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Kershaw Blackout

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coldsteel03

Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
50
Anybody have one? Are they All made in China?
I was handling one today, darn near cut my finger off. :grumpy:
 
i had one, swapped it, i like the version w/the G10 handles, myself, but its ok

i too thought all were made in the US of A

greg
 
I have one. I'm pretty sure it is made in the USA, says it all over the box/warranty/knife etc. It is a neat knife, and impresses most people when you show them. Kershaw knives tend to come razor sharp out of the box.
 
I've owned both the Blackout and the Whirlwind, traded 'em both off - don't really know why.:confused: Large cool factor. I'd love to own whatever gizmo Kershaw uses to sharpen those suckers, 'cause both were as sharp OOTB as any knife I've ever bought. Amazing consistency. Would be nice if Kenny O. would jump in here and enlighten us.
 
Hmmm... I was under the impression that the Whirlwind, Blackout and Avalanche were all the same pattern. From the catalog it seems that the Whirlwind has a plain blade and nylon handles, the Blackout has the all black blade and nylon handles, and the Avalanche has the g10 handles. Does anyone know if there are deeper differences?
 
Originally posted by R. Lemmen
I was under the impression that the Whirlwind, Blackout and Avalanche were all the same pattern. <snip> Does anyone know if there are deeper differences?
Click to expand...

Although the blade of the Avalanche looks the same as the Blackout -
it is in fact just a shade shorter at 3 1/8" (7.9 cm) compared to the Blackout's 3 1/4" (8.4 cm) according to the Kershaw 2003-2004 catalog.

The Whirlwind's blade has a noticably more pronouced belly/curve than the Blackout - which I find is more useful for certain types of cutting - it also has some lightening holes drilled near the back/spine. Even though these holes were probably meant to be just decorative, I found that I can actually open the knife lefthanded with the hole.

Originally posted by coldsteel03
I was handling one today, darn near cut my finger off.
Click to expand...

The thumb-stud requires a different kind of action on a Speed-Safe, compared to a more conventional manual liner-lock.

One has to push the stud out from the handle and when the blade starts to move get it out of the way - it is not as difficult as it sounds.

Just that people who have never used a Speed-Safe knife, will assume erroneously the blade opens like a conventional manual liner-lock -

So the initial resistance will make the blade feel stiff/tight and when the blade finally starts to move that person will continue to push and "follow through" - which is the correct way to open a conventional manual liner-lock -
unfortunately the continued push and "follow through" is actually pushing the thumb right onto the blade edge .....
 
Blackout is USA made (as far as I know the only chinese kershaws are the Echo and Vapors)

It was my first "real knife" and I could never sell it... I love it that much... VERY sharp (in fact, in an accident, it damn near cut my finger off, but I still love it :) )
 
Hey Folks,
I'm looking at my Model 1550 Blackout, and it has no origin stamp on the blade. One side has Kershaw with Ken Onion\USA underneath it. The other side has 1550 with the KAI logo and the US Pat No. 6,145,202 on the blade.
I think if it is foreign made it is supposed to have it stamped somewhere.
And the box has a big American flag on it and says Made in USA...Printed in USA.

Anyway, a nice knife with good lockup. I just fold my thumb under and "Nick" the blade out so my thumb doesn't follow.

YMMV.

Bill:D
 
If your Wal-Mart has them check them out. China right there on the blade. It also was in an American flag type box. Very sharp knife may I add.
 
I love my Blackout,Vapor and Chive.All very sharp and easy to resharpen.Doesn't matter to me where its made.
 
Mine is about 18 months old, so maybe Kershaw has changed production of some of these to China? Mine does not say China anywhere:confused:
Anyway, I like the knife because it's SHARP, and it has been reliable for what I need.

Bill
 
I was under the impression that the Whirlwind, Blackout and Avalanche were all the same pattern. From the catalog it seems that the Whirlwind has a plain blade and nylon handles, the Blackout has the all black blade and nylon handles, and the Avalanche has the g10 handles. Does anyone know if there are deeper differences?
Click to expand...

Aside from the difference in handle material, there is also a difference in the blade steels. The Blackout and Whirlwind are supposed to be 440A, while the Avalanche is either 440C or 440V I think.
 
Originally posted by coldsteel03
If your Wal-Mart has them check them out. China right there on the blade. It also was in an American flag type box. Very sharp knife may I add.
Click to expand...

I stumbled across this thread looking for opinions on the impulse blackout buy I made. I bought mine at Wally world and just thought I would pass on mine says "Made in USA" on the blade. Nothing about China on the blade at all. Perhaps there was a production change or something. I bought mine yesterday.
 
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