CRKT Incoming CRKT M21-14DSFG , Always have wanted to try , but...

DocJD

DocJD

Basic Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
11,375
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CR...es-flipper-combo-blade-desert-tan-g10-handles

For years I've wanted to try one like this , but it's CRKT . They've been kinda hit or miss for me . :(

Near shut-in right now by the weather , so desperately needing a new toy to play with . :eek:

Leery about the lock system , the steel / HT , especially along with the Veff serrations that are inherently rather thin and fragile .

According to reviews only . I've no personal experience with these .

Anybody got this type or similar of CRKT Carson design to share their G,B & U insights about ?
 
Its an ok knife. The lock takes a.minute to get the hang.of. You need to hold the lawks with your index finger and work the liner with your thumb. Sounds complicated but it's not. It will require a wrist flick probably for a bit until it breaks in a bit or or you can lube the washers and that makes.A.difference.
The serrations are impressive, to me anyway! They eat rope, rubber hose even cardboard when using a single serration like a gut hook! Steel quality is crap. It is what it is. I bought one cause I wanted to try the serrations. I like em.

When I did tree.work and was literally tied to a tree I kept it handy because it eats rope better than anything else I came across. Now it.mostly sits.around on my island of misfit toys waiting for me to play with it. I give it some love every once in a while. Despite some negative comments and reviews I'm glad I got it.

I think you might like it too. Good luck!
Oh I use a DMT rat tail diamond sharpener like a kitchen steel on the blade and individually in the serrations. Works well and doesn't remove a lot of steel.
IMG_20200222_061606.jpg
 
Liked the knife design ok....crkt actually has quite a few designs that would work well for me.

I don't like the steel crkt uses or their heat treat. It's soft. If they'd offer upgraded versions, i might look at them. Veff serrations will eat rope, if that's a thing for you.
 
Got the M21-14 ! Been playing with it for a few days now .

Overall , not really too bad a design . Lots to like about it . Everything seems to work as advertised .

I really like the guard and the neutral handle . Handles well as a fighting knife .

Veff serrations work very aggressively well for some things but are somewhat fragile and do tend to catch in the work more than other finer type serrations .

The flipper / guard works perfect as a wave opener , but not recommended by maker to carry tip up . So , at your own risk .
 
I think if they upgraded the steel and did an axis type or a button lock it would be a solid seller!!
I'd buy it! Even the dead bolt lock too
 
Mine has sharp flipper, lawkes jimping, and sharp edges around the lawkes, and linerlock cutouts.
It is not a smooth flipper by today's standards. A little wrist action is needed.
It seems like a decent fighting knife. I think it would be good with gloves, as well.
Every value knife enthusiast should have an M16, or M21.

M16 14T, big dog
cVpgwKv.jpg
 
I had a a M16-12z. To say it was a piece of garbage would be a complement. Lock up was terrible, only knife I've had that the lock completely failed. Heat treat on the steel was awful, I kept getting chips and edge rolls. And the flipper and thumbstud required heavy wrist action. Haven't owned a CRKT in close to 10 years.

Don't buy it.
 
mwhich50 said:
Mine has sharp flipper, lawkes jimping, and sharp edges around the lawkes, and linerlock cutouts.
It is not a smooth flipper by today's standards. A little wrist action is needed.
It seems like a decent fighting knife. I think it would be good with gloves, as well.
Every value knife enthusiast should have an M16, or M21.

M16 14T, big dog
cVpgwKv.jpg
Click to expand...

I have one just like that I believe. It was my second "modern" knife bought like 20 years ago. But I don't recall it being the "T" version. And the steel is AUS8. Works fine, heavy as a brick and the chisel edge is not what I would preffer. I don't carry it often because of the weight.

Mikel
 
I had one for a while, thought it was cool at first, but came to hate it. Too big, the serrations needed work every time they faced a tough task, and the general public freaked whEnever they saw it. A junkie relative picked it as one of two knives to steal off my shelf to pawn for junk money. I don’t miss it, but I would still like to see him replace the Benchmade he took at the same time.

Now I have an M16-something that the previous owner left behind in a car I bought last year. To compound the horribleness, it’s a tanto. It is an open question whether it will ever prove useful or will get stolen first.
 
Last edited:
I've got an M16 14T, bought it about 10 years ago. Sold an aluminum version and upgraded it with this titanium model.
It's a solid knife, locks up good, slim in the pocket. I like the Crawford design it's a classic.

m16.jpg
 
I had one. I really liked the design but the steel was crappy. I gave it to my friends teenage son who loves it. I may just be too picky about steel.
 
JPD1998 said:
I've got an M16 14T, bought it about 10 years ago. Sold an aluminum version and upgraded it with this titanium model.
It's a solid knife, locks up good, slim in the pocket. I like the Crawford design it's a classic.

View attachment 1515578
Click to expand...

It was Kit Carson's design!!! He's also credited with making the first ever flipper too I believe!
 
The first real folding knife I purchased for myself was an M16 back in 2002.
To me, the LAWKS system is unnecessary (my M16 didn't have it), and is kind of fiddly; it's essentially a spring-loaded stop pin for the liner lock.
Don't expect much from 8Cr14MoV, it can take a nice edge but it's a budget steel.
Pretty sure they still use Teflon/nylon washers which aren't great, though swapping for phosphor bronze is cheap and easy.
The bottom line is that it's a good beater knife, and the "lock-for-a-lock" adds some hard use ability (as long as it doesn't get gunked up so that it can actually unlock), but it's probably a little overpriced.
 
If I had to sum it up, I would say it is a design that hasn't changed or been updated over time. Things like the blade steel, action, and quirky lock, that were fine or even premium features for its day, are now things you get to put up with. Kind of like an older car. Don't expect it to have the modern features and touches you'll see from newer designs.

That said it's become one of my favorites, even though on paper I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be.
 
Mikel_24 said:
I have one just like that I believe. It was my second "modern" knife bought like 20 years ago. But I don't recall it being the "T" version. And the steel is AUS8. Works fine, heavy as a brick and the chisel edge is not what I would preffer. I don't carry it often because of the weight.

Mikel
Click to expand...
The 'titanium' version came out about ten years ago I think. It is discontinued now.
 
Surname said:
If I had to sum it up, I would say it is a design that hasn't changed or been updated over time. Things like the blade steel, action, and quirky lock, that were fine or even premium features for its day, are now things you get to put up with. Kind of like an older car. Don't expect it to have the modern features and touches you'll see from newer designs.

That said it's become one of my favorites, even though on paper I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be.
Click to expand...
:) Welcome! Great first post and I agree .

So much could be better on this knife , even just a simple steel/HT upgrade to be tougher would really help (with the Veff serration especially ) .

But kinda cool military vibe . How many folders have a double quillon ? :eek::cool:

I also like it "more than I should" on a strict functional basis , but everything about knife love is not limited to just that . ;)
 
they should have made a plain edge version.

i have 3 or 4 of the assembled in America ones without the auto laws systems. tantos but with normal serrations. has a manual lawks on these ones. quality is better on lockup and such, but the steel isn't so great. they are in aus8, but the steel is still too soft on heat treat.

I have one newer one with auto lawks. it's sloppily made than the assembled in america ones.

I like the knife design in full size and if it had a plain edge version and better heat treat on aus8 id like the knife a whole lot more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top