FIRST LOOK! Kershaw 4040 Ruby...40th Anniversary!

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I'm a fan of ZDP so I don't have a problem with it. Kershaw and ZT uses foreign steel A LOT, why are you guys surprised? It's a 40th anniversary so suddenly they HAVE to go American when their blades are 99% Sandvik and Bohler and the company is Japanese owned?

My only "gripe" is that I really like the knife's design etc (blade, handle, steel) and do not look at this as something to collect but actually USE. Well, not really a gripe but I plan on using this and the whimsical design and words on the entire knife I don't care much for. Overall, very excited for this one and I never had coated ZDP, which isn't the most corrosion resistant steel so I'm all for it.
 
You are all welcome to critique the knife, but this is not Whine & Cheese, so discourteous comments directed at each other have been moved to that forum's special quarantine thread.
 
Since it's a special edition, collectors need it. I'm not a collector, just a Kershaw fan, and I really don't care for all for the lines thru the handle and blade. So I'm out.
 
Personally, I look at it as a trophy knife so going overboard with the lines, markings, etc. is perfectly within the overall theme.
 
I just read on their Facebook page that some ahole stole this knife along with those 3 ZT's that were to be auctioned off for charity. Just unbelievable how messed up people can be!
 
A few notes on this knife for those who might care:

- The 4040 was designed to be a classic in looks - it has cool details, but it's not a jump off the page design. It was never meant to be. We will continue to produce bold designs, but this one fits it's intended purpose.

- The engraving on the handle and laser etching on the blade is prominent. Some will like it and some will not. To be honest, I am not normally a fan of complex engraving, and this is really a fairly simple pattern. I hope most people will find it simple enough to be classy, but it is definitely a "billboard" design. It covers the whole knife and is meant to be highly visible. We discussed doing something really subdued like an engraved titanium backspacer, but we ended up going with a more bold engraved design. I still like it - it's fun to carry the design from the handle onto the blade and get that color reversal from the bright titanium to the black DLC.

- Kershaw is an American company, but we are owned by a Japanese corporation, KAI. That's why we have had access to some of the cool Japanese super steels like ZDP-189 and SG2. ZDP-189 is uncommon and hard to get, so we decided to use it on this knife. We had a limited amount, so when it's gone, it's gone. This knife is a little more gentlemanly with a really high, thin flat grind, so a great slicing/edge holding steel like ZDP-189 made perfect sense. For us as the company we are, using a Japanese steel on an American made product is actually quite fitting.
 
Thanks for the scoop on the knife, Jim. As far as I'm concerned, it would be a nice Ruby cherry on top of the Kershaw/ZT collection that I so highly prize. Definitely want one.
 
Thanks Jim! You guys did a great job on these and I'd be privileged to own one.
 
Yes, this is one of the best looking designs I've seen from Kershaw. It would be such a shame if this model is only made available in limited quantities.
Any ETA on this bad boy? Where can I pre-order mine?
 
Stays Sharp said:
Jimmer, a production version of this and the 0454 please!
Click to expand...

The best we could hope and beg for is the 0454-M390 (stonewashed) as an unlimited limited but more likely a limited run of about 1,000-1,500 pieces.
 
I think if they left everything exactly the same (especially the red standoffs), and only got rid of the engraving, AND made it a regular production model it would be one of their most popular designs. It is gorgeous, I just don't like carrying a billboard.
 
The Ruby, 0454 and 0801CF are going to be mighty difficult to own.....I literally refresh the dealer thread 5-6 times a day....I'm sure others do it more :D
 
Some sites have them up. (Out of stock, of course.) The MSRP is going to be about $400 on these, selling price will be lower. At least that's what the (non-BF dealer) sites say.
 
Need this! Already put my pre order in for the Nura 3.0 and this looks very similar those red standoffs are smoking!
 
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