Howdy folks,
I'm a relatively recent knife enthusiast--within the last year. They're far cheaper than guns and in many ways more practical to use in everyday life.
I bought a Benchmade many years ago--one of their Emerson collaborations. It was my only pocketknife for many years, didn't have much interest in buying another pocketknife, it did anything I needed just fine.
When my interest in pocketknives piqued last year, I went immediately to Benchmade. I knew their reputation, I'd owned one of their products, so that's where I started. Bought quite a few--at least quite a few for me anyway--and was left with a "Now what?" kind of feeling.
In the last couple weeks, I've found the answer to "Now what?" It's Kershaw.
Don't get me wrong, I still like me some Benchmades--there's a Gold Class 710 on the way right now--but I think Kershaw is on the rise. A ZT 300, ZT 350, a Leek (man do I admire that little knife!) and a ZT 0650ST have joined the collection in the last several weeks, and I couldn't be more pleased with any one of them.
BM kind of pioneered the model of production models based on custom collaborations--Osbourne, Pardue, William and Henry, Blackwood and now Siebert and Lum.
Now I see Kershaw following in the same path--collaborations with Ken Onion, Strider (sort of), Grant and Gavin Hawk, Tim Galyean and hopefully Rick Hinderer.
If Benchmade is the older, more sophisticated pitcher on the mound, Kershaw seems like the young gun--lacking a little of the polish, experience and sophistication, but their raw talent and potential is blatantly obvious.
As I sit here typing, I'm goofing around with my new ZT 0650ST. It's a helluva neat knife--the plastic button could be swapped for aluminum (there's that small difference in sophistication) but it's unique, it's extremely well made and it's exactly the kind of product that brings back that little rush that accompanies a great new knife purchase.
Kershaw still has a ways to go before reaching the sophistication, detail and polish of some of the recent Gold Class Benchmades I've handled--but boy oh boy are they ever on a tear right now.
Look out Benchmade. I still admire your products, but Kershaw is coming.
Best,
heekma
I'm a relatively recent knife enthusiast--within the last year. They're far cheaper than guns and in many ways more practical to use in everyday life.
I bought a Benchmade many years ago--one of their Emerson collaborations. It was my only pocketknife for many years, didn't have much interest in buying another pocketknife, it did anything I needed just fine.
When my interest in pocketknives piqued last year, I went immediately to Benchmade. I knew their reputation, I'd owned one of their products, so that's where I started. Bought quite a few--at least quite a few for me anyway--and was left with a "Now what?" kind of feeling.
In the last couple weeks, I've found the answer to "Now what?" It's Kershaw.
Don't get me wrong, I still like me some Benchmades--there's a Gold Class 710 on the way right now--but I think Kershaw is on the rise. A ZT 300, ZT 350, a Leek (man do I admire that little knife!) and a ZT 0650ST have joined the collection in the last several weeks, and I couldn't be more pleased with any one of them.
BM kind of pioneered the model of production models based on custom collaborations--Osbourne, Pardue, William and Henry, Blackwood and now Siebert and Lum.
Now I see Kershaw following in the same path--collaborations with Ken Onion, Strider (sort of), Grant and Gavin Hawk, Tim Galyean and hopefully Rick Hinderer.
If Benchmade is the older, more sophisticated pitcher on the mound, Kershaw seems like the young gun--lacking a little of the polish, experience and sophistication, but their raw talent and potential is blatantly obvious.
As I sit here typing, I'm goofing around with my new ZT 0650ST. It's a helluva neat knife--the plastic button could be swapped for aluminum (there's that small difference in sophistication) but it's unique, it's extremely well made and it's exactly the kind of product that brings back that little rush that accompanies a great new knife purchase.
Kershaw still has a ways to go before reaching the sophistication, detail and polish of some of the recent Gold Class Benchmades I've handled--but boy oh boy are they ever on a tear right now.
Look out Benchmade. I still admire your products, but Kershaw is coming.
Best,
heekma
