CRKT M16 Spear Point

Django606

Django606

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2005
Messages
1,184
Hey guys, my first post on these forums. I've browsed them for a little while, but never got around to posting.

I currently own a Buck Tempest and a Victorinox Soldier.

I'm looking to buy a new knife, and I'd heard about CRKT from somewhere else. I found this beauty, and wondered if you guys have anything to say about it. I can get it off eBay for about $45 shipped, which I think is a bargain.


Thanks.
 
It's a nice knife, I would like one myself. Price is OK, seller is quite popular on eBay and a good guy, so go for it. Sorry I can't say much more, but yeah...

Welcome to BladeForums.com! :D
 
Thanks for the info :)

Anyone with personal experience know how sharp the knife is?

Also, do you guys think there is any advantage of the Tanto blade over the Spear Point blade? I think I like the look of the Spear Point better..but if the Tanto is more useful/efficient, I could change my mind about that ;)
 
tanto points are, IMO, a fad. they may perform great stabbing car hoods or oil drums, but you would probably get more use out of the spear point, not to mention its a lot easier to sharpen.

the m16-01 is the smallest of the M16s (not including the compact models), if memory serves. if you like the look of the M16s, you should look into the M21 models. the big drop point M21-04 sells for around $45ish, and the smaller one is about $10 less. its a satin-finish blade though, bot sure if you specifically want the black.

cheers,
-gabriel
 
oh, and mine arrived passably sharp. not hair-popping sharp, but shaving sharp. how sharp a knife is when it arrives should not be much of a consideration - you can pick up something like the lansky sharpening system for <$24 and put a razor sharp factory-style edge on anything you like, without damaging the finish.
 
Thanks for the info, just wanted to make sure it didn't have any special features that are better than a plain Spear Point that I should know about.

I'll look up the M21..so it is a bigger version of the M16 you said?
 
i got my numbers slightly mixed up, but yeah my post was still about right.
the M16-01K is the 'compact' version, and is the smallest of all of the M16s. 3" blade, very slim profile.

they have the spear point in several sizes, i believe the M16-13 is the largest of the spear points. stay away from the Zytel (M16-##Z models) handled ones (unless you want to save money). the aluminum handles ones are much better built and sturdier, look better, and the cost difference is minimal. the plain edge ones are getting harder and harder to find, unfortunately.

the M21 is a drop-point bladed version of the aluminum handled M16. it comes in a 3.2" blade for about $35-39, or a 4" for around $45-49. its easy to find in plain edge.
CRKTM21_04.jpg


check out new graham knives - they have good prices and fair shipping (other places may have a knife listed at $4 less, but they charge 3x as much for shipping), and it will give you an idea as to what models are available and an average price for each. some of that guy's ebay knives were a touch over street prices.

cheers,
-gabriel
 
btw - that guy's ebay description is wrong. either he has the model # or the blade length listed improperly.

CRM16-01K has a 3.13" blade, not 4".
 
Ok. I'm not as confused anymore :)

Before I read your posts, I was looking at the 13..but you said that that is the biggest?

The M21 you posted only has a a very slightly larger blade than the M16-01K..the 01K has a blad length of 3.13 whereas the M21 has a blade length of 3.20?

I think I'll look for the 4" version. Do you know what the number after M21 is on that model?

Thanks for clearing this up.

Edit: Ok. I checked out the M21 versions..they look similar to my Buck Rush..same colors and a very similar blade design.

I think I might go with the EDC..smaller for every day use, and I like the all black color, blade design, and it is slightly larger than my Rush, and that is what I was looking for.

Only problem is, New Graham doesn't carry the EDC..only the Titanium version.

Should I just buy it for $45 from the guy on eBay, or could you reccommend another cheap(ish), reliable website?

By the way, thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

Edit Again:

Do you know what the next largest model is, up from the 01K? After a bit more measuring, I found that it is about the same length as my Buck Rush, just the handle is longer and the blade is smaller on the M16.

I'm guessing the next one up in size is the M21..but what about in the M16 family. Wouldn't it be the M16-13? I am pretty sure the blade length is 3.56" and the closed length is 4.63". Do you think that will be a lot bigger than the EDC version?
 
there are 3 size categories for the M16s:

M16-00K - COMPACT tanto point, 3.0", plain
M16-01K - COMPACT spear point, 3.13", plain
M16-10K - COMPACT tanto point, 3.0", combo

M16-02 - tanto point, 3.13", plain
M16-03 - spear point, 3.56", plain
M16-04 - tanto point, 3.94", plain
M16-12 - tanto point, 3.13", combo
M16-13 - spear point, 3.56", combo
M16-14 - tanto point, 3.94", combo

there are further numbers for the different law enforcement, military, etc models:
M = military (olive drab handles, black blade)
SF = special forces (these have dual carson flippers which make a full hilt when open)
FD = fire dept (red G-10 scales)
LE = law enforcement (charcoal handles, black blade)
D = desert
T = titanium handle
Z = zytel scales (not aluminum).
so an M16-14ZSF would be a 3.94" tanto blade, combo edge, special forces model with zytel scales. IMO stay away froom the zytel models - not only are they less solid (the aluminum/titanium scales add a lot of stiffness to the frame), but they also use cheaper steels - AUS-4 and AUS-6 as opposed to the AUS-8 in the aluminum or titanium handled models.

M21-02 - drop point, 3.2", plain
M21-12 - drop point, 3.2", combo
M21-04 - drop point, 4.0", plain
M21-04 - drop point, 4.0", combo

hope this helps.
cheers,
-gabriel
 
The M16 is a nice knife. This one is made of a decent steel, and I've bought from that seller before with no problems whatsoever. I say, go for it!
 
Not a suggestion, but a reference, I love my M21-02.

Only one not possibly turning into a shelf queen after the arrival of my newest Benchmades.


WR
 
the spear point CRKT M16s are chisel ground FWIW, most of them are anyway, not that thats a bad thing, but a lot of folks buy one and go "its CG!?!"
 
I EDC my M16 11K very often. It's the same knife except with combo edge (my pref). I absolutely love it. It's the perfect size, weight, shape.....it's by far the most flickable knife I own (including my axis lock). Superb ergonomics and styling. You can also search and find my review of the M16 and my testing of its liner lock, which I demonstrated to be very sturdy even with LAWKS off. The factory edge is satisfactory and has held up well.

You can buy knives with superior steel for this much money or even less. I choose the M16 mostly for style and ergonomics...plus the best flipper out there. It really is just a simple quality knife.
 
Another Vote for the M21-04 ..
I already have a M16-04 in a tanto blade and love it.. so after much thought :) and help from these guys around here I went with the M21-04... Plus I already know that they are a nice quality knife and i love that flipper too.. .. The M16-04 is a large knife and I love it.. and can't wait to get it back.. I liked it so Much I sent it too Eric @ On/Scene Tactical to be fitted for a custom Multi position sheath for edc carry.. They just feel right in my hand.. But man, my next one might be that Buck Strider military version.. I just like to looks of those..
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Blackhearted, that list was really helpful, thanks.

I think I might go with either the M16-13, the M16-13LE or the M16-13M. I don't really like how CRKT is on the back, and MIL or SRT is on the front. But I am glad they have black blades, and I think a blue or Olive Drab handle would be kinda cool.

Edit: Ok. Now it's down to: M16-13, M16-13LE, or M16-13M. Does anyone know what it says on the blade next to either SRT or MIL? Apparentally it says the same thing on every blade, but all the pictures I've seen are too low-quality to be able to read it.

Also, the LE and M versions still have aluminum handles, they are just olive drab and blue, right?
 
they say 'high risk enforcement', and have the 1* (1 ass to risk) logo beside them.
yes - they are still aluminum, just anodized to different colors, with the exception of the fire dept one which has red G-10 scales, and a few of the desert models which are tan zytel.
cheers,
-gabriel
 
Ok, good. I really want the black blade, but I'm not sure which version I should get. The color of the handles are different on the CRKT website than on other online retailers.

I think I might get the MIL version. I like the olive drab color.

Edit: I just found a nice picture of the MIL version and I read "High Risk Environment" ;)
 
my bad :)
close enough though, lol

was going by memory - i dont own any of the MIL/LE/SF models because all the writing on the blades turned me off, and im not a huge fan of black coatings.

the fire department one with the red G-10 scales is looking better and better to me though, perhaps i can swap in the blade from one of my regular M-16s and then just strip/buff off all the coating from the FD one. ive lost a few knives in the field (one was a camo SAK) and as i get older im starting to value something thats easy to see when dropped :)

cheers,
-gabriel
 
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