2007 Tyrade Passaround Reviews

nygiantsfan3342

nygiantsfan3342

Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
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To all Tryade Passaround participants:

Please put your pictures and review here, so we don't have 12 different threads on the same knife. This place is getting congested as it is, so let's make it easier for a potential buyer to find all the info he or she needs in one place. If someone comes to BladeForums looking for info on the Kershaw Tyrade, I want this thread to be the definitive source for Tyrade info and pictures.

Please limit replies in this thread. I want this Review Thread to be as informative as possible. Posts like "That's a great knife." and "Oohhh I want one!" don't really contribute much, so lets keep your posts in this thread limited to reviews and pictures.

If you are not a passaround participant, but would like to contribute your pictures and real-world experiences and opinions, please do so! Thanks for understanding ya'll!

jujigatame, could you please copy and paste the first post from your review thread into this one? Thanks!
 
sounds like a plan to me. so far i have gotten great reviews and not so great reviews of the Tyrade. I doubt i will hate the knife, but i know it wont top my favorite. should be interesting to see if the "yay's" or the "nay's" win in my opinon.
 
nygiantsfan3342 said:
jujigatame, could you please copy and paste the first post from your review thread into this one? Thanks!
Click to expand...


Consider it done...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The passaround Tyrade came today and I have to say I think it's a really, really cool knife. It is big, a real hand-filler for me. Very solid and smooth. The F&F is great on the handles, CF onlays and blade. The only blemishes I can find are some blurs on the line between the two steels on the blade. Knife fires hard and locks up nicely. So far I have cut open a bag of chocolate cookies (very tasty) and then made angled push cuts on some newsprint (not so tasty, who knew? :) )

I'll have more pics and thoughts up in a review after my turn is over, but this is what I've got for now. For reference, the other knife shown next to the Tyrade is a BM 525 Mini Presidio.

Last, but not least, thanks to Kershaw and Jeremy for the chance to try out the knife.




 
Here are some pics and comments about the Tyrade.

Some of the food I cut included an apple…



Chicken breast and the subsequent sandwich it was made into…



Chicken tenders…



Not tough materials, I know, but the knife worked well on all of them. The high grind was good for the apple, no binding or getting stuck like you might have with a some hollow grinds or other blade styles. The chicken breast was cut neatly without getting shredded. Parts of the tenders were still frozen when cut but it didn’t present any problem. All in all, the Tyrade did very nicely for cutting foods.

Next was some cardboard. Only one I took a pic of was a soda 12-pack box.



The knife drew through this thin cardboard with almost no effort. On some larger, heavier corrugated boxes the knife cut great. No binding and no need for adjusting my grip. The edge showed no deformities at all after the cardboard, didn’t feel one bit less sharp than the first time I opened the knife and it still shaved armhair.

One thing that bugged me a bit was the size of the clip and how much of the knife was exposed over the top of the pocket.



In khakis that have a baggier fit as opposed to jeans it’s a bit better, but still quite noticeable.



I like how the clip looks on the knife, and expect it to be the way it is given the designer and his style, but it kind of announces “Hey, pocket knife here!” For some folks that’s not an issue but for others who prefer or need a knife that is discreet in terms of visibility I imagine it could be a legitimate impediment. Also, the carbon fiber pieces with their nooks and crannies did sometimes cause hang-ups with insertion and removal of the knife into the pocket. For me it didn’t go past the point of a relatively minor annoyance and I don’t know if carrying the knife for longer than a week would have led to it being more annoying or if it would be something that I’d adjust to and make modifications for. Probably the latter, but it’s only a guess.

Opening and closing the knife was the very easy. The tab is nice, not that big. I would perhaps prefer the top surface of the tab to be set at more of an angle than it is, making the tab closer to the 90 degree corner of a right triangle, but that’s personal preference rather than an issue with the component’s performance. The AO was solid, though it just wasn’t quite as snappy as my Bump or the Cyclone I used to have. Maybe this is due to a greater blade mass or a slightly tigher pivot, perhaps a combination of the two. I did not make any adjustments to the pivot since it wasn’t necessary and I didn’t want to introduce any blade play. Disengaging the lockbar was smooth. The amount of force needed was a bit more than for my Bump. The serrations on the lockbar give good purchase.

Overall, the Tyrade is a hell of a knife. As a showpiece I think it’s one of the nicest you could get for a production model. The quality is excellent and the finished product delivers on the promise of the materials and design. I think it could be tough to find better eye candy for the money. As a user I think the Tyrade will hold up very well. The aforementioned excellent quality gives a feeling that you could really put the knife to work and be rewarded with strong and consistent performance. Yes, I only had the knife for a week, but given my experiences with other Kershaw knives I feel confident about that statement.

I think that covers it for now, but if anyone has any questions please feel free to send me a PM and I can make an addition to this review if necessary.

Thanks again to Kershaw and to Jeremy for the chance to use this impressive knife.
 
ok so i had some time to play with the knife....first off---wow.....this thing is stout......i love the strength and size of this knife....today using my blur sg2 felt lke using a tothpick......i like the overall design alot....the thing i didn't like was the clip....it felt really tight...i didn't wanna fiddl with it obviously because it's not my knife....it was hard to get it in and out of my jeans.......if it was looser and maybe a hair smaller it would be perfect........i like the blade size and shape.....on my blur i just sharpened out the recurve section....i hate recurves so i just make em straight on the stones.....obviously i didn't do that in this case but i would over time if it was mine......i thought the knife was well worth the money......it is very solid.....did i mention how solid it was.....this was my first experience with a frame lock....i found it alot harder to close the knife with one hand than my blur......i got used to it after a few days though.....it seemed like a really solid lock up to me.....i can only imagine the zt line in cmparison......this knife looks like it could hold up to alot of hard use for a folder......i just used a leather strop to touch up the edge ....i didn't have time to sharpen it but it kept it's sharpness well over the few days i used it.......i would've liked to sharpen it to test out the steel on my stones.....i don't have alot of kershaws at this point....i have a needs work folder and a kershaw blur sg2......i know some people are wondering how this knfe can be so much more expensive......trust me it is worth it....from the size of the handle and frame....the big blade......it flips open just as fast as the assisted opening knives....maybe a hair slower........i was shocked at how nice it was....there is a big difference between the blur at around a street price of 100 dollars and the tyrade at about 200 or so.....it is definately twice the knife in comparison.....keep in mind this is from someone really cheap too....i would definately consider a tyrade and kershaw's other higher end knives.....thanks to nygiantsfan and kershaw for making this possible.......ryan
 
If questions are not allowed here please just delete my post.

Does anyone know how the carbon fiber piece is attached to the handle, I'm just wondering if it is removable or if it's glued in place.

Thanks
 
I don't know how the CF is held on. Given that the pivot screw and stop pin are the only visible attachment points between the two handles, I did wonder how it was anchored, and also how this knife would be taken apart. There would figure to be other screws or pins under the CF and through the backbar, but I guess only Kershaw could say for certain. This construction does make the knife look and feel seemless, all of a piece, which is part of its cool factor.
 
My impressions of the Tyrade:

When I first opened the package, I was surprised how big it was. It was a lot bigger than I imagined it to be. The fit and finish were almost perfect, I couldn't find any imperfections. The blade was perfectly centered, the scales and spacer were flush at all areas, and the grinds and edge bevel were perfect and symmetrical. I have no experience with custom knives, and this is probably the most expensive knife I've handled. Nonetheless, the high quality craftsmanship and attention to detail were apparent, and had probably the best fit and finish on any knife I've handled, from Kershaw, BM and Spyderco.

The frame lock was very beefy, and it locked up at about half the blade width. No play in any direction, the knife feels very solid when locked up. The speedsafe mechanism felt very positive on the Tyrade, it fires and snaps hard after a slight nudge of the flipper. The weight of the blade really gives the knife an authoritative 'thwack' as it opens. Very satisfying. Closing the blade with one hand was a bit difficult as first, as I have small hands. I got used to the pressure and the massive blade after opening and closing for a bit though.

Ergos:

The Tyrade fit my hands perfectly, and felt perfectly natural in saber grip, hammer grip, and reverse grip. The gold andonized titanium handles had a nice, grippy texture. The carbon fiber overlays also aided somewhat in grippyness as well.

Performance:

I was only able to carry the Tyrade for a couple days, due to the knife arriving right before Christmas. I was able to use it for a few EDC tasks though. When the knife arrived, the Tyrade was sharp, but not as sharp as I'd like. I touched up the edge on a sharpmaker, at the 40 degree setting. The CPM D2 was easy to touch up, and easily could push cut paper after a couple strokes on each side.

The Tyrade carries pretty well in the pocket. It is fairly slim, and a little wide. I barely noticed it carried in the right front pocket of jeans. I was not a fan of the tip down only carry, and would have preferred a right hand tip up clip. I believe that Kershaw is doing a tip down clip as a safety measure though, as it is an AO without a safety. I also didn't like the choice of the re-hashed clip (Storm II). I think a nice, stylized but low profile clip would suit it better. The knife and clip are just too flashy and noticeable when clipped to your pocket.

For the EDC tasks I use my knife for, opening envelopes, opening packages, and cutting carboard boxes, the Tyrade performed flawlessly. The high flat grind allowed the Tyrade to slice through all the medium effortlessly, and the CPM D2 stayed very sharp. Unfortunately, that was all I was able to cut.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Tyrade is an impressive knife. The choice of high end materials, great design, and impeccable fit and finish make this a knife an incredible deal for a production knife. Though I would be too afraid to use it in fear of scratching such a beauty, the Tyrade definitely seems to be capable of hard use.

Thanks Jeremy and Kershaw for making this passaround possible!
 
Re-Posted from "Tyrade Passaround Sign-Up List & Guidelines" 12-25-2007, 03:01 PM

When I got the soggy package from Ryan(it sure was raining) I didn’t expect a knife that is as large as a Strider.

The fit & finish of the knife is done very nicely. It locks up tight with no horizontal or vertical play. I don’t like the insets on the handle, as mentioned before I also found that the Tyrade was snagging on my pocket and waistband.

I had trouble at first unlocking the blade. I was moving the lock laterally and it sometimes took a couple of tries before it would close. This problem was cured when I realized that if I first pushed downward with my thumb and then laterally the lock would slide over easily.

My first chore for the Tyrade was to cut up the box it came in. I uses it to trim a skirt steak, slice vegetables and to whittle & shave tinder. It performed all tasks easily. The knife is sharp and stayed sharp. My preference goes to lighter folders. I would carry a fixed blade on my belt or in my waistband to do the jobs instead of the Tyrade.

I understand that the blade is constructed using to metals that are joined together using copper. It will be interesting to me to see how these blades hold up over time.

I want to thank nygiantsfan3342 for organizing the passaround and for the opportunity to use this knife.

Maybe I’m wrong, but Ryan sent the Tyrade to me on 12/11. I think I received it December 12-14. I sent the knife out 12/21. I had the knife a total of 10 days or less, I had the knife a couple of days more than the 7 days agreed upon. I should have posted that I received the knife. I want to apologize to all of you that got so concerned about the whereabouts of the Tyrade.

nygiantsfan3342 thanks for the kind words.
 
I am giving my first impressions.Received Tyrade yesterday and I like it.Kind of feels like a mini-machete to me.The balance is right on and the grip is "perfect" for me.I also really like the carbon composite trim on the handle it gives the fingertips fret-like control when flipping the massive chunk of 154cm out of its Titanium housing.The clip is placed in such a way that the CF trim just grabs the fabric on my pants pocket to give it a little extra security(won't fall out).I like that but it takes a little practice to rip it out without stumbling.
By the way I got the knife case and the knife on the same day both in great shape.Next to cut something.
 
My time with the Tyrade is over.This was a nice opportunity to test drive a fine knife.Thank you nygiantsfan3342 for taking the time to make this possible.I am getting it ready to mail out to z_man11.
I really like this knife it seemed large at first but now it really feels comfortable,all blade and very easily controlled.I like that there are no thumb studs on the blade.I like that the flipper part of the blade also hooks with the index finger when pulling the knife out of my pocket.The cpm d2 tool steel is mighty fine.
On thing though I wonder how the knife can be disassembled because the carbon fiber laminate seems to be glued over the screws the only screw I can find is the pivot screw.Any insight here?
Anyway thanks again Jeremy,and BladeForums.com for this playground.
 
I liked it so much I bought one it just arrived this weekend.:thumbup:
 
Just sent it out to Tom Krein...hated to see it go.

Overall I thought that the fit and finish were top notch. Also, the handle fit my hand very well, with the grooves for the thumb rest quite comfortable to use. Sizewise, it was a little large for an EDC, at least for me. I did carry it quite a bit when off work, and found it quite easy to get out of pocket and deploy.

One thing that I didn't really care for was the bronze colored finish on the handle. Just having it for a short time it was hard to keep clean and I feel that it would show scratches, etc very easily. Guess tht's why they make G10 and FRN.

Once again, I think that the knife is really a great tribute to Kershaw's striving to set the bar in new thinking and quality!

Johnny
 
just received the tyrade from mr.krein today! very nice knife! can't do pics yet,no camera.:) but sizewise it's close in size with my zt 200,but the zt is heavier. i like the way it feels in my hand. locks open solidly. the ao makes it open quickly. seems to cut pretty good,did a good job on cutting box that it was mailed in. don't really care too much for the clip as it is too large for my tastes, plus i like tip-up carry. i do like the blade and the combination of the two steels! all and all i am most impressed by this offering from kershaw!:)
 
GREAT Knife, great ergos, great blade.
I am mixed on the clip-would prefer black. On a bigger knife I prefer very little of the knife to stick out of the pocket. Also would prefer slightly longer flipper.

I love this knife otherwise.
 
I really liked this knife! It cut much better than I expected. Just enough point to work as an EDC for me.

I LOVE the looks or it!

Thanks for letting me play with it!

Tom
 
to finish my review, i really like the knife and the only thing i disliked is the clip. i would like a more subdued clip and really like a tip up carry. but that's just me.:)
 
As for the clip, anyone who buys a Tyrade and wants a clip to give the knife a deeper ride, just check under makers and go to STR's forum. He makes a deep ride clip for the Tyrade that sets the entire knife in your pocket with nothing but the clip showing. I covered my clip with some 3M tape for a subdued look and to aid in gripping the knife when it comes out of my pocket.

After laying my Tyrade out alongside my ZT0200, and ZT0500 I agree with your assessment Jack. The Tyrade is only a smidge shorter, and a smidge ain't much. Even with the beefy titanium frame and beefy blade, the Tyrade is still more than a smidge thinner than the two ZT's, and with the flat profile it rides in the pocket very well.

The lock bar has enough stiffness to require you to push it over as a concious decision and I do not think you would accidently push it over without realizing that you had.

The Tyrade is a heckuva' knife and well worth the asking price.:thumbup:
 
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