Kershaw Double Cross or Double Duty

STR

STR

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Anyone have one of these and if so what are your thoughts and comments. I got the new Smokey Mountain Knife Works catalog in the mail the other day and this little jewel has been crying out to me to buy it because it has thumb studs, and locking blades while still being a slip joint. I also love the little Wharncliff blade on the Double Cross but the AUS6 steel is making me hesitate on acquiring either one.

STR

http://knifeoutlet.com/shop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=KER4380
 
I agree, great design, but not great materials. If they offered one with better materials, I'd get one.
 
I have both of them and as I wrote in the link which Amos Iron Wolf above mentioned I have a problem with the vertical bladeplay both knives had. I had the Double Cross some time as an EDC, had no problems with the steel, liked the wharnie-blade, but it is a bit to small for me :o . The Double Duty is a bit heavy. I was enthusiastic when I saw them, but not any more. You should try to handle them in a shop and then make up your mind.
 
There's one on my desk right now (among the dozen or so knives I like to keep around me as I work on the computer). I like it and use it. I find it a bit awkward to open, even with the thumb studs, which I think stick out a bit too far.
 
I keep a double cross in a pen cup on my desk for opening mail, cutting string, using the Wharnie blade for cutting out newspaper clippings, etc. I like it. Came very sharp from Kershaw, few licks on the Spydie Sharpmaker every now and then and it is razor sharp. . .
 
I've got both. They aren't slipjoints at all, they're liner locks; other than the stabilized wood scales and nickel silver bolsters, they're built like any other liner lock: no backsprings, washers at the pivots, they just share a single locking liner.

I bought the Double Cross first; loved the wharncliff blade, but wanted a more substantial knife, so I bought the Double Duty about a year later. Didn't care for the spey blade, so I turned it into a wharnie. :D

Since then, that modded Double Duty has logged a whole lotta pocket time. Here in the sheeple-infested wastelands of Noo Joisey, there are distinct advantages to having a one-hand-opening, lock-blade knife that just happens to look like one of Grandpa's old slipjoints. ;)

The AUS-6 blades aren't bad; Kershaw seems to do the heat-treat right. They won't hold an edge like S30-V, of course, but they take a wicked mean edge very easily. The liner locks on both of mine are flawless, with no play at all.

If you can get one for a good price, I'd say go for it!
 
Actually Gryffin you answered it for me. I thought they were traditional slip joints. I lost all interest once I found out there was no back spring.

Thanks

STR
 
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