A Look At The Kershaw 1760 Skyline (What was TNP thinking???)

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O great I just ordered two of these knives from KnifeOutlet!!!!!!!!!!!! I ordered the Damascus version though one for me and one for my dad for his birthday next month. I hope I'm not disappointed but I also ordered a Kershaw RAM and I'm going to let him choose which one he wants.
 
I like the Skyline, but I can understand someone disagreeing with Nutnfancy's review of it. Weight plays too much of a factor in his reviews for me--I think it tends to cause him to overlook or minimize a knife's shortcomings. I don't consider the thumbstuds on the Skyline to be a practical option. I'm left-handed and the thumbstud on that side is even worse than the one for rightys. I consider the studs to be blade stops and would say that Kershaw is stretching if they claim the studs are anything more than that. Regarding the flipper, it does take a little technique compared to some other flippers. Try building up some pressure by pushing down on the flipper before causing it to release the blade. Yours looks a little stiffer than mine did out of the box-I'd expect that to improve with use though. Can't really say much about the pocket clip because(being a lefty and the clip being nonreversible) I took it off as soon as I got my Skyline. I view my Skyline sort of as a pseudo-gentleman's folder. I agree with you that the blade is the best thing about the Skyline.

Jkulysses, the RAM is head and shoulders above the Skyline, IMHO, but I still think the Skyline is a very nice knife.
 
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I have an early Skyline in 13C26. I agree 100% with the poor implementation of thumbstuds if used as thumbstuds. The flipper out of the box was a bit stiff. And I do think it demands a bit of a "trick" to flip open reliably. Push the flipper into the blade handle, rather than parallel to the blade handle. This seems to induce more pressure into overcoming the closing bias, so that when the blade does disengage the detente, it does so with more momentum, allowing the blade to swing out all the way.

No issues with the clip.

On mine, the blade edge makes contact with the back spacer when closed. The spacer is some kind of plastic, and doesn't seem to really affect the edge in any way. I don't know if this is still an issue with the knife, or if mine was an anomaly. I could see knife nuts taking a dim view of this characteristic, though.

Interestingly, I have two different Kershaws of the same period in 13C26 that left me unimpressed with the implementation. Both blades had issues with weak, easily rolled edges out of the box, and needed significant work to get down to good steel. This was not an issue with other Kershaws I own in different steels like 420HC, or AUS 6. These two knives may have been a coincidence, as I've not head of many complaints about 13C26 in this regard.
 
Nedser said:
I like the Skyline, but I can understand someone disagreeing with Nutnfancy's review of it. Weight plays too much of a factor in his reviews for me--I think it tends to cause him to overlook or minimize a knife's shortcomings.
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I agree and would add that a low price is another factor which seems to color his perceptions above other considerations. Everyone has their biases and preferences.

I don't consider the thumbstuds on the Skyline to be a practical option. I'm left-handed and the thumbstud on that side is even worse than the one for rightys. I consider the studs to be blade stops and would say that Kershaw is stretching if they claim the studs are anything more than that. Regarding the flipper, it does take a little technique compared to some other flippers. Try building up some pressure by pushing down on the flipper before causing it to release the blade. Yours looks a little stiffer than mine did out of the box-I'd expect that to improve with use though.
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Thanks - I'll give that technique a shot. :thumbup:
 
I love my skyline the blade shape is perfect to me and the grip is very comfortable. It does take a very small flick of the hand for the flipper to fully deploythe blade. I agree that while the thumbstuds can be used for deployment they are lousy at it and really don't think they were intended to be used in that way. The clip is middle of the road for me, it does what its supposed to do. My skyline came very sharp out of the box as well and has held a descent edge. I don't follow the TNP channel regularly I have watched some of his reviews some which are good and some I could not make it through. He looks at knives from a different point of view than I do not saying thats a bad thing just different. He does focus on weight alot and can't get enough jimping lol :) For $35 bucks its a great deal imo.
 
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Rolex John said:
I'll give that technique a shot. :thumbup:
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Even put some forward pressure on the flipper as you're pressing it into the handle before you pop the blade open. Might take a little practice before you're able to open the Skyline consistently without a wrist flick.
 
That clip looks like an enlarged version of the ZT style clip but thicker and more obtrusive and stiff.

The flipper issue you mention is exactly why flippers just don't move me. I don't hate them but I have to "need" a flipper knife for a real reason, rather than just knife addiction to own one. I've had Ti JYD's with the same deployment issue and sold them because deployment was just too dramatic for me, especially in public, even after break in. Let's face it, when you have to use a dramatic wrist flip to use a legal folder in soccer mom territory you still risk freaking out the flock. The problem with loosening the pivot was, as you encountered, is that if you adjust the pivot to make the knife easier to deploy with just a finger flip you start to develop side to side blade play and the blade centering starts to drift - or both.

And I too consider the studs as nothing more than the blade stop.

The Skyline overall, is an attractive knife though and I love the blade profile.

If KAI isn't using Nylon or Nylatron washers in these knives already, I wonder if that would improve the deployment performance. The Spyderco Superleaf uses them as does the Jim Burke Pro Rockstar and not only is there zero blade play at this point but those two knives are THE smoothest opening knives I have ever deployed. I'm ok with those washers in some usage configurations. Certainly where low friction is desirable. Doesn't Rick Hinderer use this washer material too?
 
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Flipper technique. You're not going to get a knife that fully deploys from that "limp-wristed" approach unless you have the pressure-building technique. It flies open VERY fast if you have it down, no wrist movements necessary at all.

It's actually quite satisfying once you have it down. Just takes a little bit of practice.

If you want something that will open when you have your hand so far down on the knife, then you need an assisted opener or an IKBS knife.

The thumbstuds were designed as blade stops, but I can see what you mean by the handles being flush. You can always sand / dremel the G-10 area near the studs and get a more positive purchase that way.

The pocket clip is the exact same size as the ZT pocket clips, IIRC. You can easily bend the clip out slightly with a flathead screwdriver to make it less stiff. I've never had any issues with the clips.

The skyline also incorporates PB washers. Like I said, once you have the technique down and have played with it for a couple days, it flies open positively every single time with ample force.

Hopefully I've clarified most of the issues brought up.
 
i think knivesandguns hit it right on the head with that post in all regards. i quite like the flipper and with some added pressure find that it is very easy to open, and, unlike my AO kershaw whirlwind, doesn't open on its own when mistakenly dropped while closed. i wish more non-AO flippers were out there actually. unfortunately for me it seems that most are AO, although i've read the AO can be removed without too much difficulty. good posts everyone.
 
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knivesandguns said:
Flipper technique. You're not going to get a knife that fully deploys from that "limp-wristed" approach unless you have the pressure-building technique. It flies open VERY fast if you have it down, no wrist movements necessary at all.

It's actually quite satisfying once you have it down. Just takes a little bit of practice.

If you want something that will open when you have your hand so far down on the knife, then you need an assisted opener or an IKBS knife.

The thumbstuds were designed as blade stops, but I can see what you mean by the handles being flush. You can always sand / dremel the G-10 area near the studs and get a more positive purchase that way.

The pocket clip is the exact same size as the ZT pocket clips, IIRC. You can easily bend the clip out slightly with a flathead screwdriver to make it less stiff. I've never had any issues with the clips.

The skyline also incorporates PB washers. Like I said, once you have the technique down and have played with it for a couple days, it flies open positively every single time with ample force.

Hopefully I've clarified most of the issues brought up.
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Very informative -- thanks.
 
Nutnfancy does do a great job on making his videos , however his opinions are just that. Opinions. Two of my biggest gripes concerning his videos is how much he whines about knife dimensions-weight and pocket clip placement.
Just because it does not work for him means nothing to the rest of the world.


There is a vast difference between opinions and facts , his videos ( like anyone else's ) should be taken with a teaspoon of salt.

Yea , those are not thumbstuds , they look like thumbstuds but they are not. It would be ridiculous for Kershaw to place those where they did and expect folks to use them as thumbstuds , thus they are bladestops.

This knife is a pure flipper thru and thru.

Those are my opinions :)

Tostig




edit - By the way , both of my Skylines flipped very easily with little effort. It is all in the wrist.
 
Tostig said:
Nutnfancy does do a great job on making his videos , however his opinions are just that. Opinions. Two of my biggest gripes concerning his videos is how much he whines about knife dimensions-weight and pocket clip placement.
Just because it does not work for him means nothing to the rest of the world.


There is a vast difference between opinions and facts , his videos ( like anyone else's ) should be taken with a teaspoon of salt.

Yea , those are not thumbstuds , they look like thumbstuds but they are not. It would be ridiculous for Kershaw to place those where they did and expect folks to use them as thumbstuds , thus they are bladestops.

This knife is a pure flipper thru and thru.

Those are my opinions :)

Tostig




edit - By the way , both of my Skylines flipped very easily with little effort. It is all in the wrist.
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Several people have said the thumbstuds aren't thumbstuds, but that's simply not the case. True, ONE of the thumbstuds doubles as a blade stop. If that was the sole function, why put one on the opposite side of the blade (which clearly does not stop the blade)? If the thumbstuds had been designed/executed better, they could function perfectly well in BOTH of their intended functions.
 
Rolex John said:
Several people have said the thumbstuds aren't thumbstuds, but that's simply not the case. True, ONE of the thumbstuds doubles as a blade stop. If that was the sole function, why put one on the opposite side of the blade (which clearly does not stop the blade)? If the thumbstuds had been designed/executed better, they could function perfectly well in BOTH of their intended functions.
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every knife i have owned with exposed stop pins has two, one on each side.

hinderer xm18, smf, sng, ar....

they are stop pins, and having one solid pin through and through prevents any movement, bending, or misaligning that may happen from repeated openings. and mine hits on both sides, not just one.



the clip is the exact same clip as on the zt's.

mine flips open easily and solidly, and did so out of the box.. the pivot has not been adjusted in any way.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
every knife i have owned with exposed stop pins has two, one on each side.

hinderer xm18, smf, sng, ar....

they are stop pins, and having one solid pin through and through prevents any movement, bending, or misaligning that may happen from repeated openings. and mine hits on both sides, not just one.
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From the KAI USA Website specs on the Skyline 1760:

FEATURES:
• Locking Liner
• Thumb Stud
• Pocket Clip
• Flipper

I hope this ends the "are they blade stops or thumbstuds" debate. They are in fact thumb studs.
 
Debates not over yet.

I've seen that on Kershaw's site back when I received my first Skyline. I wondered if they knew about their typo ? - because there is no way those are thumbstuds other than appearance. The handle isnt even cut out to provide purchase area for the thumb.

I wish Thomas would chime in on this.

If those are in fact thumbstuds they are for children or grown folks with baby thumbs.

It is pretty hard and akward - not impossible - to open the skyline using the bladestop.

:)

Tostig
 
They are without a doubt blade stops!!! Which without the blade would not lock open or close correctly! When closed only one side is a blade stop ! But, when open both contact the frame to lock the knife open !!!!
 
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