Is Kershaw cooling?

[MolokaiRider]

It's interesting that this thread has come up.

Just a few weeks ago, I was thinking it was about time to replace my blue handled Link. It was a great knife. When I looked, I was shocked to see it no longer in production, so I went for the straight Al handle like MolokaiRider just showed above... also a no-go. I figured I should see if there was the same issue with the Dividends and sure enough, yup. Same problem.

They still have the OD green scaled versions in higher end steel, but killed the aluminum handled versions in 420HC. The point of the Link name, as far as I recall, was that it was supposed to be the link between American made quality and value. But then they kill the "value" models. WTF? I had been really excited when they released the Link, then Dividend, and Bareknuckle a few years back. It was like Kershaw came roaring back to prominence with USA made value knives that were actually very well made. To see them give up on that ethos is sad. I love my Dividend Composite and was carrying it just yesterday. I'll have to jump on a Link in 20cv before the kill those too.

Yeah, I was bummed to see the Link and Dividend dropped. The FRN models were little workhorses.

I still edc my kershaw leek, with 14c28n, all around excellent and made locally
only problem is they were under $50 pre-covid, now the kc sale price is $68 with regular/msrp pricing of $105

The pricing certainly has been creeping. I am glad to see the Leek still hanging on. Part of me wonders this is just old inventory though.

Kershaw has been dead to me for a long time. I really have no interest in any of their knives made in the last 30 years. You have to go back prior to that to find good stuff (see below). I blame it (partially) on Thomas Welk, KAI's director of sales and marketing, who, besides coming across as a total a-hole, seems to think of knives as just another product, like toilet paper or corrugated cardboard. In short, he doesn't give a damn about quality, because to him, if something sells in large quantities it is ipso facto good. Here's just one post out of hundreds by him that reveal his stunted worldview:

To end this comment on a less depressing note, here are some cool old Kershaws of mine. The Macho, Honcho, Little Stud and Rotary Lock.

View attachment 1901691View attachment 1901693View attachment 1901692

View attachment 1901694

And here's the cover of a 1979 Kershaw catalog featuring these four knives (with different scale materials):

View attachment 1901695

The meltdown was awful. I wish that stain was not on Kershaw.

Those knives however, are gorgeous!

You guys carry-on. I think y'all have 'bout got me talked-into a Launch 1 or OD Link. (*or maybe both)

Do it!

Bought one of these a while ago.

View attachment 1901710

I had a hard time getting a good edge on it. Sent it back to Kershaw recently and they fixed me up! It's a hell of a chopper!

View attachment 1901711

That thing is a beast!! Glad to hear about the good customer service. I have had the same experiences.

I just checked my knife inventory spreadsheet and found out I have 94 Kershaws! I would have thought around 50.

I guess I better find 6 more that I like to make it an even 100 knives.

Well done! My gut tells me you have Skylines in every color!

Kershaw ahs been pretty good at reading what the market wants while at the same time doing what they want. Thsi can really be frustrating as some of my favorite designs are discontinued within a year of introduction. I own many Kershaw's and ZT's but nothing in their current catalog screams "I WANT THAT". Sad.

I feel the same. I actually want to buy more, but there ain't much left or new.

To reiterate most, I miss kershaw’s “good ol days” and I haven’t even been collecting knives for that long. I purchased a few kershaws from places like Dicks sporting goods and Walmart long before I even knew what “real” (non-gas station) knives were, or even what kershaw was really about. That was about 10 years ago. At that time I remember the link, leek, and blur being on the shelf, and maybe a couple of other Chinese made kershaws. Now, you’re lucky if you find 1 American made kershaw, let alone knife, in the display case at said Walmart or Dick’s. I guess it is what it is, but I try to only buy American made kershaws from now on, which isn’t hard considering almost everything they’re making nowadays isn’t from the states and looks goofy as heck.

Though I have to admit I did pick up a strata xl because I couldn’t resist

A sporting good store display is what got me too. I saw a glass Kershaw display and was bitten by the need to buy one. The looked cool and the price was reasonable.

 

[midnight flyer]

I certainly think it is OK to be a bit disappointed with Kershaw because they are not making the knives we want them to, not being the innovators of the industry we want them to be, and not approving of their choice of current designs, blade materials, handle designs, lack of this or that, and on and on. No one here is ever happy, and that's OK, too.

If a new model comes out from XYZ knives, it is carefully scrutinized by what can be seen from a computer screen, and pronouncements come that if they made that knife in SV400X, they would get two. If it was made in the USA, they would buy at least one. If the blade didn't have that tiny bit of recurve, the order would have been made. If only that knife wasn't from someone on the $hIt list here because they don't like the designer/distributor/manufacturer on top of everything else. These people were never going to buy that knife regardless of pedigree.

But on the other side, if someone is absolutely joyous with their new purchase, gushing about the fit/finish/quality, etc., then folks here try to determine if it is a shill post. "This sounds familiar to me" and "similar to another post from this guy" and "calm down, glad you like your knife... tell us about it in 6 months *sniff* ". And if you continue with your praise, then the 10,000 post guys will brand you a fan boy.

And this venue is a tiny, tiny, tiny piece of the knife market. Many here have become online friends here due to the amount of time they spend here. Yet NO ONE, not one single person I know through my construction work, my hunting and fishing friends, my distance hiking/Boy Scout affiliations... not one person had even heard of Blade Forums. (Grant you, that is a shame in more ways than one.)

All I see Kershaw doing now is responding to the market. The onslaught of foreign competition has driven down prices, in many cases cheapened AND increased the quality of product, and has changed the landscape of the market in about 5 years or so. It seems just about everyone has a knife endorsement deal, or has raised the money to have one of the giant off shore factories make knives for them. And who knows how many of those Chinese brands that are everywhere now are actually owned by the same company? We don't really know, do we? Some freely admit that they have their knives made by others, and some don't.

There was a great thread a 2-3 weeks ago about "work knives". Kershaw has managed to kinda of keep a foot in both the high end and low end camps. They make some high end knives, and some low end knives, which seems to be the whole market these days. I just want to see them stay in business, I want to see them keep as much manufacturing as they can here and keep as many development and distribution jobs here as possible. I know that is disappointing to a lot of folks to shoot so low, but I'll take it. As a career craftsman, I watched Delta, Rockwell, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Millers Falls, Blue Grass, Stanley, Bostitich, etc., etc., that were industry standards in the 60s/70s get ripped apart by corporate greed, missteps in direction, and the fact that when deciding returns weren't great enough move all manufacturing overseas. I will take Kershaw and its lack of innovation and controversial products any way possible if they will keep as much commerce here as they can.

 

[stevejams]

My current USA Kershaws, my favorite being the carbon fiber skyline. It actually flips very well

 

[jmh33]

View attachment 1901981
Another LEEK!!

John

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

Their Leek was my favorite for many years. Mainly used in an office environment. All metal, needle tip, very quick in and out of pocket.

Kershaw sold out. I dropped them real quick. My EDC needs to be more versatile than the Leek. I dropped Benchmade recently and am now EDC Spyderco Manix 2 (yes, it is all metal, too)

 

[19-3ben]

Their Leek was my favorite for many years. Mainly used in an office environment. All metal, needle tip, very quick in and out of pocket.

Kershaw sold out. I dropped them real quick. My EDC needs to be more versatile than the Leek. I dropped Benchmade recently and am now EDC Spyderco Manix 2 (yes, it is all metal, too)

G10 is a kind of metal?

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

G10 is a kind of metal?

LMAOOOOOOO I seriously cannot think straight. TY for calling me out.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I certainly think it is OK to be a bit disappointed with Kershaw because they are making the knives we want them to, not being the innovators of the industry we want them to be, and not approving of their choice of current designs, blade materials, handle designs, lack of this or that, and on and on. No one here is ever happy, and that's OK, too.

If a new model comes out from XYZ knives, it is carefully scrutinized by what can be seen from a computer screen, and pronouncements come that if they made that knife in SV400X, they would get two. If it was made in the USA, they would buy at least one. If the blade didn't have that tiny bit of recurve, the order would have been made. If only that knife wasn't from someone on the $hIt list here because they don't like the designer/distributor/manufacturer on top of everything else. These people were never going to buy that knife regardless of pedigree.

But on the other side, if someone is absolutely joyous with their new purchase, gushing about the fit/finish/quality, etc., then folks here try to determine if it is a shill post. "This sounds familiar to me" and "similar to another post from this guy" and "calm down, glad you like your knife... tell us about it in 6 months *sniff* ". And if you continue with your praise, then the 10,000 post guys will brand you a fan boy.

And this venue is a tiny, tiny, tiny piece of the knife market. Many here have become online friends here due to the amount of time they spend here. Yet NO ONE, not one single person I know through my construction work, my hunting and fishing friends, my distance hiking/Boy Scout affiliations... not one person had even heard of Blade Forums. (Grant you, that is a shame in more ways than one.)

All I see Kershaw doing now is responding to the market. The onslaught of foreign competition has driven down prices, in many cases cheapened AND increased the quality of product, and has changed the landscape of the market in about 5 years or so. It seems just about everyone has a knife endorsement deal, or has raised the money to have one of the giant off shore factories make knives for them. And who knows how many of those Chinese brands that are everywhere now are actually owned by the same company? We don't really know, do we? Some freely admit that they have their knives made by others, and some don't.

There was a great thread a 2-3 weeks ago about "work knives". Kershaw has managed to kinda of keep a foot in both the high end and low end camps. They make some high end knives, and some low end knives, which seems to be the whole market these days. I just want to see them stay in business, I want to see them keep as much manufacturing as they can here and keep as many development and distribution jobs here as possible. I know that is disappointing to a lot of folks to shoot so low, but I'll take it. As a career craftsman, I watched Delta, Rockwell, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Millers Falls, Blue Grass, Stanley, Bostitich, etc., etc., that were industry standards in the 60s/70s get ripped apart by corporate greed, missteps in direction, and the fact that when deciding returns weren't great enough move all manufacturing overseas. I will take Kershaw and its lack of innovation and controversial products any way possible if they will keep as much commerce here as they can.

Great post, thanks for taking the time to type it out. I can align with a lot of what you said here.

I just dislike thinking Kershaw is also in a sort of survival stasis, and/or joining the masses moving the majority of their product manufacture overseas, especially when we know they make fantastic stuff right here in the States.

Strange days we live in. I'd rather pay for a quality tool, that can be serviced or upgraded by my neighbors. Romantic notions and all.

My current USA Kershaws, my favorite being the carbon fiber skyline. It actually flips very well

Love it!

View attachment 1901981
Another LEEK!!

John

A classic Kershaw for sure!

 

[LimpCroissant]

It pains me to see that post above about Thomas. I've met the guy on several occasions and I have to say that he's a good guy that is passionate about knives. He has one hell of a personal knife collection! However I think all the stress of being the guy that everyone goes to with their ideas, problems, concerns, etc just overwhelmed him in a big way. Honestly it takes a very unique person to be in such a position and stay cool, calm and collected all the time. I don't know, I just wanted to say that he is a good guy, maybe just wasn't prepared to take on such a position. Sometimes I think it would be really cool to be the link between one of my favorite knife companies and the people, but then I think about what I see people comment on company's pages on different social medias and start thinking that maybe that wouldn't be too fun of a job afterall. I wasn't around at the end of the Kershaw sub forum so I don't know exactly what happened. I might be better off for it.

 

[NWFRS]

View attachment 1901981
Another LEEK!!

John

That’s the one that does it for me.

I never really saw Kershaw as a particularly stand-out knifemaker, apart from their Ken Onion collaboration. Been carrying a Leek for years. I’ve only recently begun to branch-out, and although I can certainly spend more money, I don’t know that I’ve seen/handled anything that I like better for daily carry.

As far as I’m concerned, Kershaw will have truly “cooled off” once they change/discontinue the Leek, or begin building them in China.

 

[LimpCroissant]

You guys remember this one? This is the OG Volt.

 

[Hackenslash]

You guys remember this one? This is the OG Volt.

That knife was a marvel, I wish I had one.

The last time Kershaw tried to stretch their talents was the 4040 Ruby. By all accounts it wasn’t well received and Kershaw hasn’t tried to flex since then. Mine sits in a knife bag, unused. It’s an ugly, garish knife despite premium materials and high manufacturing standards.

They haven’t really tried since then.

 

[Sibyrnes]

Now, you’re lucky if you find 1 American made kershaw, let alone knife, in the display case at said Walmart or Dick’s.

Maybe the blame for that lies with Walmart and Dick’s, not Kershaw. They have no interest in stocking American made products and Kershaw is responding to the market. In the corporate world today there really isn’t any room for silly things like principles or patriotism They really don’t care where a product is made, only how much it cost, and apparently most of us agree.

And, the Leek is a great bargain for an American made knife!

 

[Alone]

Maybe the blame for that lies with Walmart and Dick’s, not Kershaw. They have no interest in stocking American made products and Kershaw is responding to the market. In the corporate world today there really isn’t any room for silly things like principles or patriotism They really don’t care where a product is made, only how much it cost, and apparently most of us agree.

And, the Leek is a great bargain for an American made knife!

I know they're not very fashionable, but Wally World still stocks "American Made" Bucks.



*Beyond that, if I had dime for every one of my Buddies who religiously carries/uses a Leek, I'd be a VERY WEALTHY man.

...and I've also seen the U.S.A.-made Leeks at Wally World, here in South Texas.

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

Maybe the blame for that lies with Walmart and Dick’s, not Kershaw. They have no interest in stocking American made products and Kershaw is responding to the market. In the corporate world today there really isn’t any room for silly things like principles or patriotism They really don’t care where a product is made, only how much it cost, and apparently most of us agree.

And, the Leek is a great bargain for an American made knife!

I only buy knives made in USA. 100% no exceptions.

 

[Sibyrnes]

I only buy knives made in USA. 100% no exceptions.

I understand, but you are missing out on some good knives like Vickorinox and Mora, for example.

 

[sabre cat]

I just checked my knife inventory spreadsheet and found out I have 94 Kershaws! I would have thought around 50.

I guess I better find 6 more that I like to make it an even 100 knives.

I think I have about four. One Echelon and three Zings.

 

[sgt1372]

I can relate on the polarization of the design. Ken Onion has a very distinct styling. I wonder if there are other designers that used to work with Kershaw? It is clear I have a lot to learn about their history.

All of the same designers that worked w/ZT also worked w/Kershaw.

The Tyrade and some others notwithstanding, Ken Onion's designs were what drew me to Kershaw in the 1st place. The Shallot was the 1st Kershaw that I bought and the one that I still consider my favorite.

However, in addition to Ken Onion, the others who worked for Kershaw included RJ Martin, Les George Hinderer, Sinkevich, Gaylean, as well as others I can't recall off hand right now. I bought a number of Kershaws made by each of them when I 1st started collecting.

 

[sgt1372]

You would have cried if you would have seen how many of those were at the blem sale one year. If I remember right they had a very hard time getting the brazing even between the two steels. They turned down a ton of them in quality control because the brazing was a very slightly different thickness throughout the blade. It was strictly a cosmetic thing that most of us didn't even notice until we were told why here on BF. They had big plastic tupperware containers about two foot by one foot and 6 inches deep FULL of them. They had them in black, grey and tan g10. I remember not buying even one because I loved how they etched the CPM-D2 on the Ti Tyrade so much and that's the one I really wanted. Plus I already had too many knives in my basket. I wish I would have bought some now though.
Edit: There were also orange g10 Tyrades.

I never buy blems and or anything that's orange. The only one I'd want is the black one.

 

[sgt1372]

You guys remember this one? This is the OG Volt.

Yeah, don't remind me.

It's been on my buy list for a LONG TIME and I was REALLY ANNOYED when I saw one the day after it sold for just $295 (you read that right) on ACK last year! Look it up.

The only one that I've seen since is the one someone has been trying to sell at auction for awhile on EB for a starting bid of $950 OBO. The listing has been reposted multiple times due to no one willing to bid that much and probably not offering the seller enough to sell it otherwise.