AFAustin
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2004
- Messages
- 2,492
I took in a knife recently which has impressed me and I thought a quick write up and a few pics were in order. It's a Kershaw Kai 2605 "Wyatt", made in Japan and apparently only for one year---1992. I've long been a fan of Japan made lockbacks from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and this knife is a great example of the quality knives of that era. It's a big lockback at 4 3/8" closed and a hefty 4.2 oz., but it's fairly thin and rides well in the pocket. I'm not the first to comment on what a nice one this is and there's some good info. here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/562094-2605 (I'd love to get my hands on the other knives from that series!)
The quality of this knife for what I paid (less than $30 from a very kind hearted dealer) just amazes me. It has beautiful sandalwood scales and brass liners and bolster. It locks up solid and the blade is almost perfectly centered. Open and close is smooth with a satisfying "click" each way. I think (but am not certain) that the blade is AUS-6, and while I know some may think that steel too soft, the only previous AUS-6 knife I had (another Kershaw Kai made in Japan knife, the Indian Ford) took a very fine edge and held it plenty well for my uses. The blade has a very attractive satin finish and the factory edge has nice even grinds. The blade becomes fairly thin as it approaches the tip and there are subtle swedges. It's quite comfortable in the hand and I imagine could be a formidable slicer. I haven't sharpened it yet because my plan was to admire it a bit and then put it up for sale. But after giving it a little polishing and cleaning today and seeing it sparkle, I'm not so sure I want to part with it!
Thanks for reading and looking.
Andrew
The quality of this knife for what I paid (less than $30 from a very kind hearted dealer) just amazes me. It has beautiful sandalwood scales and brass liners and bolster. It locks up solid and the blade is almost perfectly centered. Open and close is smooth with a satisfying "click" each way. I think (but am not certain) that the blade is AUS-6, and while I know some may think that steel too soft, the only previous AUS-6 knife I had (another Kershaw Kai made in Japan knife, the Indian Ford) took a very fine edge and held it plenty well for my uses. The blade has a very attractive satin finish and the factory edge has nice even grinds. The blade becomes fairly thin as it approaches the tip and there are subtle swedges. It's quite comfortable in the hand and I imagine could be a formidable slicer. I haven't sharpened it yet because my plan was to admire it a bit and then put it up for sale. But after giving it a little polishing and cleaning today and seeing it sparkle, I'm not so sure I want to part with it!
Thanks for reading and looking.
Andrew
