I used my S&W Extreme Ops Tanto for at least 7 years and it served me faithfully but times change and it was time for an upgrade. Enter the Columbia River Knife and Tool, (CRKT), M16-14DSFG, a very specific knife designed by renowned knife maker Kit Carson.
Kit retired as a ranking Master Sergeant and designed the successful M16® knife series. In the process of developing the line of Carson special forces G10 M16® models, it became apparent that there was a demand for these models from coalition forces serving in desert environments. These models have Desert Tan blades and scales and have a Titanium nitride finish which improves corrosion resistance, I have one of those models.
I have used mine for EVERYTHING, at least everything I’ve had to cut so far. The stainless steel used in the blade is a mixture designed for strength, resilience, and corrosion resistance and combined with the Titanium finish shows no wear even after the testing and use I’ve put it through. The video shows the formal testing I did but since then I’ve used the knife to cut plastic tubs, and electrical wire, and I’ve taken apart/destroyed a wide variety of wooden objects and limbs. The M16 has powered through everything and keeps coming back for more.
The G10 handle grips well in bare and gloved hand without any slipping and it’s easy to index the knife even when not looking at it. The balance is just barely to the rear of the handguard, good for a knife with such a heavy blade as this one has and it stands on it’s own as it should when open.
The safety lock presents a bit of a learning curve if you’re not used to it as I wasn’t but it proved to be easy to manipulate once I got the hang of it, even with gloves on. If you’re going to put the knife into heavy use it’s probably an ok thing to have an extra layer of safety, I know I wasn’t worried when I was testing the knife and I haven’t been since even when cutting things I wouldn’t attempt with my old knife.
Included in it’s design are lashing points that can be used in combination with the grooved handle and the handguard to create a formidable spear. Another use where the extra safety lock would be appreciated.
It also passed the 2 foot drop test into new wood!
The biggest change for me was the Veff Serrations™ which provide superior cutting power of rope and straps and especially wood. The notch I cut into the pallet at the end of the video was deep enough to hold my 7.62 VEPR rifle barrel and it didn’t take 20 seconds to do it.
This is a VERY capable knife which should stand up to all the use I can give it before passing it down to one of my Grandsons.
Garfield out.
