The knife is both a substantial defensive tool and a workhorse cutting implement.
The knife sports a tanto blade made of 12C27 Sandvik.
This solid steel is known for good retention of sharpness and corrosion resistance.
The author reviewed the Springfield Armory version of the CRKT M16-04KS folding knife with a tanto-type blade. The knife proved to be an excellent cutting tool.
This 12C27 blade is finished in black oxide finish.
The M16-04KS makes use of what many knife enthusiasts refer to affectionately as The Carson Flipper.
This means that the knife is smooth and quite fast to deploy, despite the absence of spring assistance.
The tanto blade is popular with many knife owners for its strength and cutting power. It has a distinctive shape that isn’t mistaken for any other style.
The knife also makes use of a frame lock system.
This should mean better long-term durability of theknifes locking mechanism.
Proper system
The physical characteristics of the knife certainly point towards defensive use.
The author found the knife was excellent for all kinds of cutting jobs, from rugged to precise.
With the blade closed, the knife is over 5 long.
Weight of the knife is 6.20 oz.
Though this is on the heavy side of EDC folding knives, for its size, its not outlandish.
The CRKT M-16-04KS is designed to be used. As such, it includes a reversible pocket clip that allows for tip-up ortip-down carry.
The cutaways in the grip look great and are perfectly comfortable on the hand while using the knife.
Those with even limited experience using folding knives would have no problem deploying and closing the blade without incident.
Speaking of deployment, the Carson flipper makes it considerably easy to open for a non-spring-assisted knife.
The author found the plain edge of the knife stayed sharp for the easy cutting of many materials including rope and solid rubber.
Getting a handle on the knife during deployment is never difficult.
Ive found the tanto profile especially helpful for opening up or cutting down boxes.
Paper, cardboard, tape and rags used for gun maintenance all cut cleanly with the CRKT.
The blade feels very sturdy overall and inspires confidence while using it to pry or cut those harder objects.
Conclusion
The knife itself has performed very well for me over the course of testing.
It wears comfortably and fits well into the menagerie of items that make up a solid everyday carry system.
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CRKTM16-04KS Tanto with Springfield Armory Logo
