Kershaw Link in 20CV... for $80

Lol, it costs that little because it's a Kershaw. It has the same amount of attention paid to it as the cheaper Links, but but with a blade steel that costs more to grind (and requires more care to perform an optimum heat treatment on). People are raving about these while completely ignoring the fact that the heat treat is the most important part of the performance of a knife steel, and that KAI doesn't seem to do a great job heat treating blades compared to other US manufacturers. Based on the cutting performance we've seen on KAI's M390/20CV, it performs as well as you could expect for a knife so cheap (ie. it doesn't perform that well, but what do you honestly expect for the money?).
 
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Thanks for helping me understand this phenomenon guys. I was really dumbfounded since it’s the first 20CV model I encountered for under $200, let alone under $100. You’re right, steel ain’t everything especially if costs are cut in construction. But heck, might pick it up someday just for giggles.
 
marrenmiller said:
Lol, it costs that little because it's a Kershaw. It has the same amount of attention paid to it as the cheaper Links, but but with a blade steel that costs more to grind (and requires more care to perform an optimum heat treatment on). People are raving about these while completely ignoring the fact that the heat treat is the most important part of the performance of a knife steel, and that KAI doesn't seem to do a great job heat treating blades compared to other US manufacturers. Based on the cutting performance we've seen on KAI's M390/20CV, it performs as well as you could expect for a knife so cheap (ie. it doesn't perform that well, but what do you honestly expect for the money?).
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Regarding KAI’s heat treatment, the Cedric and Ada YouTube channel tested ZT’s S35VN models. In some of the tests, their steel performed significantly worse (in terms of edge retention) compared to other manufacturers who also use S35VN.
 
Lodd said:
Beware of buying a knife just for the steel. Especially at this price. How can you be sure the heat treat is up to snuff? Or the rest of the knife?

Those cost gotta be cut from somewhere.
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I have this one, and so far the heat treat has been up to snuff. It's performed as 20CV should. As far as I know KAI hasn't had significant issues with 20CV.(And AFAIK the S35VN issues were only on the early runs of the 0909)

The cost cuts seem to mostly be in the liners, mine were a little sharp, with a few tooling marks, and a little lock stick. I also had to loosen the pivot a little to get the action just right.
 
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This Kershaw Link 20CV caught my attention when it was introduced on 2020 Shot Show. About a year or more ago, I bought Kershaw Link for my dad, House of Blades exclusive model, with several upgrades over standard model, including S35VN blade, anodized aluminum scales, and deep carry pocket clip. I paid $85 and this knife is performing very well.
Kershaw is a big company and it is an advantage because by efficiently producing large number of units (20CV Links), Kershaw can spread the costs and lower the final price of the knife.
 
Whether good or bad, you can't always believe everything you see or read on the internet. It's always best to pick one up and test the steel out yourself.

This model is priced reasonably enough that I still feel it's a really good bang for your buck!
 
I'd use it with confidence. I hear people say that Kai heat treats are on the soft side, but all of my ZTs and Kershaws hold their edges just fine and perform as well as any of my other knives in similar steels.

My 20cv Bareknuckle is a beast. So is my 14c28n Bareknuckle. Even my Chinese 8cr Kershaws perform well.

I thought about picking one of the 20cv links up, but I've been holding off. It's a sharp looking knife though!
 
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If your only metric is that the knife performs fine, then I think it's going to do that for you. But there seems to be a difference in how Kershaw processes their 20CV and how, say, Spyderco does. This appears to be backed up by cutting tests, not just anecdotal observation.
 
marrenmiller said:
If your only metric is that the knife performs fine, then I think it's going to do that for you. But there seems to be a difference in how Kershaw processes their 20CV and how, say, Spyderco does. This appears to be backed up by cutting tests, not just anecdotal observation.
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I’m curious how Kershaw’s 20CV stacks up against Cold Steel’s, i.e. the 4-Max.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Regarding KAI’s heat treatment, the Cedric and Ada YouTube channel tested ZT’s S35VN models. In some of the tests, their steel performed significantly worse (in terms of edge retention) compared to other manufacturers who also use S35VN.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm not sure why this doesn't seem to be more well-known. Tons of people just say their ZT knives have "always worked fine for them", as if that's in any way indicative of a good heat treatment. Their knives will hold an edge, sure, but not for as long as other knives in the same steels made with better heat treatments. When lower-end steels like BDN1, 52100, S30V/S35VN, or AUS-8 are outcutting ZT's 20CV at the same edge angle and finish, it should signal that maybe something about their 20CV is off.
 
whp said:
I have the Link in m390. This is not a good knife to deassist. I did this with mine and found that there is no detent.
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Definitely a dealbreaker for me. I’d suggest keeping the assist device. Detent is a matter of safety. I wouldn’t want a 1911 with a loose thumb safety. :D
 
marrenmiller said:
Yeah I'm not sure why this doesn't seem to be more well-known. Tons of people just say their ZT knives have "always worked fine for them", as if that's in any way indicative of a good heat treatment. Their knives will hold an edge, sure, but not for as long as other knives in the same steels made with better heat treatments. When lower-end steels like BDN1, 52100, S30V/S35VN, or AUS-8 are outcutting ZT's 20CV at the same edge angle and finish, it should signal that maybe something about their 20CV is off.
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Is this your experience as well with ZT knives?
 
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