Kershaw Knockout, Piston, and Rake Review

lava_lamp

lava_lamp

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Oct 5, 2006
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Kershaw Knockout, Piston, and Rake Review -- Part One

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From Left to Right: Knockout, Piston, and Rake

Introduction

I recently received a Kershaw Knockout, Piston, and Rake as part of a pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1047668-Passaround-Kershaw-Rake-Piston-and-Knockout. As they have so many times before, Thomas W. and the fine folks at Kershaw made the knives available and BladeForums moderator Morrow organized the pass around. These are three similar looking, similarly sized, and similarly priced knives. They are all well made with good fit and finish and backed by Kershaw’s lifetime warranty, which I know from personal experience to be the best in the business.

KAI USA, LTD.

KAI Group is a Japanese company. KAI USA, Ltd. markets Shun Cutlery, Zero Tolerance Knives, and Kershaw Knives. Shun makes kitchen knives primarily made in Japan. Zero Tolerance makes heavy-duty knives marketed for military and police use. Kershaw offers a wide variety of fixed and folding knives, many of which are made in the USA.

Specifications

Here's how the knives compare:

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Knockout

My favorite of the three is the Knockout. I like the look of the machined aluminum handle and it fits my large hands well. Aluminum scales can be slippery, but the Knockout combats this with an ergonomically curved handle and deep index finger groove. The SpeedSafe assisted opening system opens the blade quickly (and loudly) with light pressure on the flipper.

The Knockout’s frame lock is unique. As Kershaw explains it:

“The Knockout (#1870) looks great, but the reason it bears this name is that we’ve “knocked out” a piece of the aluminum handle and inset a stainless-steel plate to create a frame lock that we’re calling a Sub-Frame Lock® You get the lightweight benefits of anodized aluminum handles and the strength of a steel frame lock with integral lockbar stabilization.”​

I agree with Kershaw that "the Knockout looks great," but the relatively short and stubby blade seems designed for utility. It is 3.5” long and 1.3” wide at its widest point. A hollow grind and false edge up top complete the design. In use, I found the blade a little short, but pocket carry was a breeze. It’s flat profile and low-rider clip make the nice a treat to carry.

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In the Pocket from Left to Right: Knockout, Piston, and Rake
 
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Kershaw Knockout, Piston, and Rake Review -- Part Two

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Piston in Foreground

Piston

Although the prices are similar, the Piston almost looks like a “poor man’s” Knockout to me. The machined G10 scales don’t look as nice as the aluminum and the liner lock is ordinary. The Piston, however, is the better working knife. It has a slightly longer blade and handle and the G10 scales are very grippy.

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Top View

Rake

Of the three pass around knives, I liked the Tim Galyean designed Rake the least, even though it is the most expensive. The knife arrived a little dull, but a couple of light strokes on my Shun kitchen steel brought the edge back. The blade design looks cool, but the cutting edge is fairly short. It was of limited use in preparing the chicken I was grilling last night. Unfortunately, the composite blade of Crucible CPM-D2 and bead blasted Sandvik 14C28N is already showing signs of rust.

It’s a shame because the Rake’s handles are rendered so well. The knife feels good in the hand, though it is a little short for me. The edges of the G10 are nicely milled and feel very comfortable in the hand. Unlike some similar designs from Spyderco, the edges of the steel liners don’t feel sharp at all.

Who are these knives for?

The Knockout, Piston, and Rake are great knives. The quality is about what I have come to expect from Kershaw -- well made with top-notch fit and finish, backed by the best warranty in the industry. All of them make for easy pocket carry and SpeedSafe is fun and useful. I'm not sure any of them are destined to become the classics that the Blur and Leek have become, but they are solid working knives.

Thanks

My thanks again to Zero Tolerance, Thomas W., Morrow, and BladeForums for making the pass-around happen.

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Top to Bottom: Knockout, Piston, and Rake
 
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I got a knockout a while back. A solid knife for sure but I had never had a frame lock before and I need more practice closing it one handed. I tend to push against the lock bar with my middle and ring finger while trying to disengage the lock with my thumb. I pretty much only carry my ZT0350 blem anyway so I guess I just have a new knockout waiting for tragedy to strike the 350.
 
lava, you read my mind about comparing Knockout and Piston!

Re Knockout: I wish it were manual or could be deassisted. Mine is slippery in my hand. But it is a wonderful design, thin and easy to carry, and a lot of knife for the $$.
 
flash900 said:
Re Knockout: I wish it were manual or could be deassisted. Mine is slippery in my hand. But it is a wonderful design, thin and easy to carry, and a lot of knife for the $$.
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I feel the same way. I never understood why guys preferred manuals to assisted until I got my knockout.
 
flash900 said:
lava, you read my mind about comparing Knockout and Piston!

Re Knockout: I wish it were manual or could be deassisted. Mine is slippery in my hand. But it is a wonderful design, thin and easy to carry, and a lot of knife for the $$.
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It shouldn't be too hard to de-assist it. You could open it up with a Torx driver and take out the torsion bar pretty easily.
 
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lava_lamp said:
It should be too hard to de-assist it. You could open it up with a Torx driver and take out the torsion bar pretty easily.
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yeah but the bar acts as the detent to hold the blade closed. If you took the bar out you'd have to somehow add a detent.
 
bigghoss said:
yeah but the bar acts as the detent to hold the blade closed. If you took the bar out you'd have to somehow add a detent.
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I asked a Kershaw rep some time ago, who said these models are not designed to be de-assisted. I wish they were. Reports say the new and much-anticipated ZT 566 is.
 
Great review! The Piston has me interested. Looking at your specsheet though, is the Piston really a full inch longer closed than the Knockout? From the photos it really doesn't look like it.
 
jonnyt16 said:
Great review! The Piston has me interested. Looking at your specsheet though, is the Piston really a full inch longer closed than the Knockout? From the photos it really doesn't look like it.
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Good catch. I had a typo and corrected it. Kershaw says the Knockout is 4 5/8", but it measures more like 4 3/4 to me.
 
Great review! Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the knockout a flat grind? I owned one for a while and I just couldn't learn to like the speed safe. Otherwise a great knife though......
 
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