How do you take an already widely-celebrated knife and make it thrice as good? By taking the legendary CRKT M16® design imagined by one of the most notable knifemakers in history, then adding three groundbreaking innovations: Deadbolt®, Assisted Opening, and IKBS™ ball bearing pivot system. Returning with a compact 3.12” tanto blade, the M16®-02DB doesn’t just come locked and loaded, its deployment is now faster than ever. Years ago, knife designer Kit Carson gave us a timeless classic. Now, it’s back with a whole new legacy to fulfill. Once upon a time in his shop in Vine Grove, Kentucky, the late Kit Carson designed the original M16®. It would later skyrocket to popularity and become an iconic design celebrated by fans throughout the knife community. But before Kit would step into his role as an innovative knife designer, he would ambitiously climb the military ranks, dedicating the earlier part of his life to earning the prestigious title as Master Sergeant. Some might say that somewhere between Kit’s 20 years of military service and his respect for the outdoors, the M16® is just as tough as the designer who brought it to life. Now, continuing Kit’s legacy, the M16®-02DB incorporates all the best components from the original tactically-inspired folding knife, only now featuring a more compact 3.12” tanto blade constructed of powerful D2 steel. And while it’s modeled after Kit’s time-honored design, the M16®-02DB is a triple threat of innovation, coming together to form a single, supreme carry. Working in tandem, Ken Onion’s lightning-fast Assisted Opening matches seamlessly with Flavio Ikoma’s IKBS™ ball bearing pivot system, achieving a super smooth and quick deployment action. Besides its sheer speed, the M16®-02DB also tackles the test of strength. Thanks to Flavio Ikoma’s Deadbolt® technology, once the blade is locked into place, you can trust it to triumph over moments of hard stress and endurance. A true master of speed, stability, and strength, just one try with the M16®-02DB and you’ll know it means serious business. After all, it can only get better when it hails from a classic.