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CRKT’s Legendary Military-Grade EDC Knife Reaches its Most User-Friendly, Super-Affordable Form Yet

Fully loaded yet still ultralight, the wallet-friendly new treatment boasts a super-smooth modern mechanism.

Two CRKT folding knives with serrated blades, one with a tan handle and blade, the other with a black handle and blade, on a map.CRKT
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By Steve Mazzucchi

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Designed by the late, great Kit Carson three decades ago, CRKT’s M16 garnered a well-deserved place in Blade Magazine’s Top 10 tactical folders of the decade back in the day. 

Standing the test of time, the retired Army Master Sergeant and Cutlery Hall of Famer’s masterpiece continues to be one of the brand’s most popular offerings.

Two CRKT folding knives with tanto blades, one with a tan blade and brown handle, the other with a black blade and black handle, on a map.
The latest M16s are the most user-friendly yet, thanks to the rare appearance of the crossbar lock.
CRKT

Fittingly, CRKT is celebrating the M16’s 30th anniversary with real-life stories via its  “Carried” YouTube series and a #showmeyourM16 social campaign, but that’s not all. 

Adding to the more than two dozen versions of the knife currently available on its site is a brand-new take on the M16 that’s both highly affordable and exceptionally user-friendly.

Lock and load

Available in both black (M16-10XK) and tan (M16-10XD) colorways, this new treatment stands out thanks largely to its crossbar lock.

To my knowledge, this modern mechanism is limited to only a few other editions of the M16, all of which cost at least $75.

Close-up of a tan folding knife blade with serrated spine and brown handle featuring textured black buttons.
Pulling back on the “bar” and flicking the wrist easily deploys the blade, while reversing the motion brings it back home just as smoothly.
CRKT

Coveted for its secure, ambidextrous nature, the crossbar lock serves as a bonus deployment option while making one-handed retraction quick and easy.

Even as it modernizes, the knife retains many features its legions of fans have grown to love and expect over the years.

Black partially serrated folding knife blade with CRKT logo and textured thumb stud.
Those giant Veff Serrations double the utility of the knife, as it can not only slice but also saw through tough material.
CRKT

Chief among them is an eye-popping 3.03-inch tanto blade complete with spine jimping and Veff Serrations, which give the lower half an aggressive jagged edge that can saw through practically anything.

Democratizing the whole affair is 8Cr14MoV, an incredibly wallet-friendly high-carbon stainless steel that nonetheless offers respectable hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

Folded tan pocket knife with a black clip and serrated blade marked "Carson Design.
The M16 retains its traditional cross-hatched thumb stud, which offers super smooth primary deployment.
CRKT

I can only assume this selection plays a major role in the price dipping below $50, pretty remarkable for such a scene-stealing knife.

The blade also boasts a prominent ambidextrous thumb stud, cross-hatched for additional grip, with the classic IKBS ball-bearing pivot ensuring smooth deployment. 

Black folding knife handle with a pocket clip and textured grip.
The skeletonized handle is arguably the most iconic feature of the M16, appearing on every iteration.
CRKT

The handle itself helps carry the M16’s heritage forward, as the skeletonized glass-reinforced nylon scales echo the striking silhouette of its forebears.

Rounding things out is a reversible pocket clip, making this streamlined 2.1-ounce icon as easy to carry as it is to use.

Availability and pricing

The CRKT M16-10XK Crossbar Lock and M16-XD Crossbar Lock are available now for $48 apiece.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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