- Joined
- Apr 10, 2015
- Messages
- 6
Well first off - hey there everyone! I looked on the forum main page for an intro section but I didn't see one (sorry if I just missed it). I've enjoyed reading and learning from countless threads here, but never felt I had much to add to the conversations since I'm nowhere near as knife-smart as others on the forum. I mean, I'm not knife-tarded... just maybe a little knife-slow :stupid: But anyway, I now find myself needing some specific info that neither Google nor the BF search tool seems to be giving me, so I decided to register and beg for some help...
I've owned a Kershaw RAM for several years. It was my EDC for maybe 3 years or so, and I seriously love that knife. The only reason I stopped carrying it was because Kershaw discontinued it, and I wanted to keep it in good shape to use for hiking/camping/fishing/general outdoor recreation. Well I recently succumbed to temptation and splurged on a second RAM that was being sold on a fairly well-known online auction site. When I received the knife, I immediately noticed some differences between it and my old one. The differences are primarily related to the G10 scales/overlays. The scales on the one I just bought seem more "basic" in nature, and are more squared off, whereas those on my "old" knife seem more finished, with contoured peripheral edges. Also, and most noticeable, is that the new knife has a circular relief cut into the G10 that surrounds the pivot screw.
I guess I can't upload attachments, but RamZar shared a pic of his collection in post#5 in this thread (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1123145-Kershaw-RAM-diehards) that shows both variants. The top knife in the pic is like my "old" one, whereas the one I just bought looks like the bottom (first-production) one.
Initially I thought maybe it was some customization done by a previous owner, or perhaps even a counterfeit. No fears of that anymore as I've since seen a number of RAMs in both styles. But I remain puzzled because I talked with a rep from Kershaw earlier today (sent her pictures through email, and later discussed by phone) who said they never made knives with the pivot screw relief. Surely she was simply wrong about that, no? Or is it maybe the work of a custom shop somewhere... if so, it must be a fairly popular one since the variant seems pretty common. Through the little clues I've gathered (and assuming the rep was wrong), I believe the knife I just purchased -- the one with the circular relief and square-ish edges -- is an earlier design. The "First Production" stamp on RamZar's knife appears to be pretty strong supporting evidence of that. But can anyone confirm?... and maybe give some specifics as to when the design change(s) might have occurred?
Note that the "new" knife has May '08 stamped on the blade, but there is no date stamp on my old one.
I suppose it's sort of a nit-picky question, but it happens to be driving me crazy. So any help or info is appreciated...
Thanks!
Dave
I've owned a Kershaw RAM for several years. It was my EDC for maybe 3 years or so, and I seriously love that knife. The only reason I stopped carrying it was because Kershaw discontinued it, and I wanted to keep it in good shape to use for hiking/camping/fishing/general outdoor recreation. Well I recently succumbed to temptation and splurged on a second RAM that was being sold on a fairly well-known online auction site. When I received the knife, I immediately noticed some differences between it and my old one. The differences are primarily related to the G10 scales/overlays. The scales on the one I just bought seem more "basic" in nature, and are more squared off, whereas those on my "old" knife seem more finished, with contoured peripheral edges. Also, and most noticeable, is that the new knife has a circular relief cut into the G10 that surrounds the pivot screw.
I guess I can't upload attachments, but RamZar shared a pic of his collection in post#5 in this thread (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1123145-Kershaw-RAM-diehards) that shows both variants. The top knife in the pic is like my "old" one, whereas the one I just bought looks like the bottom (first-production) one.
Initially I thought maybe it was some customization done by a previous owner, or perhaps even a counterfeit. No fears of that anymore as I've since seen a number of RAMs in both styles. But I remain puzzled because I talked with a rep from Kershaw earlier today (sent her pictures through email, and later discussed by phone) who said they never made knives with the pivot screw relief. Surely she was simply wrong about that, no? Or is it maybe the work of a custom shop somewhere... if so, it must be a fairly popular one since the variant seems pretty common. Through the little clues I've gathered (and assuming the rep was wrong), I believe the knife I just purchased -- the one with the circular relief and square-ish edges -- is an earlier design. The "First Production" stamp on RamZar's knife appears to be pretty strong supporting evidence of that. But can anyone confirm?... and maybe give some specifics as to when the design change(s) might have occurred?
Note that the "new" knife has May '08 stamped on the blade, but there is no date stamp on my old one.
I suppose it's sort of a nit-picky question, but it happens to be driving me crazy. So any help or info is appreciated...
Thanks!
Dave
