**Are Kershaw Speed Safe folders reliable?**

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nonbox

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Are Kershaw Speed Safe folders reliable? Does the spring wear prematurely? I like the new Kershaw Leek but I don't know if the speed safe is good or not?
 
I have several and they are reliable. Of all the assisted opening production folders currently on the market, Kershaw/Onion's Speed Safe knives are the best in my opinion. I've bought several assisted openers from Meyerco and I've owned a few Timberline Discovery folders, but I find the Kershaw models are better. I haven't checked out the new SOG Flash, so I can't comment on it in comparison to a Kershaw, but even if the torsion bar snaps on you, it's covered under Kershaw's warranty.
 
I own three kenonions, two of which are speed safe helped, and I am planning on getting the Leek Knife off of eBay. My Blackout, which doesn't have a tip because I dropped it (I'm a PUTZ), I have had for three years and the torsion bar, it is not a spring, that would make it illegal here in California, has not worn out or even shown a sign of not having the same amount of kick. The Scallion is a more recent purchase, a little under a year, and it still has major kick. No wear on that knife. Both are reliable, though the Scallion with the steel liner is more solid. Being made of all steel, looking very cool, made by Kershaw/Ken Onion, and having the Speed Safe feature, the Leek Knife is a must buy that will hopefully be in my pocket within the month.


kershaw72787
 
Unreliable in a sense that the torsion bar will eventually breaks, reliable in a sense that even if the bar breaks, it still acts like a regular linerlock, and you can use it as a manual folder.
 
The Torsion Bar system is a very simple, reliable one. My Ricochet and Boa have functioned flawlessly. Should there ever be a problem, the cure is very easy--it's covered by a lifetime warranty, as stated by el cid, above.

It's not worth worrying about. If the knife style and other features appeal to you--go for it.;)
 
Originally posted by calyth
Unreliable in a sense that the torsion bar will eventually breaks, reliable in a sense that even if the bar breaks, it still acts like a regular linerlock, and you can use it as a manual folder.
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Whirlwind owner here. (two years) If the torsion bar breaks, I would hesitate to carry mine. It did open in a coat pocket once. Without the torsion bar in place, the blade would be free to open, no detent to keep it closed. The ones with the locks might be ok.

I really wonder about the broken torsion bars though. It seems to have gathered urban legend status. I can only remember reading two or three first hand stories.

I often contemplate the purchase of a random task, the blade shape would more suit my needs. The Whirlwind is an akward point at times.

cheers

GC
 
Originally posted by nonbox
Are Kershaw Speed Safe folders reliable? Does the spring wear prematurely? I like the new Kershaw Leek but I don't know if the speed safe is good or not?
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Don't know what you mean by "prematurely" but my first SpeedSafe was a Ricochet that I got over 2-3 years ago, followed by a Boa over a year or so ago and more recently a Boron coated Chive and just a few hours ago a Leek. I've carried all of them extensively (except of course for the Leek) and none of them have ever broken or opened accidentally (I never use the safeties). Could be that I'm just lucky, but I would never use a knife that I didn't trust.
 
Haven't had my Speedsafe Chive for too long so I wouldn't know about it's long-term resistance to wear but in the year or so that I've had it it's performed flawlessly.

I'm not a huge fan of speedsafes though but the Leek is kinda nice 'cos it seems to have an extra 'kick' to it that some of the others don't. Maybe it was just the one I handled but it had a good feel to it.
 
Longtime Whirlwind owner, and 6 month Chive owner, both are great, had Whirlwind about 2 years never had a problem.
 
I am sold on the SpeedSafe idea. Even if it wears out in a few years, by then I would have goten bored and bought something new. I average a new EDC every 6 months. (Sorta like women and shoes, except on a longer time table.)

My question is; How is the Steel? I havent bought a $30 knife (Chive at Wally World)in a while. I bought a CKRT a while back for about that and it is nice functionally, but the steel is crap.
How do yall like the steel?

Maybe this should be a new thread?
 
Well not too many would consider 420 to be a good steel but I think that on a knife this size it's a good fit. Holds a fair enough edge from what I can tell and from what I hear from other users.

And personally I don't think I'd want any of the 'super steels' on a knife that size...be too damn hard to sharpen on a knife that small with a re-curve...(my sharpening skills are weak)...
 
well, sad to say most of the kershaw/onion knives have poor steel, BUT the quality is great, i was kinda doubtful at first but when i got my boa i was impressed with the quality, much better then knives i bought that cost more, and i got a scallion in a recent trade and the quality is great too, if kershaw would up the steel to 440c or even aus8 then it'd be great
 
Thanks for the positive feedback on the speedsafe. I was curious about the reliability because I read about problems a long time ago about the timberline speedsafe mechanism. I own many brands of folders but I never owned a kershaw yet.

I am debating on weather to spend the money for a waved cqc7 or get a leek or 2 or 3.
 
They are well engineered,and if your anything like the rest of us
it will never get a chance to wear ;) Since you will always be grabing
that next knife :D
 
I'm not convinced that the Chive's safety is reliable-- also the small blade on the Chive opens much easier than the larger Scallion... perhaps the larger SpeedSafes are less prone to accidental opening.

Visit "Attack of the Chives" for more.

Cheers
 
My son has a Chive that Ken Onion gave him as a gift. That little knife has been flicked at least a few thousand times. Still flicken just fine. That I would consider reliable.
My Random Task, keeps on flicken. My son's Mini Task and Red Scallion are still a-flicken. Yep, these are well made knives for the price.
 
The torsion bar on my Chive snapped last year, about four or five months after I got it. Shipped it to Kershaw and they fixed it, no problem. I'm one of the few people I've heard of that that's happened to, though - I'd say get one, if you like them.

Asha'man
 
One of the things that few concider is the fact that the average knife gets opened and closed I'm guessing 300-400 times a year were a speed safe knife gets that much action in a week so we have to make them with a little overkill.
 
Originally posted by KenOnion
One of the things that few concider is the fact that the average knife gets opened and closed I'm guessing 300-400 times a year were a speed safe knife gets that much action in a week so we have to make them with a little overkill.
Click to expand...

I think the average knife gets opened about 8-9 times more than that a year. If I read that correctly thats averaging once a day opening and closing?

or maybe I'm just reading that wrong.
 
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