Was your first a crkt, and do you still have/use it?

[MKP]

Bought my first folder ever, an M16 in 2003 before my deployment. I did not know anything about knife then. I saw it in at a PX, liked it, bought it. It held up well. So I bought another M21 (deep belly spear point and aluminum handle) this year for another deployment because I wanted a larger blade. It was a disposable blade for me so I abused the hell out of it. I used it as a screw driver. I pried with it. On several occasions, I loaned it to ANA soldiers I worked with who used it to open many cans of food. These were not soft thin tin cans, these were hard heavy thick cans. The ANA soldier had to drive the blade it by hitting the end of the handle with his palm. I cut a whole lot of card boards with it too.

It survived 6 months of me treating it very poorly. I was planning to throw it away after the deployment but it served me so well, I felt wrong abandoning it.

I don't know why some would say that it is not good price for value. It was very cheap. I bought it for less than $40.

 

[Big Barn]

I believe my first was either the KISS (w/tanto blade) or PECK & yes I still have both.

 

[markpmc]

M16-14SFGL - lefty model. I just disassembled it to bead blast the blade. I love the knife, hate the whole 'tactical black' blade thing. Like I'm worried the cardboard box will see me coming.

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

My first crkt was a Lake 111 zytel. Really liked it and I still do. Still gets pocket time from time to time. I usually carry a Buck Vantage Pro or Victorinox cadet nowadays. I'd really like to carry my ffg delica, but that knife is so nice I wouldn't want to see any scratches on it... Maybe I should buy another one and carry that one instead, hmm.

 

[glockfire]

I swore by them for years and they never let me down, its what got me into collecting as well. My first was a M16-1* that I lost in NYC. My second was a M16 that I had to surrender to security at the liberty bell in Philly. My 3rd was an M21 Spear Point that I beat the living hell out of and could never break it. I think my brother still carries it from time to time, and its going on 10 years old or older. I dont know about their current line up, but they used to be a stout offering.

 

[Tengster]

Just to share a pix

 

[devinsdad]

M-16-13T, the Ti one. I bought it when they first came out and carry it to this day. Taken that knife all over the world and has never let me down. It might not have the best steel compared to whats out there now, but it's a helluva bargan for a Ti knife. When I deployed to Iraq I left the Benchmade auto I was issued at home and took the CRKT.

 

[like em sharp]

I swore by them for years and they never let me down, its what got me into collecting as well. My first was a M16-1* that I lost in NYC. My second was a M16 that I had to surrender to security at the liberty bell in Philly. My 3rd was an M21 Spear Point that I beat the living hell out of and could never break it. I think my brother still carries it from time to time, and its going on 10 years old or older. I dont know about their current line up, but they used to be a stout offering.

The entire M16 line is still made, along with the M21 and M4. The M18, which was my favourite, is sadly discontinued. Steel first got worse but now it's slowly getting better again across the line. Still stupid tough knives, though.

 

[tom1417]

Yep, an anubis. Great elishewitz collaboration. Ridiculous tip strength to boot. Find myself carrying it from time to time.

 

[oregonknifenerd]

I bought an M16-13T when they first came out. I liked it except for the serrations but I had issues with their customer service otherwise I may have bought a M16-01T.

I later bought a cheap M16 zytel but even at low the price it's junk compared to other similarly priced knives I've used. I liked the original LAWKS on my old M16-13T but hated the Auto-LAWKS. I bought a Kershaw Blur and have been a Kershaw fan since along with Benchmades since moving to Oregon. I'd love to try a plain edge Stiff KISS though if I could find one.

 

[kdaytonh]

i have a large folder from crkt, the pocket clip broke. i emailed crkt repeatedly to buy a new clip. never got an answer and stopped buying them. i have at least 5, including a large fixed blade tanto.

 

[jimh0220]

M16 Big Dog - Aluminum Handle, and an original M4. Still have and used both. Great knives.

 

[jossta]

My first was an M16 I got like 6 years ago. I think I lost it 5.5 years ago. Loved it while I had it though.

I was recently gifted a Wal-Mart Ripple and love it. Also just picked up a Stubby Folding Razel w/ an Amazon gift card. Love it too, but I would never even have considered another CRKT if it wasn't for the Ripple I was given.

 

[dannykaya]

I have a m16sf, which was my first nice knife. I don't really carry it anymore, because its a little too tactical looking (tanto, black) and the flipper parts of the blade make it a little awkward in pocket. Still a solid knife.

 

[bdmicarta]

I've been buying knives for at least 34 years, carrying and using them for much longer. I currently own at least 75 knives and I just recently bought my first CRKT. (For the record a Gerber LST is the first decent knife I ever bought.) I have found a few CRKT knives that I'm mildly interested in adding to my EDC rotation, but I haven't decided whether to really try them for that or not.

I got interested in a "heavy duty" folding knife, something that I could punch through sheet metal with or baton through various things. I found a cheap used M16 on ebay and bought it, then ended up buying a new M21 to go with it, both with aluminum scales. I was interested in the strongest that I could get which is why I looked for the Al scales vs. nylon or G10. I intend to take the black M16 to my dad's shop and try to stab and baton through some old car doors/hoods/whatever he has. When I got it the blade had a lot of rust (should AUS steel rust like that) and chips in the edge. I ground the edge down even with the chips, reprofiled it with a coarse DMT stone, and then put a little more edge on it with a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I suppose this isn't critical to its ability to go through hard materials but I thought I would start that way and see how it ended up. I'm not going to test it to destruction, unless that happens during my tests.

These are relatively inexpensive knives, but I couldn't find any problems with the build quality or workmanship in my initial inspection of them. Problems might show up in testing or use though.

 

[like em sharp]

i have a large folder from crkt, the pocket clip broke. i emailed crkt repeatedly to buy a new clip. never got an answer and stopped buying them. i have at least 5, including a large fixed blade tanto.

Did you bother trying to go through the warranty support page? CRKT sends out clips for free.

 

[Beyond You]

My first crkt knife was a plain edge kiss and I loved it, carried thru out highschool, someone bought it off wish I had kept it, need to pick up another sometime.

 

[roach1492]

just got my first crkt yesterday,hit $25 on an instant win thought ha i might see what kind of knife i can get?i got the lake 111 all in all i like it, a little stiff but i have too break it in.i looked at the new kershaws in that price range the manifold and was dissapointed in the steel, i know $25 does not buy much today.the crkt 111 has better steel and was the same price,even better free instant win free knife.

 

[elrond18]

not my first knife but this is a beater, I also have a Drifter, Pazoda 2 and a Folts minimalist bowie. I'll post pics later!

 

[bcknives]

CRKT was my first "real" knife as well, I can't remember what model it was. I sold it a few years ago, so no I don't carry it. But I really did love that knife, just wanted something nww, as many of you can understand!