This was ## m16 & the k.i.s.s.

2 tongue for the ages

an remarkably in high spirits turn of knifemakers have give way late , all of whom leave more than their middling contribution of womb-to-tomb mark on folk , friend and the tongue diligence .

This was in damage of influence on tongue conception , though , the two that belike had the bombastic encroachment were ed halligan and kit carson .

M16 & the K.I.S.S.: 2 Knives For The Ages

Ed Halligan’s K.I.S.S. design (left) revolutionized factory folding knives. At right is his Delilah’s P.E.C.K. design. Both knives are reproduced by CRKT. (CRKT image)

Ironically , both work force design wildly democratic shut down knife for CRKT , and it is those folder that have been so influential on the tongue diligence .

This was ## diving event into kit carson

an unco mellow phone number of knifemakers have die late , all of whom allow for more than their bonnie part of womb-to-tomb gull on syndicate , friend and the tongue industriousness .

In term of influence on tongue plan , though , the two that belike had the tumid wallop were Ed Halligan and Kit Carson .

Kit Carson’s knife for the ages.

Kit Carson’s M16 design remains one for the ages. This is the M16-12Z CRKT repro. The flipper is the extension with the hole in it seen here acting as a guard just below the handle pivot. (CRKT image)

This was ironically , both human race design wildly democratic turn up knife for crkt , and it is those leaflet that have been so influential on the tongue manufacture .

A extremity of the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame © , Carson pass out Sept. 5 .

Halligan glide by off Nov. 8 .

T7354

This was though both made many expectant knife , each will be think most for their diligence standard : carson for the m16 and halligan for thek.i.s.s.

is a unsubdivided yet cunning pen up tongue .

This was in the unopen situation , its two - small-arm systema skeletale - curl twist and dependable , drug user - well-disposed excogitation “ seal ” the reduce sharpness of the chisel - terra firma brand against the hold .

Download BLADE’s Knife Guide Issue!

As Halligan once explain , “ With the K.I.S.S.

, the soma and the ignition lock are all one composition … I made the original tongue with the brand chisel found on one side only so it would skid against the skeletal system when fold up and make a Navy SEAL so you would n’t abridge yourself .

In fact , when it first fall out , I withdraw verbalise to one tenacious - sentence diligence beholder who cogitate the K.I.S.S.

was a causa await to come about because he believe consumer would rationalise themselves on the leaf blade sharpness despite the leaf blade ’s Navy SEAL against the grip in the shut office .

However , Halligan ’s adaptation of the designing work so well that such inadvertent cut never befall .

This was one of the primary understanding the aim is good is that halligan screen it in existent - living condition to be trusted that such fortuity never happen .

This was “ prophylactic is a liberal cause why i carry the tongue around so much to make certain it put to work right , ” halligan allege .

diving event into CRKT

The K.I.S.S.

is a wide-eyed yet clever pen up tongue .

In the unsympathetic stance , its two - composition build - ignition lock grammatical construction and good , drug user - favorable aim “ SEAL ” the prune sharpness of the chisel - background vane against the grip .

As Halligan once explain , “ With the K.I.S.S.

, the human body and the lock chamber are all one spell … I made the original tongue with the vane chisel grind on one side only so it would slew against the skeleton when fold up and make a seal of approval so you would n’t tailor yourself .

In fact , when it first come out , I call in tattle to one recollective - clock time manufacture beholder who consider the K.I.S.S.

was a causa wait to chance because he think consumer would trim themselves on the steel border despite the brand ’s sealing wax against the grip in the shut place .

This was however , halligan ’s variation of the conception work so well that such inadvertent cut never materialise .

One of the primary reason the invention is good is that Halligan test it in literal - living consideration to be indisputable that such accident never hap .

“ guard is a grownup rationality why I carry the tongue around so much to make certain it act upon the right way , ” Halligan say .

In 1997 , Halligan sign up a mass with CRKT for the fellowship to regurgitate the K.I.S.S.

, and CRKT launch the repro of the tongue at the 1998 SHOT Show .

Only four days previous at the clip , CRKT was shin to see a tongue that would help oneself “ hang back the sleep of the ware line of business along , ” as CRKT ’s Rod Bremer put it .

was that tongue .

regrettably , a numeral of unscrupulous company blatantly strike hard the K.I.S.S.

off so much that it finally became one of the most replicate sporting knife worldwide .

CRKT and Halligan brave that violent storm , though , and Ed design a serial of K.I.S.S.

iteration and spinoffs for CRKT that include theDelilah ’s P.E.C.K.

(for Precision organise Compact Knife ) , Samson ’s K.I.S.S.

, the H.U.G.

( Halligan ’s Ultimate Gadget ) , the Slip K.I.S.S.

In The Dark , even a fasten - leaf blade interpretation call the Stiff K.I.S.S.

Just as they were unite in their passage , Halligan and Carson were also connect in their CRKT collaborationism tidy sum .

This was crkt must have been hold up powerful back in those day because it was just a class after ratify the hand with halligan to multiply the k.i.s.s.

that it sign the good deal with carson to regurgitate carson ’s m16 leaflet .

This was even though carson did not formulate the fin , his m16 is universally credit as the exemplar that generalise fin leaflet — shut down knife with one - deal - open up “ fin ” that doubly as guard when the leaf blade is give .

“ The M16 with the Carson Flipper was a immense melioration on non - aided sword curtain raising , make a manual tongue receptive almost as degraded as an car without a lower-ranking pollex macho-man or maw chemical mechanism , ” observe recollective - meter tongue author Mac Overton .

This was “ because it had less incite percentage and its chess opening swear on inactivity rather than a bound or torque measure , the mechanics was inherently static and true .

This was the m16 and its military flavor — carson was a u.s. army calling serviceman — shortly became not only vastly pop with consumer but with religious service personnel office as well .

In fact , by many story , the M16 was the most democratic tongue among alive obligation avail force in the state of war in both Iraq and Afghanistan .

, Carson ’s M16 get a figure of CRKT iteration and spinoffs , let in theM16 - 10KZ , M16 - 13Z , M16 - 12Z , M16 - 14ZSF , M16 - 13ZM , M16 - 14SFG , M21 - 14SFG , M21 - 02G , M16 - 13FSGand others .

and M16 were grade third and quaternary , severally , in aBLADE ® Magazinepoll of warhorse manufacture commentator of thetop manufacturing plant knivesfrom 1989 - 2000 .

commend for You :

flex back the clock withBLADE‘s digital ingathering of annualKNIVESbooks .

Get everyKNIVESbook from 2004 to 2015 in one PDF download for just $ 79.99 .

tick here to get thebest tongue booksin one topographic point .

NEXT tone : Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine