CRKT M21

Review by Phil
Elmore

The
Columbia River Knife and Tool
line of M21 knives builds on the success of their workhorse M16 series
of tactical folders. The handles and features are the same; the
blade is, instead of a spearpoint, a modified drop point with very good
belly for slicing. There are two M21 lengths available, in three
inches and just under four inches. Either can be had with partial
serrations or without. The knives’ official specifications are as
follows:

M21-14 (partially serrated) and M21-04 (plain)
Blade Length: 3.875 inches
Blade Steel: AUS 8
Closed Length: 5.375 inches
Overall Length:
9.25 inches
Weight: 5.5 ounces

M21-12 (partially serrated) and M21-02 (plain)
Blade Length: 3.00 inches
Blade Steel: AUS 8
Closed Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length:
7.25 inches
Weight: 3.2 ounces

Some
CRKT knives feature the LAWKS or the Auto-LAWKS, the manual and
spring-loaded versions of the Lake and Walker Knife Safety. This
is a small piece of metal that shifts into position to block the liner
lock and prevent it from closing. The M21 models pictured here
have manual LAWKS safeties, meaning these must be thumbed on by the
operator. The automatic LAWKS, by contrast, snaps into place as
soon as the blade opens on those CRKT knives that have it. I
believe all newer M21 models incorporate the AutoLAWKS (and have for a
while now as of this writing).

The AUS 8 blades are ground on both
sides and slightly recurved in profile. They slice very well
through a variety of test media. The relatively thick point of
the blades prevents them from penetrating as deeply as do their
spearpoint M16 cousins, but the knives perform perfectly adequately for
both utility and self-defense purposes.

Each blade is equipped with the
“Carson Flipper,” an excellent feature that allows the user to snap the
blade open with one finger. When deployed, the flipper forms a
guard and protects the user’s fingers from an accidental blade closure
(not to mention operating as a guard in use, which is the point).
The ambidextrous blade stops/thumb pegs can be used to open the
knives, but the leverage required makes this a fairly awkward and
painful operation. It’s far better to use the flipper.

The blade of the larger M21 is heavy
enough that a single push of the flipper snaps it easily into position.
The smaller blade usually opens halfway with a push of the
flipper.

The blades lock open positively with no play. The liners engage the blade tangs fully at the far left, leaving plenty of room for wear.

The CNC-machined handles of the M21 samples pictured here are of 6061 T6 aluminum, anodized to achieve the charcoal gray color.
The surfaces of the handles is relatively smooth but does not
feel too slippery, and the contours of the handles make them
comfortable and secure. Serrations on the back of the blade and
on the liner help improve grip traction.

Each knife is configured for tip-down,
right-hand carry only. The relatively thin pocket clips had good
tension out of the box, but I would prefer clips that are just a little
bit wider.

The M21 knives aren’t the most glamorous or exotic knives in the
CRKT line-up, but they’re the sort of all-purpose, well-thought-out,
affordably functional tactical folders that helped put the company on
the map in the first place. >>

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CRKT M21

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