I'm impressed with Kershaw Vapor -- thumbstud and all

peacefuljeffrey

peacefuljeffrey

Joined
Feb 24, 2001
Messages
1,308
I hit two different Walmarts last week trying to get a Kershaw Vapor, since I had read here that they were good but cheap. (My only other experience with Kershaw was a big disappointment with the Amphibian.)

Both Walmarts were out of stock, so at the second one I got myself a Gerber Mini-Paraframe for ten bucks -- since I needed a new knife to hold in my hand. (You know that jones you get.)

Tonight I went back to the first Walmart and found the Vapor in stock. I was thinking of getting two, but then for the same price I saw the Gerber Paraframe (full size) and said eh, why not? So now I have one of each.

I have to say that I realllly like the Vapor. (I'm fonder of the MINI Paraframe than the regular, though.) The Paraframe has a cool titanium whoosawhatchits finish that looks and feels sweet, but its fit and finish are pretty lame. The blade pivot needs tightening, but the big prob is that the frame lock does not wedge itself far enough under the rear of the blade when the knife is opened. The Vapor has no such problem.

The feel of the Vapor in my hand is just really pleasant. This is my first thumb-stud knife. I have taken part in "what do you think of..." threads relating to blade holes versus studs, and always chimed in to support holes over studs. Now I have reconsidered, because this knife does not *suffer* for having a thumbstud.

Operation is very smooth, and I got the hang of using the stud very quickly. My first attempt or two at opening the blade had a problem, but only because I was trying to push the stud with my thumb out to the direct side (90 degrees to the handle) when the optimal push is more like almost 50 or 60 degrees from the side (more toward the front of the knife). Locking is secure, and the weight of the knife is reassuring in the hand. Closing is easy to do one-handed as well. I love the simplicity and minimization of parts that come with the frame-lock design. This knife is a keeper; I plan to get a few more; I'll make gifts of them when appropriate; and I'll be carrying this knife regularly.

Get one now before the price goes up. Better yet, get TWO! :p

---Jeffrey
 
I've been waiting for the Vapor II to arrive.


I'm surprised your Gerber was loose, my full-size paraframe was quite tight when purchased and even though i've broken it in a bit, it has no blade play and the lock has been VERY good. Does yours also have a ball detent for the closed position?

The finish on the Paraframe handle is unlike anything i've felt, and i really like it. Sort of like a vinyl feel, or a rubber coating? I'm not sure what it is, but it feels so nice :D
Thumbstuds have always seemed nicer to me than holes, but to each their own on that one :)

Fit and finish has impressed me, for the price of the Gerber. If you get the opportunity, i'd like to know if your opinion holds true on the quality of the larger as it does the small one. Perhaps it's a QC issue and they're not all equal from the factory.
 
I slit a dog's throat with my Vapor...good knife!


:eek: :eek: :eek:

Just Kidding...


Actually, is the price supposed to go up? I've handled one of these, and it seams like a much better knife than like $60 Smith and wessons...

Is the blade steel any good, any RC information?
 
If it's same as Vapor II it's AUS6A. Not a premium steel by a long shot, but for a $25 folder, I'm not complaining. Especially with the absolutely rock solid finish/lockup on this thing(Vapor II Partially serrated 1650ST). Not sure of RC, haven't bothered tryign to sharpen it yet, had shavable using edge out of box, haven't cuz enough stuff to need to dig out sharpmaker or steel yet.
 
Well, a couple of things.
My Gerber Mini Paraframe is put together well, locks up fine, but it came with a crap edge -- just as I expected. I spent a while with it and my Profile and it now shaves.

My Vapor is, as one said, rock solid. It too came with a crappy edge. Oh, okay, it was able to cut, but it was, well, the edge you'd expect on a twenty-dollar knife! I put it right on my Profile and now it shaves, too.

The Gerber full size Paraframe looks great, and I do like that finish a lot, but I don't know what to do about the fact that the lock won't click far enough into place behind the tang when the blade is opened. I can manually force it in there, but doing that has so far not made the action work any better. The Paraframe came with the best edge of the three, it seems, though still not what I call sharp.

That brings me to another issue. I have noticed that some have said, "Kershaw knows sharp," or that their this-knife or that-knife came sharp right out of the box. I can't figure this out. Hardly *any* knives I've ever bought new ever came with an edge I deemed sharp enough to just start carrying daily. I've almost always had to work them up to the job.

So my question: Do I just "know sharp" more than some of those who seem to be satisfied with factory edges? Does it take more to satisfy me just because I am able to do such a better job than the factory with my humble little Profile? I always would have thought that other BFC forumites would have standards at least as high as mine, or higher...

---Jeffrey
 
Jeffrey,

This observation on the lock, that it won't engage far enough, has me thinking you're holding a bad one. My full size Paraframe, which i'm holding to make sure of what i'm saying, is 100% what i'd expect in a lock.

When i push the blade out of the detent, it's pretty smooth to the fully open position, and the lock actually "Snaps" into place...
it lands perfectly under the blade, and it's upper-most edge rests on the adjacent handle. It snaps right into the proper position.

Granted this is no speed-opener, i don't feel it's meant to be. I think the design is geared more towards safety. If a quarter in your pocket wedged between handle and blade, i doubt the blade would come out.

This being my first framelock, i've spent alot of time looking over the design and thinking how much i like it. Actually, i can't get over how much i like this $20 knife overall. Wanna have a laugh, compare it to Schrade's $30.00 "Lake & Walker" 'SLW2' model. Now That there is a lousy framelock!

When i compared the Kershaw edge to Gerber, i felt the latter won hands down. When i got it home, i was surprised to find the Paraframe shaved hair.
I'd sure like to see your "shaving sharp" someday :)

Anyhow, i agree that all blades you buy from, say Wal-mart, will be lacking in edge. Though i also think the Gerber is the sharpest i've seen yet. The lock on mine is swift and sound, i feel you must have held a dud, and i hope you get a chance to sample another!

Me, i'm still waiting on the Vapor II to arrive :)
 
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