Kershaw Freefall

J

JNieporte

Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
3,352
Computer is having problems, so I have to re-type the review. Here are some photos to hold you over until then. I can at least caption the photos...

Kershaw's K-Texture. The Freefall is made in China, as the butt of the handle scale says.
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The backspacer is steel and covers the last 3/4 of the knife. It's jimped, but the jimping here is for looks only. The lanyard loop has no handle scale around it, but it's not uncomfortable. The backspacer is titanium nitride coated.
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Nice stonewashed blade, made of 8Cr13MoV. No thumb studs. The jimping is nicely done. Pivot pin screw is Torx T-6 size.
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Other side of the 3-1/2" blade. This shape would be easy to make into a Spanto.
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Nice jimping on the blade spine. The locking side has two thin phosphor bronze bushings; the non-locking side has one phosphor bronze bushing and one white nylon bushing.
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Simple deep-carry pocket clip, which appears to be bead blasted. Tip up only, but can be used on the left or right side.
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A single screw (T-6) holds it in place, but those two pegs on the sides keep it from wobbling or rotating.
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No jimping on the linerlock.
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It's very comfortable in use, with no hot spots.
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That jimping really shines when it comes to a saber grip.
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Icepick grip is pretty good.
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(Also, of all the photos shown, this one best captures the color and texture of the stonewashed finish.)

With a Spyderco Tenacious for size comparison.
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Nice pics, man. I'm actually pretty interested in this model. I'll check back cuz I'd love to read what you have to say about it.

On a side note, are you still straight edge?
 
J-Dog, I love these entry level Kershaws. In many respects they are similar, but there is enough difference between the different flavors that I want them all. I'll add this one to my wish list. In my view, these knives embarrass the $400 knives with titanium and super steel because they cost 5% as much but in most every respect (with the possible exception of edge retention, and thats only a slight deficit) they perform pretty much the same.
 
grownstar said:
Nice pics, man. I'm actually pretty interested in this model. I'll check back cuz I'd love to read what you have to say about it.

On a side note, are you still straight edge?
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Been a bit sick, so I'm re-typing the review little by little. I'm not part of any straight edge "movement" but yes, I'm drug free. Of course, that excludes the drugs I'm on for asthma and other lung and heart conditions. No drinking, smoking (anything), or recreational drug use.
 
powernoodle said:
J-Dog, I love these entry level Kershaws. In many respects they are similar, but there is enough difference between the different flavors that I want them all. I'll add this one to my wish list. In my view, these knives embarrass the $400 knives with titanium and super steel because they cost 5% as much but in most every respect (with the possible exception of edge retention, and thats only a slight deficit) they perform pretty much the same.
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Agreed for the most part. I'm impatiently waiting on the Kershaw Thermite. I know it's available, but right now even a mere $30 is out of my price range. By the way, your review of the Leatherman Rebar is what prompted me to buy one.
 
Cool, thanks. Given the choice, I like being on the right side of guys who look like they just escaped from Alcatraz. I too saw the Thermite today for the first time, and it is now up near the top of my Amazon wish list.

I still dig the spendy knives, btw, and admire the guys who are hardcore into them. But I just really dig these $20 or so Kershaws.
 
I'll echo those sentiments. It seems like a much better accomplishment to design and sell an excellent $30 knife than an excellent $200 knife. Plus, I'm much more likely to buy, carry, and use one of these.
 
Just had one of these show up today. Sadly im waiting for my wife to bring it home after work. Cant wait. Picked up the camp axe also so 2 new toys to chrck out tonight!
 
JNieporte said:
Agreed for the most part. I'm impatiently waiting on the Kershaw Thermite. I know it's available, but right now even a mere $30 is out of my price range. By the way, your review of the Leatherman Rebar is what prompted me to buy one.
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If you don't have a Thermite by the time my passaround is done, I'll send you a Thermite and an Injection to review.
 
Morrow said:
If you don't have a Thermite by the time my passaround is done, I'll send you a Thermite and an Injection to review.
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I'm carrying the injection 3.0 and the zt 0300bw to work tomorrow have the 3.0 in my hand now and agree there are very well designed and put together knives for the price point.
 
Morrow said:
If you don't have a Thermite by the time my passaround is done, I'll send you a Thermite and an Injection to review.
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Much appreciated. However, with what I'm hearing from the video reviews, I may make you an offer on the Thermite.
 
JNieporte said:
Been a bit sick, so I'm re-typing the review little by little. I'm not part of any straight edge "movement" but yes, I'm drug free. Of course, that excludes the drugs I'm on for asthma and other lung and heart conditions. No drinking, smoking (anything), or recreational drug use.
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Awesome, man. I'm edge. I'll hit 9 years next month. And that is definitely one knife I've been interested in since earlier this year. It kinda flew under the radar on the KAI sub-forum, but that blade shape and stone wash finish caught my eye right away.
 
powernoodle said:
J-Dog, I love these entry level Kershaws. In many respects they are similar, but there is enough difference between the different flavors that I want them all. I'll add this one to my wish list. In my view, these knives embarrass the $400 knives with titanium and super steel because they cost 5% as much but in most every respect (with the possible exception of edge retention, and thats only a slight deficit) they perform pretty much the same.
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I back this 100% :thumbup:

Noodle, I still like to read your Cryo vs Techno review. Makes me feel awesome when I'm flipping away at night.
 
I know it's only been a couple of weeks, but how is that Freefall holding up? Any comments? Complaints?
 
grownstar said:
I know it's only been a couple of weeks, but how is that Freefall holding up? Any comments? Complaints?
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It's holding up quite well. The weight is very manageable, and I haven't had to play around with pivot tension at all. The steel sharpens up easily, and holds its edge about where AUS-8 does. I'm liking the blade size and shape, although I'm not a fan of tanto points except on a dedicated fighter. I thought the non-jimped linerlock would be an issue because I've had my greasy (or wet, bloody, oily, etc.) finger slide off them before, but it hasn't been. I thought the backspacer (it runs through 3/4 of the knife and ends with a chunky, exposed lanyard loop with no handle scales over it) would annoy me, but it doesn't.

My only complaint is that when using the Freefall with denim, it tends to not want to come out. That K-Texture is aggressive, and the clip is just a tiny bit too tight. However, with Dickies or BDUs, it's fine.
 
Awesome. Thanks for hitting me back. I love my Chinese Kershaws. They are the epitome of bang for the buck. And I'm not too big on tantos, either. Still, something about this design sits well with me. I gotta stop being a cheap ass and just pull the trigger. I just acquired a used Emerson Mini-Commander, so I'm trying not to get more than 1 knife a month haha.

I only wear jeans to work. Other than that I'm almost always in Dickies, so thanks for that info!
 
Man, I just got to handle this folder. I might have to get one.
OH!!! Knifecenter!!! :D
rolf
 
Thus is a great knife for edc.
One con: The screw that holds the clip on stripped out so the clip wiggles. I've had it come completely loose and fall off. Sent back to Kershaw for repair. It came back in the same condition. My past experience with Kershaw customer service has been fabulous. Trying some JB Weld in the stripped hole to see if the problem is solved. If this doesn't work, I'll ask Kershaw to replace the piece that the clip screws in to. My $.O2

Matt
 
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