Kershaw Junkyard Dogs, 1 and 2 questions

daizee

daizee

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 30, 2009
Messages
11,115
Hi Folks,
1st post, new to the forum.

I've been browsing knives all afternoon while trying to spend some gift points.
The result was a couple Boker's for simple pocket tools, but I found myself enamoured of the Kershaw JYD models and couldn't find some basic info.

Here's the Q: How THICK are the Kershaw JYD models, both with and without the G10 scales, and both model 1 and 2?

Context:
My state has a 3" max, so I've been without a larger knife for awhile. My last carry-clip knife was a Gerber EZ-out that I took to sea for 3 years. It was a solid knife for the money, but it took a walk one day and now I'm thinking about replacing it with a slight upgrade. Though I'll generally be packing my sub-3" tools (more practical for me anyway), there's a hole in my battery that needs to be filled. It has to be flat enough to carry comfortably IWB, hence the thickness question.

Aside from the JYD's, are there good similar knives - I like the style - in the 3.25-3.5" range that you'd recommend? The JYD's 3" is a bit short for what I want, and 3.75" is a little unweildy for everyday use.

BTW, my current EDC is a slightly modified CRKT M16-EDC. I rounded over the spear point a bit to get it under the legal limit (an indisputable 2.9" from hilt to tip). I like this one a lot and it has served me well.

Cheers, and thanks for any advice,

-Daizee
 
Welcome to BFC. I can't answer your questions about the Kershaw, but there are a large number of knives that might meet your requirements. The Benchmade 530 is a great knife and very thin and there are many knives from Spyderco that would also meet your criteria such as the Stretch, Tenacious, Manix 2, Native, and even the Endura which has a 3.75" blade but carries like a smaller knife due to being thin and light. Good luck on your search for a new knife and let us know what you decide.
 
Thanks, cgmblade.

I like benchmade, but tend toward the more utilitarian and repaceable (affordable). Maybe its time to treat myself, tho. There was one model I admired, but it was just toobig. I like the look of the Rift, but its about twice what I'd want to spend.

Spydercos aren't really my style, but I almost bought a delica awhile back. The angry-insect blade shapes are a little too aggressive for my taste and environment.

-daizee
 
Look at the KaBar Dozier. It's a great knife, about 3" blade, lightweight, and good steel (AUS 8) for around $20. It comes in several different blade designs; spear point, drop point, etc. If you can find a Kershaw Barrage, it's a great knife too. I picked one up at Walmart last spring for about $35, but I don't know if they are still available. If you can get past the Spydreco "look" consider the Tenacious or Persistence. They're great buys at around $30. The Benchmade mini griptilian is another really great knife w/ a 3" blade and axis lock but it cost a little more than the others I've listed. Good luck.
 
I have a titanium JYD II with the laminated SG2 blade and I think it is a very nice knife. It has all the same sizes and proportions as the other JYD II's. The handle is one of THE most comfortable that I have ever felt. Galyean really did an awesome job designing this one and really has a firm grasp on ergonomics. The flipper opens smooth as butter and the blade is SHARP!! It has a high hollow ground that comes to a nice thinner edge. It makes an excellent slicer, infact the only knife I own that can outslice it is the paramilitary. The only gripe I have on this knife is I think they should have either put a finger choil into the flipper or started the blade edge back about a quarter inch. I feel like there is about a quarter inch in between the top of the handle and the start of the blade that could of and should of been sharpened. I think you really have to get it in your hand to know what I talking about. Also, check out the benchmade griptilian its a great knife for a great price. Oh and I almost forgot the Spyderco Manix 2. Even though your not a spyderco fan go check it out I think you WILL thank me later. As with most spydercos they are strictly function before form. You will not understand the strange looks of their knives until you get a few in your hands and see why things are shaped like they are.
 
Thanks for your input, everyone.
Anybody have width measurements on the JYD handle (minus the clip)?

-Daizee
 
Hi Dennis, thanks for the info and the welcome. Sounds a little thick for EDC, but a comfy size for a medium-sized knife.

-Daizee
 
The knife is VERY solid in the hand, I'm thinking of buying the composite version, and have owned the other one. Good value in a hard use folder. Not small.
 
The basic JYD is a very nice EDC knife. As a framelock, it's about as thin as a knife that size can get. Don't have it with me at the moment so can't measure it exactly, but it's definitely less than .5". It's also inexpensive. As an aside I mistakenly left it clipped to the pocket of a pair of jeans and ran it through the washer the other day! Came out nice and clean, sharp, and no rust. Switched my EDC yesterday to a CRKT Full Throttle, another thin framelock.
 
Hi Moxie, I do like the basic (non-II) model. I handled one at the local outing store last week and it felt very nice. Slim, attractive, easy to operate, big enough without being huge. I've got the 3" niche filled at the moment and am trying to be responsible with my budgeting, where "responsible" means "not redundant", otherwise I'd jump on the smaller one now. :-/

-Daizee



-Daizee
 
As said the JYD II is .500 " thick. For comparison the Kershaw Blur is .460, the RAT 1 .515 " thick, a CRKT Crawford/Kasper .485" thick, etc. So the thickness of the JYD is comparable. Keep in mind the blade itself is just under 1/8 of an inch thick.

The JYD II is a larger heavier blade though and the blade (by the way cops measure them) is 3.750 long. They do make some models with a shorter 3" blade. That one may be a bit thinner but no more than .040" or so if that.

http://www.thekershawstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=junk+yard+dog&Search.x=0&Search.y=0

They are useful knives and the blade is easily sharpened on a flat stone.

The Spyderco for comparison...

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=418

tipoc
 
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