Bad Kershaw

R

Rogco

Joined
Feb 16, 2006
Messages
57
I know a lot of people seem to really like Kershaw, but I'm not really impressed. The first knife I bought (about a year ago) was a Leek. Apart from being expensive for how much knife you get, the "safety" was a joke. It took about eight time's longer to disengage it than to open any other knife. Unless I massively overtightened it so it was almost very hard to move, it would slide down when the knife was open, stopping the knife from closing properly.

Last fall I bought a Spec Bump 1596. It was stamped S30V on the blade but a couple weeks later through this forum I found out it was Sandvick steel. I had been browsing knives on the kershawknives.com website before I bought, and nowhere did they post their mistake. When I emailed them to complaign, I had a reply saying dealers had been told and therefore I should have known.

Now I just received a Pink Chive. I do really like this little knife, but it doesn't open fully with the AO unless I push on the lever hard. It seems pointless to have a knife that is AO open only that only engages 2/3 of the time. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Furthermore, it contains the same cheap and poorly designed "safety."

I'll see if the Chive loosens up by repeated opening and opens every time. If not, I'll be back in touch with Kershaw's not-so-helpful customer service. But I think this will be the last Kershaw I buy.

Roger
 
Sorry for your bad experience with Kershaw. I have several knives by kershaw and love them. I'll be happy to take yours off your hands :)
 
I'm sorry about the knives you've received.
I've never been disappointed, but I've only ever bought higher end Kershaws.
 
I removed the safety on the Leek I had, it was pointless. If that is all that's bugging you, why wouldn't you remove it?

If the Spec bump was misrepresented on the site you bought it from, how is that a complaint against Kershaw? Sounds like you should be complaining about the place you bought it from.

-have you tried lubing the chive or adjusting the pivot?
 
The 1596 has S30V, the 1595 has 13C26, AFAIK. What handle material do you have. It seems strange that they would mis-stamp the steel type on the blade itself. I could understand mislabeling the box.
 
Sorry you're having a bad experience :(


I have a Leek myself and the only problem I've had is the tension spring breaking, but they fixed that for free and sharpened it and all that, so that was fine.

As for the safety, I don't even use that myself, though I agree it's not easily turned on and off. For you best bet would be to turn it off if you still even carry the knife...

As for me I'm really quite happy with my Leek, but I can't compare to anything other than a Gerber Paraframe...

Also, you say it was a lot of money, but not a lot of knife... I got mine for $37 brand new in September of last year, how much did you pay?
 
What you bought was not a Spec Bump, but rather a Speed/Spec Bump. A limited 500 piece run with the Spec Bump G10 scales and the Speed Bump Sandvick 13C26 blade steel. I would imagine that the price you were charged was that of the Speed/Spec, and not the Spec, a little more than the Speed, but significantly less than the Spec, so you were not ripped off. Yes, a few of these were mistakenly labeled as S30V, but you got what you paid for. While not as good as S30V, Sandvick 13C26 is a damn good steel for the money. I have the Speed/Spec myself and it is my favorite EDC. You may not have gotten a Spec Bump, but you still got a great knife.
I can't argue with you about the safety on the Leek and Chive, it is a bit of a joke. So, just tighten it down in the open position and forget about it. Regarding your Chive that does not open properly, this is atypical. The Kershaw/Ken Onion speed safe mechanism is usually very reliable. I would suggest sending back the Chive, or you might just need to clean and oil it.
 
Surely you know the lock has an adjustment screw on it to make it tighter so it won't slide freely? If not use it.

I always have to wonder how someone can pass judgement on a company based on the purchase of one or even two knives.


If you would contact the customer service desk from Kershaw you would find them to be one of the best in the industry and more than willing to explain or take care of any issues they feel are their problems. I'd suggest doing that before posting a complaint or judgement publically about them.

I was not aware that they made any Leeks in Sandvik steel and don't think you are correct on this either.

STR
 
Thomas said they are switching to Sandvik for the AOs (yay :)), but he was talking about the Bump anyway.
 
Well, was it labeled spec/speed bump? This definitely isn't a Kershaw problem, if it wasn't, but a dealer problem. A reputable dealer will replace the knife (plus the money difference between the spec/speed and the spec) if that's the case.

As per the Chive, just loosen the pivot a little and it'll work fine.
 
The Leek safety isn't really even needed. I don't use the safety, I just tighten mine up and leave it alone. They won't engage easily if you carry it everyday. It requires some force on the flipper to even get it to open. Maybe some are easier to open than others. But all the kershaws I've handled, even one's I modified by loosening the blade pivot screw were what I considered 'pocket safe'. Kershaw should design a new and improved safety for their next run of knives. I completely removed the plastic safety on my old CPM440V Boa. On the original large Boas the safety can be removed without it looking like anything was removed. The sliding surfaces are all inside the knife, unlike the others.
 
i just ordered a chive today...should have it in a about a week....what safety mechinism are you talking about?...any links to pics?
 
sounds like you need to find a real brick & mortar cutlery shop to hang around.

buying a knife without being able to handle it first is ALWAYS a crap shoot.

...ALWAYS


unless you have an online dealer that is nice enough to inspect the knife if you request it.
 
Rogco, sorry about your issues.
As AM said, a slight tweak to the pivot will resolve your Pink Chive.
Last fall I bought a Spec Bump 1596. It was stamped S30V on the blade but a couple weeks later through this forum I found out it was Sandvick steel. I had been browsing knives on the kershawknives.com website before I bought, and nowhere did they post their mistake.
Click to expand...
Rogco, to again go over what you read with a few threads on this forum concerning the mis-marking of the blade steel with this exclusive Bump. Yes we did laser these with the wrong steel, our bad, please accept our apology.

This is not a knife that you will find information about on our website, as it was a knife made up special for a larger customer. Sorry again.

Is the 13C26 steel not living up to your expectations?

The saftey on the Chive, Scallion and Leek, has not been much of an issue, but I agree it is not the best safety we have designed.

Hopefully you will find that our positives outweigh our negatives, and that we do care about customer satisfaction.

Couple comments I'm a bit taken back with;
Apart from being expensive for how much knife you get
Click to expand...
Without expanding more on this comment, I will chalk it up to you being upset with us.
Online, the standard Leek (1660) can be had in the $35 or so range, and for a made in the US, stainless framelock, I think that's pretty reasonable. I could be a bit partial though.
The Leek is also one of the most thought of and talked about Kershaw's to ever hit the market, so you're probably a bit of a minority with the above comment.

I'll be back in touch with Kershaw's not-so-helpful customer service
Click to expand...
I'll put up our warranty and customer service gals up against anyone's.

Please look to call me direct with this one. 800-325-2891 ext. 1112 (page me if you get my voice mail) and I will ensure your complete satisfaction.
 
I have 2 Kerhsaw AO's (Leek and Scallion) and both are very good knives. You may get more "knife" for your money with a Chinese piece of junk, but I'll stick with something made here in the USA.
 
Thomas W said:
Rogco, sorry about your issues.
As AM said, a slight tweak to the pivot will resolve your Pink Chive.

Rogco, to again go over what you read with a few threads on this forum concerning the mis-marking of the blade steel with this exclusive Bump. Yes we did laser these with the wrong steel, our bad, please accept our apology.

This is not a knife that you will find information about on our website, as it was a knife made up special for a larger customer. Sorry again.

Is the 13C26 steel not living up to your expectations?

The saftey on the Chive, Scallion and Leek, has not been much of an issue, but I agree it is not the best safety we have designed.

Hopefully you will find that our positives outweigh our negatives, and that we do care about customer satisfaction.

Couple comments I'm a bit taken back with;
Without expanding more on this comment, I will chalk it up to you being upset with us.
Online, the standard Leek (1660) can be had in the $35 or so range, and for a made in the US, stainless framelock, I think that's pretty reasonable. I could be a bit partial though.
The Leek is also one of the most thought of and talked about Kershaw's to ever hit the market, so you're probably a bit of a minority with the above comment.

I'll put up our warranty and customer service gals up against anyone's.

Please look to call me direct with this one. 800-325-2891 ext. 1112 (page me if you get my voice mail) and I will ensure your complete satisfaction.
Click to expand...

Now I wanna go buy a Kershaw. Way to represent your company so well Thomas, thanks! :thumbup:
 
Kershaw customer service is great!


This one lady didn't read my email well enough when I clearly stated what parts I needed sent to me and my address... she emailed me back asking if I wanted the parts sent to me or to just send the knife in... oh well.
 
I have owned Kershaw knives for going on 8 or 9 years. I personally collect the Ken Onion collaborations but with some of the new models coming out this year I will be expanding. I still have the very first Kershaw Blackout I purchased back in the late 90's and it functions flawlessly albiet a little scratched. I personally rank Kershaw right up there at the top for providing a variety of knives, custom collaborations, great quality and superb customer service. I don't understand how one can judge a company by one item that didn't meet your expectations without giving them a chance to make it right.
 
I love my rainbow leek. The safety has never moved unless I moved it. The only thing I wanted to change was reversing the pocket clip for tip up carry, which was easily done.
 
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