Kershaw Cadre

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Thomas W

Thomas W

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Since we are talking about our short production #'s on high end boutique projects in another thread, the Cardre was one that we previewed at the 2009 Blade Show. Shockingly (at least in my eyes) the piece wasn't recognized for an award, and ultimately it was decided that we scrap the project (wouldn't have if we had won an award).

At least for me, with this project was about doing something different, and opening up the possibility of an art/performance category. You see it a bit on the custom side, but we thought to give it a go on the production side. It's about discovering the possibilities in the factory, and bringing a blade/knife into places that haven't been explored before. Like with any art, personal tastes will apply, but the idea here was push a piece to the limit. This was by far the most difficult knife we have ever produced. We would have made a couple of hundred of these.

Ti Frame Lock
CPM-110V Steel w/Blade Sculpturing

I would like to hear from the members on your thoughts with moving forward with the Art/Performance category.

A few images for your viewing pleasure.

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I love it!

I would love to see more high quality knives come out of the Kershaw Shop. I love knives like the Volt with Titanium and inlaid G10, precision machining.
 
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That is...... different.
i really need to know the price before i pass final judgement, but with 110v on there, it is probably about as far out of my price range as a sebenza.
 
I've been a huge fan of the last two high-end/boutique projects Kershaw has released -- the Volt (one of my all-time favorite knives) and Speedform -- and have a pre-order in for the next (the Tilt). I'd love to see you move forward in the art/performance category as well and can pretty much guarantee that I'd buy at least two of any high-end knife you put out. (I like to have multiples of limited edition knives.)
 
I think its gorgeous, very rarely have i met a knife i didnt like but i think you guys at kershaw are really on to something with this.
 
Well, this design is not really for me. I am very much into a knife's aesthetic appeal - after function and price - but in my view a knife crosses the line when it takes on a funky blade shape or other characteristics which seem to be intended solely to make it stand out from the crowd visually and which do not enhance functionality.

This is purely subjective, I know. And I am just not into art knives at all, but again thats a personal preference. JMO.

:thumbup:
 
To be clear, we are not producing the Cadre.

Wondering more about a production/art category. Does it make sense?
 
When I think of production/art stuff I imagine things like the William Henrys, CRK Mnandi, or maybe a Tony Bose Case collaboration. The Cadre looks more like a hard use/tactical type deal. It's definitely unique and maybe an acquired taste.
 
i think it also depends on the design, for whatever reason i like the way the cadre looks, but another radically different design? maybe, maybe not.

however i do like the overall idea. :thumbup:
 
That knife looks pretty cool.

Pros: Blade steel, asthetics, it's different

Cons: Safe queen, chisel grind, clip locations


I'd imagine that knife would be WAY out of my price range.
 
I like it. The blade and the idea... Having gotten my hands on a Speedform (my girlfriend loves me :D) where I personally have issues with the performance art philosophy in solely one way.

Availability... I fell in love with the Volt and regretfully missed the boat on getting one... I do understand manufacturing issues and sprint runs but my personal feeling is this; Mercedes has AMG, BMW has M, Dodge; SRT and so on... Why can't knife manufacturers do the same? Trickle out a handful of the performance art blades a month, which wouldn't cannibalize sales of the regular models, and yet they're available still to the people who want them...

I'd gladly pay an additional cost to be able to get a Volt or a second Speedform to really use (the one I've got, while I carry it frequently I won't push too hard because of sentimental value)... I believe that while it's awesome to have all these great new steels that are being put into blades, a lot of the knives are being relegated to safe queen status, and personally i'd rather use the hell out of a killer blade knowing a replacement could be had new albiet with some hunting... I also believe that people could really push the limits of these steels as a result which would further the art of knifemaking... My .02
 
00ChevyScott said:
chisel grind, safe queen
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Not chisel ground. Sculpted on both sides. :)

As to the safe queen, I've pondered on that, and have wondered if that is a negative. There a plenty of folks around here that can't bring themselves to use a $150 knife.


I'd imagine that knife would be WAY out of my price range.
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I'd think most of these type knives would be $300 - $400
 
HA! You know my thoughts. ;)
That's hours of grinding on that blade too.

A entirely new category dedicated to artful pieces would be something.
Appeal to an entirely new customer/audience.
Something to appreciate for it's beauty rather than use.
A finely detailed and crafted piece that can be used but doesn't have to be.
 
its not an ugly knife. but its in no way innovative. it looks like all other kershaws. which is not a bad thing. but its where it fails. i find it only shows what cnc machines can do and not what a artist can do. in that respect, i understand why it didnt win any awards.

just my 2cents.
 
I think that is an amazing knife. :thumbup:

To answer your question, I think there is a market for art knives in between the super expensive customs and mass produced knives. I value aesthetics in a knife as much as I value utility and ergonomics; while I do not like the gaudy damascus/ivory/fileworked custom knives floating around, I do appreciate a unique looking knife that cuts when needed. I have pride in owning a Speedform because it is such a nice and unique looking knife that is also ergonomic and cuts well (a pride I am sure many sebenza owners have). If I can get enough spare funds I plan to get a Tilt for the same reason--it is a nice, unusual design that I would be proud of owning.

The key of course is price. FWIW I would probably pay $250 for the knife without the blade sculpturing. Depending on performance, I'd pay as much as $300 (easy to clean and cuts well) or $150 (very difficult to clean and cuts worse than a normal blade). These are just impulse numbers though so dont hold me to them :D

To sum up, I think there is a market for functional art at a moderate price.

EDIT: I dont care about fancy steel; any standard steel is fine (s30v, 154cm, vg10, sandvik, etc)

but its in no way innovative. it looks like all other kershaws. which is not a bad thing. but its where it fails. i find it only shows what cnc machines can do and not what a artist can do. in that respect, i understand why it didnt win any awards.
Click to expand...

I dont think that is a fair statement. An artist uses tools to express himself; you wouldnt say a painting only reflects what a paintbrush is capable of. Rather, a painting reflects the mastery of the artist with his chosen tools of paint and brush. This knife reflects a mastery of CNC machining by the artist-engineers of Kershaw, IMO.

With all due respect to the other knife makers, I think Kershaw is really leading the way with knife engineering. While other makers just release knives with different two dimensional blade shapes or materials, kershaw is making 3d knives.
 
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