I have to write about this, since the new Onion-designed products from Kershaw recv'd so much hype last year (I'm a newcomer to the forums, so this may have been done already!). I think that the overall quality, feel, and appearance of both the Random Task and Mini Task is excellent. I bought one of each (when they finally became available) for my own personal evaluation. I REALLY loved both of the knives, but I would change one significant thing about them; I would trash the cam-action! After using one-hole opening and thumb-disk/stud opening manuals for years , you develop a habit for opening the blade a certain way; i.e., your thumb follows the arc of the blade until it locks (unless you flicked the blade open). Well, I tried that with the new Onions the first time I opened them and nearly lost my thumb! Especially on the combo-edged Mini Task that I bought first! As you start to push on the thumb stud of those knives, you can feel the blade has a slight "weighted" feel from the cam. When you've extended the blade about 1/3 of the way out of the handle, the cam takes over and INSTANTLY extends the blade out fully, but your unsuspecting thumb is still following the blade along its arc via the traditional manual-opening method. By the time you can stop your ambitious thumb, it has come into contact with the blade that has been fully extended and locked for days. You're then standing there looking at your sliced-and-diced thumb wondering why-in-the-hell it's juicing all over the floor. The Onion mechanism is really innovative, just a little dangerous I feel. I finally learned a new routine for opening the Onions, but I didn't want to break my old manual-opening habits. They would be really great knives if Kershaw could offer them in a manual version. If I'm going to buy a knife, it had better be a regular manual or an automatic, nothing in between like the Onion. I've contacted Kershaw about this, but they will not return my e-mails. I even congratulated them on the knives, but not the cam-action. Oh well, they can't take constructive criticism, I guess!
Kershaw/Onion finger choppers!
- Thread starter Savman
- Start date
I already knew about the opening feature and was very careful when I first opened it. In fact, the first couple of times it was with two hands. Overall, I don't think it's too hard to switch between a regular folder and the cam action for opening. I am however worried about the thin linerlick which doesn't lock up tight.
Jason
Jason
Fenris,
Thanks for the reminder, as the liner was the other complaint I had about those knives! Neither of mine locked up tight enough for me, and I like a thicker liner, anyways. Also, after I got the Mini Task combo edge, I took it to a show to test customer response about the knife. There were several knowledgable knife guys that looked at the knife (one guy was the "Microtech King" , as he always tells me how many MT's he has!) and tried it out. The Microtech King didn't want me to show him how to open it best, so he was the first to try it out, and he shaved the end of his thumb off! It happened so fast, he couldn't react. After he moved his dripping thumb away from my table, I gave him some band-aids! He'll never buy one, neither would any of his friends in his group that were with him. In fact, the knife was a total turn-off to most at the show due to the cam-action (but most admired it for its other attributes like I do). The next week I got the bigger Random Task, and it wasn't much better (liner or cam-action) so I got rid of both of them. I won't buy another until they can fix the liner and trash the cam. Has anyone given one of those knives Dremel surgery to cure it's cam-action blues yet? I was going to, but I was too busy at the time. I wanted to know if you could "throw out" the cam and make it a regular manual. You could also resurface the front of the liner lock to make it lock better. I've done that on many knives now, with good results. Kershaw just happened to use the smallest 6-flute spline-drive screws to hold the knife together so as to divert do-it-yourselfers, but I have the full line of spline drives now! Maybe I'll do an Onion tune-up after all!
Thanks for the reminder, as the liner was the other complaint I had about those knives! Neither of mine locked up tight enough for me, and I like a thicker liner, anyways. Also, after I got the Mini Task combo edge, I took it to a show to test customer response about the knife. There were several knowledgable knife guys that looked at the knife (one guy was the "Microtech King" , as he always tells me how many MT's he has!) and tried it out. The Microtech King didn't want me to show him how to open it best, so he was the first to try it out, and he shaved the end of his thumb off! It happened so fast, he couldn't react. After he moved his dripping thumb away from my table, I gave him some band-aids! He'll never buy one, neither would any of his friends in his group that were with him. In fact, the knife was a total turn-off to most at the show due to the cam-action (but most admired it for its other attributes like I do). The next week I got the bigger Random Task, and it wasn't much better (liner or cam-action) so I got rid of both of them. I won't buy another until they can fix the liner and trash the cam. Has anyone given one of those knives Dremel surgery to cure it's cam-action blues yet? I was going to, but I was too busy at the time. I wanted to know if you could "throw out" the cam and make it a regular manual. You could also resurface the front of the liner lock to make it lock better. I've done that on many knives now, with good results. Kershaw just happened to use the smallest 6-flute spline-drive screws to hold the knife together so as to divert do-it-yourselfers, but I have the full line of spline drives now! Maybe I'll do an Onion tune-up after all!
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 247
Savman,
I agree completely. The knife was a great concept, but lost something in the translation from custom to production knife.
To quote you, "They would be really great knives if............"
This seems to be the consensus.
If you'd like a response from Kershaw, this is the man you want to talk to:
Doug Flagg
Sales & Marketing Manager
Kershaw Knives
d_flagg@email.msn.com
He replied to my ranting about the Random Task on rec.knives. He was very kind and concerned that I was satisfied. I'm sure he would be interested in your comments.
I agree completely. The knife was a great concept, but lost something in the translation from custom to production knife.
To quote you, "They would be really great knives if............"
This seems to be the consensus.
If you'd like a response from Kershaw, this is the man you want to talk to:
Doug Flagg
Sales & Marketing Manager
Kershaw Knives
d_flagg@email.msn.com
He replied to my ranting about the Random Task on rec.knives. He was very kind and concerned that I was satisfied. I'm sure he would be interested in your comments.
Thanks for the Kershaw contact, Dakota. I'll send an e-mail that way to see what I get! I wish I could've seen the custom version from Ken. Maybe I'll see one next month at the Badger Knife Show in WI, its usually pretty good. I hope that your thumb and Cobalt's thumb healed OK, mine looks like a something off of the X-files...
I had no problem with the opening mechanism, I think it's good because it's more reliable under stress.
However, my mini task which locked tight when I bought it, was loose two days later. Also, my finger engaged the locking bar when open, a real no-no. So I returned it. Too bad, I liked the blade and overall size and shape a lot.
Linerlock blues. I'll be going FB or auto next, and moving up.
------------------
Regards,
Ron Knight
Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it
However, my mini task which locked tight when I bought it, was loose two days later. Also, my finger engaged the locking bar when open, a real no-no. So I returned it. Too bad, I liked the blade and overall size and shape a lot.
Linerlock blues. I'll be going FB or auto next, and moving up.
------------------
Regards,
Ron Knight
Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
I knew about the possibility of thumb-bites before I ever opened one. In fact, I have one of Onion's custom speed-safes at home. Still, the random task came *very* close to biting me the first time I opened it. And on subsequent openings, if I wasn't consciously aware of the speed-safe mechanism, it could sometimes be real close. The custom version didn't have the same problem, but the design is completely different... obviously, the speed-safe mechanism is safer with some designs than others.
Joe
jat@cup.hp.com
Joe
jat@cup.hp.com
Joe,
I'm going to check out one of Ken's custom cam-actions to see the difference. On the Kershaw versions, you DO have to be conscientiously aware of the opening mechanism as you stated. I could see having a few too many beers one night and then trying to open one of those nasty Kershaw/Onions! Whew, you'd have nothing but a bloody stump left of your opening hand! I can see a new movie out about the evil knife that nearly killed all of its users, "Nightmare on Onion Street."
I'm going to check out one of Ken's custom cam-actions to see the difference. On the Kershaw versions, you DO have to be conscientiously aware of the opening mechanism as you stated. I could see having a few too many beers one night and then trying to open one of those nasty Kershaw/Onions! Whew, you'd have nothing but a bloody stump left of your opening hand! I can see a new movie out about the evil knife that nearly killed all of its users, "Nightmare on Onion Street."
Alright, now I'm thinking about buying one! They sound like fun. But, I don't like it that the knives didn't lock up tight.
I handled one once (opened and closed it a few times) but, didn't really pay attention to it. I definitely didn't think they were dangerous or anything. I'll have to examine it carefully the next time I handle one.
Bernie
[This message has been edited by Bernie (edited 01 February 1999).]
I handled one once (opened and closed it a few times) but, didn't really pay attention to it. I definitely didn't think they were dangerous or anything. I'll have to examine it carefully the next time I handle one.
Bernie
[This message has been edited by Bernie (edited 01 February 1999).]
same story for me - I'm relieved to hear so many others share it! I had been waiting for the little Onion for months, jumping up and down with anticipation . . . then I read a warning on the forum about the thumb-slicing problem, but was still rarin' to get one . . . finally they arrived! I took one in hand, cautiously (I thought) worked the blade open . . . and started bleeding everywhere. After practicing a couple times with masking-taped thumb I found I could operate it safely by thumbnail-flicking the blade out, but I wouldn't count on remembering it under pressure or while extremely "relaxed" after a drink or two. Loved the concept, shun the reality. Too durn bad!
Big Dave
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 1998
- Messages
- 504
Well guess it's my turn to confess.
I was at a knife shop handling a real custom onion. I did it wrong at first and the dealer gave me some instructions on how to do it properly.
Guess I tried to hard but, that damn knife sliced me good.
I like Ken's knives a lot but I would be a little afraid to let a friend check it out.
I mean I'm afraid to check them out.
Dave
I was at a knife shop handling a real custom onion. I did it wrong at first and the dealer gave me some instructions on how to do it properly.
Guess I tried to hard but, that damn knife sliced me good.
I like Ken's knives a lot but I would be a little afraid to let a friend check it out.
I mean I'm afraid to check them out.
Dave
Jim March
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 3,018
James Mattis already posted on the linerlock problem, I believe...he says he's stopped selling 'em until he sees a redesign of at least some sort.
At least I *think* that's what he said...
Yo...James?
Jim March
At least I *think* that's what he said...
Yo...James?
Jim March
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
Nope. Haven't stopped selling them since I posted that note about about one folding up on my customer's finger (combo edge - ouch - finger's OK now!), but people haven't been buying them much. I have several of them lying about. I'll consider offers from bargain hunters who promise to watch the lockup and practice their opening move in slow motion at first.
I've had conversations with Doug Flagg at Kershaw, and Ken Onion, on what they're doing with the product. At some point I'll have to get my hands on a later production specimen or two, to see if they've improved.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
I've had conversations with Doug Flagg at Kershaw, and Ken Onion, on what they're doing with the product. At some point I'll have to get my hands on a later production specimen or two, to see if they've improved.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
I received the random task for christmas this year and I have to say it was/is perfect in every way.maybe I was just lucky enough to get a good one,I don't know.fit and finish is perfect,it locks up like a bank vault and it is still very sharp.after reading the above posts I would suggest that you examine the knife for yourself before buying.With that said I love mine,I really couldn't be happier.just becareful opening it the first couple of times.