WalterDavis
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2005
- Messages
- 1,840
First off, my apologies to Thomas W. of Kershaw for taking so long with this review:foot: A while back there was a thread that caught my eye regarding Kershaw moving some of their production from Japan to China. I contacted Thomas about the differences in the knives since the move, as I'd had a hard time finding a Black Gulch that was 'up to par', and he very graciously sent me one of the new ones:thumbup: Though I have sent him my original impressions of the knife, I spent a bit more time with it and wanted to share my thoughts with the BF crowd.
A little background-a Kershaw Black Gulch was my first 'good' knife Though I'd been accumulating knives for a few years, when I was 14 or 15, my father went out and bought me a BG for my birthday, and that knife got a lot of use! It was my constant companion for 4 or 5 years until I fell in love with ease/utility of one-handed, pocket-clipped knives. Still, the BG got used off and on, as a dependable 'dress-knife' when I didn't want a clip showing, or when I was feeling nostalgic. Since then I've gone through a lot of knives, but I've kept that BG, and bought quite a few other Kershaws, too. In the last couple of years, Kershaw has been my go-to company for one-handed folders, and I've managed to add a Wildcat Ridge (large lockback) and Corral Creek (small lockback). However, every Japan-made Black Gulch I looked at (wanting a new one so I wouldn't risk losing my original) had some horrible F&F issues, so I was ecstatic when Thomas offered to send me a new one to compare!
I was truly happy when the knife arrived. Honestly, though the fit and finish isn't quite the same as the U.S.A. Kershaws I've bought recently, it's head-and-shoulders above the Japanese Black Gulches I was looking at:thumbup: I commend Kershaw for doing what's necessary to improve their line (though I'd love to see a top shelf USA lockback line, too). The Black Gulch, as well as all of Kershaw's traditional styled lockbacks, has an alloy-framed handle with plastic scales. The knife is hefty, but not overly heavy, and feels solid, dependable, and simply 'good' in hand. The new blade steel (sorry, I forget the name) is a bit harder that the AUS 6 in my older BG. It takes and holds a great edge. The grind on the new BG is not quite as thin as some of Kershaws newer models, but it just about right for a general purpose, do-it-all outdoors knife, though I have thought about sending it to Tom Krein, just to see how thin of an edge it will hold
It cuts well, without being delicate, and holds up well on a variety of materials. The lock-up is rock solid:thumbup: No play, and everything lines up where it should, which is the area I had the most problems with when looking at the other BG's in local stores.
Overall, I think Kershaw has done very well with this knife. It is a dependable, reliable performer at a good price, and it's going to see a lot of miles in my pocket or on my belt! There's a lot of places I go where a knife this size and style works better than a tactical with a pocket clip, and I definitely don't feel 'under-knifed' when carrying it. It's big enough to get the job done, and classy enough to look good doing it, without being flashy or gaudy (or scary if there are sheeple around). Everyone I've shown it too has been impressed, and it's getting a lot of use at work and at home.
Here's a couple of comparison pics from a recent hike in the local Sand Flats recreation area (home of the Slickrock Bike trail, and plenty of other hiking, biking, and four-wheeling trails right out my back door
) You can see that the miles I've put on the older one-look at the wore down checkering on the scales!
And my new hiking buddy, Scout, for good measure!
A little background-a Kershaw Black Gulch was my first 'good' knife Though I'd been accumulating knives for a few years, when I was 14 or 15, my father went out and bought me a BG for my birthday, and that knife got a lot of use! It was my constant companion for 4 or 5 years until I fell in love with ease/utility of one-handed, pocket-clipped knives. Still, the BG got used off and on, as a dependable 'dress-knife' when I didn't want a clip showing, or when I was feeling nostalgic. Since then I've gone through a lot of knives, but I've kept that BG, and bought quite a few other Kershaws, too. In the last couple of years, Kershaw has been my go-to company for one-handed folders, and I've managed to add a Wildcat Ridge (large lockback) and Corral Creek (small lockback). However, every Japan-made Black Gulch I looked at (wanting a new one so I wouldn't risk losing my original) had some horrible F&F issues, so I was ecstatic when Thomas offered to send me a new one to compare!
I was truly happy when the knife arrived. Honestly, though the fit and finish isn't quite the same as the U.S.A. Kershaws I've bought recently, it's head-and-shoulders above the Japanese Black Gulches I was looking at:thumbup: I commend Kershaw for doing what's necessary to improve their line (though I'd love to see a top shelf USA lockback line, too). The Black Gulch, as well as all of Kershaw's traditional styled lockbacks, has an alloy-framed handle with plastic scales. The knife is hefty, but not overly heavy, and feels solid, dependable, and simply 'good' in hand. The new blade steel (sorry, I forget the name) is a bit harder that the AUS 6 in my older BG. It takes and holds a great edge. The grind on the new BG is not quite as thin as some of Kershaws newer models, but it just about right for a general purpose, do-it-all outdoors knife, though I have thought about sending it to Tom Krein, just to see how thin of an edge it will hold
It cuts well, without being delicate, and holds up well on a variety of materials. The lock-up is rock solid:thumbup: No play, and everything lines up where it should, which is the area I had the most problems with when looking at the other BG's in local stores. Overall, I think Kershaw has done very well with this knife. It is a dependable, reliable performer at a good price, and it's going to see a lot of miles in my pocket or on my belt! There's a lot of places I go where a knife this size and style works better than a tactical with a pocket clip, and I definitely don't feel 'under-knifed' when carrying it. It's big enough to get the job done, and classy enough to look good doing it, without being flashy or gaudy (or scary if there are sheeple around). Everyone I've shown it too has been impressed, and it's getting a lot of use at work and at home.
Here's a couple of comparison pics from a recent hike in the local Sand Flats recreation area (home of the Slickrock Bike trail, and plenty of other hiking, biking, and four-wheeling trails right out my back door
) You can see that the miles I've put on the older one-look at the wore down checkering on the scales!
And my new hiking buddy, Scout, for good measure!
