Kershaw Black Shallot

R

Ruudr

Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
644
Hello,

Today I bought a Kershaw Black Shallot somewhere in America. I live in The Netherlands and I found out that this specific knife costs more than $130.- overhere!! :eek: So I bought one from E-bay for $50.- :D

But back to the knife. Is there anybody who has this knife and what are your thought about it? Plusses and minors?

I think its a great looking knife whit a Sandvik 13C2 blade :D
Read on the forum that this is a nice blade meterial!?

Greets,

Ruud
 
I have the S110V version, which should be identical except for the blade steel and finish.

Plusses:
- The all steel frame lock construction makes it feel really hefty and solid.
- The assisted opening is not the fastest, but it locks in place with a reassuring loud snap.
- Like most Ken Onion designs, the ergonomics is superb.
- 13C26 steel is decent. It's better than 420HC.
- Flipper design means no thumbstud in the way, the entire blade is available for cutting.
- Cutting edge is actually longer than the blade. Blade length is measured from the blade tip to handle tip, while cutting edge is from blade tip to end of sharpened edge.

Minuses:
- The steel frame is a bit slick. If not for the superior ergonomics, this knife would easily slip out of my hand.
- Recurve means it's harder to sharpen.
 
I have a bead-blasted (ie: bare steel, not black coated) version of it. It's a well made knife (just like everything I've owned from Kershaw), but I don't find myself using it anymore.

Plusses:
- Great quality overall - tight tolerances and clean lines
- I really like the steel - 13c26 is a good user steel, easy to maintain and performs well
- Sharp as hell out of the box
- Framelock is quite sturdy
- It's made by Kershaw - if you have a problem with it, they will help you out.

Minuses:
- This is the big one for me: I find it to be a REALLY uncomfortable knife during use, or even just holding it. It just doesn't fit my hands at all. :(
- The recurve blade makes sharpening difficult, especially if you use benchstones like I do.
 
One improvement I'd like to see on the Shallot is the grip on the lock bar. Disegaging the lock bar is a little rigid.
 
i had one, since sold it to a friend. it was razor-freakin'-sharp and very stout feeling. good fine tip and slim edge. i just don't care for straight-up steel handles; i prefer G10. my friend likes it a lot; she keeps it in her car and to work.
 
I've owned several Shallots in my time as a knife nut, right now I still own a bead blasted 13c26 bladed one and a stonewashed s110v bladed one. Really I can't find a single fault with any of them. Some will say that the stainless handles make it slippery, however the handle contours so well to the hand and with your index finger in the choil it feels very secure in hand and I have never had any issues using it even with hot sweaty hands. I'm usually not huge on recurves because they are hard to sharpen unless you own something like a Sharpmaker but this one is so slight that it sharpens up real easily. You get all the extra cutting power of a recurve with only slightly harder sharpenability. A good trade off in my mind. All in all I think you'll love the knife, I may even get a ZDP Shallot sometime if I ever find a good deal on one.
 
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