M1-crkt

L

longbow

Joined
Jan 9, 1999
Messages
4,350
I wanted to get an under 50 dollar knife. Don't ask me why but I did. Y'all know you don't need a reason. I wanted something stout and kind of overbuilt. So after doing a search and reading about these I decided to get one. Arrived this p.m. early in the day so I have been looking at it and studying it for a few hours and carrying it for a few. For a knife that was several bucks under 50 I don'tknow how they(CRKT) can offer a knife as well built and finished as this for that price.

Truthfully haven't done alot of cutting or testing the edge as of yet but have done some. It has a kind of different edge on it called, I believe an asymmetrical edge. Wierd looking and a person as anal as me about such things well I am having a hard time not making both edges the same. Fit and finish is way above a knife of this price. Liners are very nicely done with no machining overruns, scales although Zytel, are really nicely textured for a positive grip. Blade is well ground with all plunges and compound grinds done spot on and the blade at least the wider edge has as high of polish on its edge as I have ever seen on a production at this price.

Don't really care for that flipper deal and I think the thumb studs/stops could be a bit better and the knife in general could be a bit eaiser to open using them. Maybe I will get use to them or the knife is just a bit tight which isn't a bad thing. Lock up is excellant with the liner hitting left of center or what I guess you would call a full engagement and on no more of the liner lock than necessary. Graphics on the blade seem to be a bit overdone meaning there is alot of them but again they are very well done and nice and crisp and clear. Blade centers nicely down the center of the liners when closed. Another nice touch is that they give you two pocket clips and extra hardware to change from tip down to tip up, which is what I did.

Will write further after carried a bit and have done some of my very unscientific cutting with the blade. Keep'em sharp:D
 
Longbow,

I own two M-1s and I am very happy with thier performance. The flipper really is a great feature since the studs really are tough to facilitate fast openings. Enjoy the M-1!:)

Dayuhan
 
the M1 is a good stout knife. too heavy for me, but I figure a lot of use have big hands and don't mind heavy stuff in our pockets. I've hever heard of CRKT's liner locks failing (it's 420J steel) but then again, there's the LAWKS option.

Oh, the flipper's really WICKED. I wish more knives had flippers.:p
 
Those are not thumb studs on the blade which is why it's hard to open using them. They are only there as a lock up, they fit into those ears on the spine of the knife.
 
Originally posted by PlaceKnives
Those are not thumb studs on the blade which is why it's hard to open using them. They are only there as a lock up, they fit into those ears on the spine of the knife.
Click to expand...

Then why are they checkered?

Dayuhan
 
That is great knife! One of CRKT's best!
I have one, I replaced the scales on mine.
It thinned the knife out a little,
with the thinner custom scales that is.
I love mine.:D
 
I think they are checkered because if the flipper only opens the knife half way, they can be used to open it the rest of the way. Many new folding knives feature this new set up with the studs being used as a positive stop against the frame. The first time someone showed me an M-1 I tried to open it with the "thumbstuds" and the guy started laughing at me, he says, "No, you open it with the flipper, that's what it's there for." I've heard of other people here on the forums first trying to open it that way as well.
 
I realize the thumb studs are stops too. But I can open the blade via them just takes a bit of manipulation of my forefinger to get it right. I also notice although haven't confirmed it yet that the right side liner is a bit thinner than the left side liner. If I can see the slight difference I bet I can measure it on my calipers. I have over the past 24 hours or so opened and closed the thing a couple of hundred times. This is with the blade stops and the flipper gizmo. The liner is now hitting dead center and hasn't progressed any further even on purposely hard snaps to open the blade.

One side of my flipper is chamfered and the other is not so the edge is kind of sharp on that one side. I will try and break the edge eventually. I have been stropping the edge on my jeans too. Talk about a sharp edge. Holy crap just touching the edge with a bit of pressure behind it will make a cut. Either on paper or on the back of my finger. Accidentally though. Still haven't used it much for anything except opening a couple of steak packages last night, cutting the requisite paper tubes and a few envelopes for the mail.

My druthers in a knife that is built like this would be to have a longer knife not necessarily thicker. A nice 4-4.5" blade with the same set up as for everything else. Use VG10 or at the very least AUS110. Don't put the black coating on it and offer interchangeable scales as upgrades. I think if they did this they wouldn't be able to make enough of them for the demand. I guess one can always dream, right? Keep'em sharp and more to follow after a few weeks of use.
 
I love my M-1, it's my EDC along with my Victornox Swiss Tool. You simply can't beat it for the price.

J.P.
 
The M1 is a nice knife and one of my favorites. I think it is a bit big and heavy for my EDC, but I carry it on weekends.
While the edge grind is weird looking, it sure slices:eek:
Dave_B
 
I have a CRKT M1 as well. I really like it! I was little concerned about the liner moving into the middle of the tang, but mine stopped there (likes yours) with no worries.

I like your improvement ideas too, though I like the black TiNi coating that's on the current model.
 
I just finished up taking it down and cleaning everything and then relubing with tetra gun lube. What I found is that indeed it is very nicely done and not only has the teflon washers but on the LAWKS side it also has a brass bushing to ride between the lawks and the frame. Very nice touch.

I did find the liner side thickness a tad bit less so than the left side. Not by much but it is less. All the components seem to be first rate too. Screws are nicely machined with no sharp edges and you get a good bite on the torx when putting them back in. Liner are very smooth to no machining marks but then again that my just be the coating that is on them that covers them up.

No matter though for 43 bucks and shipping charges I just don't get how they put out such a nice knife outside of probably paying very low wages to Taiwaneese workers. The other good thing that happened is that the liner is now hitting just left of center instead of dead center. Don't know why that is exactly but have snapped it open several times and it seems to stay there. The ball detent is very strong on this one too. That is why it is kind of difficult to use the stops to open the knife. Alot of initial resistance which is good I suppose. Well there you have it. Still haven't cut alot with it mostly just everyday stuff in the form of envelopes and today a couple of straps on boxes. No big deal. Keep'em sharp
 
I just bought one the other day. I can't wait for it. I have been carrying my M16 Compact for months with my SnG. I needed something that was small enough but could still handle some heavier tasks while my SnG is still at the Strider shop. I think I chose wisely. I love the finish on my M16 because of it's durability and the TK review sealed up the rest for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top