Kershaw Cadre

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but maybe that was the intention, after all, cadre is the french word for frame. and it fits the kershaw frame very well.
 
00ChevyScott said:
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.
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How could you possibly tell it was chisel ground? The pics only show one side of the knife.
 
I remember that one and wondered what happened to it. I would have loved to pick one of those up!
 
I think you should keep at it with the "art knife" category. Just not like this. The hollow grind is so unbelievably low that I can imagine it would be a horrible slicer. Plus, it wouldn't take long to sharpen through the grind and end up with a useless blade. Art doesn't mean you have to reinvent the wheel or add a lot of intricate details. Sometimes the best designs are the ones that are simple, but effective. Or ones that add a little ornamentation to a proven design (like the Benchmade Gold Class. Those are way too overpriced, though, I don't think I'll ever have one).
 
Being completely honest. I hate the cut outs in the blade. To me, they completely kill the knife. If that knife was available without those cut outs I would spend $400 on it right now. I love the profile, the handle with false bolster, and especially the materials used.

On the art/production knives, I think its an excellent idea, but I also think that if a company like Kershaw is going to do something so ambitious then the knives not only need to look great, but they need to he functional as well. Huge cut outs in the blade that will hinder cutting with an almost nonexistent primary bevel does not say functional to me in any way.

I love the idea, but it needs to be executed to a more refined level for me to appreciate and want to buy, buy, buy. I don't mean to sound harsh at all. Just my constructive criticism. I do believe that if any company can do it, it is Kershaw.
 
Here was the original thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560926&highlight=cadre

Now trying to get this thread back on track.
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.
 
I'd love to see more of this kind of thing and would likely buy some of the results. I generally like Kershaw knives, but usually only buy the higher end stuff: Titanium Bump, Volt, JYD II Titanium, Ti Tyrade, etc.

The OD-1, Skyline, etc. don't appeal to me so much.
 
I totally agree with pushing the limits of knife manufacturing and I firmly believe kershaw is on the forefront of doing just that. However, I am not that crazy about how low the primary bevel starts on that blade. If it was higher up and the cutouts were on the flat of the blade, I'd buy it without a doubt. The Tilt is one such knife I think meets a happy mid-ground between "art" knife and functionailty. Its a new, "funky" design but it still has a useful wharnie blade shape. Thats why i'm so damn excited about it Thomas :D. Anyway, I think Kershaw should deffinately keep pushing to create some pieces like the Cadre. Just don't let aesthetics hinder functionality.
 
Thomas W said:
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 think most of these type knives would be $300 - $400
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I wish I could say that number scared me off, but it does not... I am still pretty new to knives, but I've got absolutely no problem paying for quality and a tool I'll own until I die.

It would appear to me, as a relative newcomer, that there aren't a ton of production knife options in the $3-400 range, the ones that come to my mind are several CRK options and several Strider options. I am definitely a fan of these two blades however the basic knives are the ones that fall into that range, and unfortunately, they look rather bland in my opinion. It is after the $5-600 range at which those makers offerings REALLY get my motor running, and once you break that price point there are more options such as mid-techs available from other makers as well giving a consumer many more options... All fantastic options available for people with the means or desire...

As far as mid-high end knives, the options seem to thin out in the $2-300 range, which is certainly not a bad thing, and the list of knives I need to buy is long at this price point. Here's where I feel it gets interesting... Would I wait in line from an authorized dealer to purchase a Volt at a slight higher price? Absolutely, I am probably going to spend in that range to get one second hand and unfortunately not make the most of the knife because of the extreme difficulty in acquiring such a limited run knife secondhand... Would I be willing to pay more and use that knife till the blade falls off knowing I could wait in line and get another?you betcha.
 
I love the idea of the art/performance category. There is definitely a market out there. It is like a semi custom kind of market. With your resources and design team I would be really excited to see what you guys could turn out. I love knives that can be somewhat of a show piece but still has great performance.

I am not scared to use my knives in this price range, in fact I pay the price for a reason. I usually pay for the performance aspect in that 300-400 price range. However I have spent much more than that on customs that I just loved how they looked.

The combination of the two (art/performance) in that price range, in my opinion, would be well worth the money, if not a value. I could get the looks of a custom without some of the cons...like the huge price tag. Which it's a chunk of change don't get me wrong, but nothing compared to some of the art leaning folders out there.

Just my .02

Thanks
 
I like the idea of an art knife category. It would be an extension of the sprint run idea, of a knife that isn't just utilitarian, but tries to show other possibilities inherent in the basic shape of a knife.

A sprint run just changes one factor in a standard product: blade steel or handle material or color. An art knife reaches for a different concept, in some cases, a different world. Anyone who thinks the Cadre is far out should see Virgil England's work up close. Virgil is fantasy; the Cadre is science fiction. :)
 
While that particular knife doesn't really appeal to me (basically, the whole blade cutout thing just kills the aesthetics for me), I love the idea of seeing Kershaw branch out into more high-end, artistic/elegant knives. Knives like the Cadre, or, to use something actually produced, like the Speedform and Volt.

With so many high-value knives already in the Kershaw lineup, especially at the ~$50 mark, it makes perfect sense to branch out into the higher price points as long as the design has something unique to offer. The Cadre may not be my cup of tea, but it definitely is somewhat unique, and I could see a market for it and similar designs.

And while I'd rather see you guys go no higher than $250-$300 for these knives, that's for mostly selfish reasons and could definitely see these selling at much higher prices.
 
Lovely looking knife. The idea of art/performance always appeals to me. But I would never want to stray from a sort of logical form and function. It seems to me like those cut outs in the blade would get in the way frequently when cutting, or attract food/dirt/dust/etc. Have you tested the knife in normal cutting chores?

Either way, what about taking knife inlays to the seemingly next level, and putting them in the blade? Fill those holes with carbon fiber, or G10, or ceramics, or titanium, 440a, glass, epoxy, mammoth tooth, etc.! I've no idea what's really plausible in that regard. But I think it's not too far fetched... Warren Thomas has made knives with Titanium and carbon fiber/G10 blades, so I don't see why Kershaw couldn't.


Couple more things I'd like to throw in here. I feel like the holes or chambers on the blade, or whatever you might call them, would look better if they were the same color/shade as the plain titanium fake bolster. IMO that would be more pleasing to the eye. Or - perhaps those chambers could be coated in the same stuff used to make the Rainbow Leeks and stuff, and then anodized to match the gold or blue on the handle?

And the wharncliffe is just such an excellent choice. I think it's the most visually pleasing blade shape. It's so smooth and round, yet it has a sense of strength... I just love it
 
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I am guilty of purchasing knives based just on their looks.


I have bought knives just to hold and admire. Custom and production.

I have spent 250$ or more on working knives and 50$ or less on knives that just sit there.

I think a knife like this would appeal to as many as it would not.

I say make it. Why not?
 
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