I'm done with speed-safe

I have a little over a thousand knives in my collection, about 50 of which are Kershaws, and all of their models have been flawless to date. Thomas is the most responsive Manufactor's rep on this site( With Houser from Buck almost a tie).....they will fix it for you and go the extra mile, and it is a USA product!!! Don't give up on them for one mildly bad experience......
 
Yeah I would send it back to Kershaw. There's nothing wrong with Kershaw knives at all. I had to send one of mine back and they replaced it and I had it back in like 2 weeks.

They are a great company. All knife companies have a bad knife here and there. No big deal.

What is a BM550GY-600? Is that a 550 Griptilian with Grey handles? What's the -600 all about?
 
Thomas W said:
knucks, sorry to hear about your experience, why don't you send me your Blur back, I'd like to examine the knife in question personally. Certainly I'll send you another, better yet, I'll replace it with another knife should that be of interest.
We have less than 1% of our AO's actually come back for a defective torsion bar, again sorry. Hopefully you won't judge us as a company based on this one experience, certaily not the norm.


glockman99, have you had an issue as well?
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I sent you a PM Thomas

Knucks
 
Joe-Dirt said:
Yeah I would send it back to Kershaw. There's nothing wrong with Kershaw knives at all. I had to send one of mine back and they replaced it and I had it back in like 2 weeks.

They are a great company. All knife companies have a bad knife here and there. No big deal.

What is a BM550GY-600? Is that a 550 Griptilian with Grey handles? What's the -600 all about?
Click to expand...

You are right about the gray hadles and the -600 is to indicate it is a limited edition.

Knucks
 
Hey Knucks...

I haven't had a problem with my speed safes yet..They seem to just keep going..A friend had a blur for quite some time,,and it still fires nicely..

As for the tip....

Don't stick them into boards.. :) :)

BTW..
Good to see yet another canuck on BF.com

Welcome..

ttyle

Eric....
O/ST
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
tip should not bend if you stick it into a board.
I can stick any knife I own into a board with no damage.
It is not abuse.
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I agree 100% . . . unfortunately, customer service at most knife companies generally don't want to repair or replace a knife unless there was an obvious manufacturing defect. They'll claim you "abused" the knife and tell you to F.O. Even companies I like have a tendency to do this.
 
razorsdescent said:
Now yoy have an excuse to buy a ZT 300.:D
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The ZT 300 cost a more than i am willing to spend on a production folder, but the ZT 200 is another story, when it becomes available im picking one up.
 
waynorth said:
Do you listen to Strapping Young Lad, or do you just like the artwork J85909266?
Click to expand...
I find this question funny.

They are my second favorite band. I listen to them extensively.
 
The torsion bar on my Scallion went recently, after only a year of owning it. As others have commented, Kershaw warranty departmant is well helpful, and after a bit of deliberation, I decided to send mine in for repair (living in France = international shipping to US company, more risk of losing it in the mail). I love the SpeedSafe mechanism, it's even better than some switchblades I've seen, and incredibly useful for when you've only got one hand spare for getting out your knife. I don't want to diss Kershaw or the SpeedSafe mechanism at all, but if a few ppl have had problems with the torsion bars, it puts a bit of doubt in my mind about knives with any moving parts - less mechanics, less problems to go wrong I guess. I'd prob still recommend SpeedSafe knives to anyone and everyone, but now with a word of caution.
 
I never used a AO from Kershaw but gave two Whirlwinds as gifts to someone, who loved the AO.

Well, the first one broke its tip of while he was piercing and prying into something, i can´t say, what it was, but surely it was kind of abusive. :D

The second one came into the hands of an absolut braindump a..h.... He considered the knife to be dull and tried his best on a grinder.

Half the blade is gone.

Yes, half the blade.

The AO is still working.

I personally found, that the blade could have been ground better. A hollow ground blade with an edge thicker than any Benchmade edge i have seen. I wondered why a Kershaw edge wasn´t the synonym of thickness. The liners went over after half a year and the knife developed play.

Maybe that differs from model to model.
 
I think the quality of Kershaw is on par with the other major players. I've had a couple of leeks going strong for a year or so. They are in constant rotation with 3 other knives while I am on and off duty. Throw another torsion spring in and start cutting. I've said it before and I'll say it again. When someone representing the company steps into these forums and offers to look at OR replace the knife, that speaks volumes on the dedication to quality.
 
I have to drop my change in the bucket for Kershaw's Customer Service....

Thomas I didn't know you worked for them, or I may have just emailed you the request. If you look around you'll see that I just purchased a 1560 WhirlWind from FewPop.... I have to say that his description of the knife was far from accurate.... I mean he took and posted pics and said the knife had "minor" scratches on the blade in 2 or 3 places...

I MEAN COME ON!!!! IF YOU ARE GOING TO CALL IT A SCRATCH SHOULDN"T IT BE VISIBLE!!!!! hehehehehee Seriously you can see em, but damn they are soooooo minor and insignificant to a person like me who is turning it into a working knife that is really not worth typing about. I have to say I really appreciate him pointing them out though.

SOOOOO Back to Kershaw.... He also said that the handle/lanyard screw was missing from the knife and that it still locked up solid and there was no play. Which is partly true. The screw isn't missing.... It justs looks like it is, as in how it's made... (I didn't know this either FewPop) Soooo I called Kershaw and asked for a new screw to patch it up and viola' a mere 2 days later what do I have in my mailbox???? Not 1 but 2 replacement screws!!!! NOW THAT IS SERVICE!!!! I wanted to call you (Thomas/Kershaw) back and thank the company for an outstanding product and quality service, but what the hell I think here it will do a bit more good for the company.

So that said..... Kershaw get's 2 thumbs up from me and I look forward to "donating" more money to them in the future.

Keep up the good work Thomas and tell the rest of your crew thank you for me.

DM
 
My thumbs do not bend at the first knuckle so thumb studs and spyderco style holes are completely useless to me. Gf bought me a socom elite auto in 154cm 6 years ago. I carried it for 4 years very happily. I ended up replacing it with a TiNi leek because of the legal and sheeple issues with the socom. For over 2 years now I have carried my Leek everywhere I go, all the time. I use it for CUTTING everything from sheathing on wires to plastic, paper and wire wesh. I even used it to whitle a 6 ft walking stick. I have had to open the leek up and clean it out and relube it a few times to keep the AO action running smoothly but it works as good now as it did when i got it. The TiNi coating is still almost brand new looking except for a few minor scratches inflicted during staple removal. My only complaint is the 440a steel leaves a bit to desire but the knife only cost me $50 (and with an 8000 grit finish it still scares the hair off of my arms. I'm having a hard time not buying a new ZDP-189 leek!
leekbackscaledog0.jpg


edgepolishkt5.jpg



Edit: added pic of well used leek and its edge
 
I've had problems with Kershaws as well. I bought the first AO knife they made ( I can't remember the model name) and the torsion bar gave out after less than a year of moderate use. The blade steel on it and my Leek and Chive is beyond horrible, not to mention the flimsy construction. I've come to the conclusion that Kershaw is making ridiculously overpriced, poorly made knives for people who don't know any better. In my opinion, they are making probably the worst knives for the money on the market. Put the Kershaw in a drawer somewhere, do yourself a favor and buy something that won't let you down like a Benchmade or a Spyderco. You don't need AO, an Axis is just as fast and much stronger. I realize a lot of people like their Kershaws, and I hear the customer service is excellent, but I like knives where you never have to find out about the customer service. I also like knives where the blades don't dull from opening packages and the tips stay straight.
 
This could happen to anyone. My 3550 Benchmade's spring bit the dust on me, and I have had this knife less than 6 months, and have only used it, less than a dozen times. I am not one to play with it. I think I got a bad spring.....I had a Leek but gave it to my wife so she would have a knife to carry. It seems to be doing ok, but then again, I nor my wife have used it much.....at least Kershaw will send a new spring. I called BM and they told me they would not send me a replacement spring........figures.
 
yea, I'm done with Kershaw AO knives too. There isn't any problem with them, it is just too "switch blade" like for me. My country has very strict "anti-switch blade" laws and I'm pretty sure my LEOs don't know the difference between an AO and an automatic. If I live in a perfect world where everyone is respectful and pro knife, I wouldn't mind EDCing an AO knife, but it just ain't the case. :grumpy:
 
MoonWilson, some of these newer knives are light years ahead of the original 420 series steel ( why did they ever use that stuff?). They have models out in S30V and even ZDP 189 even now. The difference between a original 6 cylinder mustang and a 429 cobrajet big block shelby model performance wise. Joe L.
 
My take on my leek:
Some of the best ergos and fine construction in a 3" blade knife. However, the steel sucks. I knew that when I got the knife. The spring failed in it once during the time period it was my EDC. It has not broken since it retired to back up/loan out use. When it broke I emailed Kershaw and told them what happened and to please send me a few springs if this was gonna be a regular maintence type of thing (it is). They were very prompt to oblige my wishes. I think they have some of the best customer service out there.
 
Moon,

You said you bought the first AO Kershaw. Keep in mind that the Patented SpeedSafe mechanism was BRAND NEW!

Think about the first Hybrid Cars, the first Cell Phones, or the first Home Satellite Dishes, or just about anything that is technologically revolutionary; the same curve of progress applies to knives as well. Kershaw used pos and neg feedback to enhance their quality.

As Thomas W himself stated: Less than 1% of knives produced are ever sent back to Warranty with Torsion Bar defects.

As for the inferior steel and overpriced knives, I say BS! Only the Scallions and Chives are 420 steel, all the other onions are 440A or better. And Kershaw is still coming out with more S30V and ZDP knives this year and next.
The Scallions and Chives are also less $ than ANY American made Benchmade knife!

I have three BM knives: the 921 Switchback, a full size Grip and MiniGrip. The Switchback is too pretty to use, but the Grips feel like toys to me because of the handle, and the blades are nowhere near as sharp as the Kershaws I have, but those three knives cost me more $ than 5 of my favorite Kershaws. SO I don't think Kershaws are overpriced.

But it is still a matter of preference. Ford vs. Chevy, BM vs. Spyderco vs. Kershaw, etc...

I think its great that we can go online and discuss a hobby that we all love, regardless of WHY we love it.

Jeremy
 
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