Kershaw Bareknuckle - deployment and thoughts

B

bugeyeblue

Joined
Nov 4, 2018
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Just picked up a bareknuckle over the past weekend at Turners. Loved it at the first chance I had to hold it, took it home, and had remorse set in. It felt like I was ripping off the tip of my finger to open it. After flipping it constantly for a few days, I’ve figured out my way to open it quickly, painlessly, and reliably. And no, I didn’t have any fingers on the sub frame lock.

This knife is definitely very stiff as far as the detent is concerned. But now, I think that’s a good thing. The knife has to be held (if you’re right handed) so that the show side is flat up against the inside of your palm near your thumb base. I’m explaining this because I’ve read lots of people saying this knife has a defect in this regard.

Once I figured this deployment method out (which may only work for me), I’ve come to really like the knife. Good enough EDC steel, somewhat early lockup, extremely solid lockup, no blade play whatsoever. It feels like a “little big knife”, which I call knives that carry and feel somewhat small, but have fair sized blade (3.5”), and the weight of this knife helps keep this term consistent as well. Thin slicy blade, but a thick enough stock to trust it being long lasting and sturdy.

Thi knife did come a bit dry, but that didn’t affect the deployment in my opinion. Once I figured out my way to deploy it, I put a tough of lube on the pivot, and have been carrying it since without issues. Pocket clip was WAY too stiff out of the box, it had to be bent away from the handle just a touch to be able to get it in my pocket (Levi’s 501 with room, not skinny fit for me). I know lots of you are probably going to wait for sprint runs or upgraded steel options, which is probably a good idea, but for a daily semi beater, with a fun deployment and satisfying snappy lockup, I think it’s a good knife to add to the edc rotation.
 
I have to laugh at the irony of KAI naming one of their models the Bare Knuckle, and it rips the skin off your fingers. That’s just perfect. Both ZT’s I’ve owned were sons of guns to open at first, so I’ve ripped open my index finger from constantly opening and closing them. Once my finger got used to it, and I learned out to open them the “right” way it turned into second nature.

My Kershaw’s weren’t like that, but they usually had the Speedsafe, with smooth flipper tabs like the Leek. Their KVT systems tend to have a tougher detent.
 
I just got mine, and I don't love it. I've never had a complaint about detent strength before (and I often tweak lockbar tension on flippers to suit my desire for a stiffer detent and more reliable lockup), but this one is way too much considering how small and slippery the aluminum scales are. I can't count how many times my finger slipped off the tab, which for me is too small and oddly angled. A good flipper shouldn't necessitate a very specific grip to open, in my opinion.

The pivot on mine has an odd amount of friction for a bearing pivot, too. The blade often won't drop free once the lockbar is depressed. It feels like it was tightened too much from the factory, but it would appear that the bearing races aren't dimpled at least. I'd adjust it but I'm a bit concerned after seeing some severe loctiting on this model from the factory, and I don't have a soldering iron handy to break the loctite bonds.

Agreed on the clip tension. That needs to be adjusted better from the factory. I bent relieved some of the tension and it's better now, but still not great.
 
Well, I was considering getting one of these.

But after reading this thread I am uncertain about that now.

Lots of good points discussed though.

I have a Kizer Splinter framelock that is a pain to open because of being so small and thin too.

It is too easy to rest against the lockbar.
 
GCG199 said:
Well, I was considering getting one of these.

But after reading this thread I am uncertain about that now.

Lots of good points discussed though.

I have a Kizer Splinter framelock that is a pain to open because of being so small and thin too.

It is too easy to rest against the lockbar.
Click to expand...
That’s definitely a thing with this model. It’s real narrow along side the lock bar. It’s not a knife you can pick up and open quick until you’ve really spent time getting the muscle memory down. My 2¢...
 
I had the same experience w/mine.

Lubing it made no difference but it has loosened up over time gradually w/repeated flicking. I've only had it a couple of months and it's still a little stiff but it doesn't hurt my index finger flipping it anymore.

I don't carry it often but, when I do, I have enjoyed carrying it w/its long and very sharp sheepsfoot blade (which is a great slicer), its light weight, thin profile and deep pocket clip and a price in the $60-70 range.

So, if anyone is looking for a knife like this which is made in the USA, I wouldn't rule out the Bareknuckle automatically because of its initially stiff detent.
 
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I got one about 2 weeks ago. The detent on mine doesn't seem to tight, it just might have to do with the individual knife.

I do agree with the pocket clip tightness though. It's a easy fix though, a few minutes with a screwdriver and pliers and it's just right.
 
I just think it's weird how they designed a very ultra modern and slick looking knife, and then randomly call it the "Bare Knuckle". Which IMHO is neither slick or modern lol. Maybe who's ever in marketing just uses a random name generator like kids do for rock bands.

It's a cool knife though with a lot of positives going for it.
 
Went ahead and half-way took apart this knife. Couldn’t get it all the way apart; the “captured” pivot spins with the pivot screw! This is frustrating. Anyone else try to adjust their pivot screw, or take it out, and have the captured side spin?
 
I’ve had mine over a month and love it. I will say it was very tight when I first got it. Any pressure on the lock bar when opening will make it ougher to open. I just trained myself to flick it open reliably and have no calloused forefinger as a result. Wish they made it with an M390 blade.
 
Just got mine. Very strong detent. Doesn’t drop freely either and the bearings sound like their is a lot of friction. Definitely no where near as good a flipper as any of my ZTs. Very disappointing.
 
I like mine, it's very smooth. The detent becomes impossibly fierce if you touch the lock bar even lightly when you're opening it, though. No pressure = excellent action, ever so light pressure = a brute to open.
 
cbrstar said:
I just think it's weird how they designed a very ultra modern and slick looking knife, and then randomly call it the "Bare Knuckle". Which IMHO is neither slick or modern lol. Maybe who's ever in marketing just uses a random name generator like kids do for rock bands.

It's a cool knife though with a lot of positives going for it.
Click to expand...

Not to open up old wounds, I always thought it was in reference to the Microtech/KAI scuffle. Bareknuckle boxing is known to be brutal so I thought of it as KAI's way of saying "the gloves are off, back off."
 
Completely agree with the no pressure on the lock bar. Being left handed, I don’t have any problems with the knife. It’s a sweet knife for the price. I do have issues with my right hand if I’m not paying attention.
 
Lefty, here, as well. Free-dropping pivot on mine, and flipping works great so long as the lockbar is unimpeded. However... the clip? That curve up at the end digs hard into the pad of my palm right underneath my ring finger. So I swapped the clip with one from a Dividend, fits my hand better now.
 
I have a grinding noise coming from the bearings, knife won’t free fall and it even makes a squeaking sound when I push the blade down. I’ve thought about using some lube on the bearings but I’ve just decided to exchange it. Hopefully the next one is better. I really want to like the knife just the one i received has some pretty bad issues.
 
I've got one and I like it - I got a good one.
I've learned with the Kershaw sub-frame knives that there is a wide discrepancy across them from the factory as far as the detent quality.
I immediately exchange if it's bad and I always end up getting a much better knife. Like drastically better. This has mainly been on a lot of the China knives - Natrix CF, Natrix XL, Copper etc.
They're great if you get a good one and pretty awful if you get a bad one. Pretty easy to tell when an exchange needs to happen.
 
honest question; is it hard to just take a file or sandpaper to the flipper and fix it so you don't get skin ripped up? I'm just curious why this isn't mentioned or recommended
 
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