Customer Reviews

Columbia River Knife and Tool M16-13SFG 3-1/2-Inch Special Forces Folding Knife with Veff Serrated Blade

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CRKT M16-13SFG- a lightweight, durable, useful knife

PROS:
Flippers- The hilt formed by the flippers is extremely handy for protecting knuckles and fingers. I use one for opening, and the other side for closing the knife. I've heard complaints from some people that the flippers keep it from resting right while its in a pocket, but i've found that they are extremely useful for pulling the knife out of a pocket.
autoLAWKS- takes a while to get used to, but ultimately a good idea and adds an additional sense of security.
Veff Serrations- many people don't like the look or the single-edge grind, but i like the more elegant, longer serrations on the sfg. in addition, they seem to be much more effective at cutting through layers of cardboard than more typical serrations, and there is less friction provided by these serrations, meaning a smoother, less bumpy cut.

CONS:
Blade finish-The finish on the blade can be marred- I'm going to be 100% fair and say that I havn't attempted to clean it beyond rubbing the blade down with a rag, but dirt/scratches show up much more on the coated blade than they would on a non-coated blade.
Factory applied lubrication- The oil put on by the factory left a slight blackish grey stain on my khaki work pants where the clip shows on the outside of the pocket. I should have cleaned the knife before I started carrying it, my fault.

Definately in this case the pros outweigh the cons, and I would recommend this knife to anyone looking for a quality tool.

I decided to pick this up to see how it fit, size-wise, in comparison to its larger sibling the M16-14SFG. I own several 16-10Z EDCs and picked up the 14SFG for something a bit more robust. While it is admirable in its price range (as are all CRKT knives that I've had the opportunity to own) it turned out to be a bit bigger than I'd want to carry on my shoulder harness as a multi-function knife. Opened it was bigger and heavier than the Blackhawk Nightedge (okay, its a tad bit shorter, but I swear its heavier).

As such, I opted to try the 16-13SFG, and it really fit the bill for what I was looking for. Somewhat larger than the 16-10EDC, yet still having a much thinner and lighter blade thans its larger sibling, the 14SFG. Yet is retains the dual'hilt' and the veff serrations, which I growing fond of. If you are looking for a somewhat more agressive alternative in same price/size range as the Gerber Evo, the CRKT M16-13SFG (or the 13Z if you'd prefer to have a single, smaller, folding lever) is a great option.

In all of the CRKT knives that I own, they have decent quality steel, solid construction, decent edge retention, and I really prefer the CRKT LAWKS double locking system over comprable single-lockers like the Gerber Evo (of which I have a few, both full and Jr.). The LAWKS system is easy-to-use, and gives you a more solid feeling of safetly that the knife will STAY OPEN, even if you are putting some grippy torque on the handle and blade. Look, I "use" my knives when in the field, they're not just for looks, so the CRKT knives combination of price, quality, durability, and the LAWKS system really works for me. And if one does break (which has not happened yet) it won't break the bank like one of my Case or CS knives would. ;-)

Length:: 7:42 Mins

If you want a tactical folder, you can't go wrong with the CRKT Special Forces series. The full crossguard has multiple uses, including the many ways one can deploy the blade open which is featured in my video. At the heart, this is a slender straight tanto knife making it a simple and effective to use.

Love everything about the knife, including the fact it has a full hilt, except the hilt is too big a super knurled, so it's hard to get in your pocket.

i dont need a thirty page novel to tell you this knife is a quality knife it opens smooth nests tight and is rock solid when open. it has a razor sharp edge but the only set back is that the veff serrations do chip easly but they only chip so far then remain razor sharp so its not so much as a default but more of a breaking in.

This is an wonderful fixed blade self-defense (SD) weapon, disguised as a folder! The Auto-Lawks system is simple and easy to use one-handed, and does indeed lock the blade and hold it in position as if it were a fixed blade weapon. It is sharp out of the box, holds an edge well, and offers the thrusting penetration for which tanto blades are known. It is smaller than a typical combat knife but that is not a disadvantage as it is big enough to do the job while being small enough to carry inconspicuously.

As an every day carry (EDC) knife it is capable of handling all of the little jobs that come up: opening letters and packages, cutting rope, reducing cardboard boxes, etc.. I have even put it to use in a restaurant that served great steaks but steak knives that were so dull that they were more like butter knives! Some folks look askance at this knife but if you just use it and put it away, they'll go back to ignoring you; on the other hand, if you wave it around like some crazed mall-ninja, you might have a problem.

Finally, the issue of the double "flippers", which some reviewers have a problem with: remember, this is designated as a "Special Forces" knife, a fighting knife - the "flippers" make a double hilt, which offers protection from the other guy's blade in combat. However, the size of this double hilt, and the grind of the blade, make it easy to "shorten-up" for delicate cutting jobs.

PRO:
1. Fast, easy opening
2. ABSOLUTE lock-up via Auto-Lawks
3. Arrives sharp, holds an edge
4. Veff serrations much more effective than regular ones
5. functions well in both EDC and SD roles

Cons:
1. None noted

Conclusion:
A near-perfect solution for anyone needing a knife!

I purchased this knife as a general purpose utility knife and back up personal defense weapon. It succeeds in both roles. The size is just right for pocket carry but still generous enough to give good purchase when slicing or thrusting. The dual flippers serve as a reasonable if not overly large guard for the blade and while not as good as those found on a dedicated combat knife, it works well enough. The tanto point is useful for penetrating into tougher material like plywood or drywall (I don't advise using this as a drywall knife, but let's face it, in a pinch you need to know what your blade can do), and the "veff" serrations are very effective at making long efficient slices through cardboard or rope- much more so than the traditional serration pattern. While you'll never confuse this for a Spyderco or a Benchmade, for what you pay, you get a solid, easy handling knife that will do any reasonable thing you ask it to.

I ordered this for my deployment in Afghanistan. It arrived within a week of ordering (which was a surprise) Packaging was intact and the knife was in excellent condition. Very sharp straight out of the box and will hopefully be rugged enough to endure everything i throw it at. The locking mechanism is very good, i don't see the blade slipping out of the locked position at all.

Wonderful knife overall. Sharp blade out of the box. Good heft/weight to it makes it feel solid and well built, which it is. The auto lawks system is interesting and does take a little getting used to. Love the black straight tanto blade, which matches my ka-bar combat/fixed blade knife. However, my one tiny complaint is that the torque-wrench size needed to move the belt clip is really small and not something I have, thus preventing me from taking it completely apart for cleaning or whatever else.

EDIT: 1/13/12 Planning on returning the knife, in addition to my tiny complaint the knife hurts to close and after reading reviews and additional information about knives in general apparently being able to open the knife all the way and clean/maintain it is rather important and thus a deal breaker for me.

This is a great knife. Awesome multipurpose blade. The build quality is exceptional (what you would expect from a CRKT). The locking mechanism is tricky for first time users, but once you get it, it is a breeze to open and close one handed.

The knife is very sharp and has stayed sharp even after many months of use. I use this for camping, shooting, and occassionaly everyday carry. Although, this knife is a little too big and heavy for everyday carry, I like to have it when I am on vacation or other special circumstances.

Note however that the black stain on the metal of the blade will wear off with time. Not a big deal since it is a knife and not meant to win any beauty contests, but be aware that the blade will not stay that nice black after a lot of use.

Overall, highly recommended.