This opens with a direct contradiction -
I really like this knife - but I am disappointed.....
Size comparison - Open -
Closed -
The JunkYard Dog is a frame-lock -
The Tim Galyean designed JunkYard Dog like the bigger Kershaw JunkYard Dog II (link) I reviewed earlier has the nice round flipper - which seems less likely to catch on clothing etc.
But that's exactly what led to the disappointment -
I was excited to get the smaller handier sized JYD - with frame-lock - and I was expecting it to open like an "Unassisted assist" - much like the impressive JYD2 .....
But it didn't and I tried real hard and all the variations I knew to try to get the flipper to open without any movement/flicking of my wrist - but I just couldn't do it.
I tried adjusting the pivot screw - but it made little difference (obviously if too tight the knife would be very difficult to open - but loosening the pivot screw to the point where the blade had way too much side play still didn't do it for me). I even disassembled the knife to check there were no obstructions or debris preventing smooth motion -
nope, still couldn't do it.
In contrast to the JYD2 (and Groove) which I can open effortlessly, even when held as the most awkward angle (eg: handle vertical so to open the blade is working against gravity all the way)
To be fair I placed a call to Kershaw to check if my sample was normal - and I was told it was -
It is simply because the blade is not heavy enough to have enough inertia/momentum to fully open with method/option 1.
However I was told that most at Kershaw can open this smaller JYF without much effort - and a HINT - was to push the finger against the flipper forward - almost as if going against opening - then pull back to flip the blade open.
That worked for me first time.
However I still cannot guarantee to be able to open the knife fully every time without some, albeit small, movement of my wrist.
This is now what I do to ensure I open the smaller JYD fully - push forward against the flipper (this preloads the tension of the finger) then pull back sharply - I find when I do this there is a small movement of my wrist. If I fully immobilize my wrist - then the opening is not as reliable - especially first time right out of my pocket. So to be sure I now have to move/flick my wrist a little - although it may seem that the smaller JYD would be like "other"/ordinary flippers - but it still isn't, there is still much less effort/flipping to open the knife fully - it's just for me I still have to move my wrist a little to be sure the JYD opens fully.
This seems long and detailed but wanted to others to understand that the JYD does not open as easily as the JYD2.
Back/spine
hidden stop-pin like the JYD2. But looking at the photos of the front handle side - one can see the stop-pin position near the pivot.
Markings
Size comparison with the Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK and a typical Victorinox 91mm SAK
I really do like the JYD - for its size and frame-lock - it fits and balances well in my hand, it feels sharp out of the box - perhaps not quite as stunningly sharp as the JYD2 felt - I like the Sandvik 13C26 steel.
I like it enough that it has taken the place of my Black "boron" Leek as my at home EDC...
But that doesn't prevent me from being disappointed that I can't open the knife as well as I can the JYD2 and Groove.
ref:
New Kershaw Flippers
Kershaw JunkYard Dog II (review)
Kershaw RJ Martin Groove (review)
--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
I really like this knife - but I am disappointed.....
Size comparison - Open -
Closed -
The JunkYard Dog is a frame-lock -
The Tim Galyean designed JunkYard Dog like the bigger Kershaw JunkYard Dog II (link) I reviewed earlier has the nice round flipper - which seems less likely to catch on clothing etc.
But that's exactly what led to the disappointment -
I was excited to get the smaller handier sized JYD - with frame-lock - and I was expecting it to open like an "Unassisted assist" - much like the impressive JYD2 .....
But it didn't and I tried real hard and all the variations I knew to try to get the flipper to open without any movement/flicking of my wrist - but I just couldn't do it.
I tried adjusting the pivot screw - but it made little difference (obviously if too tight the knife would be very difficult to open - but loosening the pivot screw to the point where the blade had way too much side play still didn't do it for me). I even disassembled the knife to check there were no obstructions or debris preventing smooth motion -
nope, still couldn't do it.
In contrast to the JYD2 (and Groove) which I can open effortlessly, even when held as the most awkward angle (eg: handle vertical so to open the blade is working against gravity all the way)
To be fair I placed a call to Kershaw to check if my sample was normal - and I was told it was -
It is simply because the blade is not heavy enough to have enough inertia/momentum to fully open with method/option 1.
However I was told that most at Kershaw can open this smaller JYF without much effort - and a HINT - was to push the finger against the flipper forward - almost as if going against opening - then pull back to flip the blade open.
That worked for me first time.
However I still cannot guarantee to be able to open the knife fully every time without some, albeit small, movement of my wrist.
This is now what I do to ensure I open the smaller JYD fully - push forward against the flipper (this preloads the tension of the finger) then pull back sharply - I find when I do this there is a small movement of my wrist. If I fully immobilize my wrist - then the opening is not as reliable - especially first time right out of my pocket. So to be sure I now have to move/flick my wrist a little - although it may seem that the smaller JYD would be like "other"/ordinary flippers - but it still isn't, there is still much less effort/flipping to open the knife fully - it's just for me I still have to move my wrist a little to be sure the JYD opens fully.
This seems long and detailed but wanted to others to understand that the JYD does not open as easily as the JYD2.
Back/spine
hidden stop-pin like the JYD2. But looking at the photos of the front handle side - one can see the stop-pin position near the pivot.
Markings
Size comparison with the Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK and a typical Victorinox 91mm SAK
I really do like the JYD - for its size and frame-lock - it fits and balances well in my hand, it feels sharp out of the box - perhaps not quite as stunningly sharp as the JYD2 felt - I like the Sandvik 13C26 steel.
I like it enough that it has taken the place of my Black "boron" Leek as my at home EDC...
But that doesn't prevent me from being disappointed that I can't open the knife as well as I can the JYD2 and Groove.
ref:
New Kershaw Flippers
Kershaw JunkYard Dog II (review)
Kershaw RJ Martin Groove (review)
--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
)
