In the knife world, there are a few models or designs that have really made a mark. The 110 Folding Hunter from Buck Knives, the Para Military 2 from Spyderco, and the Gerber MKII dagger all come to mind. The M16 from CRKT has earned a spot on that list. Designed by Kit Carson, the M16 is an iconic folding knife, one that has seen use all around the world. It’s been carried by military service members, work crews, farmers, ranchers, and woods trampers since 1999.
The Man Behind the CRKT M16
Kit Carson was a 20-year Army veteran. He retired in 1993 as a Master Sergeant. While he started making knives in 1973, it was during the last decade or so of his military career that he began focusing on it in earnest. His military background heavily influenced his knife designs.
Carson’s focus was on designing and building knives that would hold up to heavy abuse in the field. By the time he was approached by Rod Bremer, co-founder of CRKT, he was already well-known in the knife industry.
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It was at BLADE Show in 1999 where Bremer got his first look at Carson’s M16 design. He was blown away by the design. Shortly thereafter, they worked out an agreement, and CRKT began producing the M16.
According to Bremer, “Kit was a common man that did uncommonly amazing things, humanly and artistically.” He quickly became a treasured member of the CRKT family.
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In addition to his reputation as a knife maker, Carson was also well-known for being a mentor and teacher for new makers. Among his many students was Ken Onion, himself a highly regarded knife maker today.
Carson was a voting member of the Knifemakers’ Guild, and he was admitted to the Cutlery Hall of Fame in 2012. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 at the age of 63.
The Flipper
The CRKT M16 was the first mass-produced folding knife that featured a flipper-style opening mechanism. That seems almost hard to believe, given how common that feature is across the knife industry today. But yes, go back just 30 years, and it was pretty much unheard of.
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To be clear, Carson didn’t invent the flipper mechanism. He refined it and incorporated it into the design of the M16. It wasn’t only a fast way to open the knife with one hand. The flipper was designed to be a guard to protect the hand once the blade was opened. This design came to be known as the Carson Flipper.
Once people got it in hand, they realized how efficient it was, and they clamored for more.
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The M16’s Impact
There have been nearly 100 variations of the M16 released to date, including different colors, finishes, and blade profiles. It has been a prominent part of the CRKT line since it debuted. Peggy Bremer, co-founder of CRKT, has said, “The KISS Knife launched us, but the M16 built us.”
Carson’s flipper design had a tremendous influence on the knife community. Flipper-style knives became, and remain, wildly popular.
The M16 has been a stalwart with military personnel. David Jacobs, a retired United States Marine Master Sergeant, is up to his third M16 folding knife. “The way Marines work, if we get a brand that we like, we’re pretty much loyal to it, until it doesn’t exist anymore.”
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The M16 and Its Variants
As we noted earlier, almost 100 different M16 models have been released since 1999. Features have included spear-point and tanto blade profiles, liner locks, Crossbar locks, Deadbolt locks, smooth or serrated blades, and even a Balisong-style handle that was released earlier this year.
My personal favorite iteration is the M16-03BK. It has a black-oxide spear-point blade and a bronze-finished handle. It’s both handsome and handy.
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Among the other new releases in 2026 are the M16-10XD and the M16-10XX. These feature tanto-style blades that have Veff Serrations. For those not familiar with them, Veff Serrations were originally developed by a knife maker named Tom Veff. This specific style of serrations is licensed exclusively to CRKT. They are distinctive for their large size and 60-degree angle.
Both models feature an ambidextrous Crossbar Lock that allows fast, one-handed deployment. Owing to the lightweight glass-reinforced nylon handles, these models tip the scales at a very modest 2.1 ounces.
M16’s Legacy
As you read or listen to people’s stories about the M16s they’ve carried, there are a few themes that crop up over and over.
- Reliability
- Dependability
- Durability
It’s a knife that’s meant to be used and abused. Every nick and scratch the knife acquires adds to its story. These aren’t safe queens, and the MSRP reflects that notion, as many models are priced well under $100.
For many users, the M16 might not have been their first knife purchase, but it’s often among their most carried and used knives. It’s earned a well-deserved place in the EDC rotation of thousands of men and women.
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