People are getting confused with MSRP's. The new 3CR kershaws are at a $29.99 MSRP and this is the lowest MSRP they've ever had in a assisted opening knife. The previously lowest MSRP in a assisted opening knife was $39.99 from Kershaw. They still make everything else in 8CR or better steel....
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Kershaw freefall and Wal-Mart
- Thread starter Wunderbar
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Exactly.
Kershaw has little control over pricing other than MAP but if Amazon and others want to break MAP, they can't control that.
powernoodle
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I've already stripped the threads on the hole for the clip screw. That backspacer, into which the clip is screwed, is either very soft skank metal or plastic. I can't tell. Its also a pocket shredder as the clip (before I jacked it up) is very tight, and the "K" texturing on the scale is very pronounced. So this does not go down as my favorite Kershaw. The other budget Kershaws have been tasty, but they don't have this type of clip. Just some data for those who care.
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How would any of us know whether a knife stamped 8cr was not actually 3cr ? It might be possible for the two steels to get switched (by accident, of course) during production - or blades could be inadvertently stamped incorrectly... Most people who buy these knives couldn't tell the difference and most of them likely wouldn't care, if they knew. I truly doubt that the difference in cost between these two steels has any appreciable impact on the price that the manufacturer charges to wholesalers/retailers for a completed knife, if they buy in sufficient quantity.
"You pays you money and you takes you chances." - Cajun-speak
"You pays you money and you takes you chances." - Cajun-speak
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I always read these threads with a bit of amazment. So many folks worried about how Kershaw will treat them, worried about Kershaw's business direction and philosphy, wondering what Kershaw is up to, and trying to guess the future of Kershaw's offerings. More important, there is the fear that someone is getting screwed, quite possibly poster. Some even worry about Kershaw's treatment of the general public and the morality of using a steel they don't approve of.
Really? All this turmoil for a $10 knife that NO ONE here intends to buy? If none of the guys here are going to buy these 3Cr knives, why all the fretting, worry and hand wringing over this product? I am not buying that some simply want to take the time to educate the general public on steel properties and makeup analysis.
I am the only one of my friends that has any real active interest in owning higher quality knives, and most simply see them as convenient cutting tools. Imagine that. So they judge the knife by its utility value as it pertains to THEM, not to others. These are not stupid people and they are not being duped by a giant corporation. They simply have different priorities than we do.
To help out all of those with heartburn over this situation, I offer this simple solution: don't buy one of these knives. There you go, that will fix it. If you want, don't buy anymore Kershaw. Maybe... just maybe... don't go back inside Walmart. Problem solved!
And you have my personal word on this; if enough folks simply don't buy any of these knives, Walmart will quit carrying them and Kershaw will quit making them. A free market system works great (remember... you don't have to have anything at all to do with any knife) if you give it a chance.
Robert
Really? All this turmoil for a $10 knife that NO ONE here intends to buy? If none of the guys here are going to buy these 3Cr knives, why all the fretting, worry and hand wringing over this product? I am not buying that some simply want to take the time to educate the general public on steel properties and makeup analysis.
I am the only one of my friends that has any real active interest in owning higher quality knives, and most simply see them as convenient cutting tools. Imagine that. So they judge the knife by its utility value as it pertains to THEM, not to others. These are not stupid people and they are not being duped by a giant corporation. They simply have different priorities than we do.
To help out all of those with heartburn over this situation, I offer this simple solution: don't buy one of these knives. There you go, that will fix it. If you want, don't buy anymore Kershaw. Maybe... just maybe... don't go back inside Walmart. Problem solved!
And you have my personal word on this; if enough folks simply don't buy any of these knives, Walmart will quit carrying them and Kershaw will quit making them. A free market system works great (remember... you don't have to have anything at all to do with any knife) if you give it a chance.
Robert
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For me, it was the 2 knife and a flashlight $20 Walmart special that attracted my eye to knives. It was really the first knife purchase I ever made and it is because it was cheap. I had no idea at that time what all the different knife steels were, but it was a deal and caught my attention. Now i have gotten into knives a lot more. I will probably never buy another knife made out of 3cr13 but I appreciate that it got me started.
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Why? Has 3cr failed you in some way? Do you have another steel that is noticeably better (to you, not because someone said so)? Or are you just buying into the negativity?
I don't think anyone in here has reported on how their 3cr Kershaws perform outside of reading a Wikipedia article.
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As mentioned by others, dump on Wal-Mart and their entry-level knives all you want but you get what you pay for and they end up serving as a gateway drug for a lot of people who go on to be pretty serious knife collectors and connoisseurs.
We've all got to start somewhere...
We've all got to start somewhere...
Good stuff as usual.
It is a very interesting thread, is it not? Suddenly Kershaw is in danger of making all of their knives in 3cr. (Actually I'd like SOMEONE here who knows a bit more about steel differences to buy one of these and test it's utility value and report back.)
I totally get the complaint that many prior budget knives were made in 8cr and still affordable. I have many of them.
But like I said in an earlier post, it appears to me that this (very tiny compared to all of their offerings) line was specifically made with a lower steel at a lower price point for the average joe who doesn't know and, more importantly, doesn't care. He just needs something reasonably okay from a reputable company, that cuts. I'm no sociologist, but I don't think he cares that he could get a knife that holds its edge 10 years longer without sharpening, or may take a couple hours to put a good edge on but gets really sharp. Most of these what I call working grade steels take a decent edge quickly, and that's what a lot of average carriers are concerned about.
This is a knife forum where mostly the "above average" carrier goes but where anyone with even a passing interest is welcome. We all know 90% of us won't buy this. It's like "we don't want this, but we don't want anyone else to have it either."
Unfortunately that one is combo edge only. I WISH there was a plain edge, as that's one of the few tantos that I really like the looks of and I'm not a huge fan of combo edge. I still got one, though(2 actually, I gave one to a friend and so bought a replacement the next day)
I'm kind of wondering now if the 8cr Freefall would be comparable. Like you I don't care for the looks of most tantos (The Utilitac II from Ontario is just so useful and affordable that I love it though). Also the Kershaw RDJ isn't too bad.
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Exactly my point, but much better said. My buddies know what they want, and they know from an educated stand point. They think I am nuts to spend the time on knives that I do. They won't buy a knife that requires a special setup for sharpening, or one that requires a diamond rod to easily maintain an edge, or even a knife that requires rebeveling out of the box. If they can buy a knife that is sturdily built (note I didn't say a fine example of fit and finish), sharp out of the box and is easy to sharpen that is at a good price for them, they are happy.
I am the only blue collar guy of the lot of my friends, and outside of opening a FedEx box at work, cutting a thread on their clothes, slicing up an apple, cutting some string, or opening a clam shell package, they rarely use their knives during the week. That's not hard duty for any knife. An inexpensive knife fits the bill for all of them.
They use their knives like my grandfather used to, well before we obsessed about steels in a knife. I see my friends cleaning the rocks out of the cleats of their work boots, scratching carbon off a spark plug, cutting small wire, scraping who knows what as needed, and on an on. Occasionally, they use their knives as cutting tools, too. Just like my grandfather, they only really nice knives they have stay in the closet until hunting season arrives when they find themselves in need of a solid work knife to clean game and do camp chores. Then they might spend as much as $75 bucks for a knife, but don't buy unless they ask me first. And I better pick a knife that they will be using for several seasons when they ask.
Well said.
Robert
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Kershaw makes a knife called the Robert Downey, Jr?!
Actually no, it's the RDI my mistake. I have one but it's put away somewhere and I didn't quite remember. That would be cool though.
Especially if the knife was something like an inert wristband of sorts and then when needed BAM! Turns into cool assisted opening tanto.
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Haha that would rule!
Back on topic, I owned a 3CR Freefall, and it held up decent. I cut up a pretty large box for a heated doghouse with it and it started losing its edge right before I was done. This was like triple-thick cardboard with heavy duty staples and whatnot, and it performed as expected. It definitely wouldn't cut receipt paper after. But all I gave it were a few passes on my crock sticks and it was back to shaving sharp.
I guess we take a major hit in edge retention, but like plenty of people have said time and time again, these knives aren't meant for us. They're meant for the average joe who just needs something sharp and is a step above those who cut open boxes with pens and car keys.
Do y'all really think the average wally world customer knows what the hell Elmax is? Or S35VN? Or how about Vanadis 4 or M390? Nope! They want something that won't break the bank, and don't care if it has China stamped all over it. They won't even be able to tell the difference between 3CR and 8CR.
I love KAI and as long as they keep banging out ZT's and made in USA Kershaws, I don't have much of a problem with the rest of their line. But the day they totally phase 8CR out, well I'll be right there with the rest of you dudes, pitchfork and torch in hand.
Comeuppance
Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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There's a lot of silliness going on here.
- Nobody here should be shopping at Wal-Mart for knives.
- Who buys a knife impulsively without doing research, and then gets upset about the specs not being in line with expectations?
- Most people who buy knives at Wal-Mart would just blink and stare vacantly if you told them the blade steel.
- Kershaw has been putting out lower-tier versions of their lower-tier knives in this fashion for a hot minute.
It's a budget knife, for sure. The steel is poor, but the price is low and the build quality is higher than most in that price range. You're not going to get 8Cr Kershaws for Enlan/Ganzo prices in a brick-and-mortar store. Profit margins and paying employees negate that outright.
Honestly, I'm just happy to see the names get out there. I feel like I'm seeing wider familiarity with Kershaw in the public eye. I know TWO people at work who are carrying good-quality Kershaw knives without any influence from me. Maybe we'll see Spyderco and Benchmade back in Wal-Mart sometime soon - I can see the Clipitools being sold at big box stores quite easily. Talk about a good stocking stuffer...!
- Nobody here should be shopping at Wal-Mart for knives.
- Who buys a knife impulsively without doing research, and then gets upset about the specs not being in line with expectations?
- Most people who buy knives at Wal-Mart would just blink and stare vacantly if you told them the blade steel.
- Kershaw has been putting out lower-tier versions of their lower-tier knives in this fashion for a hot minute.
It's a budget knife, for sure. The steel is poor, but the price is low and the build quality is higher than most in that price range. You're not going to get 8Cr Kershaws for Enlan/Ganzo prices in a brick-and-mortar store. Profit margins and paying employees negate that outright.
Honestly, I'm just happy to see the names get out there. I feel like I'm seeing wider familiarity with Kershaw in the public eye. I know TWO people at work who are carrying good-quality Kershaw knives without any influence from me. Maybe we'll see Spyderco and Benchmade back in Wal-Mart sometime soon - I can see the Clipitools being sold at big box stores quite easily. Talk about a good stocking stuffer...!
This might be a valid argument...if it wasn't for the fact that it's untrue. I've bought several 8Cr knives at Walmart...for the exact same prices as these 3Cr knives.
RedLynx said:
I don't like the looks of the Freefall as much as the Kuro...I agree the RJ1 isn't bad, though most places only have combo edge versions of that one in stock, too.
Ha! So true! So far I've been using the 3Cr blade lightly for a week now and it's held up as well as the 440A on an old Gerber EZ out that I also use.