Kershaw Mini-Cyclone Ti handles and ZDP189 blade

Thomas, I have really never seen a Kershaw come back due to excessive stop pin wear. No worries.[/QUOTE]

Fantastic:thumbup:
Your assurances make me feel even more confident about the durability of this great knife.
Thank you sir!





Tom
 
Received my new Kershaw Ti-ZDP-189 Mini Cyclone yesterday. I was somewhat surprised by the heft of it compared to my Leek. It's about 30% thicker in the grip and has a proportionally thicker blade. The blade was more coarsely sharpened than I had expected. It also had a few small nicks in the edge. But it still cut aggressively. The heavy blade popped open with some authority when using the assisted-open feature, and would also snap open easily with a wrist minor flick when it was disabled. I like how Kershaw has grip notched the frame lock-bar. It seems to make it easy to disengage. I tried in vain to change the bevel angle with my Spyderco Edge-Maker. The coarser rods at 30 degrees just don't seem to be able to cut through the ZDP-189 with any reasonable speed. I had to resort to a diamond file to remove the factory nicks in the edge. Diamond will cut the steel, but not as quickly as I had expected. After beveling each side to approximately 15 degrees, I returned to the Edge-Maker to clean up the diamond scratches and fine tune in the bevel. When I switched to the fine rods at 20 degrees, it took about a dozen passes to hone the edge to a very high sharpness. Under very little pressure hairs on my forearm would just pop off of the edge. I repeated the corner cut from a softcover book. I was surprised how easily the blade slid through with a moderate amount of pressure. I was even more surprised that it would shave hairs after making the cut!

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Mini Cyclone. I am a bit surprised by the damaged edge that it was shipped with however. I also discovered that the black coating on the blade can be damaged easily when sharpening after my hands started cramping up from all the work it took to remove the nicks! Oh well, I guess it would have been scratched up sooner or later anyway. Just not on the first day I had it!
 
Good job Overlap, sounds like you're enjoying the knife, with a little bit of customizing work on your own.
I'll report back when my reground blade returns, only hope that I can manage
the re-assembly of the blade to the scales ;)
G2
 
Overlap said:
Overall, I'm very pleased with the Mini Cyclone. I am a bit surprised by the damaged edge that it was shipped with however.
Click to expand...
Overlap, I am happy to hear you are pleased with your Cyclone.

I am surprised to hear about you edge being damaged. Not that this isn't possible, but it is rare, as this knife went through at least 5 set of eyes prior to being sent to packaging. If there were nicks, they would have been identified.

Now there have been a few that have claimed burs and nicks after looking at the edge under a microscope, but seriously if you can't see or feel the issue and have to resort to magnification...well that is extreme in my book.

I am also a bit surprised you accepted the knife in this condition, considering you mention the cost of the knife. I would have liked to have seen it with its original edge.

Welcome to the forums btw.
 
Hi Thomas,

I weighed whether or not I should return it. As the nicks were plainly visible to the naked eye, and would snag a fingernail when drawn along the length of the blade. But, as it's a limited run, and I wasn't sure if the retailer would have a replacement, I decided to keep it. I do, after all plan to use it as a working knife. I'm mainly just mad at myself for scratching up the black coating so soon.

It's a welcome testament to the commitment you have to your products, that you have taken the time to participate in this forum. Thanks for responding to my post.

Regards,

Overlap
 
Mine should arrive today. I cant wait. I don't plan to thin out the blade at this point. Let's see how it performs in it's factory configuration.

Something someone mentioned gives me cause for concern. A 22 degree factory grind? OK, from the postings above, the Sharpmaker medium ceramic at 30 degrees doesn't seem to do the trick. I've also read to use the edge of the ceramic sticks, not the flats.

Before I butcher (no pun intended) the edge on my Mini, can anyone offer a sharpening technique that will work? As mentioned, I have the Sharpmaker with the medium and fine ceramics (20 and 15 degree), and a DMT medium diamond stone along with the diamond rasp for serrated blades.

Can anyone offer some suggestions/advice?

Thanks.............

SPX
 
Well, it's here, and appears to be a little different than I thought.

Hair popping sharp, won't tree top, though. Very smooth opening, with or without the assist, locks up tight, and the fit and finish are very good. The edge did show visible grind marks. A polishing cloth should take care of this minor problem.

One suggestion: Raise the price by a few bucks and include the tools. I've been to three places looking for a # 6 torx, and no one has it. I wanted to reverse the clip, to carry tip up, but I guess I'll have to wait until Wednesday, when the Snap-On man visits my friendly car garage guys.

I did mic mine at the shoulders, and it was .017 at the tip, and gradually increased to as I went back to .021. Not as thick a blade as I believed it to be in other threads, but a hefty blade just the same. Looks as it will function perfectly as an EDC.

All-in-all, a superior knife at a very good price. Rates up there with the very high dollar folders, IMO. If you're on the fence about buying one, go ahead...you will not be disappointed.

Great Job Thomas W!

Also still looking for sharpening angles and Sharpmaker assistance!

Thanks,
Brad
 
I received my Ti/ZDP 2 days ago.
First Impression was WOW what a solid knife. Much heavier than I thought it might be. You feel it hanging and the clip is a little stiff but that's to be expected. Rides a little high but turning the clip may lower the profile of the knife in my pocket.
I like the rough texture of the handles.
Very solid.
Good, sharp edge. Good for EDC type activity.
It is not as sharp as the ZDP caly 3 I just got though.
The open is effortless and the close is a little tight because of the spring but still easy to close safely w/one hand.
Great knife that looks and acts like it could handle hard situations fine.
It's going to be a keeper!
 
you guys are making me sad with the waiting on the return of my blade!

So much so I'm thinking of getting a Junk Yard Dog II, always liked the looks
of that knife, will have to check it out.
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
So much so I'm thinking of getting a Junk Yard Dog II, always liked the looks of that knife, will have to check it out.
Click to expand...

You are the captain of great knife choices, Gary! The flipper requires a little more force than an assisted opening folder, but once you get over that and say "but wait, I'm a grown-up!," it pops the knife opened and locked every time. Won't hold its edge as long as the ZDP blade, but it's easier to get tree-topping sharpness with it and you won't cry if it hits a staple.
 
Thanks Thom, an appealing looking knife, will have to give it more consideration!
G2
 
thombrogan said:
You are the captain of great knife choices, Gary! The flipper requires a little more force than an assisted opening folder, but once you get over that and say "but wait, I'm a grown-up!," it pops the knife opened and locked every time. Won't hold its edge as long as the ZDP blade, but it's easier to get tree-topping sharpness with it and you won't cry if it hits a staple.
Click to expand...
I had the JYD II but traded it. Loved the knife but due to an old injury to my right index finger, I couldn't open without pain. It one of the most solidly built knives out there. Given it's price it's an outstanding value. Shoulda kept it just to look at it. It's a beautiful knife.
 
One thing that is holding me back is how thick is the handle?
I had the BM Skirmish and felt for it's width it was too narrow or thin.
Anyone have a shot of the knife on it's side?
Or measure it's thickness?
Thanks,
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
One thing that is holding me back is how thick is the handle?
I had the BM Skirmish and felt for it's width it was too narrow or thin.
Anyone have a shot of the knife on it's side?
Or measure it's thickness?
Thanks,
G2
Click to expand...
It's substantial and relatively thick. Sorry I don't have a shot with another knife for a comparison.
DSC004266.jpg

jyd_non_clip.jpg
 
Gary - my JYDII is just a hair under 1/2" thick, excluding the clip. If you get one I suggest carving out a choil and filing down the thumb-ramp like STR does, I did it to mine and it's loads more comfortable.
 
Ah, thanks guys, just what I needed to see, looks handy alright, I'll be ordering
one today! And I'll probably do that choil thingy too :)
G2
 
thombrogan said:
You are the captain of great knife choices, Gary! The flipper requires a little more force than an assisted opening folder, but once you get over that and say "but wait, I'm a grown-up!," it pops the knife opened and locked every time. Won't hold its edge as long as the ZDP blade, but it's easier to get tree-topping sharpness with it and you won't cry if it hits a staple.
Click to expand...

hey thom/Gary my JYD 2 is almost "effortless" to open....even felt as easy or easier than the one on my Groove....
I have nil complaints with my JYD2 I love it.....well, i do wish the clip was more discrete but them's minor quibbles for a great knife.... :thumbup:

Gary: I'm as anxious to see pics of your newly ground MiniCyclone as u are! :)
 
JYD 2 on order as well as a Fine diamond stone sharpener from New Graham Knives, ships tomorrow.

Don't know when the blade will be here from being ground, not one to rush
him, I'm sure he is very very busy getting ready for the Blade show, which
I wish I could attend!

I'll be sure to post images here once it arrives, and hopefully back together
again :)
G2
 
Hey Gary,
I know you've always been a wharncliff fan. Other than the FRN scales, what do you think of Kershaw's "Needs Work"? Same steel as the JYD II.
 
I saw some photos, the angle of the blade, initially looks too steep, but that's
without being able to hold it and see how well it works in the real world.

I like the lowered point on this JYD II, although it's a wider blade than I normally
like, it looks quite capable. Can't wait for it to show up, I know it will beat
the return of my Cyclone blade, so, needed a steel fix ;)
G2
 
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