Columbia River Knife and Tool M-16 Carson-Zytel® Combo Knife

I have an old knife from CRKT that I just Love. I decided to get another knife so I thought I would try another CRKT brand. I was not disapointed. The M-16 is a great knife. The craftmenship is great. The blade stays sharp and all the parts move very smooth. It's just a great looking knife. The only thing I should have done was buy more than 1.

This item looks solid and handles better than another knife I purchased earlier in the same price range.

OK, If you are like me you have lots of old cheap knifes. This one actually gives me an up to date one, that for the money is unbeatable. It feels good in the hand and is big enough to do something with. Why pay $80+ for a knife that really doesn't cut any better or have better features? the locking mechanism is simple and easy. I don't understand the reviews where people have whined about it on various websites. Well manufactured tool.

This is one of the best folding knives I have ever owned. I really like the double locking system and the design of the blade.

Great Quality for the money, CRKT is value packed and built to last

I buy CRKT knives to get the Carson opening mechanism

I've purchased this knife FOUR times, and because I'm forgetful have lost it three times :P - There is a reason I've purchased it four times though. Its the best knife I've ever owned. It holds it edge well, its easy to sharpen, and my favorite feature, is that it opens like butter - though it closes only with two hands - which I prefer for safety reasons. I would recommend this knife to anyone.

I bought one of these as a Christmas gift for my son and once I saw it and used it I went back and ordered two more! One for me and one for a future gift. At first it's a little akward to close, but once you get the hang of it, this knife is smooth and fast opening and a breeze to close. Awesome product...5+ STARS

I was blown away by this knife. Not only is the craftsmanship second-to-none, but the unique features (a blade-lock, and the mechanism that allows for lightning-fast opening of the knife (without a spring) and a blade-guard) give this knife a certain amount of flair and distinction. The blade was very sharp right out of the box, and the serration has made short-work of every material I have needed to saw through. I highly recommend this knife.

Out of the box, the blade was sharp, but not as sharp as say, Spyderco's factory edge. It has a "Carson Flipper" feature that allows you to open the knife quickly, by pressing down on the knob on the back of the knife. It doesn't have a spring assist, which many people will like. On mine the blade tends to stick on its way out, but a drop of oil might help that. As with most or all liner-lock knives, the handle has steel liners (one of which makes up the locking mechanism), so the knife feels sturdy in the hand. That adds to the weight, but some people might like that. The handle is relatively narrow, making it easier to slip out of your fingers. It doesn't glue itself to your hand the way some knives do. On the other hand, it makes the knife more compact. There are also studs on the blade to let you open the knife with your thumb. There are studs on both sides of the blade, which lefties will welcome. The back of the knife is open, for easier cleaning. It appears you can disassemble the knife easily with the proper torx wrenches. As with all liner locks, your thumb has to enter the path of the closing blade. The designers have thoughtfully cut away the liner opposite the lock liner, which is itself toothed for easy grip. Unfortunately, it is still a bit of trouble to push the lock aside to close the knife. The AutoLAWKS feature keeps the blade from closing accidentally, which is indeed a risk, albeit a small one, with liner lock knives like this one, but it means that closing the knife is even more involved. It may be a two-hand operation for some people. I would have preferred a back lock like that found on most Spydercos, for instance. The blade has an attractive bead-blasted matte finish. It is a spear blade with a partial swedge (false edge on the back), giving it a scary, lethal look. This is not a knife to whip out casually in the office, for instance. The blade shape also makes the tip a bit weaker than say, a tanto shape. It may be possible to snap off the tip in careless or hard use. On the other hand, an intimidating knife might be useful if you want to scare off would-be attackers. (That may or may not be the best strategy, of course.) The serrated portion of the combo edge is beveled only on one side, which is typical, but oddly, so is the plain edge portion, or nearly so. Perhaps that makes the blade easier to sharpen at the factory. If you are cutting something thick, like a salami, the cut will tend to pull to the right. The AUS-4 steel used in the blade is nothing special. It is relatively easy to sharpen, but not as hard as some other knife steels. There is no lanyard hole, an odd omission.