I decided to use my Wally world gift card today, and I saw a few new Kershaws in the case. My choices were a Zing, OD-1, or a Barrage (which I didn't even know existed yet). I didn't want the Zing because of the striations in the blade; I'll wait for the Packrat. The Barrage looked nice, but they only had it in partially serrated. So I snagged the OD-1 for $40 and some beef jerky, and that was the end of my gift card. The OD-1 is a great value; a US-made folder with good steel and a unique, reliable opening design. Before I start the technical specs, the measurements are as they appear on my ruler, and might differ slightly from what website stores advertise. The knife is the Kershaw OD-1, model number 1775. It weighs 3.4 ounces.
Handle Details: The OD-1 is a compact knife at 4-1/8" long and 1" wide when closed. It's 3/8" thick. The knife's handle is made of 410 stainless steel and black G-10. One side (the right side) is locking, and is bare metal. The left side is steel-lined and has a black G-10 scale. It feels very nice in the hand, but I'd like the G-10 to be textured just a tad bit more aggressively. The left side is drilled for a tip up carry, while the right side allows you to carry tip up or down. The right side also has a lockbar stabilizer, which is a great custom touch at a nice price. The right side says Lee Williams Design on the side in small print, while the left side is absent of markings. The knife locks up solidly; it's a frame lock. There's no blade play in any direction, and the pivot pin is adjustable. I thought the locking bar was a bit too weak at first because it would move very easily, but the lockbar stabilizer should take care of that. The pocket clip is the same design as the Skyline, but just a bit smaller. It's a rounded shape and is secured via two Torx (T-6) screws. It has Kershaw's logo stamped in. Retention is good, but...
The pocket clip is my only complaint about this knife. It's mounted too low; when the knife is in pocket in the tip up position, a little over 1" of the handle is exposed. For me, that's too much. It seems very likely to snag on something and come out of my pocket, as has happened before. So I carry the OD-1 tip-down in my right pocket and only 1/2" is exposed. You also get a lanyard hole if you'd like the option, and it will accomodate non-gutted 550 cord if you work carefully. Construction is three T-6 screws for the handle and one T-8 screw for the blade pivot.
The Blade: This beast cuts! The blade is made of Kershaw's new Sandvic 14C28N, which is advertised on the package to be Rockwell 58-60. The blade is 3" long and 1/8" thick. The blade has a satin finish (SEE MY EDIT BELOW). The left side has Kershaw's logo lasered on, while the right side has 1775 (the model number) above KAI Patent Pending above MADE IN USA. The tang has my favorite part - the month and year of manufacture. Mine is marked Jan 09. As far as I can tell, this is a hollow-ground blade. It came razor sharp and needed absolutely no work on the strop. There's no jimping on the blade. It rides on dual phosphor bronze bushings, so opening is smooth.
The blade opens quickly with an index finger protrusion like on the Leek and Shallot, but there's no torsion bar in this knife. Instead, the index finger tab is attached to the blade at one point and to the left-side liner at another. The inside of the handle scale is nested out to house the lever mechanism, as they are with the Leeks and Scallions and such. It actually rides on the blade stop pin (if memory serves from when I took mine apart). The attachment point to the liner is fixed, and the attachment to the blade is moving, riding on a half-moon track (again, like the Leek). So you're looking at a lever. All of this means that the blade will shoot open very fast, without the need for springs or torsion bars. When the blade is locked open, the index finger protrusion disappears into the handle. It's very, very smooth; one of the smoothest-opening knives I've ever used. I had to actually try (really hard) to get this knife to not open so quickly. Even with a slow, controlled push, it's hard to keep this thing from being so smooth and slick. Yet, it's safe in the fact that it won't come open accidentally.
Check out the OD-1 today. (Is this called the Oh Dee One or the Odd One?) It's a great value and a great design, not to mention a cool toy to play with without offending all of the people in the office.
EDITED: The blade is bead blasted, not satin finished. My mistake.
Handle Details: The OD-1 is a compact knife at 4-1/8" long and 1" wide when closed. It's 3/8" thick. The knife's handle is made of 410 stainless steel and black G-10. One side (the right side) is locking, and is bare metal. The left side is steel-lined and has a black G-10 scale. It feels very nice in the hand, but I'd like the G-10 to be textured just a tad bit more aggressively. The left side is drilled for a tip up carry, while the right side allows you to carry tip up or down. The right side also has a lockbar stabilizer, which is a great custom touch at a nice price. The right side says Lee Williams Design on the side in small print, while the left side is absent of markings. The knife locks up solidly; it's a frame lock. There's no blade play in any direction, and the pivot pin is adjustable. I thought the locking bar was a bit too weak at first because it would move very easily, but the lockbar stabilizer should take care of that. The pocket clip is the same design as the Skyline, but just a bit smaller. It's a rounded shape and is secured via two Torx (T-6) screws. It has Kershaw's logo stamped in. Retention is good, but...
The pocket clip is my only complaint about this knife. It's mounted too low; when the knife is in pocket in the tip up position, a little over 1" of the handle is exposed. For me, that's too much. It seems very likely to snag on something and come out of my pocket, as has happened before. So I carry the OD-1 tip-down in my right pocket and only 1/2" is exposed. You also get a lanyard hole if you'd like the option, and it will accomodate non-gutted 550 cord if you work carefully. Construction is three T-6 screws for the handle and one T-8 screw for the blade pivot.
The Blade: This beast cuts! The blade is made of Kershaw's new Sandvic 14C28N, which is advertised on the package to be Rockwell 58-60. The blade is 3" long and 1/8" thick. The blade has a satin finish (SEE MY EDIT BELOW). The left side has Kershaw's logo lasered on, while the right side has 1775 (the model number) above KAI Patent Pending above MADE IN USA. The tang has my favorite part - the month and year of manufacture. Mine is marked Jan 09. As far as I can tell, this is a hollow-ground blade. It came razor sharp and needed absolutely no work on the strop. There's no jimping on the blade. It rides on dual phosphor bronze bushings, so opening is smooth.
The blade opens quickly with an index finger protrusion like on the Leek and Shallot, but there's no torsion bar in this knife. Instead, the index finger tab is attached to the blade at one point and to the left-side liner at another. The inside of the handle scale is nested out to house the lever mechanism, as they are with the Leeks and Scallions and such. It actually rides on the blade stop pin (if memory serves from when I took mine apart). The attachment point to the liner is fixed, and the attachment to the blade is moving, riding on a half-moon track (again, like the Leek). So you're looking at a lever. All of this means that the blade will shoot open very fast, without the need for springs or torsion bars. When the blade is locked open, the index finger protrusion disappears into the handle. It's very, very smooth; one of the smoothest-opening knives I've ever used. I had to actually try (really hard) to get this knife to not open so quickly. Even with a slow, controlled push, it's hard to keep this thing from being so smooth and slick. Yet, it's safe in the fact that it won't come open accidentally.
Check out the OD-1 today. (Is this called the Oh Dee One or the Odd One?) It's a great value and a great design, not to mention a cool toy to play with without offending all of the people in the office.
EDITED: The blade is bead blasted, not satin finished. My mistake.
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The OD-1 is set to become a huge seller, it has virtually everything going for it. 
