Crkt m16?

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Herr_Noobien

Joined
May 20, 2009
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CRKT M16?

A few months ago i picked up a knife for $30AUD at king of knives (this was before I knew about this site). As it turned out, the knife was pure junk and fell apart after a month. However, after I went back to store and showed it to the guy there, he said that I could get a refund for it. Iv'e got $30ish on me right now plus another $30 for the refund which means I have about $60ishAUD. Now, for some reason in Aus the prices for knives are pure robbery (A buck 110 for 150? thats 100USD!!!). My options are pretty limited so i have to get something cheap. I like the look of the CRKT M16 (Zytel) and it seems to be within my price range. Has anyone had any experiences with this knife? It's made from AUS-4 (O_o) steel so it might not be too sturdy, but hey, it's either this or a Gerber Paraframe :S

thanks in advance

(PS: i won't be using it for anything unreasonable. just cutting up boxes and the likes)
 
The only knives in this series I have experience with is the M16- 14 and the M16EDC. Both have aluminum scales, the 14 is very well made, has an AUS 8 blade and is referred to as the "Big Dog" because of its size.

The compact version, IMO is a POS , especially for the price.

If you like the design I would stick with one of the aluminum versions, maybe you can find one on Ebay?

Gerber makes the EVO series , very similar , about equal in the steel dept. IMO the fit & finish is a little better than the smaller M16's

If you like the "flipper" style check out some of Kershaw's new offerings..... they just make a better knife.
 
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As far as looks go, are there any other knives which are the same style as the m16? I also can't buy from newgrahm since the refund was in store credit -__- also, 3 inches for a blade is slightly too small for my tastes. I would prefer my blades to be around 3.5 inches.
 
I have owned the M16-04,14 and the 3.5" stiletto version in zytel. Good knives for the $. I don't like the new ones with LAWKS.
 
i just took a look at the Gerber EVO's...they look EXACTLY like the M16 :S
The M16-13LE and the M16-13M are both within my price range and both use AUS-8 steel.

does kershaw have any similar designs within the same price range (60USD)?

and also, would you reccomend the Gerber EVO or the M16-13LE/M?

thanks in advance
 
My first little EDC (as in sub-3.5" blade) was a CRKT M16-EDC spearpoint, and it's one of the oldest knives I have. I replaced the nylon washers with some brass ones from Canadian tire, and it works great. Glides like butter, almost zero play. People give AUS8 a lot of heat, but you know what? It has a niche. It's tough, it scarcely rusts, and it's quite a bit easier to maintain than most of the super steels.

For one summer I also carried an M21-SF - the giant, all-black version with the full hilt that doubles as an Emmerson wave - while I worked landscape and construction. It has a wider blade with a lot of belly and a stout tip, but was not ergonomically different from the other large CRKT M-series folders. It was tough enough to pry with, could dig out weeds without significant edge damage, and the AUS8 could be sharpened on a porcelain toilet seat.

The Gerber EVO is pretty much the same knife, at least from an ergonomic perspective, but I actually think it's a step down from the CRKT M-series. The Aluminum handle is more or less the same, but the washers are cheap nylon and the blade is a low 440 series, probably 440A or 440B. When my girlfriend fell in love with my M16-EDC and carried it around so much she almost lost it, I got her one of the little EVOs, which was less than half as expensive. She loves it - mostly because it is cool and pretty.

With regard to edge retention and ease of sharpening, the EVO is certainly a little easier to maintain - you could probably sharpen it adequately off the edge of a sidewalk - but this is due to the softer steel. By the same token the EVO looses that hair-popping, paper-slicing keenness almost instantly, or at least much quicker than the CRKT versions do, but they both retain usable edges for quite some time. If you're not a reasonably experienced knut, you probably won't notice a difference.

If you want a Carson-designed knife, specifically an M-series, I recommend the CRKT over the Gerber, since in my experience it is simply the better performer - the opening/closing action is smoother, and the edge and blade finish both last longer. The CRKTs also come in Tanto-point and/or partially-serrated blades, neither of which I'm a fan of, but you might appreciate the diversity there. Some people bash the AUTOLAWKS mechanism that CRKT uses in their knives, but it does add some security to the easily-jarred liner lock, and its operation is really more intuitive than it appears. After a week or so of getting used to it, you won't even notice.

So that's a lengthy $0.02 from me, but I like the Carson M-series, and am a particular fan of the CRKT line - it's one of their few successes. I would go for the CRKT - I don't think you'll be dissappointed.
 
The M-16 is a solid little knife. Aus 8 isn't bad if you don't mind sharpening it, which is easy to do. Also look at the Byrd brand and Benchmade's Red line.
 
Mate, use the store credit to get a sharpener or something and then head over to New Graham Knives to spend your cash.

FWIW I quite like the M16 design. It's not a bad knife, but the materials they use have gone steadily downhill.
 
Herr_Noobien said:
i just took a look at the Gerber EVO's...they look EXACTLY like the M16 :S
The M16-13LE and the M16-13M are both within my price range and both use AUS-8 steel.

does kershaw have any similar designs within the same price range (60USD)?

and also, would you reccomend the Gerber EVO or the M16-13LE/M?

thanks in advance
Click to expand...



For $60.00, get a mini Griptilian. Don't mess around with that junk.
 
Make sure you get the aluminum version with AUS-8. Less then that and it's a waste.

I highly recommend the M21 (aluminum/AUS-8) as well. It's a solid little knife for not much money.

Of course, you can also go get a Spyderco Tenacious.... :)
 
Yeah mate - I know the pain of and cost of buying decent knives in Oz - I think a few people who replied missed your location

I have M16-13's and 14's. That flipper works great but you have to adjust the pivot. The LE models are far better quality than Zytel (gave mine away). Titanium models are better again. I prefer the M16-13 to the M16-14 for EDC - I don't intend to fight anyone with these knives and find the 14 just a tad too big and unwieldy.

You will find some people will knock the CRKT's - others carry on about the AutoLawks. FWIW, the M16's made it to the Top 5 Tactical Folders in Knives Illustrated last year - together with Sebenza, Syperco Military, Emerson CQC7 and Al Mar SERE 2000. Whether or not others agree or disagree, that's still pretty good company to be keeping. As for the AutoLawks - it doesn't sound like you intend rotating your knife - once you play with it for a while the AutoLawks becomes 2nd nature and becomes a non-issue - and it does contribute to a safer lockup.

Tassienerida Knives have Buck 110's for ~$75. They also carry a few CRKT's. I've bought heaps off them and they're great to deal with

http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/tassienerida-knives__W0QQ_armrsZ1
 
I've owned the M16 tanto AUS4 for about 5 years and given it constant abuse on the farm and never stop flicking it open. Had to readjust the locking bar recently and it now locks up rock solid. Very tough but poor edge retention.
Last year a farmer in the area had to save livestock from a bushfire and used his M16 to cut fences and pry the strands from the poles. Blade was badly dinged but the rest held up well.
Go for the AUS8/aluminium if you can!
 
Stop buying from King of thieves, they'll sell you a leatherman wave for $200AUD.

Check out Tassienerida as antonio pointed out, and www.cuttingedgeknives.com.au, tassienerida has a very cheap prices for auctions but don't have a large variety of products, CEK has pretty good prices aswell.
 
Herr_Noobien said:
does kershaw have any similar designs within the same price range (60USD)?
Click to expand...

- Kershaw Skyline
- Kershaw Zing
- Kershaw OD 1
- Kershaw Lahar * the best of these in terms of price versus quality of materials... IMO .
- Kershaw Groove
- Kershaw Storm II * another great knife for the price
 
JPD1998 said:
- Kershaw Skyline
- Kershaw Zing
- Kershaw OD 1
- Kershaw Lahar * the best of these in terms of price versus quality of materials... IMO .
- Kershaw Groove
- Kershaw Storm II * another great knife for the price
Click to expand...

The Zing and Skyline are favorites of mine. Also check on the JYD II, Leek, RAM and Groove. Depending on where you shop all can be had for under 60USD. :thumbup:
 
Roger999 said:
Stop buying from King of thieves, they'll sell you a leatherman wave for $200AUD.

Check out Tassienerida as antonio pointed out, and www.cuttingedgeknives.com.au, tassienerida has a very cheap prices for auctions but don't have a large variety of products, CEK has pretty good prices aswell.
Click to expand...

Bingo! Cuttingedge have the aluminium series win aus/8 for $85! That sounds like what I'm looking for. I'll also take a look at the kershaws that were reccomended.
 
For the money, you can't go wrong with the CRKT line of knives. I purchased my first CRKT "Stiff Kiss" in '98 or '99. Since then, I've owned more of them than my memory can serve to recall.

I personally know of several hundred soldiers who carry the M-16 on a dayly basis and have yet to hear a single complaint from anyone who carries it in the field. For the money, it's really hard to beat the M-16. I think I paid $35 each for the 6 I bought at the PX in Iraq in '04.

Murph
 
I got an M16 with aluminum handles for my younger Son (about 15 at the time) and he destroyed it in less than a year. He is an Eagle scout and uses tools hard in the wilderness. The blade tip broke off and then the rest went down hill. I gave him a Microtech Socom that I used for a couple of years and he is still using it now - about 4 years later.

Unless you just keep it in your pocket and it does not get used much, IMO they are cheap and not worth having and you would be better off saving some additional money and getting something else.
 
i've bought 10 knives off cuttingedgeknives this year. highly recommended. for what its worth i have 6 crkt m-series
m 16 or m 21 m in aluminium is the way to go- taiwan aus 8
sfg, made in china is ok, for the money, as good spyderco tenacious, similar qc
anything zytel, stay away. half the price, half the knife
gerber evo = shit. copied design, shit steel, bad heat treatment.

i would recommend m 21 04, no serrations
or m 16 14 sfg veff serrations
veff serrations shit on the older sort that is on aluminium models, in my opinion
all serrations suck unless you cut a lot of bread

good luck,if you buy the wrong knife, it just helps push you further towards the right one.

as an aussie, i contacted crkt about replacement frame screws and pivot for m 16 13 le, my edc for 4 years rusted from in waistband carry. reply was almost instant, sending all parts-FREE.

try that with gerber.............
 
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