Is Kershaw cooling?

Sagandavis said:
Wish they weren’t married to assisted open, otherwise I would probably have a couple.
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Yeah, they certainly capitalize on that feature.

I am not gonna lie, when I first tried the Speedsafe I was all like... "Oh wow, this is sooo cool! It's like a switchblade!"

Then after time, it's like... "Oh boy I hope that spring doesn't break, and man it kinda is no fun having to keep re-greasing the spring seat after washing the knife a bunch".
 
I don't think I've ever owned a single Kershaw. Maybe in the 80's or 90's, but I've suffered too many head injuries (*and drank wayyy too much Jack Daniel's) to remember back that far.

Beyond that, the whole "overbuilt folder" thing (*for the most part) escapes me, as I'm an "overbuilt fixie" kinda' guy...and the whole "China" thing just isn't my jam.

Despite all those subconscious objections, the copper Natrix XL keeps screaming at me, and I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA why.


The next time SMKW has those in their daily "Flash Sales", I WILL own one...but I seriously don't think that my one purchase is part of Kershaw's "Five Year Plan".
 
Sharp Steel said:
From what I have seen, they use liner locks or frame locks, but not a fan of those. Prefer something you can close easily with either hand. e.g. Axis lock, back lock.
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I hear ya.

The Macho 2120, Mesquite, Black Scout, Indian Ford, 1040, etc were all pretty nice lock backs.

It would be cool to see those all again.
 
Sharp Steel said:
From what I have seen, they use liner locks or frame locks, but not a fan of those. Prefer something you can close easily with either hand. e.g. Axis lock, back lock.
Click to expand...
I actually like their liner locks, and prefer them over frame locks. I have a BM with an axis lock that is pretty good. I haven’t used a back lock, but it looks kind of awkward to me. I see them and try to visualize how I’d use one, and every way comes up fumbles.
 
RE: "Is Kershaw cooling"

My guess, folks simply move on to other options.

Over the decades Kershaw has been a stepping in brand for a lot of folks I know that got interested in pocket knives. For many was a side-step from Cold Steel, for others ..., colors and features drew them to Kershaw. There also have been some most excellent performance value models like the Outcast and Camp-10, and they make great project knives to explore things like geometry as it relates to cutting performance (vid link below).
Outcast & Camp-10 Reprofiles
(There are a few progression videos on both those knives for anyone interested also some more field use on both in the Camp Vid Series playlist (check the info section above comments section for links)

My daughter (after 10-years owning and carrying) still loves her pink-camo Chive. She loves handing to a friend (boys especially), because they typically can't/don't figure out the closed-lock function. They always hand it back with a dumb look, as she smiles at them firing the blade out to cut whatever :)

Also, I remember the days when the OG 1760 Skyline ruled the mod-knife community.
Can not remember all the NIB Kershaw's I have gifted (Shuffles, Leeks, Chives, typically).

Personally, most of the models have one or more features that unfortunately turns me off from a daily carry perspective (but that's just me having weird hang-ups when it comes to tools) :-\
 
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Spey said:
RE: "Is Kershaw cooling"

My guess, folks simply move on to other options.

Over the decades Kershaw has been a stepping in brand for a lot of folks I know that got interested in pocket knives. For many was a side-step from Cold Steel, for others ..., colors and features drew them to Kershaw. There also have been some most excellent performance value models like the Outcast and Camp-10, and they make great project knives to explore things like geometry as it relates to cutting performance (vid link below).
Outcast & Camp-10 Reprofiles
(There are a few progression videos on both those knives for anyone interested also some more field use on both in the Camp Vid Series playlist (check the info section above comments section for links)

My daughter (after 10-years owning and carrying) still loves her pink-camo Chive. She loves handing to a friend (boys especially), because they typically can't/don't figure out the closed-lock function. They always hand it back with a dumb look, as she smiles at them firing the blade out to cut whatever :)

Also, I remember the days when the OG 1760 Skyline ruled the mod-knife community.
Can not remember all the NIB Kershaw's I have gifted (Shuffles, Leeks, Chives, typically).

Personally, most of the models have one or more features that unfortunately turns me off from a daily carry perspective (but that's just me having weird hang-ups when it comes to tools) :-\
Click to expand...
I watched that video a few times, it's pretty interesting. This one is enjoyable too.


That's great your child is getting taught by Dad. Good stuff!
 
MolokaiRider said:
I watched that video a few times, it's pretty interesting. This one is enjoyable too.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the vid-link ;-)
Choppers (big knives, hawks, axes) are about the only tools I have interest in "convex" grinds (typically convex begins with flat segmented bevels like 15°/10°/5° then blended to form a controlled convex). "Controlled" meaning I control the width of each of those three bevels before blending (similar in concept to a 3-angle valve job, that is then radiused except for the seat cut bevel).

I have 5 or 6 videos on blade geometry enhancements on Outcast & Camp-10 on my channel.
Link below to one of my buddies (owner of the Camp-10 actually) describing and using my asymmetrical/regrinds in the field.
Camp Vid#3 Bush Camp Knives, Fire & Leather - Camp-10 & Outcast FeatherSticking
 
These are some of the "later model" Kershaws that I've purchased and still own:

SYGIpBJ.png


They are the:

1) Knockout (1870) - Black Aluminium Scales w/a Subframe Lock & a SW Sandvik 14C28N blade
2) Knockout (1870BLUSW) - Blue Aluminum Scales w/a Subframe Lock & a SW M390 blade - a US Made Blade Exclusive)
3) Link (1886BLK) - Black Aluminum Scales w/Lliner Lock and a SW M390 blade
4) Dividend (1812BLK) - Black Aluminum Scales w/Liner Lock and a SW M390 blade

I also still own the:

1) Natrix (7007) - Black G10 Scales w/a Subframe Lock & a SW 8Cr13Mov blade
2) ZT 0770 - CF Scales with an Inset Lock & a SW Elmax blade
3) ZT 0770M390 - CF scales wtih an Inset Lock & a SW M390 blade.

EOhGJ05.png


My hope is to someday purchase the limited edition ZT 0777 with the composite Vanax35/Devin Thomas Damascus blade for less than the cost of 2-3 of my monthly mortgage payments to complete the set but there's no chance of that. LOL! ;)

There is also a ZT 0777 w/an M390 blade but (apart from its size, 3.75 vs 3.25) its not really all that different than the ZT 0770 M390 that I already own. So, I'm not seaching for one but, if one dropped in my lap for the "right" price, of course, I'd buy it.

Interestingly, the cheaper Natrix 7007 and more expensive ZT 0777 come w/the subframe lock design, while the 0770 uses an "inset lock" inlayed into the clip side scale. Arguably the subframe lock is more "advanced" but my guess is that KAI/ZT felt that they had to distinguish the 0770 from the 0777 in some way, other than just size, so chose to use the inset lock w/the ZT 0770 instead. The Natrix 7007 & ZT 0777 are also both fullered while the 0770 is not. So, in at least 2 ways, the Natrix 7007 is actually more similiar to the ZT 0777 than the 0770.

I also owned a Blur and a Bareknuckle but I never really liked them and sold them long ago.

-----------------------------------------------------

PS: I could inundate this thread w/pics of some of my old Kershaws which clearly make the point that Kershaws were much "cooler" back in "the day" but I won't because If you're interested enough, you can find them elsewhere on the Forum. What you'll find, if you look, are photos of:

1) my 9 variation Shallot (1870) set

2) my Tilt (4001)

3) my 6 knife Kershaw/Hattori collection, which includes the 1050 (lockback folder), the 1030/1034/1035 fixed blades from the Hunter series, the fixed blade Trooper (1007) and the Gerber Mark I look-a-like fixed blade Secret Agent (1002)

4) the 3 knife Maniago Series (1305/1310/1320) of lockback folders that I recently purchased

5) and, my 4 knife Talon (1420/1420ST/1421ST/1422ST) variation set.
 
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sgt1372 said:
My hope is to someday purchase the limited edition ZT 0777 with the composite Vanax35/Devin Thomas Damascus blade for less than the cost of 2-3 of my monthly mortgage payments to complete the set but there's no chance of that. LOL! ;)
Click to expand...
I still remember the day I passed on one for $375 new (coulda bought multiple) as I had set a limit of $325 for that knife (never been a flipper guy or a bearing guy, but that knife was a revolution that has not been equaled to this day).
A few weeks later I upped my anti to the $375, but they were going for $450 and shortly after OMG first factory folder I saw hit over-the-moon ride :-o
Ode to the knives I shoulda bought ...
 
Spey said:
Thanks for the vid-link ;-)
Choppers (big knives, hawks, axes) are about the only tools I have interest in "convex" grinds (typically convex begins with flat segmented bevels like 15°/10°/5° then blended to form a controlled convex). "Controlled" meaning I control the width of each of those three bevels before blending (similar in concept to a 3-angle valve job, that is then radiused except for the seat cut bevel).

I have 5 or 6 videos on blade geometry enhancements on Outcast & Camp-10 on my channel.
Link below to one of my buddies (owner of the Camp-10 actually) describing and using my asymmetrical/regrinds in the field.
Camp Vid#3 Bush Camp Knives, Fire & Leather - Camp-10 & Outcast FeatherSticking
Click to expand...

Suscribed!

Cool stuff man!
 
sgt1372 said:
These are some of the "later model" Kershaws that I've purchased and still own:

SYGIpBJ.png


They are the:

1) Knockout (1870) - Black Aluminium Scales w/a Subframe Lock & a SW Sandvik 14C28N blade
2) Knockout (1870BLUSW) - Blue Aluminum Scales w/a Subframe Lock & a SW M390 blade - a US Made Blade Exclusive)
3) Link (1886BLK) - Black Aluminum Scales w/Lliner Lock and a SW M390 blade
4) Dividend (1812BLK) - Black Aluminum Scales w/Liner Lock and a SW M390 blade

I also still own the:

1) Natrix (7007) - Black G10 Scales w/a Subframe Lock & a SW 8Cr13Mov blade
2) ZT 0770 - CF Scales with an Inset Lock & a SW Elmax blade
3) ZT 0770M390 - CF scales wtih an Inset Lock & a SW M390 blade.

EOhGJ05.png


My hope is to someday purchase the limited edition ZT 0777 with the composite Vanax35/Devin Thomas Damascus blade for less than the cost of 2-3 of my monthly mortgage payments to complete the set but there's no chance of that. LOL! ;)

There is also a ZT 0777 w/an M390 blade but (apart from its size, 3.75 vs 3.25) its not really all that different than the ZT 0770 M390 that I already own. So, I'm not seaching for one but, if one dropped in my lap for the "right" price, of course, I'd buy it.

Interestingly, the cheaper Natrix 7007 and more expensive ZT 0777 come w/the subframe lock design, while the 0770 uses an "inset lock" inlayed into the clip side scale. Arguably the subframe lock is more "advanced" but my guess is that KAI/ZT felt that they had to distinguish the 0770 from the 0777 in some way, other than just size, so chose to use the inset lock w/the ZT 0770 instead. The Natrix 7007 & ZT 0777 are also both fullered while the 0770 is not. So, in at least 2 ways, the Natrix 7007 is actually more similiar to the ZT 0777 than the 0770.

I also owned a Blur and a Bareknuckle but I never really liked them and sold them long ago.

-----------------------------------------------------

PS: I could inundate this thread w/pics of some of my old Kershaws which clearly make the point that Kershaws were much "cooler" back in "the day" but I won't because If you're interested enough, you can find them elsewhere on the Forum. What you'll find, if you look, are photos of:

1) my 9 variation Shallot (1870) set

2) my Tilt (4001)

3) my 6 knife Kershaw/Hattori collection, which includes the 1050 (lockback folder), the 1030/1034/1035 fixed blades from the Hunter series, the fixed blade Trooper (1007) and the Gerber Mark I look-a-like fixed blade Secret Agent (1002)

4) the 3 knife Maniago Series (1305/1310/1320) of lockback folders that I recently purchased

5) and, my 4 knife Talon (1420/1420ST/1421ST/1422ST) variation set.
Click to expand...
Per usual, you've got some sweet stuff!
 
Spey said:
I still remember the day I passed on one for $375 new (coulda bought multiple) as I had set a limit of $325 for that knife (never been a flipper guy or a bearing guy, but that knife was a revolution that has not been equaled to this day).
A few weeks later I upped my anti to the $375, but they were going for $450 and shortly after OMG first factory folder I saw hit over-the-moon ride :-o
Ode to the knives I shoulda bought ...
Click to expand...
Nice group shot of the 0770s. I had a Natrix when they first came out and the sub-frame lock moved all the way over after about a weeks use. The 0770 is a workhorse however. I have Elmax, but I wish I had bought one of the M390, or better yet, one of the KSF M4 versions.
 
tony281sc2 said:
Nice group shot of the 0770s. I had a Natrix when they first came out and the sub-frame lock moved all the way over after about a weeks use. The 0770 is a workhorse however. I have Elmax, but I wish I had bought one of the M390, or better yet, one of the KSF M4 versions.
Click to expand...
I remember hearing rumblings a while back that Kershaw's Elmax was not performing well. My only ZT is in Elmax, but I have not pushed the alloy enough to find fault.

I have mostly used it to trim plastic parts, cut meat, and slice rubber. It worked fine for that stuff, with no edge deflection. Granted, that's not too tough for most knives.
 
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