For you Kershaw fans some question for you.

Folks I do want to point out this is a real what if thread here.

I would say there is a very good chance that we will find out KAI does not have room in the production schedule to allow for this as Kershaw and ZT are both very popular brands these days.

It may also turn out that the minimum amount we would have to order would really be too high for a small brand like mine.

Thus even if they could fit something into the production schedule. It could be that we would still need to go with basically a stock catalog item. Meaning we would have to stick with stock blade materials etc.

So while it's fun to wonder what if. Lets not get our expectations up as I honestly have not spoken to the fine folks at KAI as of yet.

Perhaps I should have done so before hand and I apologize for that.
 
grkgod454 said:
Really? Very interesting, where did you hear that?
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KAI. At the current time, there are no plans for current or future knives to be in CPM-154. It's a shame given how much better it is than 154CM, and I like their CPM-154 over their CPM-S30V (and most other steels for that matter). I was really sad when they stopped using it on limited model Blurs.
 
I feel like your best bet would be to try to develop a limited run of an already domestically produced knife, probably a Leek, Blur, or Skyline. Kershaw has been known to do limited runs of Skylines in very small numbers. Take, for example, the blue G-10 and blackwashed blade combo that only 211 were made. That said, here's what I would suggest.

1) I'd ask about getting a different steel, one they still use regularly. S30V seems to be a good option, but I wouldn't let not getting a special steel make or break things.
2) As previously said, KAI does seem to love to blackwash everything they can get their hands on. I doubt they would refuse it, especially since the Minuteman 0801 was blackwashed as well.
3) Some color of G-10 not previously used. Gray would be cool (especially with a blackwashed blade) but OD or ranger green would be awesome. I don't know what colors are available to KAI.
4) I wouldn't try to switch up the grind. The BFC Skyline was originally said to be full flat, but then wasn't, and that created a whole bunch of confusion because people were canceling their orders. I'd just avoid that situation completely.
5) I also wouldn't mess with the pivot system. It's a "don't fix what's not broken" situation.

I can't see them going for a discontinued model, or bringing a foreign produced model stateside. I love my Chill, but I don't think Kershaw will want to devote that much time and money to arrange for the production of it here, especially for the numbers you're talking. Even if they did agree to bring back a knife, say the Ram, choosing a knife already in production, where they already have the mills and grinders set up will help bring your price point down.

Good luck with this!
 
I would go with the Blur. USA made and has a lot of collector interest that goes back years. You could probably use the standard blade steel and go with a unique color on the handle. The very rare purple Blur would be a good example of this.

Tom
 
A lot of good ideas here. I would go with a Skyline in Ranger Green or
a very dark blue. A satin finish blade in either CPM S110V or CPM S90V.
Only problem would be the price point. Number them from 1 to 1500
because you will sell that many, and maybe pre order.
 
Ranger Green Skyline w/ one of the Crucible or Carpenter steels (just to keep it all US) would be great. If memory serves me right, the forum Skyline a couple years back was right at $100, and that had blue G10 scales and S30V blade. If the goal is to keep these under $100, something like S110V might put you over. Of course, the BFC Skyline was a couple of years ago. Costs may have changed since. There might be some magic that can be done with composite blades to help keep the price down as well. Plus, I don't think there has been a composite blade Skyline yet, so it would definitely stand out.
 
flarp said:
Ranger Green Skyline w/ one of the Crucible or Carpenter steels (just to keep it all US) would be great. If memory serves me right, the forum Skyline a couple years back was right at $100, and that had blue G10 scales and S30V blade. If the goal is to keep these under $100, something like S110V might put you over. Of course, the BFC Skyline was a couple of years ago. Costs may have changed since. There might be some magic that can be done with composite blades to help keep the price down as well. Plus, I don't think there has been a composite blade Skyline yet, so it would definitely stand out.
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Yes, a composite blade would be a great idea.

Tom
 
A lot of vets arn't swimming in cash, working regular jobs. And a lot of vets arn't "knife people" in so much as they see it as a tool and nothing else. Exotic steels are great and grand but I think most of the guys I know would have a better time with BD-1 rather than a high-end steel that requires more expertise to sharpen. It'd also make the knife friendly on the pocket for the E-3's who are still in.
 
Idea seems to be to raise funds for vets and not making a knife for them. One of the reason why were trying to push for S110V or other super steel as it has a lot more appeal for knife enthusiasts especially in something like a Skyline which is a well loved knife by several of us. And this would create quite a unique knife that would appeal to quite a few of us. Off hand I am not sure if kershaw did BD-1 or have any experience in it which could create a problem, though I could be wrong.

To the OP
It looks like you have a lot of people interested in a Skyline, even if you can't hit the $100 price point by going with a high end steel it may be a good idea to get some quotes on the various steels we keep asking about m390, elmax, and s110v along with s30v and the normal steel they use and ask the community what they would rather get once you get some prices if that is possible.
 
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Bob6794 said:
Idea seems to be to raise funds for vets and not making a knife for them. One of the reason why were trying to push for S110V or other super steel as it has a lot more appeal for knife enthusiasts especially in something like a Skyline which is a well loved knife by several of us. And this would create quite a unique knife that would appeal to quite a few of us. Off hand I am not sure if kershaw did BD-1 or have any experience in it which could create a problem, though I could be wrong.

To the OP
It looks like you have a lot of people interested in a Skyline, even if you can't hit the $100 price point by going with a high end steel it may be a good idea to get some quotes on the various steels we keep asking about m390, elmax, and s110v along with s30v and the normal steel they use and ask the community what they would rather get once you get some prices if that is possible.
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Well it's looking like there is no way we can do a different steel for 2 reasons. 1. Their production schedule is loaded up into to 2015. 2. We just can't take a chance on ordering 500 or more.

But I am waiting to see if we could do something that would be cheaper based on a suggestion on another site. That is if we can get something like a Skyline with either a sanitized blade or with a special etc on the blade of saying the American flag with the idea being that people would then have a steady reminder that the knife was sold to raise funds for our veterans.

I am thinking we could sell maybe 100 of them based on the sales we have done so far on our ZeroTolerance BlackWash with sanitized blades.

Thus far more people have mentioned the Skyline than any other single model and it sure does have a price that puts within reach of a lot more people.

I am guessing at this point it may be that from a production stand point that we would not be able to get something scheduled till next year.

At any rate I am waiting on some answers to some of those questions now and when I get them I will sure share those. Thanks to all of you for the great ideas and support.
 
Thomas Carey said:
Well it's looking like there is no way we can do a different steel for 2 reasons. 1. Their production schedule is loaded up into to 2015. 2. We just can't take a chance on ordering 500 or more.

But I am waiting to see if we could do something that would be cheaper based on a suggestion on another site. That is if we can get something like a Skyline with either a sanitized blade or with a special etc on the blade of saying the American flag with the idea being that people would then have a steady reminder that the knife was sold to raise funds for our veterans.

I am thinking we could sell maybe 100 of them based on the sales we have done so far on our ZeroTolerance BlackWash with sanitized blades.

Thus far more people have mentioned the Skyline than any other single model and it sure does have a price that puts within reach of a lot more people.

I am guessing at this point it may be that from a production stand point that we would not be able to get something scheduled till next year.

At any rate I am waiting on some answers to some of those questions now and when I get them I will sure share those. Thanks to all of you for the great ideas and support.
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Nothing wrong with 14C28N! You haven't shot down the possibility of a different color of G-10, so I'm interested to see how that plays out. I'd still be all over a forest green Skyline!
 
I'd absolutely buy (probably SEVERAL) if one of these options pans out:

1. A standard steel Skyline with a different color G-10 handle (forest green has been suggested and sounds great...blue, orange, and red have already been done).

2. A standard steel Skyline with a different color G-10 handle (light grey, orange, brick red) AND a blackwashed blade.

3. A Skyline with a different color G-10 handle (forest green, orange, etc) AND an upgraded steel blade (but this doesn't sound feasible based on prior postings).

So, either of the first two would definitely invade my wallet.

I would NOT buy a basic Skyline with black G-10 that simply has something engraved on the blade. That sounds like something that is supposed to be put on a mantle, and I don't want that. I want something that I can use while smiling about how cool/unique it is. :-)

Regarding the feasibility of my #3 above: Thomas Carey, if you go with a Skyline with a unique but earth-tone scale color and a blackwashed or higher-end steel blade, I don't think you'd have to worry about selling 500 knives. (I'd buy 2-3 of them, and then you'd only have 497 to go.) A few years back, the blue S30V Skyline was done by the Forum, and you can't find one of those things to save your life. I recently purchased two here from the Forum, but you can't even find one on eBay.
 
Right now I am waiting to hear more on this but. I found out it's pretty much a no go on getting it in a different blade steel and that might be the same for the G10 color. I am not sure if we can get anything at all as of yet for this year and not sure about next. I don't think we will not have answers till after Blade show

But I was told they did a special one for internal customers and employee's to commemorate their 40th Anniversary at Kershaw. I am told that had a BW blade with special lazer engraving and was very sharp looking. So I am waiting to get a photo to see what that looks like.

My current thinking is doing one like it but with an engraving which will show the knife was done to raise funds for vets. I would have our designer come up with something special for that. I am thinking we would offer just 100 and the price should be well under $100 so more can take part in this.

If we do that do you all have any suggestions for a logo and text for that engraving? American flag and text or something else?

I am guessing we could also just do a BW with sanitized blade and I have asked that question as well.

I think with the black G10 handle a BW finish blade with or with out special etch is going to look pretty good. =)
 
Just found out we would have to do at least 1,000 no matter what we did with a Kershaw. We are just too small for that and primarily a watch brand at that. So we will be un-able to move forward with anything Kershaw at this time sadly. I will say this is a standard number and we got this same response from all of the other top brands in the past.
 
Thomas Carey said:
Just found out we would have to do at least 1,000 no matter what we did with a Kershaw. We are just too small for that and primarily a watch brand at that. So we will be un-able to move forward with anything Kershaw at this time sadly. I will say this is a standard number and we got this same response from all of the other top brands in the past.
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Thats too bad. Hopefully your company can grow large enough to do something like this one day.
 
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