I think the Kershaw Skyline is the greatest folding knife in the world

[MVF]

Mini-Griptilian. I can't convince you, but carrying and using one will.

 

[MADSTEEZE]

I've had and used a skyline for the last year or so. It was moved out of pocket in favor of my para2, but that's without contest. I have abused my skyline and am very pleased with it. It is easily one of my favorite folders. Smooth, fast, and I love the way it feels in my hand. It is still used often when I don't want to get my para2 dirty. Haha. I plan to get a second one just to have one in good shape. My current skyline is pretty worn, but opening is smooth, no blade play, solid lock up, and surprisingly still admired by not so knife savvy friends. I would and do recommend the skyline for an affordable folder. JMO

 

[mantzao]

I had a red one but never really liked it.
The handle didn't seem to be very comfortable for me when held hard.
When deploying it with the flipper my finger got hurt when contacting the back of the handle!
I didn't like it but that's only my opinion.
I'm glad that you do though

 

[paper hat]

leek is better. skyline is good.

This knife keeps talking me out of other folding knife purchases. The Skyline just seems to get everything right. I start looking at other folders, but then I realize the Kershaw does something or another better.

I mean, what else out there can beat it's combination of weight, blade length, quality of materials, slimness, ease of one handed opening and closing, simplicity, cutting/slicing performance, and cost? Oh yeah, and it's of course it's made in the USA.

So go ahead, try and sell me on another folder.

 

[Morrow]

i never understood all the appeal of the kershaw skyline over the last few years... i blame nutnfancy lol. its a "great" entry level knife thats easily obtainable via the internets or wally world but i wouldnt say its the best . for a $30 folder, the ontario rat 1 and spyderco tenacious/persistence has got the skyline beat.

just my 2cents

The Rat 1 is a good value for sure and based on reviews the Tenacious/Persistence are as well. I'm still going with they Skyline because most days I don't want a knife as big as the Rat 1 in my back pocket or as wide as the Tenacious/Persistence. When I carry a Skyline I don't even notice it is there. All these knives are great values but better or best....meh....personal preference more like it.

 

[powernoodle]

One may debate whether the Skyline is objectively "the best" of its genre. But if one becomes smitten by the Skyline's aesthetic appeal, which is easily done, then objectivity takes a back seat and one's advocacy of the Leek or the Tenacious falls on deaf ears. If you like it, you like it, and thats all there is too it.

 

[crom]

I think Powernoodle owns at least one of everyting discussed in these forums, haha.

 

[powernoodle]

Only one of each? Sir, I take great offense! Ok, you said at least one, which sounds about right.

 

[bdjansen]

Mini-Griptilian. I can't convince you, but carrying and using one will.

I love the Mini-Giptilian. One of my favorites. The Skyline still beats it though. Half the price, less weight, thinner, just a bit more blade.

See what I'm saying? As much as I love the mini-grip, logically I have a hard time finding anything that stacks up to it.

 

[lava_lamp]

I think the Kershaw Skyline is the greatest folding knife in the world

Whoa, settle down.

The Skyline is nice for the money. Maybe you could argue it is the greatest folder at its price point, but I don't think it is even that. I don't want to pick it apart and be negative, but Kershaw itself makes other knives in that price range that are probably a little better than the Skyline and so does Spyderco and Buck. If you spend a little more than what the Skyline costs, there are hundreds of better folders out there. If you spend a lot more, there are thousands.

 

[bdjansen]

I've had and used a skyline for the last year or so. It was moved out of pocket in favor of my para2, but that's without contest. I have abused my skyline and am very pleased with it. It is easily one of my favorite folders. Smooth, fast, and I love the way it feels in my hand. It is still used often when I don't want to get my para2 dirty. Haha. I plan to get a second one just to have one in good shape. My current skyline is pretty worn, but opening is smooth, no blade play, solid lock up, and surprisingly still admired by not so knife savvy friends. I would and do recommend the skyline for an affordable folder. JMO

The Para2 is one of the few main spyderco knifes I haven't tried. It's a lot more weight and size and money for the same amount of cutting edge though. So again, hard to justify.

I always find myself drawn to the carbon fiber spyders because they are soo classy looking. And that thin wire pocket clip... Now that's where the Skyline is beat. But functionally, the Skyline is superior. So any purchase would just be based on aesthetics. That's something I guess, but not much.

 

[Seanifred]

some people cannot open there minds and just try something new

i have tried the skyline. I don't like the clip, i don't like the weight. I generally don't like hollow grinds. But the thing that I really don't like about the skyline, is the rusting liner. why must kershaw bead blast everything.

also, all it takes is cutting down ONE cardboard box for the skyline to develop some kind of play. that doesn't happen with even my CRKT's . I have found the para2 and it is my favorite folding knife. although, i will still purchase another different knife when something interests me.

The skyline has been out of my pocket for so long that i don't even remember where it is.

spend a little money and get a knife that can deal with tasks beyond opening envelopes.

 

[allyourblood]

The Para2 is one of the few main spyderco knifes I haven't tried. It's a lot more weight and size and money for the same amount of cutting edge though. So again, hard to justify.

I always find myself drawn to the carbon fiber spyders because they are soo classy looking. And that thin wire pocket clip... Now that's where the Skyline is beat. But functionally, the Skyline is superior. So any purchase would just be based on aesthetics. That's something I guess, but not much.

You're stating as fact that the Skyline is functionally superior to a knife you admit you've never used? Any purchase of a knife within the same specs as the Skyline would be based on looks?


Nice troll.

 

[bdjansen]

Whoa, settle down.

The Skyline is nice for the money maybe you could argue it is the greatest folder at its price point, but I don't think it is even that. I don't want to pick it apart and be negative, but Kershaw itself makes other knives in that price range that are probably a little better than the Skyline and so does Spyderco and Buck. If you spend a little more than what the Skyline costs, there are hundreds of better folders out there. If you spend a lot more, there are thousands.

Money does matter though. Most of the time, if you spend more money you get a superior product. You get what you pay for. But in the case of knifes, they are such a simple tool, what does your money really get you? How can you REALLY improve on the Moras, the Opinels (I think I could also make a case of this being the greatest folding knife in the world), and in this tread's case, the Skyline?

If all knives were $1 then yeah, there'd be plenty just as good as the Skyline. But I think the only thing you get for the increased cost is aesthetics, and I'm logically finding it hard to buy other folders just for that reason.

 

[pilote]

...i think the OD-2 is the greatest envelope opener in the world LOL...

as for the skyline; i've got a damascus version and it works as an ok pruning knife for me...don't really see it as an edc for me...

 

[ChrisFarms]

great knife, agreed. best knife in the world, totally disagree

While handling knives in sporting good stores and stuff there are better folders, even by kershaw the blur being a better knife (i was using itn in sports authority yesterday) even tho it is a considerable amount more

 

[5.56]

Best American made folder at $30

 

[Bigfatts]

I admit I was smitten with the Skyline's looks. It's a nice looking little knife. But I tell you what, there are a bunch of knives well under $50 I would take in it's stead. Byrd knives come to mind, just about any of them but especially the Cara Cara 2. The Kabar Phat Bob is generally $5 more than the Skyline sells for at the Wally Marts. Even the Kershaw Junkyard Dog can be had for less than $10 more, and that's a knife! I came very close to buying a Skyline because I like flippers and as I said, I am a fan of their looks. But then I fiddled with one a guy at work has. Pew. The blade had significant play and the whole knife just felt cheap. He had had it as a work knife for about a month and was disappointed. We don't do any tough stuff at work either, cutting plastic bags, money straps, opening boxes, etc.

 

[bdjansen]

You're stating as fact that the Skyline is functionally superior to a knife you admit you've never used? Any purchase of a knife within the same specs as the Skyline would be based on looks?


Nice troll.

No, I didn't say that. See the paragraph break? I'm comparing the Skyline to the CF Spyers. And those I do have experience with. And yes I'm saying the Skyline functionally superior.

 

[drbobguy]

The Skyline is the best EDC I own for white-collar workers. It's not a heavy-duty knife though like the RAT-1 or Tenacious. What I really love about it is (1) the profile which is just gorgeous (2) the big blade and (3) the fact that it's so slim. It's light and incredibly thin, so you don't notice it. No deep-pocket carry clip, but for something this light I love having a little bit of the knife stick up, plus it's a very "sticky" clip because of the grippy G10, so there's no risk of it falling out. It's a classic design that is very useful, more of a real knife than a SAK, but easy to clip and forget about it.

EDIT: I should also add that the reason I like it much more than my KaBar Dozier (which is still a great knife don't get me wrong) is that it's a flipper. Very smooth action and easy to flip open, unlike most knives which require a lot of pressure on the thumb stud, especially a lock-back like the dozier.