKT M16 Locker

[chrisjgilmore]

Can someone out there give me a good description of the CRKT M16 locking mechinism? If so and you have experince with them can you describe your experience and the type of applications it would hold up under as well as soem applicaitons you beleive it wouldn't hold up under?

 

[crispy]

Im a noob still, so don't take my ramblings as gospel. You won't find too many people around here who will praise CRKT. They are experienced and have their reasons. All I can do is give you my humble opinion

The M16 has a liner lock. Not the best lock around, not in the axis lock league, but it does the job. Since joining this forum I learnt a few tricks. So I went home and tried the spine whack test - lock the blade in the open position and smacking the spine of the blade on something solid, make sure you keep your fingers out of the path of the blade, just in case it fails - if you have a good lock the blade wont fold and the lock wont bind open. My M16 passed with flying colours. I ended up putting a few huge dents in my desk (use a mouse pad to prevent this). This is by no means a definitive test, but it does instill some confidence :thumbup: The M16 also has the LAWKS system - I have never used it or relied on it. From reading other members posts I determined the the LAWKS system is not really there to prevent lock failure, its there to prevent you accidentally pushing the liner lock into the unlocked position under heavy use.

An explanation of LAWKS - I little lever on the top side of the handle. When you engade it a little washer with a "tang" slides in place next to liner and stops it from being pushed all the way into the unlocked postition. Not much of an explanation, but you get the general picture.

I like my M16, a lot! Not as much as my Mini Grip, but I really enjoy carrying it. I like to think that my M16 is a medium use folder. Deffinately rugged enough for any daily tasks you throw its way. Although, Im not sure you can save the world with it

A word of caution - make double sure that you buy the AUS 8 version, most probably will have an aluminium handle. If it has a z behind the model number it is the zytel handle and most likely has AUS 6 or even AUS 4 steel :barf:

 

[Dog of War]

Just wanted to point out, crispy, doing a spine whack test on a mouse pad will radically lower the initial impact and energy being transferred to the blade and lock ..... much more likely that a knife will pass the test this way. Use something hard that you don't care about instead of your desk, like a scrap piece of 2x4.

 

[pablo486]

I'm a noob too but fwiw I like to use the heel of my boot. It's always conveniently with me. Also, I hear a lot about aus4 being crap, but I have a couple of knives in aus6 that have been doing very well. Actually, I have a Van Hoy Snap Lock from CRKT that was listed as aus6 and I'm quite happy with it. IMHO aus6 is great for a small sheeple friendly office folder that's only going to see light use, but depending on what you want to use the m16 for...

 

[IUKE12]

Just wanted to point out, crispy, doing a spine whack test on a mouse pad will radically lower the initial impact and energy being transferred to the blade and lock ..... much more likely that a knife will pass the test this way. Use something hard that you don't care about instead of your desk, like a scrap piece of 2x4.

Good point. I might also add that it is best to wear a nice leather work glove...just in case.

 

[Death's Head]

It's a liner lock with the LAWKS. The LAWKS is just a small piece of metal that when switched comes between the liner and scales to help prevent lock failure. I have still seen a lock failure with the spine-whack test.

 

[Confederate]

Also, I hear a lot about aus4 being crap, but I have a couple of knives in aus6 that have been doing very well.

Yeah, you might find some M16-13s around that are still AUS 6M, but I don't know whether the advice floated by some is accurate: that you can tell by the little catalog that comes with the knife. If it says AUS 6M in the description of said knife, it's probably an AUS 6M. I just don't know if I believe it. My own personal view is that CRKT was underhanded in the way they suddenly changed specs.

Some of the new ones automatically engage the LAWKS when opened and perhaps that's how you can tell an old model from the new (the old ones don't have that feature), but whether the two are fully related, I don't know.

If you can get a titanium version with an AUS 8 blade, that would be perfect, since it's a beautiful knife and you don't have to guess. I have the older AUS 6 knife and it's an okay product, but I just wouldn't buy an AUS 4 for the money.

--Confed