Any older Kershaw experts?

[jeffsenpai]

Well, not that old depending on your point of view.

I bought a Kershaw Avalanche off an auction site, it was listed as a TSA confiscation. I could tell it was an earlier 1570 model due to the tip down pocket clip, but I could not tell anything else from the pictures or description.

Now, I already owned an Avalanche, a DLC coated model in s30v, with the reversible clip and a born date of July 2007. But it is so nice and new, that I can't bring myself to use it.

Enter the auction Avalanche. This one is different than the one I already own, it has a bead blast(maybe satin?) blade finish, there is no jimping on this blade unlike my other one, and there is no born date on the knife. Again, it is tip down pocket clip only. Also, whereas my other Avalanche is marked s30v, the markings on this knife say only "1570 KAI Patent Pending"

Since this knife has some wear on the g10, and some spotting on the blade, it will definitely be a user regardless.

I just wonder if this is the s30v blade, or the s60v that some were made with. Anyone have an idea?

 

[tony281sc2]

Sweet knife u got there, looks similar to a leek. But no idea as to your question, I’ve only been collecting a couple years.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I think all the s60v ones were coated. Try emailing kershaw's customer service. They might be able to tell you based on the blade markings.

Nice score either way.

 

[jeffsenpai]

I decided to email Kershaw, and they responded very fast, good for them, great customer service.

Here is the response:

Thank you for your request. I will gladly assist you.


The standard production 1570 had a black S30V blade and was produced over many years (2000 - 2009) as shown in the attached 2006 catalog page. I’m not finding any solid details on one with a silver blade. Also the markings don’t match what I’m finding either. Therefore, I’m not able to confirm the steel used on this particular knife and believe that it could be a counterfeit.


Please let us know if you have any more request.


Regards,
​

So not quite what I thought! But really, a counterfeit of a knife that was discontinued almost a decade ago? Seems odd, since I have disassembled the knife, cleaned it out, and it is essentially the same internally as the s30v Avalanche that I own. Even the fine details, like the jimping on the inside of the liner lock, have exactly the same sharpness/bite as the s30v model. A very well done fake indeed.

I know it just sounds like wishful thinking, but I have a hard time believing this model was really counterfeited all that much, if at all, as things like that tend to get noticed and spread around in the knife community. - Anyone around at that time able to confirm?

But in the end, I have my user Avalanche, I buffed out the spotting on the blade, she is good as new!