CRKT M16-10KZ Knife Review

Today I review my CRKT M16-10KZ after 3 months of use.
A great all around lightweight performance knife with a neat little feature.

Blade Length 3.00" (76.20 mm)
Blade Edge Triple Point Serrations™
Blade Steel 1.4116
Blade Finish EDP
Blade Thickness 0.08" (2.03 mm)
Overall Length 7.13" (180.98 mm)
Closed Length 4.00" (101.60 mm)
Weight 2.30 oz. (65.20 g)
Handle Glass-Reinforced Nylon
Style Folding Knife w/Liner Lock

[markryan]

Just got my CRKT M16-14LE last month. It's a bigger variant compared to your M16-10KZ. Also tanto blade with serrations and black coated finish. 5.5" closed, blade's 4"; it's full length when opened 9.5". So mine is pretty big. But overall I dig the hardcore look and it's sturdy structure. For me the lock makes me feel secure when using it. Mine have the same problem, sometimes it can't be fully opened when flipped using the flipper tab. But I think that's all and it's a minor problem for me. Overall, I like mine and It's in my rotation. Hope you also enjoy yours.

[JoshTalksTools]

Hey friend. Bought one of the more recent 10KZs (same as yours with the circle/ball bearings in the knife) with 1.4116 steel, and another older one without ball bearings (runs on teflon washers) and 8cr steel. Have one question, how's the detent on your 10kz? My detent is really weak but I'm going to take it apart to see if I can fix it. Cheers! These are sweet little blades!

[danieljohnson]

I like my CRKT M 16, it’s the M 16-03. I’ve had it several for several years & used it in my EDC rotation, then misplaced it, found it, misplaced it & recently found it again; I had left it in my car’s glove box for that just in case moment. My other EDC is a Kershaw Blur & sometimes a Benchmade Bugout. The red safety button took me awhile to get use to it, but can now close the knife with no problem (muscle memory) from repeated opening and closing. It’s got its pro’s & con’s, I’m sure you’re aware of them. My biggest gripe is their pocket clip, it’s so flimsy, but then again the knife has a slim (skinny) handle. All in all, I am pleased with the knife. If I lose it (permanently this time) it won’t break the bank or my heart. Just like when I lost my Blur, I bought another one. I’ll use this for awhile longer in my EDC rotation, then retire it. I own a few SOG’s, I might replace it with one or maybe another CRKT. Take Care, keep your blade sharp & watch your six. GBU, Daniel

[stevegillespie]

The frame lock versions are way nicer.

[pdubowner]

The CRKT M16-10KS (or KZ) is the perfect little EDC.

The combination of the semi-serrated blade and the tanto tip really worked for a wide range of stuff. I used the serrations to strip wires and the tip to scrape gaskets.

As a mechanic who is frequently in the junkyard I'm interested in carrying as few tools into the desert as possible, it just makes sense.

I've regularly had to saw through battery cables, wire harnesses, radiator, vacuum hoses, fuel and brake lines (even metal lines), pry off valve covers or old rusty water pumps, cut through electrical loom or carpet to get to the parts that I wanted...and damn that little knife is an extension of my hand.

The shape of the handle gives you a little recess where the serrations are so while closing the knife you can get a bunch of leverage and guillotine through really tough small diameter stuff, and the liner lock jimping kinda holds it there...which I seriously doubt the designers intended, but I found useful countless times.

I found the blade size to handle ratio to be practically perfect for disappearing into the corner of my pocket. Super light weight, scalpel precision.

I used to buy them 2 and 3 at a time, and the last time I bought any was a lot of like 10 on ebay. I've had all the variations of the small-frame M16 and they're all fantastic. I've never broken one, but I've lost and/or given away a whole bunch of them.

Every one of them gets the same treatment. I punch out or grind off the detent that keeps the blade closed and put some locktite on the main screw at just the right tension so the blade would flip out with a slight flick of the wrist but wouldn't open under it's own weight. Some of them come with a weird safety mechanism that goes straight into the trash first thing.

Absolutely delightful little beast of a knife.

I just bought 2 more!

[JoshTalksTools]

Super cool little knife. Ordered one to try it out as a daily beater. Design looks fantastic.

[christoferpederson]

I've got several of these M16 knives and I love them. I don't know of any generalized negativity towards CRKT. I think they keep making nice stuff, the stuff I have from them are mostly $50ish knives that I think perform really well for their part. I've carried a couple M16s daily for years and even when they are all gunked up, they are easy to take apart and clean and (depending) thy look and feel like new.

[vinceoccenola]

Hi, could you please share where did you put oil on the knife? Waiting on mine to arrive, thanks!