How is the Kershaw vapor

I got a Vapor about a year ago and it is great for its low price. The blade is shaving sharp out of the box, and not hard to keep that way. Its slim lines make it comfortable to keep in a pocket. With a little practice you can flick it open fast like an assisted opening knife (not an important feature, but fun). Plus, for its low price, you can use it hard and abuse it without any misgivings.
 
Personally I think that Kershaw wasted a good design by using AUS-6 for the blade steel. The Vapor is a design that offers both good looks and function, with the strength of a framelock. However, I was very disappointed with the edge holding. For only a little more, they could use AUS-8, 440A, or the new Sandvik 13C26 and offer a much better knife. I would suggest buying the Storm instead, it has the new Sandvik blade steel which seems to be a good midgrade steel. It offers good edge holding, and the ability to take a very fine edge. Let us know what you end up with. :thumbup:
 
3Guardsmen said:
Since when did Gerber start making the Kershaw Vapor?:D

Regards,
3G

P.S. I'd say get the Storm (or Storm II) over the Vapor.
Click to expand...

doh!!! sorry about that i forgot the first rule of putting anything in print, engage brain before typing. forget the gerber comment, but i still like the storm 2 better than the vapor. sorry i'm getting old and senile, ahgar
 
Gee, I didn't see that - but I talk Missouri, which is an improved version of Arkansawyer. :D

The Vapor II I picked up at Academy Sports was marked down to $19 - and made in China.

Still a great knife for the price. It too has the pokey thumbstud and stiff detent, but new studs are available.
 
KFLEISIG said:
Personally I think that Kershaw wasted a good design by using AUS-6 for the blade steel. The Vapor is a design that offers both good looks and function, with the strength of a framelock. However, I was very disappointed with the edge holding.
Click to expand...

That isn't the fault of the steel, it is due to a combination of geometry and how it was heat treated. I had similar problems with sharpening and edge holding, but don't judge the steel by the properties exhibited there.

-Cliff
 
I can't imagine why would anyone buy a Vapor when the Storm is readily avaliable at almost the same pricepoint.

Hair said:
The Buck Mayo Cutback is made of 440C heat treated in China, which I rate as about the same or slightly lower than Buck's Bos 420HC.
Click to expand...

I don't have anything against any weell built knives made in China, but that's good to know. Thanks for the info Hair.
 
I had a Vapor, was very sharp oob, the lock was fairly solid, and it opened very smoothly and quickly. The clip screws wouldn't stay in and the blade got a couple small rust spots for really no good reason.
 
I had one and gave it to a friend. I liked the knife, but it just wasn't me. Good knife though for the money, Thumb studs are pokey and if you dissasemble it, watch for parts (I lost a spacer near the back of the blade). Very comforable in the hands as long as they are not too big, because it is a fairly thin knife, which makes it comfortable in your pocket.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
That isn't the fault of the steel, it is due to a combination of geometry and how it was heat treated. I had similar problems with sharpening and edge holding, but don't judge the steel by the properties exhibited there.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. That was the first knife I purchased in AUS-6, and as a result of its performance, the last. I have intentionally avoided buying another in that steel, because of the trouble experienced with the Vapor. However, this has left me without another example to judge AUS-6 by. Perhaps my decision to write-off AUS-6 is premature.
 
Most of the inexpensive steels have corrosponding heat treatments which is why people often think they are far worse than what they are.

-Cliff
 
At one point last year, I was planning on purchasing a Vapor (the smaller version) at a Wal-Mart and while examining it, I opened the knife fully then pressed lightly on the back of the blade, and it closed as easily as a slipjoint. I have never experienced this degree of lock slippage on any knife before, frame lock or otherwise. To be fair, I had previously examined a large version elsewhere and the frame lock on that one was rock-solid. But the experience with the smaller one put me off the design altogether, which is probably good, because I've since become interested in other knives.
Jim
 
There were multiple complaints of this nature mention on the forums, including people who handle multiple of them and found the same problem. The one I have is fairly solid in that regard.

-Cliff
 
I have never felt a need for, or a desire to own an assisted opening knife. I am of the simpler is better mindset. The more things there are to go wrong, the more likely it is that something will go wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top