I just hate Kershaw knives....

M

mikemck

Joined
Sep 22, 2000
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I don't know why, but I just hate Kershaw knives. Any Kershaw knife, at any price. Especially the "assisted opening" knives.
For some reason, Kershaw, in my mind, equals cheap.

What's my point? Well, I'm wondering if anyone else out there has totally unfounded prejudices, like mine. I don't think I have ever owned a kershaw knife, but I have handled a few, and I did not like them at all, and they felt cheap....They were probably excellent quality and well designed, but my unfounded bias against them convinced me they were bad knives.

As far as I can determine, Kershaw is the only company that I feel this way about, but who knows. Oh sure, there are companies that I just don't care for, because they produce consistently cheap or sub-standard knives, or the product line is just plain ugly, but that's not the same as the way I feel about Kershaw.
 
I have never owned a Kershaw, either. I guess my dislike came from my early years of thumbing through countless Smoky Mountain Knife Works cataloges. I never saw a single design that really caught my eye. On the other hand, I will never forget when SMKW began to offer Spydercos. They got my money every time a new issue came in the mail!
 
Anything by Taylor Cutlery (Smith and Wesson).

I am sympathetic with your Kershaw comments. I have direct experience with 4 Kershaw knives.

Although each had their attraction for me, I always found another production knife by another factory that was simply superior as a whole package. Oftentimes, not that much more expensive either.

As I mentioned in a previous post, since I have more knives that I need, I try to find superior knives, not just good knives. I think Kershaw makes good knives, but not superior knives.
 
Maybe your mother used to beat you with Kershaw knives when you were a kid:D:D No offense intended.:)

That can be the only reason for such a deep seeded dislike of such a great knife company. Have you handled a Boa? or a Chive?

I can understand, though. There were some people I know that I felt that way about. No matter how many times they did things that went against my belief, I somehow still disliked them. It's not something that they did (well maybe something I have perceived them to THINK, or that they MIGHT have done), but I still felt that way.

Every one deserves a second chance, and I have taken it upon myself to give these people another one. You might want to do the same thing, as you may be missing out on something wonderful, because of some unfounded bias, or prejudice.

Sometimes, things others have said about a certain person or thing can have a longlasting, although unconscious effect on our opinions. That is just what a prejudice is. Education is the only way to overcome it, so maybe you need to handle a few more of their knives.

I don't think you should worry over this too much, though, as it really is just a knife company.

Enough of the crack psychiatry for now:D, you can pay me in knives if you want.:D:D

DD
 
The Kershaw Chive goes with me everywhere. It's rare that I find a knife that really wins me over and the Chive is one of those very few.
 
I like Kershaw knives, especially the Ken Onion designs.

The brands I do not like:

Smith & Wesson (Taylor Cutlery)
Walther knives (Gutmann Cutlery)
Frost Cutlery
Coast Cutlery
and finally: the cheap, pathetic, crappy, ugly, useless, worthless pieces of junk known as CAMP USA knives marketed by Meyerco.
 
What about the fixed blade Kershaws? They've made some high quality stag handled boot knives and daggers in the past. And the Trooper would seem to be quite serviceable in the appropriate application. Or our we just talking folders here? I don't much care for most of the current crop of modern folder designs as far as visual execution goes.
 
Kershaw makes some good knives. They are not my all-time favorite company but IMO they are quite good.

The company I feel prejudiced against is Frost Cutlery, just a personal feeling. I have a very large knife catalog with many companies included, and Frost has a giant section in that catalog and I can't see anything in their line I'd accept even for free. But that just MHO.
Jim
 
I just picked up a really nice old Kershaw folder a few weeks ago. This one is as nice as just about any factory knife out there. Its one of the old folders with the finger grip handle that has brass on either side of what looks like ebony or some kind of rosewood. Blade is probably 3" drop point blade of AUS8A. The fit and finish and grinds on this particular Kershaw are near perfect. Even has a very nice leather pouch. For the most part, I like Kershaw knives, but havent fallen in love with the assisted opening ones yet.
 
LOL! Hey, I agree. You have to pay ME to take a Frost. And whats that other company......United? They bite too. As far as Kershaw goes, they were pretty low on the scrotum pole, but that's changed since they came out with the Onion Designs. I have one of those shiny black Chives on backorder. Can't wait to get it.
 
Oh yeah Danbo -- that old Kershaw line with black and brass handles was beautiful. I wish I'd bought a set about twenty years ago when they were cheap. They had a few folders and a few fixed blade knives in that style and they were (and are) modern classics as far as I'm concerned.
 
I feel rather the same way about Kershaw. I was given a Chive by my friendly local Snap-on man. The assisted openning aspect is interesting, but not necessary. If ya gotta put another little slider on it to keep it from openning in your pocket, what's the point? I carried it on my key chain until the first time I found myself fumbling for the little slider in the dark. OTOH, every rule has an exception, and for my Kershaw aversion this is the Crosslock. Bought one in spite of serious reservations about how many ways they might have gotten it wrong, but have been pleasantly surprised at how totally right-on it is! Functional but beautiful, classic lines with modern technology. The only niggle is that the inherent design makes it right hand only. I am right handed, so this is not a big problem.
 
Wow, you are one of the only people I have heard of that hates Kershaws! They put out quality stuff. Their fit and finish is excellent on all the Kershaw knives I own, and in my experience with them they will take anything any other comparable knife will. You might want to consider picking one that remotely appeals to you and using it - to cure your phobia... Some knives I thought were DAMNED ugly (Spyderco Wegner) have turned out to be some of my favorites.

Don't go get a Kershaw on my reccomendation. Buy what you like, but by being prejudicial I think you might be missing out.

I'm with the guys that don't like the S&W stuff. I also can't look at anything like the Gil Hibben fantasy stuff with a straight face.:p
 
I have a Kershaw Starkey Ridge Ti34 and a Chive. Both are very slick knives. The Ti34 is similar in design to a MT UDT and was very sharp out of the box. The Ti34 has a titanium handle and an ATS 34 blade. It may be discontinued now but it is a very high quality knife for the money (I think I paid $60 for it when it was on sale). The Chive is a finger toy/tool that is also high quality for the money. The action on this knife should satisfy the caressing urges of most blade fans and yet be an acceptable knife to use when in the company of sheeple. I do not own other Kershaws and cannot comment on those knives; however, the Ti34 and the Chive are two of my favorite knives. There are many other companies whose products I would consider inferior to Kershaw knives; however, I will keep those names to myself since I do not own flame-retardant underwear. ;)
 
I don't have a lot of Kershaw knives, but I have a few; Chive (in my pocket every day), Scallion, Onion/Blackout, and Sticker (I think that's the name, it's an integral dagger with stag scales). Great knives all of them. I need to get a Kershaw Double Cross.

I do have styles of knives and certain manufacturers I don't care for. I have one Benchmade and don't want another, no particular reason.
Go figure? :confused:
 
I don't like the Kershaw liner locks with speed assist because of the problems people I know have had with them. All kinds of blade play after a little use.
Shame that turned me off, cause I really like the Onion designs (the ergonomics are awesome, IMO), but I don't care for the speed assist, especially combined with tip-down carry, which is just a "tragedy in waiting".

My :barf: list:
Anything by Taylor Cutlery
ditto Gutmann Cutlery
ditto United Cutlery
ditto Frost Cutlery-screw it, any company with "cutlery" in the title!
Any knife with interchangeable blades.
Spyderco single liner liner locks
CRKT in general (except the Carson M16)
and a bunch of others that just don't spring to mind right now.

The only bias I have that is totally unfounded is that I can't stand the sight of Wenger SAKs.
Don't know why-never owned one, or heard anything bad about them, just hate 'em:confused:
 
I admit to disliking most Kershaw knives that I've seen, including the Boa which really is a nice design, but the multicolored handle on the satin bladed one looks like a joke if you ask me. And of course there is no satin option on the black-handled model, and coated blades suck. Oh well, vote w/my wallet I guess. Also the SpeedSafe seemed like a failure-prone gimmick when I first handled the Boa and a Blackout at a local dealer.

<b>...And then along came the Chive!</b> I just got one and it's awesome! It's a little small, but if Kershaw were to make a Mini (2.5-2.9" blade) Boa with a stainless handle like the Chive I would buy two. This little knife opens fast, locks up tight, is sharp, perfectly ground, and reasonably priced. I think I need a spare.
 
Nothing from Kershaw ever floated my boat, either.

Any liner lock made by Gerber is pretty much garbage.

I never liked the Sifu, either. To me, it's gaudy size and shape screamed Home Shopping Network design. Then when I found out many of those rolling locks were useless, well........

Any firearm name is pretty useless, too: Beretta, Colt, Browning, etc. Can you imagine Benchmade or Spyderco making guns?? ha ha ha
 
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