When did CRKT downgrad their steels twice while I wasn't looking?

B

bubblewhip

Joined
Dec 18, 2009
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The CRKT M16 has kinda been a staple for a lot of people. But have they been consistantly downgrading their steels? I heard one time the M16 was 154CM, then moved to AUS8, then I saw on their site that it's AUS4, but people said before it was AUS6. What the hell is going on?
 
The type of blade steel you get depends on which M16 variant you have. I have two of the larger models: the M16-14SFG, which has 8Cr14 steel, which is okay, but the Veff serrations aren't holding up like they should. I also just got an M16-14T, which has AUS-8. (A friend of mine has a version with AUS-4, and the edge holding isn't impressive at all. Somewhat easy to sharpen, but no real durability.)

I've seen these steels listed in the catalogs for the last couple of years, at least.

~Chris
 
I've never heard about a Crkt M16 in 154CM, maybe the Carson's are. I believe they use AUS8,AUS6,AUS4 it just depends on the model.
 
They are mostly Aus blades, never saw a 154cm. But the veff serrations are both ugly and useless. I don't know who CRKT markets to sometimes.
 
Honestly I'm begining to wish they'd just use 440c or one particular steel to get their HT down pat for and stick with it in all models, their designs are usually decent and creative but the steel!! oh man the steels they use sometimes? eh. the aus4 is pretty terribly useless if you cut more than tape
 
EricV said:
Honestly I'm begining to wish they'd just use 440c or one particular steel to get their HT down pat for and stick with it in all models, their designs are usually decent and creative but the steel!! oh man the steels they use sometimes? eh. the aus4 is pretty terribly useless if you cut more than tape
Click to expand...

They can't do that b/c the knives are contract manufactured all over the world.... IMO, most of the time it seems like they just go with what is cheap and abundant wherever they decide to have the knife made with no real eye to looking out for the end user or to durability of the product...
 
were was limited run with carbon fiber handle and 154 blade .

788366706_x8BuE-L.jpg
 
spiralarchitect said:
They can't do that b/c the knives are contract manufactured all over the world.... IMO, most of the time it seems like they just go with what is cheap and abundant wherever they decide to have the knife made with no real eye to looking out for the end user or to durability of the product...
Click to expand...

/\ This.

They had some ATS-34 models in the past. M16, Apache etc.. but that was long ago.
 
the M16 ti had IIRC AUS8, a very small # had 154, other than that most of the '16s are '6 or lower.
 
If you like good steel, CRKT is the last place you should be looking. They don't even seem to bother with decent, or even passable steel. They use the cheap stuff, and don't heat treat it very well. I carried an M16 for a while about 10 years ago, one of the ones with AUS8 (IIRC), and the steel was absolutely atrocious. It wouldn't hold an edge worth a hoot, and rolled and/ or chipped if you looked at it crosswise. Not to mention the thumbstud specifically designed to grate the meat off of your thumb.

Worst. Knife. Ever.
 
EricV said:
Honestly I'm begining to wish they'd just use 440c or one particular steel to get their HT down pat for and stick with it in all models, their designs are usually decent and creative but the steel!! oh man the steels they use sometimes? eh. the aus4 is pretty terribly useless if you cut more than tape
Click to expand...

+1

I really do like their designs. I love auto-lawks and I'm ambivalent to veff serrations (I hate serrations anyways) but I really wish they offered better steels and more PE blades

M21-14 SF in D2 and PE, I'd pay 200 bucks or more for it

I love the full hilt designs in their folding knives, you can wave it perfectly

But their steels have consistently been disapointing.
 
i was given a crkt m16 operation iraqi freedom folder
i think the blade is aus-8 which i hear is a good steel
 
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