In Praise of Kershaw

IMG_3011.JPG Couldn't agree more!
Think this one cost me ~ $40........well worth that!
So thin in hand, plenty of blade, great action, nice looking with a very cool lock!
Great knife!
Joe

unklfranco said:
This is another great knife Kershaw puts out. USA made too.

L4CU4up.jpg
Click to expand...
 
I LOVE my Kershaw's. Have several. Kershaw and Boker have the most examples of any manufacturers in my collection.
Kershaw's I have include:
My EDC every day Hotwire
20170703_112047-700x451.jpg



Kershaw%20Crown%20II.JPG



d055d770-a665-4f22-bcdf-5939ef818dce





41WKj0A6gbL._SX355_.jpg



KE-2335.jpg
 
i grabbed the 3.0 and 3.5 based on the OP - under 30 shipped and here in 2 days.

the 3.5 will replace (atleast temporarily) my EDC of the last 10 years - it needs some TLC, and not 100%sure when I'll get aroudn to that.
my first experience with G10 (yea, i know I'm late) and I like it a lot.

pretty good edge from the factory - not sure how I"ll like the 8CR, but I dont mind sharpening regular at all
 
l1ranger said:
i grabbed the 3.0 and 3.5 based on the OP - under 30 shipped and here in 2 days.

the 3.5 will replace (atleast temporarily) my EDC of the last 10 years - it needs some TLC, and not 100%sure when I'll get aroudn to that.
my first experience with G10 (yea, i know I'm late) and I like it a lot.

pretty good edge from the factory - not sure how I"ll like the 8CR, but I dont mind sharpening regular at all
Click to expand...
What's the outgoing EDC?
 
I gave a 3.5 injection to a buddy and he loves it. Still can't believe the price.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
What's the outgoing EDC?
Click to expand...

TLE - its a Buck Mayo Cutback - it was a gift from a good friend - and i broke the liner lock (note about loose change in the same pocket)
will have to find another to replace the scales - but not sure, I may just retire it as is.
 
I've got 3 knife cases full of Kershaws; some very cheap, some not. So, IMO, there's a lot to like about Kershaw knives regardless of price.
 
craytab said:
Just thought I would bump this thread because with KnifeCenter doing free shipping this weekend, you can pick up the Kershaw Injection 3.5" for $15 to your door. Best deal in the knife game going right now.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS3830/Kershaw-3830-Injection-3-5-Folding-Knife
Click to expand...

The power of BF. The Injection 3.5 is already sold out at KC even before the free shipping weekend.

I was going to buy one (not because I really wanted one; just based on the price) but I can still buy another Kershaw that I wanted instead but I'm not going to mention which one that is in case it gets jumped on by BF members as well. LOL!!! ;)
 
sgt1372 said:
The power of BF. The Injection 3.5 is already sold out at KC even before the free shipping weekend.

I was going to buy one (not because I really wanted one; just based on the price) but I can still buy another Kershaw that I wanted instead but I'm not going to mention which one that is in case it gets jumped on by BF members as well. LOL!!! ;)
Click to expand...
Well damn. It was in stock earlier.
 
I got a leek not too long ago. I often carry it over a mnandi which are about the same size.

I did put skater tape on the slippery scale though. Great edge geometry and size.
 
craytab said:
Well damn. It was in stock earlier.
Click to expand...

You still can buy on Injection 3.5 for less than what KC was offering it for on another well known site but you'll have to pay another $2-3 for shipping unless you spend a total of $99 on the order.

Still a good deal at $16 (+change) if you want the knife.
 
Last edited:
You can never have to many kershaws. One for the glove box, backpack, work truck, pocket. Use one, lose one and a spare.
 
Kershaw has been a leader in the $20-30 range for years. ChubbyBrother mentioned the Clash and that's one of my favorites too. The shape and texture of the grip is wonderful. I love the blade shape. This is one that I'd absolutely love to see offered in a better steel.

Speaking of steel, their 8Cr13Mov used to be more attractive. Now we've got other Chinese budget options reaching down around that price range with D2, 9Cr18Mov, and Acuto 440. I'd like to see Kershaw step up.
 
I really like Kershaw. Got 3 Leeks, 3 Shuffle 2's, and 1 Kershaw Emerson CQC 7K.

The Shuffle 2 I liked so much that when I broke my first one, I bought two more.
 
Cosmodragoon said:
Speaking of steel, their 8Cr13Mov used to be more attractive. Now we've got other Chinese budget options reaching down around that price range with D2, 9Cr18Mov, and Acuto 440. I'd like to see Kershaw step up.
Click to expand...

In this day and age, 8Cr13Mov doesn't get a lot of respect as a blade steel but, based on what I've read, it is comparable to 440C and VG10 which has been widely used over many years by other knife makers, especially by Spyderco, which also uses 8Cr13Mov in their "budget" knives, like the Byrd line and the Tenacious family.

FWIW, I don't "use" my knives much but those I do w/8CR13Mov function fine for my purposes w/o the need for excessive sharpening.

Kershaw is now making some knives w/better steels (like the M390 Knockout, Dividend and Link) on a limited basis but, as the pricing of those knives indicates, Kershaw loses it's price advantage when it uses such steel which places those knives in competition with others against which they do not compete as well with.

One example of this is the Artisan Cutlery D2 line which is priced in the $50-70 range where the Kershaw M390 knives are also priced. While M390 is certainly better steel, if you compare the design of the Artisan Cutlery knives w/the M390 Kershaws in the same price range, those who are not obsessed w/the quality of the blade steel but are drawn more by the design/style/size of a folder would probably choose an Artisan.

In my case, I own both the M390 Kershaws and 5 Artisans but, if I had to choose between the 2, I undoubtedly would choose an Artisan over a comparably priced Kershaw.

So, IMO, while a change in blade steel may be useful for marketing purposes, practically speaking I don't think there is any great need for Kershaw to do so, as long it helps to keep their knives "affordable" and allows them to maintain their dominance in the low priced knife market.
 
Last edited:
I avoided Kershaw for years due to a particularly abrasive rep that used to hang out here. I did buy some USA made small flippers from Walmart when they were discontinued for a stupid low price and a 1735T Zing from Kershaw Guy when he had it on sale. The Zing encompassed three of my most hated deal breakers; black blade, tanto and flipper, but is a nice useable piece. All are well done and have filled my "small knife" needs well. Last week I started searching for a small auto and at just the right time KG came through with a deal on the Launch 4 in Teal. Bought it on a whim and am totally satisfied. Great snap and bladesteel for low bucks to my door.
 
Kershaw is awesome, I don't get the hate they get sometimes around here. I've had awesome inexpensive beaters from them that I'm still using years later (Tremor, Chill, Hotwire, etc.) and I love some of their recent stuff too (Concierge, Bareknuckle and copper Natrix to name a few).

I paid $12 for that Tremor (a big knife, ~3.75" blade) years ago and it's still trucking along as one of my yard beaters, centered, no objectionable blade play. IMO, you can't beat that . . .
 
sgt1372 said:
In this day and age, 8Cr13Mov doesn't get a lot of respect as a blade steel but, based on what I've read, it is comparable to 440C and VG10...
Click to expand...

Heat treatment and edge geometry play a role in how these steels behave but in general, VG10 is vastly superior to 8Cr13Mov. In my own limited experience, 440c is a bit more variable and it depends on who made the knife. Still, I'd generally take either over 8Cr13Mov. The 8Cr13Mov with Kershaw's treatment is going to be better than what you find on "gas station knives", MTechs, or the sub-$10 stuff at Walmart.

Don't get me wrong. I've used and carried budget Kershaws in 8Cr13Mov for the better part of a decade. I still occasionally carry my Clash because I love the shape and I'm a bit sentimental. I just won't buy any new knives in this steel.

As far as reading, here are two decent articles that score these and other knife steels. You can see that VG-10 really is a great performer. There are lots of "budget" knives in the $50-100 range in VG-10 but that's not really a competitor for the $20-30 Kershaw. What I am seeing creep down in price are Chinese knives in D2, 9Cr18Mov, and Acuto 440. There are pros and cons but really, I think it's time to move on from 8Cr13Mov.

https://knifeinformer.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel

https://www.trekwarrior.com/best-knife-steel-carbon-vs-stainless-blades
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top