Got A New Kershaw Vapor ....

338375

338375

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
19,374
Was at the local Wally mart today lookin at the knife selection , and saw a Kershaw vapor. Have read on here that some people think they are a decent knife for the price (18.00 ) so I decided to look at them. Unfortunately these are in a bubble pack, but looked decent, so I bought it. Got home and got it out and it is not a bad knife at all for the price. Zero blade movement, locks up solid,centered and very smooth. Even came out of the pack sharp. This is definetely the least expensive knife I have ever bought, but I think it is better than some knives that cost more. Anyone else got one of these recently ?
 
Oh yeah. I've had one for quite a while among others like the Chive, Storm II, BlackOut, and Leeks by Kershaw. The Vapor is a fine user and the lock is stainless steel so it will wear better at the lock blade interface than a comparable titanium lock will and stainless is quite strong when that thick. Even at the thinner part it will take quite a bit of pounding. The blade can too for that matter. I use mine for days when I'm working in the shop for things I would never do with one of my more expensive knives. For that price you can't really argue with it as an inexpensive beater that is easily replaced should it get broken or lost.

STR
 
I have had a Vapor II for about 4 years now and it has held up well, definitely woth the $20 I spent on it.
 
I've been playin with it since I got home and the only thing I've noticed is that the thumb studs are fairly small ( I've got fat thumbs ), however the way they are angle cut and serrated they still work o.k. I'm just use to larger studs.
 
338375, glad your happy with your Vapor, thanks.

jeff, if your having an issue with your Vapor, send it to me, I'd like to take a look at, and will take care of it for you.

Kershaw Knives
18600 SW Teton Ave
Tualatin OR 97062
 
had one for about a year and a half, and i'm still impressed by the dispicably sharp edge it takes off a loaded leather belt on the sander. shaves hair above the skin. be prepared to spend some time on the base of the blade, as the edge angle is increased as the thickness increases. this keeps the bevels looking even, but makes thinning it out to actually cut a chore. thats my only complaint so far, and when i wear this one out from sharpening on the sander, i can get another for $18. btw, i grind the edge thin enough that i have to remove the thumb stud. if you're not that picky about the edge angle, sharpening may not take as long.
 
Thomas W said:
jeff, if your having an issue with your Vapor, send it to me, I'd like to take a look at, and will take care of it for you.

Kershaw Knives
18600 SW Teton Ave
Tualatin OR 97062
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Wow, I was not expecting that at all. It's nice to know that you are so willing to help customers.

Maybe "not solid at all" wasn't the best way to describe the lock-up. It is VERY easy to disengage the lock though. Are all Vapors like this?
 
I have owned several Vapors, all have been good knives for the money, some are better than others, but if you get a bad one, Kershaw customer sevice is the best I have ever delt with, and they will fix your knife, probably free of cost to you (except for about $2-3 to ship it to them).
 
How is the edge retention on the Vapors? They're AUS-6 right?...which doesn't have a very good rep for edge retention.
 
Kershaw is one of the true USA knife companies that stands 100% behind their products ( Buck is the other) and I own over 60 Kershaw knives and have never had an issue with one yet !!! I have a 2420 that I have carried for years and it is dependable and well made.

Welcome back Thomas !!!!!!!
 
JSR said:
How is the edge retention on the Vapors? They're AUS-6 right?...which doesn't have a very good rep for edge retention.
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I've got a large and a small. The large has seen an obscene amount of use, and while it may not be a champ like S30V, it's no problem. It can handle two or three days of good use doing construction work before I'm tempted to retouch it, and then it sharpens fast.

My only beef with the vapors are that the studs are a little pointy, but 30 seconds on a coarse stone and then they're super comfortable.
 
The edge retention isn't the best, but it is more than enough for edc, if you don't mind sharpening it often (which won't take long with this steel), you won't have a problem. I think alot of us are steel snobs (I am a little, but I still buy 420j2 and AUS-6, as long as it is on a well made knife), and we really don't need S30V or D2 (some exceptions may apply), but we buy it because we can, and if it makes me happier without hurting me, then the extra is worth my money. I have always liked AUS-8, even after I had used higher end steels, I sharpen my knives often, so it never gets too dull before I can sharpen it and it takes a very nice edge.
 
I bought one this week. Paid $29, which I know is too much, but I liked supporting the one and only knife store in my city of more than 1 million.

Great knife for the price. It wasn't shaving sharp out of the box, but five or six strokes with a ceramic rod and it was. Solid lockup. Easy to flick open. Hard to open if you don't flick. Just about the perfect size - any smaller would be to small. Any larger and you scare the general populace and weigh down your pocket.
 
In my opinion, it is a great design ( big Ken Onion Fan ) and is very well made. There are not too many frame locks of this quality for the price. I feel like the design is wasted by using AUS-6 blade steel though. AUS-8 is where I draw the line. AUS-8 provides a good combination of economy and durability. AUS-6 just doesn't do it for me. But, for the price it is hard to complain. I hope that you enjoy yours.
 
Got one a few months back , modded the lock and the colors of the knife , polished all screws.

Lockup is perfect now , and it looks like a much nicer knife now , the only thing I'm reluctant about it is , the serrations scare the crap outta me ! lol
I'm real careful; when I open it. :D
 
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