First Impressions of RJI

M

monkoosbob0

Joined
Jul 15, 2011
Messages
60
I got my RJI in the mail yesterday, so this is my experience with it after only a day.

I love the blade design, and the general shape of the knife, it fits great in my hand.
This is my first Kershaw with Speedsafe, and I am loving it. The authoritative click this knife makes when it deploys is awesome.

The quality of this knife blows me away for the price. The G10 is perfectly textured and the blade has great lock-up.

Now, after all that praise, there are a couple things I would like to address about this knife. First, the pocket clip; while I love the lowrider design,
it is just so incredibly tight and hard to get on clothes, I am not sure how much I want to carry it. The first time I tried to clip it onto the pocket of the basketball shorts I was
wearing, it ripped the pocket. I can barely lift up the end of the clip, and trying to put it onto other jeans today took two hands. I'm considering getting an STR ti clip, because this one really annoys me.
Now, I still love the knife, I am just going to have to try stretching it out (which i tried doing overnight) some more, or get a new clip.

The second thing I wanted to say is just that you guys need to come out with an S30v version, I would be so down for one.
This knife in a higher end steel and a more forgiving pocket clip would actually be an EDC dream knife of mine.

Great job Kershaw, I really like the knife.
 
Wow, pocket clip THAT tight?
Might want to shoot an email to Kershaw about it ripping a pair of shorts, they might to something about that.

As for blade steel, you bought one of Kershaw's models that made overseas with lower quality blade steel. Still has great quality control, just manufactured in a place were labor and materials are cheaper. 8CR13MOV steel is still a very good steel for the price (Spyderco also uses that steel with success) and should be fine for light EDC use.

As for an S30V version, again, this knife is something like Kershaw's "entry level" knife. Cheap, practical, and highly usable, if you like what what you bought, than you'll LOVE the made in the USA knives! With that said, I don't think they're going to make this model in S30V.

Take a look at Zero Tolerance knives if you haven't, they're a branch of KAI Cutlery, the parent company of Kershaw, and they make almost all their knives is S30V and are of extremely high quality.


Glad you like your knife, and I'm actually thinking of getting one of Kershaw's made in China knives due to extremely low price point!
Currently looking at the 1950 Tremor
:)
 
I was pretty familiar with Kershaw's catalog, but I guess I forgot to take into account the location of production when thinking about blade steel choice (and I understand that it just isn't feasible to produce knives in china with certain steels). Well fooey, I guess I will just have to suck up my steel snobbishness.
I am just blown away by this pocket clip. Maybe I am just spoiled with all my other folders. But I swear Kershaw must make theirs out of Tungsten Carbide or something.... ;)
 
My RJI has the same issue with the clip. It is definitely tight.

Also, I'm not sure how I feel about the whole lowrider clip design in general. It doesn't bother me to have 1/4"-1/2" of the knife sticking up above the edge of my pocket. I find it much easier to deploy when I can reach down and grab the knife and pull it out of my pocket without having to reach into my pocket to grab the knife. It isn't like it is 100% hidden as the pocket clip is a dead giveaway that you're carrying a knife.
 
I would still give Kershaw a shout due to the fact that your pocket clip ripped a pair of pants
Tight is ok, but having to use two hands to out it on is ridiculous.
If they are made out of Tungsten Carbide...
:P

One of the reasons I like lower riding knives is overall comfort, not so much looks or advertising that I carry.
If a knife sticks too far up in the pocket, especially when wearing jeans or other pants with higher pocket openings, when I sit down, it can sometimes be uncomfortable if the exposed part of the knife is jamming into my leg.
With a deep carry pocket clip, the knife rides low, so when sitting, nothing pokes!
 
I was totally kidding about it being made of Carbide, there is no way Kershaw would use an expensive metal like that. I'm sure its just a matter of how they bend the clips.
I don't know about contacting Kershaw, but I am kind of interested in seeing what Thomas W has to say about it. I'm not very broken up about my cheap pair of Academy gym shorts having a tear, and it's just a tiny one where the pocket meets the side of the shorts, but I figured it was a good way to explain how tight it is.

My opinion about low rider designs in general is pretty positive. There are some low rider clips that don't look as appealing to me, but I like the one that Kershaw used here because I think it is a little more discreet. Especially when you move the clip so that it is tip up becuase there is still about half an inch of knife that shows.
 
I haven't examined the first run of the RJ's, but will take a look next week when I'm back in the office. If the clips are indeed too tight, we'll make adjustments on the next batch.

Sorry to hear about you shorts.
 
I think these RJ1's are a great knife for the money or even more money for that matter, I have been quite impressed by the Kershaw value priced offerings and have been stocking them for a while now. This one is a winner and a must have, especially for those of you that have held off the value priced offerings, get one and see for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Dave
 
Wow you are bringing back an old thread.

I had one and ended up returning it and ended up with a groove instead. I do specifically remember the clip being way to tight as well. The low rider clip is a new thing for Kershaw, so I guess we got to cut them a little slack. I like the low rider clip, maybe they just made it so tight so it lasts a lifetime?

CAN one of you owners do me a favor, can you check and see if the RJI has a ball detent, a ball on the liner lock and a corresponding hole in the blade that it seats in when closed. I wasn't excited about the assisted opening, and I am wondering if I should get another and just take the torsion bar out, but it needs a ball detent to work properly as a flipper.

I was very impressed with the machined G-10, it was very nice for an import knife. I like the slight rampage/tanto grind, a majority hollow grind with a flat tip.
 
Guy I work with has one, I did notice a detent while checking it out.
Impressive knife for $25.
 
I liked mine quite a bit, even with the pocket clip which I could never really get to loosen up.
Unfortunately mine was stolen (though it was mainly my fault, I set it down in a public place).
 
I would look into a Tanto Zing.

Made in the USA, nice unassisted flipper.

I suggest the Green/black combo if Kershaw Guy still has them:

4057-0182.jpg


Here is mine on the right:

IMAG0486.jpg
 
bluejayburly said:
Wow you are bringing back an old thread.

I had one and ended up returning it and ended up with a groove instead. I do specifically remember the clip being way to tight as well. The low rider clip is a new thing for Kershaw, so I guess we got to cut them a little slack. I like the low rider clip, maybe they just made it so tight so it lasts a lifetime?
Click to expand...

It is, but I "did a search first before posting" and this thread was bang on.

Has anyone successfully loosened up the clip? I am going to try to bend it, but do not want to break it. My current plan is to put a coin under the contact point and hit the bend with some heat. Thoughts?
 
What I have done in the past is put some thick cloth material just under the clip and pull the clip up off the frame and flex it. But go a little at a time, don't over flex it.

I would worry about breaking it. You can get a new one from Kershaw.

Or maybe they figured out it is too tight and made an adjustment, maybe contact customer service n see if there is a revision to the clip or just order an extra.
 
bluejayburly said:
What I have done in the past is put some thick cloth material just under the clip and pull the clip up off the frame and flex it. But go a little at a time, don't over flex it.

I would worry about breaking it. You can get a new one from Kershaw.

Or maybe they figured out it is too tight and made an adjustment, maybe contact customer service n see if there is a revision to the clip or just order an extra.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing with almost all of my pocket clips; just do it a little at a time, checking the tension on your pocket after each try. If you over-bend it a bit and it winds up loose, just remove it, put it in a vise or pliers (jaws padded with cardboard to prevent scratching), and re-bend it the other way. If you don't get carried away, you shouldn't come anywhere near breaking it.

I have both the RJI and RJII, and I don't recall either clip being excessively tight, but like I said, I adjust mine as a matter of practice... They are both great knives for the price, but I have to admit that I haven't EDC'ed either one (and not sure that I will anytime soon, as I saw that they discontinued both of them).
 
A nickle under the clip and a very careful application of blue flame to the bend did the trick. It is still a bit tight, not bad at all, but I was being overly cautious not to damage the clip or knife, and did not want to make it too loose.

I am still using my leek with a custom low rider clip for suit and tie carry, but I am rotating the RJ1 in to EDC for when I wear jeans. It is more substantial than the Leek, but not a big heavy pocket hog like my G10 Tyrade. I love assisted openers, and am still searching for the perfect one, but the two knife solution is another step in the right direction.
 
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