Knifemaker Kit Carson designed the CRKT Carson M4-03 Knife as a go-anywhere, do-anything pocket blade. The Carson’s dual-sided thumb studs make for easy opening, and CRKT’s AutoLAWS system holds the blade firmly in place. The mixed flat and serrated blade works for a variety of tasks, and the sturdy handle features stainless steel liners, steel bolsters, and Zytel grip panels for great handling. CRKT also added a steel clip for low-profile pocket carrying.
Bottom Line: A time-tested blade built for everyday use.
This is a stout folder. The assisted opening works great and when open it locks up solid. It's a bit heavy, but it's strength makes up for the added weight. The AUS-8 blade came with a nice edge already on it. The pocket clip works well. I haven't put it up to any heavy use yet, but I'm sure it can handle anything you'd think to use a folding knife for. For around town use, it might be a bit heavy in the pocket, but I'm not going into the great outdoors without it.
This is a great workhorse of a knife. It feels heavy and sturdy in the hand. Upon applying some pressure to the thumb stud, it opens quickly and locks securely. I have not had any problem with accidental openings. The Zytel grip sticks great to my hand, and the ridges on the back make it easy to apply thumb pressure when cutting. The blade is very sharp right out of the box, and the serrations on my mixed blade allow serious, saw-like cutting. This is a well-made, everyday-use knife.
This is a well-made, workhorse of a knife. It's a bit on the heavy side, but that's not really a drawback (unless you don't like carrying a heavy knife, or are look for a knife for ultralight backpacking). I have the serrated model (the M4-13) and as compared to some knives, the serrations really are serious (think saw-like). The OutBurst assisted opening makes it very easy to quickly open it with one hand. Closing it with one hand can be done, but takes some practice (the technique is described on the CRKT website http://www.crkt.com/m4.html ).
