First CRKT folder, opinions sought

Badhammer

Badhammer

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
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Considering adding a CRKT folder to the collection and was wondering what you all thought of the M21-04 either the G-10 or the aluminum version in general and the Autolawk and their AUS-8 steel in particular? TIA
 
M21 is a good EDC knife. Go with G-10. Doesn't conduct cold as easily, and offers better mechanical friction properties.

The LAWKs is a good system, but I remove the spring.

I've had good luck with AUS-8, although it depends on what you cut. Like I said at first, a good EDC.
 
My advice? Skip crkt...If you want a cheap knife get a Kershaw or one of the spyderco tenacious series . I do currently own a walmart crkt ripple, but only because it was on sale for $20. It's a decent knife for the money, and fun to play with, but I'd rather have a tenacious...

Nothing in particular wrong with crkt, but they really only make low end stuff. Over the years I've learned that you're better off with a couple nice knives than a drawer full of cheap junk. Just my opinion. If you're set on a crkt though, get something with IKBS and the Acuto+ steel. The stainless ripple and the Eros would fit the bill.
 
So far the only CRKT knives that I have convinced me have been the Ripple, Drifter, and Heiho w/ Veff serrations. The only other CRKT knives that I want to add to my collection are the Eros and Nirk Tighe. From the three that I do have I have not had any problems. I can tell you that the IKBS on the Ripple makes it fun to open and close.
 
The best reason to get a CRKT right now is to get an affordable knife with an IKBS ball bearing pivot. I'm compulsively flipping my aluminum Ripple as I type this.
 
I like CRKT a great deal. With that being said I never much cared for my M-16 mostly due to the awkward Auto lawks. It had a nice profile and reasonable F&F, but the overly safe locking mechanism left me cold. AUS-8, while no super steel can get scary sharp and with the right heat treat hold an edge for a reasonable amount of time. All in all when it comes to CRKT I find I'm impressed with their lower end budget knives (I.E the Drifter) and their higher end knives that feature the IKBS (I.E Eros, Ripple) I'm not really sold on much else they make. With that being said I like the company and some of their products if that makes any sense, they make some cool stuff.
 
G10 is better than aluminum as Shorttime says. Never had a problem with their AUS 8. Check out the test of the CRKT M16 from Leatherneck Magazine's 2010 knife test (linked here) for a look at how a similar CRKT M-Series knife did in comparison to other similar models.

The screws that hold the scales may work loose, so get a set of torx drivers if you don't already have them and some loc-tite.

Never had a problem with my M16. Big and heavy for a pocket, but a reliable knife and good quality. A lot of the complaints come from CRKT having a wide range of M-series that vary in price and quality with little differentiation, but the better end of the M-series is good quality.
 
I have the M21 in G10 and I like it for a fairly large hard use knife. I do not recommend getting the Veff serrations, they are very sharp, but the edge folds over easy making them useless without a bunch of sharpening. The Auto-Lawks takes some getting used to, but I can open and close with one hand. If the access to the liner lock was better the single hand closing would be easier. While there are much better slicers out there in the same price range, if you are looking for a knife that can take some hard use I would say it is a good choice.
 
I first bought a CRKT about 8 years ago, back before they had auto-lawks. I loved that knife and carried it for about 6 years until I lost it. Since then, I feel they have gone downhill in quality. I can't stand that the lock to the liner lock engages every time. Also, I got one where the liner lock would get stuck between the knife and the handle. Very annoying.
 
I think there are many other value knives that blow CRKT out of the water (Kershaw has a lot of great options) but the one CRKT that did impress me was the Ripple. If it was tip up, I would've kept mine.
 
Thanks to all for the replies. I've got some gift cards for a particular outdoor store and was just trying to find a knife they had that I didn't and CRKT was about the only brand that fit that bill. Guess I can always just buy more ammo or beef jerky.
 
Get a CRKT they really aren't bad knives for the money. I of course would buy something else if I had a big choice but CRKT is by no means a bad brand. I've owned several and actually liked the majority of them. I just have better knives and I now know there is nothing that's going to kick them out of my pocket - Except the Tenacious(kicked a ZT out for a little while).
I really liked the CRKT frame locks. Pazoda, Drifter, Notorious, My Tighe, M16-1s, Etc. I also really enjoy the Ripple and the Firespark.
 
Try a Ripple, they're great. I tend to poo poo CRKT because, let's face it, a lot of their knives are junkie. The Ripple though, that's a keeper. I actually have both versions the Wallie World and the IKBS frame lock. Great knives.
 
I have a CRKT Drifter G-10 and absolutely love it for a small EDC blade and it's only $20. It came razor sharp and it deploys quickly and smoothly. For me both Kershaw and CRKT are hit and miss with their low ends knives but that's what you get when production is in China. I have also sent a Tenacious back for quality issues so Spyderco is not immune either.
 
eschwebach said:
I have a CRKT Drifter G-10 and absolutely love it for a small EDC blade and it's only $20. It came razor sharp and it deploys quickly and smoothly. For me both Kershaw and CRKT are hit and miss with their low ends knives but that's what you get when production is in China. I have also sent a Tenacious back for quality issues so Spyderco is not immune either.
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Yeah, just got a Spyderco Resilience as a more pocket friendly replacement for my M16-14SF. The Resilience has an uneven grind at the tip and the blade is a bit off-center. Still cuts like nobody's business and is fine for a user, but fit and finish wise it is a little below the CRKT at the same price point with equivalent steel. The big difference is that the Resilience is a bottom-line Spydie and the M16 is an upper-mid-line CRKT so brand expectations are different. Spydie buyers expect less from the Chinese line than CRKT buyers for whom the M16-14SF is likely a step up from the one they bought at Wal-Mart.
 
I had two M21-14SFGs which are the 04s big brother.. I loved those knives. But keep in mind at the time they were my most expensive knives, before I started buying higher end folders. But even now, I still miss those knives, I sold them months ago right before I got into higher end folders. I liked the steel because it was easy for me to sharpen and it kept its edge for a reasonable amount of time. The G10 is nice and grippy, and strong. The LAWKS is something to get used to... I know alot of people disable theirs but I liked mine, and I got used to it pretty quick. It made me feel a little more secure knowing I had a strong locking mechanism in my knife, almost like carrying a "folding fixed blade" which is what the M21/16-14SFG is referred as in one old ad or review I watched when considering the knife. All in all, I think the M21/16 series knives are great, I would love to have me another M21-14SFG and/or M16-13SFG. Good Luck in you decision!
 
I have an M21 with the aluminum scales. I think it is well made, I have no reason to think that it is in any way deficient in quality. It is big and heavy, and I like big knives. I have carried it EDC but it is at the limit of what I like. Today I carried my Benchmade 581 Barrage so I have good and big knives to compare it with.

The M21 has just enough detent on the blade that when you put enough force on the flipper to overcome it, the blade opens completely. The auto LAWK makes it a bit slow to close. I have no problem operating it one-handed but it is slower than my other knives. If I was opening/closing it a lot of times each day I might disable the spring.

The knife feels plenty big and strong. Anytime I read discussions about tough knives I have to think that the M21 could rate up there favorably with them, and that is why I bought it. I haven't felt the G10 model but a little less weight and the grip of G10 would be worthwhile additions.

I have an older aluminum M16 that came to me as a beater. I also have a new CRKT Delegate. I don't like its safety mechanism that keeps the blade closed but the knife itself seems to be well made. There are other CRKT knives that I have some interest in and I wouldn't hesitate to buy them if I find good deals on them. However as other people have mentioned if you want good knives at low prices, Kershaw, Spyderco and Ontario all have good models at really low prices.

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I don't think you'll never be sorry you bought the M21-04. It's one of the most beautiful knives in my collection. It seldom gets carried, but I like handling it and playing with it. I love hollow grind knives and I like the blades to be double ground. Some of the CRKTs have chisel grind blades and I don't care for them at all as they're made for left-handed people. But the M21-04s are gorgeous knives as the photos above show. I strongly prefer the aluminum frames. The AUS8 blades are fine.

There are many other stronger knives, and more inexpensive knives, and knives with better blade steel; but these are all subjective things. People who have M21s are generally very happy with them, and I'm not interested in getting rid of mine. They're very well made and they're decent, strong knives. They're also very good looking and are well balanced.
 
Check out the Foresight, Shenanigans or Ignitor T. The first two are Ken Onion designs and I have to admit that I'm building up quite a liking for his designs. The third is just plain fun to open/close but the one I have also has an amazingly nice edge too. Not sure I'm sold on the Veff serrations though as they tend to fold over on the ones I've seen.
 
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