Honest objective criticism

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Feb 11, 2016
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I received this knife as a gift and I want to hear everyone's thoughts on the design.



I will say that it's ergonomic and fits the hand well for it's size, the blade is thin and pretty sharp, there's no blade play, it has a great solid lockup, and it's easy to open. The handles are a textured Frn with inlet steel liners, and the texturing is grippy but not too aggressive.

My thoughts based on design and initial impressions of quality are that I look at it and I completely see Kershaw - msrp $20.

It's a budget knife, but I find it serviceable and will find some use for it.
 
The basic design looks fine; it appears to be ergonomically designed. The blade grind seems to be even...at least on the visible side.
I have some thirty-dollar knives and some five-hundred dollar knives. I like both ends of the spectrum.
All that counts...is whether YOU like it or not. And don't forget...IT was a GIFT...which should make it very valuable to you.
 
I like the color combo, looks like it's well designed and will do it's job. My only minor gripe is gonna be the subpar coating on the blade (It felt like I had to just look angry at my Kershaw Fatback for the coating to disappear into hiding :D )
 
I recognize this knife. But I'm curios to see the replies you get so I'll keep the brand and price to myself for now.
 
The design from what I can see is good but what about the materials / heat treat / geometry & quality of assembly?
The design is only part of the equation, the only part you can see from a photo. Which is why we all enjoy a good review & have brands we prefer.
 
Even before I saw your hint in the lower part of the description I could tell it had the look of a Kershaw budget model. Should be quite serviceable, especially with the edge run at 15° per side or so.
 
i know what it is and cost as well. whats the point of covering that up for this post? i guess ill keep quiet on that.......

i think most folks can be objective even if they know cost and branding.

it looks like a typical chinese made folder...good value for the low cost cost. wont do much for many here but its not made for us...its made for entry level folks or budget minded folks. i am curious how the heat treat is. let us know after you sharpen to the good steel and put it to use......
 
jbmonkey said:
i know what it is and cost as well. whats the point of covering that up for this post? i guess ill keep quiet on that.......

i think most folks can be objective even if they know cost and branding.

it looks like a typical chinese made folder...good value for the low cost cost. wont do much for many here but its not made for us...its made for entry level folks or budget minded folks. i am curious how the heat treat is. let us know after you sharpen to the good steel and put it to use......
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The reason I covered it up is because I thought some might instantly comment on the assumed quality based on that.

It's an inexpensive knife and I'm not pushing or promoting it or anything, it just surprised me and instantly made me think budget Kershaw which people here have no problem buying.
If it said Kershaw and had a swappable pocket clip I don't think people would have any reservations at all about buying it as say a no sweat kind of knife, after all it happens to be a decent little inexpensive knife that's not a copy or from a brand who really offers copies.

I'll carry this thing for a week because it was a gift, then it'll probably go in my toolbox to get used for tape / glue ...ect.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Even before I saw your hint in the lower part of the description I could tell it had the look of a Kershaw budget model. Should be quite serviceable, especially with the edge run at 15° per side or so.
Click to expand...
FYI that was not a hint, this is just a knife that could easily be a budget Kershaw.

Something to think about is that a year ago Walmart had a kershaw camp set for $6 which included a knife, sport tool, and bottle opener K keychain.
Now I believe they mat offer just the knife itself which is well liked for the price.
 
Hickory n steel said:
The reason I covered it up is because I thought some might instantly comment on the assumed quality based on that.

It's an inexpensive knife and I'm not pushing or promoting it or anything, it just surprised me and instantly made me think budget Kershaw which people here have no problem buying.
If it said Kershaw and had a swappable pocket clip I don't think people would have any reservations at all about buying it as say a no sweat kind of knife, after all it happens to be a decent little inexpensive knife that's not a copy or from a brand who really offers copies.

I'll carry this thing for a week because it was a gift, then it'll probably go in my toolbox to get used for tape / glue ...ect.
Click to expand...

some people here wont buy a kershaw chinese made....

still interested in the heat treat after you sharpen it to the good steel and put it to some real cutting use. would be good to get feedback on how good the steel is.......
 
There are knives coming out of China these days for 20$ that easily meet what I would have expected from a 50-60$ knife a few years ago.

I would mention one I have in mind but it is a clone of a Sebenza so I won’t because I don’t want to encourage that kind of theft.

I have seen 20$ Ganzo automatics that are also quite impressive for their price. The Chinese are taking over all ends of the knife market it seems, from high end to low end.
 
Lapedog said:
There are knives coming out of China these days for 20$ that easily meet what I would have expected from a 50-60$ knife a few years ago.

I would mention one I have in mind but it is a clone of a Sebenza so I won’t because I don’t want to encourage that kind of theft.

I have seen 20$ Ganzo automatics that are also quite impressive for their price. The Chinese are taking over all ends of the knife market it seems, from high end to low end.
Click to expand...
this knife is way below typical ganzo prices. youll be amazed......
 
jbmonkey said:
some people here wont buy a kershaw chinese made....

still interested in the heat treat after you sharpen it to the good steel and put it to some real cutting use. would be good to get feedback on how good the steel is.......
Click to expand...
I could report on how the steel is, but I don't have heavy cutting needs so I may not be the best to report on this. Most might need to sharpen it daily when It may bee a few days to a week for me.
 
jbmonkey said:
this knife is way below typical ganzo prices. youll be amazed......
Click to expand...
That's kind of my point, I'm not saying it's the next replacement for something like the well loved little Dozier folder but just surprising that it only cost what it does.
 
Hickory n steel said:
FYI that was not a hint, this is just a knife that could easily be a budget Kershaw.

Something to think about is that a year ago Walmart had a kershaw camp set for $6 which included a knife, sport tool, and bottle opener K keychain.
Now I believe they mat offer just the knife itself which is well liked for the price.
Click to expand...

I suppose "name-dropping" would be the term more than hint. At any rate, "budget Kershaw" was what jumped to mind given the lines and the look of the coating, scales, hardware, etc. If it's not a Kershaw I'd not be surprised to find that they're Kershaw's Chinese contractor.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I suppose "name-dropping" would be the term more than hint. At any rate, "budget Kershaw" was what jumped to mind given the lines and the look of the coating, scales, hardware, etc. If it's not a Kershaw I'd not be surprised to find that they're Kershaw's Chinese contractor.
Click to expand...
That's what I was thinking because I handled a green handled knife in this Kershaw 3 piece camp set that reminded me of this knife a lot.
 
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Ajack60 said:
Even the gas station five dolllar knives are photogenic. :rolleyes:
It’s the thought that counts, not everyone else’s opinion.
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Of course, I was just curious what everyone thought of this design.
All I can do is post pictures, but I would not ( I kind of have before but won't anymore ) post about this knife or call it decent in regards to lockup...ect if it wasn't. I've opened this knife hundreds of times since getting it and it's still tight,
I generally know an ultra crappy cheap folder when I see one since my total of them was once 115 as a teenager.
This one is worth owning as a loaner / no sweat / messy garage work type of knife
 
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