At CRKT, they like to line up their latest products and say, 'What if......" So when they stepped back from the very popular production models of their M16™ series designed by Kit Carson, they said things like: What if we made the M16-02 and M16-03 designs in materials that would encourage hard daily utility use? What if they priced them to reach even a wider audience?

What if instead of aluminum handles, they used tough, textured Zytel scales over a 420 J2 stainless steel liner interframe? What if they over-built it for rigidity like they do for the Mirage series, using a 6061T6 hard anodized aluminum back spacer? What if they assembled the handle with offset Torx fasteners? They looked at the blades and asked: What if they used tougher AUS 6M high carbon stainless steel for greater everyday utility? Finally, someone said: "Why don't we put the Carson Flipper, which is so useful on the M16-04, on the Zytel 02 and 03 models while we're at it?" So they called Knifernaker's Guild Member Kit Carson at Carson Design, and told him all their crazy ideas. Far from being offended, he was intrigued, and went to work on the M16-Z series you see here.

The handle is slightly heftier and wider than the M16, but it is exceptionally rigid. To some, it actually fills the hand better. Both styles have Teflon, bearings and a removable Teflon plated stainless steel Pocket Clip. Which Columbia River Knife and Tool M16 design is right for you? It depends on the task. Think of CRKTs original aluminum handled M16 as an Arabian stallion, purpose bred and lightweight. Think of the CRKT M16 Zytel as a Clydesdale, ready for the most intricate task or to pull a beer wagon. Every day. Day after day.