I just hate Kershaw knives....

I'd agreee if you said Taylor Cutlery. . .or United Cutlery. . .or Frost Cutlery !

But, Kershaw ?

Keepin' in mind that I haven't handled "all" of their knives. I do have. . in my possession. . .a Random Task, a Double Duty, a Double Cross and a Chive. Absolutely no complaints ! Except that the Chive is a very little, sharp, and neat money clip !
 
I felt the way you do until I handled and bought a Chive. Now I think that for the money they are a great bargain snd also great quality. It was also nice to get something high quality for a cheap price. I usually buy microtech, getting the kershaw let me get a nice cheap knife that I don't have to worry about messing up.
 
There ok i donot like the new little stuff at all the Random task is/was pretty nice i liked the assist opening at first but after using a black out i bought it started to slow up and lose power ? best i can describe it, i just think going cheap and small is not the direction i like to go in they should keep with the quality and make the Boa a little bigger and drop the assist...or give you a choise Hey where the Hell is that Wisper knife they were going to do ???? i have handled plenty of Kershaws over the years my Snap-On dealer has been selling them since the early 80s some times he will have 10 or 20 of the same knife on the truck and i check them out every week so i think i can say sure i have handled Kershaw They were made in Japan untill a few years ago .......
 
I'm surprised to hear such negative comments. The Random Task, Ricochet, and Avalanche are really quality pieces.
 
My wife, and I both like the Kershaws, and have had pretty good luck with them. Have collected knives for years, but did not get interested with Kershaw until the Ken Onion series. I like them as they are as close to carrying an auto without getting in trouble. We both really like the Chive that we got when they first came out, and just today got 2 of the new Chives with the boron carbide, and they are really cool!! Also picked up one of the double cross pocket knives for the wife, and she likes it as well.
Another thing is their warranty service is one of the best I have ever encountered.
My wife, and I buy mostly customs now days, but on occasion we like production knives, and both have really been into collecting the Kershaws more than any other. The little Chives really rock as far as a money clip having the lock so the blade does not come open like the CRKT Peck, and KISS folders do, as well as the toy factor.
Like I say, "whatever turns your prop"
As far as ones I don't like, United, Taylor(S & W), Frost are ones who really turn me off.

Just my .02 cents rounded off to a buck.

Larry
 
Have you ever had BOA in your hand? It's sooooo sweeet. Index Trigger + SpeedSafe makes it one cool knife. Yeah, and a rock-solid too! No blade play, scarry sharp, ergonomics second to none...

Piter M.
http://www.guns.com.pl
 
Sorry you feel that way.I just hope one day myself and Kershaw can make up for your negative experiences.
 
I didnt get into kershaw's until Ken Onion started designing for them. Now I have 2 Random Tasks, a Boa, a Scallion, 2 Chives and a Vapor on the way. All of them very well made with no troubles. One day I will have a real Onion too.:)

On the other hand Spyderco's do absolutely nothing for me. Seem to be decently made but the only design that has caught my eye is the Starmate. When I handled it in person it just didnt feel right in my hand.
 
I cannot comment on the entire Kershaw line, but the ken Onion designs are great knives. The first time I held a Random Task, I knew it was an absolutely great knife for the money. The Boa is another great EDC and is a testament to ken's ability as a Master knife-maker. And the Chive, a joint venture with ken and his son is the greatest little sucker out there. I have one in my pocket everywhere I go and the chive just rocks. I am waiting for the Black one and plan on buying as many as I can. I think kershaw is making a good faith effort to make an affordable quality knife and I KNOW Ken Onion certainly would never allow his name to be attached to a POS.....wolf
 
I felt about the same of the CRKT knives when I saw them for the first time. Then I handled a few of them and now I think they are OK (and some exceptional pieces for the money). About my Kershaws - I sold all of them except the Ti ATS-34 - my first Kershaw :).

David
 
I've got a Random Task and a miniTask, both are excellent knives. Plus, being a lefty, I really appreciate the fact that Kershaw made some for us sinister folks!:)
 
Never thought much about Kershaw one way or the other. My impression of them is that they're fine knives, but I've never owned one.

Regarding predjudices, I have a real aversion to Wenger Swiss Army Knives. When I was a kid, before I had any quality pocketknife, one of my friends on our block had a Victorinox and one had a Wenger. Naturally, we were always whittling on something and showing off our knives (them their SAKs, and me my crappy Imperial jack). Well, it just seemed to me then that the Victorinoxes had way better design, fit and finish. My mind hasn't changed and the only SAKs I'll own are Victorinox.

I also have a predjudice against any of the modern, Fiskars-era Gerbers knives. :barf:
 
Some kershaws don't do much for me, but others are wonderful. I have 2 Starkey Ridges, 4 xxl Starkey Ridges(my favorite edc), and 2 Military Boot Knives, and a 1993 Limited Edition folder. All are superbly built, fit and finish are excellent. The Random Task and its brothers are good designs, but execution was lacking.
 
My first Kershaw was a Random Task. The edge grind was horrible and the liner lock did not engage the blade tang. Then found QC issues on 2 Whirlwinds, a Scallion, and a coworker's liner action drop point. Did finally find a good one though, Vapor II. Super sharp, fast as any Speed Safe, and a good knife for the price. Hate Frost, Gutmann, and United, but have a S&W HRT fixed-think it's great for 60 bucks(let's not mention the sheath:barf: ) Why don't I like Wenger? Probably cause I saw Victorinox first, and I like their little crest better. :D
 
I have had Kershaws for the last 20 years.Great knives and great prices.
How can you not like a "Chive"??? Neatness at the highest.
And from a neat familyman and knifemaker.Ken Onion.Nice to see you on the forums.
 
Originally posted by Danbo
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.
Click to expand...
If this is a fairly large folder it sounds like it could be a Folding Field 1050. This kife has a fairly thick blade of AUS8A and is one of Kershaws better knives for skinning or other hunters uses. I have one and I know three other people who use them for skinning and quartering deer. It is a very well designed knife for the usage that it was intended. The last time I checked, which was a few months ago, Kershaw was still making this knife.
 
I like Kershaw now, but will admit it took me a while to start liking them. I passed on the Avalanche, Random Task, Ricochet, and Boa when they first came out, they just didn't look right for some reason. A few months went by and then I decided to get the Ricochet since I couldn't figure out what else to buy, and then I really started liking them.

Right now I just can't bring myself to buy a Spyderco. I bought the Lum Chinese folder and it's great, but the rest of their line just looks wrong to me. I handled their other knives, opened and closed them repeatedly, looked at them hard, but for whatever reason they just don't do it for me. I can't say I hate them, I just don't like them enough to part with my hard earned money.
 
I've had good experiences with the onion designs,the piano-wire torsion bar may fail eventually but I can't think of an easier fix.I know how you feel though,if a knife doesn't look right it doesn't really matter how well made it is,almar sere and most benchmades come to my mind.Also have to agree about the gunmakers knives,haven't seen one yet that I'd buy.However,if CRK for instance were to make a gun...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top