Crkt m16-13zlek

M

Messiah Jones

Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
16
CRKT M16-13ZLEK

I was thinking about buying this knife as my first EDC blade. It seems a little hard to find here on the BladeForums. Can I get some advice or impressions about CRKT and this knife in particular? Thanks for any help.

31RNPjmd49L.jpg


Dimensions
Open Overall Length 8.25 inches
Closed Length 4.875 inches
Weight 3.7 ounces

Blade
Length 3.375 inches
Thickness 0.118 inches
Material AUS 8
Blade-HRC 58-59
Finish Black Ti-Nitride
Grind Hollow
Style Spear Point
Edge Combo

Handle
Material Glass Filled Nylon
Liner 420J2

Lock
Type Locking Liner

Carry
Carry System 2 Positon Clip

Features
Flipper Yes
Glass Breaker Yes
Belt Cutter Yes
Patent U.S. Patent Nos 5,596,808 and 7,437,822
Click to expand...
 
I don't have that particular model but I do have an M16-10Z and it's served me well as my EDC blade since March.
 
I used to have a M16-series folder (mine had a secondary lock on the spine that blocked the liner lock) before I lost it. I found it for cheap as a $20 BX special, but it was a good knife, all things considered.
 
Good Lord! What the heck is up with that flipper? Why would you need a seatbelt cutter if you have serrations anyways?
 
I had the regular bead-blast version in AUS6 and I liked it well enough...

The seatbelt cutter seems quite large but I don't think it would get in the way of cutting at all (your fingers are there after all). These are very fast flippers.
 
Yeah, that flipper is one of the things I'm not sure about. It looks like it might get caught in your pocket while trying to draw it out. I do like the protection it adds from choking up too far on the blade and having the blade close on your fingers though. One thing I'm concerned with is ease of sharpening. I'm a big fan of 1095 steel for this reason.
 
Messiah Jones said:
Yeah, that flipper is one of the things I'm not sure about. It looks like it might get caught in your pocket while trying to draw it out. I do like the protection it adds from choking up too far on the blade and having the blade close on your fingers though. One thing I'm concerned with is ease of sharpening. I'm a big fan of 1095 steel for this reason.
Click to expand...

I didn't carry the exact blade in the OP, but keeping my 16-series sharp was a pain in the backside. It was 440 stainless, though I used that blade for general utility stuff like cutting cardboard boxes and even carpet. Again, this is just an observation so take it for what you paid for it.
 
stebolicious said:
Good Lord! What the heck is up with that flipper? Why would you need a seatbelt cutter if you have serrations anyways?
Click to expand...

I don't know how useful it actually is, but the flipper seatbelt cutter is still useable even when the blade is closed.

I have a couple of the "big dog" CRKT's, one M16 and one M21. The big flippers on those are not a problem when the knife is clipped in my pocket, they ride right at the top of the pocket.
 
Messiah Jones said:
Yeah, that flipper is one of the things I'm not sure about. It looks like it might get caught in your pocket while trying to draw it out. I do like the protection it adds from choking up too far on the blade and having the blade close on your fingers though. One thing I'm concerned with is ease of sharpening. I'm a big fan of 1095 steel for this reason.
Click to expand...

The blade on the M16 you posted is said to be AUS8. I have no experience with AUS8 and I can't sharpen worth a damn but I've heard several members say AUS8 is fairly easy to sharpen.
 
I'm writing a review right now of the M16-14ZER, so I'm kind of immersed in M16 right now. I've been carrying one on and off at work for the last few months. I also own an M16-13ZER. Here's what I've found so far:
  • They are pocket hogs. Between the huge flipper and the glassbreaker, you won't be using that pocket for anything other than the knife
  • The carbide glassbreaker works really well, I've broken probably 5 or six side windows out with it. You barely tap the glass and it breaks. Beats the heck out of repeated blows with an axe :D.
  • AUS-8 is not that great. Most of my other knives are S30V, and the difference is noticable. I tried to cut out a windshield with it, fail. It is nice that it didn't chip too badly though. Takes a fine edge too.
  • The LAWK system is irritating, but re-assuring. Unless you are double jointed, two-handed closing is out.
  • It's an easy design to disassemble should the need arise.

Overall, I like the knife at work, but off-duty, it just takes up too much pocket. And switching the clip around doesn't help either But if you don't mind losing the pocket space, I'd say go for it.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm really tempted to try one of those M16 "Big Dog" knives but thinking they might be too large for EDC. Advice is welcome. I've also been thinking about the Benchmade Adamas Auto which is more expensive and also big, but D2 steel.
Let me ask this... how do you feel about Tanto blades? I've always like the look of the spearpoints better but maybe the Tanto is more useful for some things? Or stronger?
 
Well, the good thing about the Big Dog is that it may be big, but it isn't all that heavy. We weighed it in the review and found it right at the claimed 6.2 oz. My only problem with it for an EDC is that you won't be able to use the pocket it rides in for anything else. That carbide tip will wreck your hands while trying to dig out change and the flipper blocks you from putting most other stuff in there anyhow.

In regards to the Tanto, I'm normally not a fan. But this blade is large enough, that I don't think it really needs any belly to it. Plenty of cutting surface. And it is definitely a tough blade and tip.

IMG_1134.jpg

I've abused the hell out of our test knife. Used it to pop 4 steel belted radials on an SUV a week ago. Cut about a foot of windshild of a windshield with it. I've seen that wreck a few good knives, but AUS-8 isn't all that brittle, so all it took was a reprofile to get her back to her old self.
 
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Messiah Jones said:
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm really tempted to try one of those M16 "Big Dog" knives but thinking they might be too large for EDC. Advice is welcome. I've also been thinking about the Benchmade Adamas Auto which is more expensive and also big, but D2 steel.
Let me ask this... how do you feel about Tanto blades? I've always like the look of the spearpoints better but maybe the Tanto is more useful for some things? Or stronger?
Click to expand...

I had a Big Dog. I liked it well enough, it was well put together. The tanto on the Big Dog didn't bother me since it wasn't as acute as, say, a Cold Steel tanto. The chisel grind cuts well. I don't think the tanto would be better at anything important that a spearpoint. It wasn't too large for me to EDC.
 
Messiah Jones said:
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm really tempted to try one of those M16 "Big Dog" knives but thinking they might be too large for EDC. Advice is welcome. I've also been thinking about the Benchmade Adamas Auto which is more expensive and also big, but D2 steel.
Let me ask this... how do you feel about Tanto blades? I've always like the look of the spearpoints better but maybe the Tanto is more useful for some things? Or stronger?
Click to expand...

my brother has a tanto knife and they are way harder to sharpen than spear points
 
Messiah Jones said:
CRKT M16-13ZLEK

I was thinking about buying this knife as my first EDC blade. It seems a little hard to find here on the BladeForums. Can I get some advice or impressions about CRKT and this knife in particular? Thanks for any help.

31RNPjmd49L.jpg
Click to expand...

i bought one of these yesterday from ebay for AUS $68.90 compared to over $100 from their website
 
legend j said:
i bought one of these yesterday from ebay for AUS $68.90 compared to over $100 from their website
Click to expand...

Hi guys, I'm a newbie ( knife newbie as well as site newbie )...so please be gentle on me....

I stumbled upon this site and saw "Legend J"'s comment.

He has not logged on or posted for a while.....but are there any other Australians on this forum?

I'm happen to be Australian and we have got the toughest import laws even for bladed "weapon" type imports anywhere in the world...let's not even talk about guns.

So I was intrigued that the above comment was posted by "Legend J" - and it seemed to me that he is Australian....or am I mistaken ?

Any other Australians here?

Can anyone from Australia confirm if they have experience of buying CRKT one-hand-open knives off American ebay stores, with no hassles of getting them through Aussie Customs ?

Coz, I just visited Aust customs website and they have a regulations section prohibiting one-handed opening folding knives ( spring assisted or not or even "only" thumb stud ) and the rule apparently came into effect in December 2011 !

And apparently you have to fill in a downloadable PDF form and get it approved by your local Aussie law enforcement agency or Australian Customs and then submit it for approval as an importer of grey area imports, before you're allowed to import......forgeddaboutit if its so much hassles, I say....

And that is putting me off from spending my hard earned in overseas stores online....I'm afraid the money is going down the tube when those officers fancy giving themselves a nice Early Xmas present at my expense, using these new laws.

Or am I mistaken? Knives such as the CRKT Law Enforcement and CRKT rescue with the seatbelt cutter and window breaker have got no issues going through for private orders, without the need to go through the above Import Declaration Approval nonsense?

Any aussie have any experience of above?

Before any of you go, "Go buy it from an Aussie store"......yes,...if only...no Aussie online store I have searched ever stocked a wide range of CRKT knives, and at least not the CRKT Law Enforcement or the CRKT orange handled Rescue knives, which are the ones I am interested in. Seems like CRKT aren't that available here downunder.

Thanks knife brothers.....someone let me know....

Frank13
 
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