High End Kershaw Blur

I

In Desolation

Joined
Nov 20, 2018
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80
So the Blur was the first knife I bought that wasn't just some cheap Walmart POS. It was the S30V version and I absolutely love it. Unfortunately it's seen better days and no longer serves as my EDC (currently held by a Launch 1).

I've thought about getting another one, but before I do I was wondering if there was something that could be a step up from it, say from ZT maybe. Thoughts?
 
I have 6 ZT knives. I have two ZT 0095TANBLK in S90V and they are my daily EDC. They are great knives and if you do not get your hands on the 0095TANBLK Sprint Run, there are other 0095 knives available. I think the 0095 is a very good defensive weapon.
 
Kershaw are hard to beat, value-wise. Especially US-made ones with good blade steel.

Who cares if it's beaten up, if it still works? It's like a well cared-for car with 100,000 miles on it.
 
It's pretty trashed. It would need a whole overhaul, but you're right. It's a great knife. I suppose I'm really just looking to find the ZT big brother to it.
 
ZT0562 is the closest big brother right now in terms of blade length, width. Maybe the ZT0220 also. Don’t know the specs though.
 
The blur has a recurve, and that's not a feature you'll find on a whole lot of modern folders. The value is hard to beat as well - maybe just get a new blur in BDZ1?

If the recurve isn't a dealbreaker, I would look at the Spyderco Native in FRN with S35VN, or the Manix Lightweight. Spyderco makes some of the finest cutting tools ever designed. Also scope the Kizer Roach, as far as ergonomic cutting machines go.

I will say that a full-flat-grind manix lightweight in S110V is just about the best cutting tool value you can possibly get. There are a handful of Kershaws that punch above their price and excel in the $30-60 price range, but there's a nearly logarithmic-scale difference between those and the Spyderco knives that lie just beyond that price range. Spyderco does heat treatments right, and they'll take a steel like S110V and turn it into the optimal version of itself even if they destroy their grinding belts that much faster to do so... And then put it in a FRN handle and charge a ~$110 street price for a blade steel you don't see done that well outside of custom knives 10x the price.
 
If you haven't, might I suggest the spyderco Para2 range that comes with the compression lock. They come is several types of blade steel, S30V, S35Vn, S110V etc. at various prices. They also come in Para3 (small) and the large sized Military version.
 
As long as the Blur is usable, by all means buy a new knife, but contact Kershaw for a rebuild kit. They'll send you out new screws, pivot, and torsion bars. Then you'll have two knives.
 
The zt 0220 is the closest, especially the blade shape. I've always called it the zt blur. It's a nice knife that never got a lot of love.

I think that's what you are looking for.

Good luck!
 
I've got 2 Blur blems, over 50 Kershaws and 19 ZTs.

If you are going to use/abuse the knife, I recommend just buying another Blur (used or a blem for around $40).

The closest ZT to a Blur would be a ZT0350. I've got 2 - a SW and a ST. You can get 1 new for around $140 - less for used - but why would you want to spend that much $ on a knife that you're going to end up trashing?

Makes no sense 2 me but it's your $ and, if that's how u want 2 spend it, go 4 it!
 
sgt1372 said:
I've got 2 Blur blems, over 50 Kershaws and 19 ZTs.

If you are going to use/abuse the knife, I recommend just buying another Blur (used or a blem for around $40).

The closest ZT to a Blur would be a ZT0350. I've got 2 - a SW and a ST. You can get 1 new for around $140 - less for used - but why would you want to spend that much $ on a knife that you're going to end up trashing?

Makes no sense 2 me but it's your $ and, if that's how u want 2 spend it, go 4 it!
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I'm not going to abuse this like the Blur as I don't do the same job I used to.
 
In Desolation said:
I'm not going to abuse this like the Blur as I don't do the same job I used to.
Click to expand...

Ok.

The 0350 is still the closest ZT to a Blur. I've also got a 0562 and a 0850 too. Entirely different knives than the 0350. The 0562 would be a better EDC carry IMO based on its size and blade type.

But, if you you like assisted and the recurve blade on the Blur, go w/the 0350. If you like a manual and the XM18 lineage w/o the cost, get the 0562. If you like bigger slicers, get the 0850. Mine has a really light detent and it flips out easily w/o any assist.

Really can't go "wrong" w/any of them. Just depends on what you like/need.
 
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The Blur was also my first decent knife also, but actually purchased AT Walmart. And after buying a number of Kershaw's, was driven to ZT. Only problem is I suffer from indecision and impulse control. :D

The 0562cf and 0850 are both fine knives. My current faves right now are the 0850 and 0456. But both are very different in form, feel, and function. The 0350TS was my very first ZT, and would probably think it to be a fairly smooth transition from the Blur. I just found the 0350 to be brutal on my pockets. Chopped them to bits.


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