Kershaw JunkYard Dog II

U

UnknownVT

Joined
Feb 15, 2003
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JunkYardDog2.jpg


The JunkYard Dog II is one of the long and eagerly awaited new Kershaw "flippers".

Please see these BFC threads -

New Kershaw Flippers

Kershaw Knives News Thread

JunkYardDog2Bk.jpg
JunkYardDog2Mk.jpg


Closed -
JYD2Cls.jpg
JYD2ClsB.jpg


Notice how the flipper is rounded - an important aspect for me - as this makes the knife easier to carry, with, I think, less chance of the flipper catching on clothing.

This brings us to the flipper system - designed by Tim Galyean -
to me this is one the most interesting designs since Ken Onion's Speed-Safe assisted openers.

These new flippers do NOT use any springs or any mechanical assistance. They are NOT like any other flippers I've tried so far.

They work by loading up the finger pressure tension and the sudden release opens the knife almost like they are a spring assisted opener - one really has to try it to believe it.
Some of this has been discussed in the referenced threads above.

The JYD2 (JunkYard Dog II) is a biggish knife with a pretty substantial blade so if one pulls on the flipper the knife will open, but not quite fully - and one needs to flick the wrist a little to get the knife to fully open - this one of the methods (option 2 - see below) to opening the knife.
When I first tried this I was a bit disappointed - because I was so excited over these flippers.
But by placing my finger tip closer to the tip of the flipper - where it's actually ribbed - the knife then opens fully and almost like a spring assisted opener -
and now that I got it, I can do it quite reliably every single time without effort (no, I do not have to flick my wrist) the opening can be quite "sedate" and the blade still opens fully - amazing - I am VERY, VERY impressed - especially considering this is a big knife (this is method/option 1 - see instructions below).

Instructions that came with the JYD2 -
JYD2Inst.jpg

I suggest reading these before opening the knife.

Ribbed area of flipper tip
JYD2Flip.jpg


being a substantial knife - I was also very impressed with its liner lock -
JunkYardDog2Lk2.jpg

the liners are pretty thick and substantial - almost "frame-lock-like".

The one thing I haven't yet figured is how the knife doesn't seem to need a stop-pin (the Kershaw Onions very cleverly use the "thumb-studs" as a front stop-pin) but I do not see any form of stop-pin on the JYD2 -
Spine view knife open (showing lack of stop-pin) -
JYD2Spn.jpg


How sharp?

Whoo-hoo - boy is this thing sharp - I think I only had to show the blade to an envelope and it opened..... :D - this knife slices through free hanging paper like nobody's business - I almost believe I might not get any of my blades to be that sharp....

But cutting through things like cardboard shows that being a big substantial blade it doesn't do as well as my thinner blades - nevertheless it acquits itself real well.

Did I say I was VERY impressed?

It's instantly become one of my favorite big folders ......

--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
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Beautiful pictures and great write up. I like the knife so much that I bought two of them. Great knife for the price.
 
Another one to add to the list!! Any ideas as to why they didn't put a thumb stud on it? I don't really care as I always choose the flipper over the stud, just curious.
 
I now know where the stop-pin for the blade is on the JYD2 - thanks to the disassembeled knife pic by nozh2002 in post #61 on page 4 of the thread - Kershaw JunkYard Dog II pics (
multipage.gif
1 2 3 4)
it's inside attached to the lock side liner, and there is a curved cut-out on the blade heel where it sits.

Note: below is a crop of nozh2002's original photo to show the stop-pin mechanics -

nozh2002Crop.jpg


notice: nozh2002 has modified the choil/flipper -
so it is now different from the production shape.

--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
Great write up and pictures. Its certainly a beautifully executed new knife. I hope Kershaw and the designer win an award for this one - they deserve it.
 
Just picked up my JYD 2 about 2 hours ago, first impressions

1) Handle fits my medium sized hand very nicely, might be to small for the "monsters" out there, scales seem to have just the right amount of Grip.

2) Blade to handle ratio very good, blade is dead center open and closed

3) It rides a bit higher in pocket than I would ideally like

4) I personally dont mind the look of the pocket clip

5) "flips" open very nicely, locks up nice and solid, no play, good engagement on liner.

6) I would still like the option of a thumb stud or preferably a disk up top, brain has too many years of thumb opening ingrained ,

7) I like the fact it is not assist open, less to go wrong

8) this thing is crying for being "waved" with tip up carry

9) My left arm now has a big bald patch

10) I think my spyderco ATR and ZT200 just got some competition for space in my right pocket, this is definitley more sheeple friendly.


A
 
Good review and posts.
How does this Steel stack up 13C26 compared to its competitors?
I like the shape and style of this knife.
 
nice review and pics UnknownVT......I'm playin with my JYD 1 right now.....I like it....the clip is a little too ninja-esque for my tastes....but its a great knife!:cool:
 
Danno4017 said:
Good review and posts.
How does this Steel stack up 13C26 compared to its competitors?
I like the shape and style of this knife.
Click to expand...

It's a good and pretty well known Swedish stainless steel -

from Sandvik's page on 13C26 -
"Sandvik 13C26 is a martensitic stainless chromium steel. After heat treatment the steel grade is characterised by:
- High hardness
- Good corrosion resistance
- Very good wear resistance
Sandvik 13C26 is used mainly for razor blades, but is also the standard grade for surgical knives and for different types of industrial knives for the food industry."

and More information

Carbon = 0.68%, Cr = 13.0%

"MARTENSITIC STAINLESS CHROMIUM STEELS
These steels have excellent properties for forming and grinding sharp edges and, after hardening and tempering, also good resistance to corrosion. Sandvik 6C27, 7C27Mo2, 12C27 and 13C26 in a hardened and tempered version are supplied under the trade name Sandvik Chromflex. Their special characteristics include good resistance to wear, high fatigue strength and very good flatness as well as uniform mechanical properties along and across the rolling direction (isotropic properties)."

It's used for razor blades and scapels, so it can attain good sharpness.

--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
Positive comments here on BFC prompted me to get a JYD2 myself ... many nice and innovative features, the flipper turned out to be completely intuitive for me (for anyone having problems, just hold the knife with the pivot down when working the flipper.) Those interested in SD will appreciate the ability to do inertial openings with little trouble. Ergonomics are excellent, fit and finish what you'd expect from a knife costing substantially more.

I think the clip is terrific, the way it fills the hollow formed at the base of the index finger when the knife is gripped is very comfortable for me.

Preliminary edge retention testing I've done (factory profile edge) has been very positive, with performance on cardboard surpassing VG10 at ~59-60HRC and 1095 at 61HRC. After testing, I can't recall another edge looking as good as this one under magnification, still smooth and even with no evidence of microchipping or anything you don't like to see.

This is a solid offering IMO.
 
Thanks for the review...I have been on edge about this for a while, its steel isnt the greatest but its pretty good. I'll buy one now and see how I like it, thanks for the help again.
 
Could not resist, particularly after all the good words from STR. Picked one up from New Graham about 5 days ago and have carried it exclusively ever since.

I'll second the positive comments above. I found the flipper intuitive to use -- no problems for me at all in that area. I do not mind the relatively high carry from the clip and its slightly unusual design does not offend at all. I appreciate the grips; they've been scored in a shallow but dense pattern and are quite grippy. The knife is not nearly as big as a Benchmade Skirmish, for example, but is still 'beefy' and substantial (a nice feeling).

The knife did not come as sharp in the box as my Spyderco Military in BG42, but it was definitely sharp enough to be treated with respect and care. I've cut everything I can think of in the past 5 days, including 'shaving' some hardwood dowels (that did slightly dull the edge). An excellent cutter with reliable performance -- as Archimedes mentioned, it's still 'shaving sharp' after some fairly substantial abuse (especially those dowels). Did well cutting cardboard on day 1 and did not lose its edge (at least not after rendering down four mid-sized cardboard boxes).

This knife is a keeper.
 
Got my JYDII a few days ago. First impressions: Excellent large folder at a surprisingly low price. Part of the explanation might be the use of Sandvic 13C26 steel. If so, any performance penalty seems minimal at this point in time. So far it has performed well on a variety of materials with very little dropoff in sharpness.

Ergos are great. It fits my medium/large hand well. The large clip seems to actually aid gripping. But it's a conspicuous, high ride in the pocket. Eventually I might get a deep pockets clip made.

Fit and finish is perfect on my copy. Everything is centered. No up and down or side to side play in the blade. Yet it flips open easily. For me there is no need for a thumb stud. I really like using the flipper exclusively. It's fast, simple and convenient.

It is a modestly large folder and seems very strong with its thick SS liners and G10 scales.
 
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