Kershaw freefall and Wal-Mart

W

Wunderbar

Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
3,582
I usually never get Chinese knives but today I picked up a Freefall for just $17. I realized that the blade steel was always listed as 8Cr13MoV. It is even etched on the blade. The one I picked up at Wally-World and no blade steel listed on the blade but in the display case it was listed as 3Cr13Mov. I guess this
was another example of big box stores buying masses of "Special" knives at a low price. The fit and finish is excellent and other than the lack of steel type listed on the blade, it's identical to the standard Freefall. Anyone else see any other knives at Wally that are similar to this?:o
 
Yes. Walmart had a bunch of new folders. I had to look up which ones were 8Cr and which were 3Cr. I bought the Thistle which is 8Cr which used to be the norm for budget knives. The rest of the Kershaws there were were 3Cr which is a shame since they were the same price but use a steel known for kids scissors and $5 gas station knives they keep in a jar on the counter
 
Walmart.com is offering online today Kershaw Freefalls, with 8Cr13MoV steel blades, for $14. Order the knife online and pick it up at store to avoid shipping charges.
 
Kershaw's site lists the steel at 8CR. What is going on here? I'm firmly in the camp of "Not going to be buying any 3CR knives". I know that for some reason that's not a popular opinion with several folks (which ended up getting the thread locked), which honestly baffles me given that we're on a site which caters directly to people who are here specifically because they aren't the bottom rung end-users Kershaw is trying to reel in here. It's a shame, but I suppose it's not a big impact to me directly since my Kershaw purchases have been entirely from the ZT line of late.
 
Quiet said:
Kershaw's site lists the steel at 8CR. What is going on here? I'm firmly in the camp of "Not going to be buying any 3CR knives". I know that for some reason that's not a popular opinion with several folks (which ended up getting the thread locked), which honestly baffles me given that we're on a site which caters directly to people who are here specifically because they aren't the bottom rung end-users Kershaw is trying to reel in here. It's a shame, but I suppose it's not a big impact to me directly since my Kershaw purchases have been entirely from the ZT line of late.
Click to expand...

It sounds like from the OT some are produced with steel clearly marked, but then they produce another batch not marked? What's up with that? I have knives with no steel indications on the blade but that holds true for every model of said knife at which I have looked.
 
I believe Walmart orders some of the knives in 3cr so they can do special holiday packs.

I believe there was one with a shuffle, freefall and a flashlight for $25 last Christmas, with 3cr blades.
 
So before the trolls come in full force and crap up yet another thread, let it be known these knives in 3Cr are made for people that are on a tight budget / could not care less about their knife / wanted a cheap beater for their tackle box or tool bag. They are designed for a specific demographic, and may help people that do not appreciate knives get into the hobby at a deeper level. No need for all the butt hurt comments, we've already heard them before.
 
RevDevil said:
So before the trolls come in full force and crap up yet another thread, let it be known these knives in 3Cr are made for people that are on a tight budget / could not care less about their knife / wanted a cheap beater for their tackle box or tool bag. They are designed for a specific demographic, and may help people that do not appreciate knives get into the hobby at a deeper level. No need for all the butt hurt comments, we've already heard them before.
Click to expand...

And a reminder that it's usually the big box store that is specifically requesting this steel to meet a price point.
 
RevDevil said:
So before the trolls come in full force and crap up yet another thread, let it be known these knives in 3Cr are made for people that are on a tight budget / could not care less about their knife / wanted a cheap beater for their tackle box or tool bag. They are designed for a specific demographic, and may help people that do not appreciate knives get into the hobby at a deeper level. No need for all the butt hurt comments, we've already heard them before.
Click to expand...

Yeah... heck yeah... thanks for that post. Way to shut down (hopefully) another thread of chest pounding, whining, tears, and indignation.

If there was no paying market, these knives wouldn't be available.

Robert
 
I agree with the two posts above...I mean, really if someone bitches about the low quality materials being used in a product at Walmart, then they're seriously out of touch with the economic realities that face most Walmart shoppers, capital gains taxes don't tend to be among them.

I'm not thrilled about Kershaw making models in very low end steel, but I accept that they need it to meet the price points for the respective models, I just don't want to see it become pervasive and see them phase out 8Cr in favor of 3Cr. The world doesn't need another Gerber.
 
Is 3Cr a great steel? Nope. Will that Kershaw be the best knife a lot of the people that get it will have ever bought? Yes it will. Not everyone is a knife nut or cares about the steels.
 
Nothing wrong with making profit. Nothing wrong with having an opinion either.
 
Quiet said:
I know that for some reason that's not a popular opinion with several folks (which ended up getting the thread locked), which honestly baffles me given that we're on a site which caters directly to people who are here specifically because they aren't the bottom rung end-users Kershaw is trying to reel in here. It's a shame, but I suppose it's not a big impact to me directly since my Kershaw purchases have been entirely from the ZT line of late.
Click to expand...

Not to mention that the discussion was civil, yet still ended up getting locked. Reason I bring it up is because it seems like the reason it was closed is because it was Kershaw people were talking about; any other brand, and it wouldn't have been closed. People seem to regularly complain about the steel in Chinese knives, or in Boker's knives, without any issue. That's just my impression though, maybe I'm wrong.
 
Hernasco said:
Walmart.com is offering online today Kershaw Freefalls, with 8Cr13MoV steel blades, for $14. Order the knife online and pick it up at store to avoid shipping charges.
Click to expand...

I just ordered two. Decent, inexpensive Christmas presents.
 
RevDevil said:
So before the trolls come in full force and crap up yet another thread, let it be known these knives in 3Cr are made for people that are on a tight budget / could not care less about their knife / wanted a cheap beater for their tackle box or tool bag.
Click to expand...

Kershaw used to make knives for those people in 8Cr13. Just sayin.
 
DShiflet said:
Kershaw used to make knives for those people in 8Cr13. Just sayin.
Click to expand...

I think it would be nice if the 3cr knives were still also available as 8cr, but the big box stores could order the 3cr for just such purposes as Wal-Mart, in those variety gift pack things.

I have absolutely no experience with 3cr... I said in the other thread that got locked I wish someone would do an 8cr 3cr comparison... but I don't have any 3cr knives.

I will say Kershaw's budget has given me some of the best inexpensive users, and in terms of type of folder from one brand, my budget Kershaws are the most numerous.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top