Kershaw RAM

U

UnknownVT

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Feb 15, 2003
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I recently acquired a Kershaw RAM - and must say that I am VERY impressed with the advance in the Kershaw flipper.

Its flipper does take little getting used to, but once practised the blade flies open astonishingly -
it is hard to believe that there is NO spring.

RAM_sz2.jpg
RAMmarks.jpg


Review - Kershaw RAM

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Vincent
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long story short... there's a couple things that drive me nuts about it. BUT, it's the most innovative knife I can think of right now. This knife really challenges to change the way flippers, well, any assisted or auto knives are made. The more laws that change, the more these innovative knives will thrive.
 
its really an interesting knife to flip partly because if you do it slow enough (like 1/2 normal strength) you can see the lock disengage and reengage twice in the cycle of an opening. its incredible how quick the lock can react to an opening when its done at full speed. i love this thing, now i need to pick up another and start adding accents like in the other ram thread thats front page right now.
 
Another thing I should mention and Kershaw should be praised for - is the newer hollow grind on this RAM (and the 13C26 steel Leek) -

One of my long time peeves is the widening/thickening of the blade toward the edge of hollow grinds -

Hollow grinds are achieved with opposing circular grinds -
HollowGr.jpg


Typically a hollow grind is like -
TypicalHollowG.jpg

where there is a distinct thickening/widening of the blade before the actual final cutting edge - simply because it is easier to manufacture - even handmades often are like this.

An ideal hollow grind would be closer to this -
IdealHollowGr.jpg

where there is NO thickening toward the edge - but this may be harder to manufacture since there would be heat problems grinding toward the thinning edge.

The newer Kershaws - at least on my samples of one each on this RAM and the 13C26 steel Leek, are much thinner toward the edge and widen only very little.

I think this is a very good thing.

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Vincent
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The ram design begs to become a whole line of different knife designs using the hawk lock and flipper opening sstem.
I'd love to see a ZT in this line.

Yes I know the MUDD is similar but it needs a flipper. If your gonna have a Hawk Lock ya gotta have the flipper !
 
dmonay said:
The ram design begs to become a whole line of different knife designs using the hawk lock and flipper opening sstem.
Click to expand...

I'd say it would be a good bet we'll be seeing more and more
goodies from Grant and Gavin. ;)
 
Interesting observation VT. The ENER-G's have the same grind. There is very little, if any, thickening at the bevel. After you pointed this out, I checked a few from other makers, and the thickening is much more noticeable.
 
SPXTrader said:
The ENER-G's have the same grind. There is very little, if any, thickening at the bevel. After you pointed this out, I checked a few from other makers, and the thickening is much more noticeable.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for that confirmation - it is very good to know that this is probably the way Kershaw are now doing their hollow grinds :thumbup::thumbup:

One's finger feel is very sensitive and simply pinching the blade and pulling toward the edge - one can easily feel whether the blade is thick, and if it thickens toward the edge.

If the blade does NOT thicken toward the edge then there is less resistance from the blade when cutting, so the blades (at least in theory) should cut through things better. Combine this with the high edge stability of the Sandvik 13C26 (and hopefully the coming Kershaw exclusive 14C28N) and one has a winner, in terms of a very "cutting' blade :D

--
Vincent
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As I've read these reviews of the RAM, my interest has come up. As a dedicated fan of the ZT MUDD, I am thinking I need to check out the RAM. Am I correct when I state that the only difference betwee the MUDD and RAM is that the RAM utilizes a flipper? Now, I'm aware that the MUDD has a sealed pivot and lock, and is larger. I would think the lock is the same on these two, beefier on the MUDD for it's larger size, but works basically the same.
 
I believe the Hawks have released their third iteration of the Ram... the Ram III which now has the lock release located in the spine. It will be interesting to see if this variation will evolve to the Kershaw version later on. Also, to hear if it's well received
 
svrider3 said:
It looks even better. :cool:
Click to expand...

soooo, since you seem to know more about this than any of us. can you (or gavin) enlighten us if the lock in the spine has stayed as a sliding mechanism or if the piece rotates to engage and disengage? either way, that is one gorgeous knife.
 
oh......well any thoughts? i feel like the slider makes the most sense given the RAM mechanism. but the jemping only on that little bit seems like you drag your thumb across it and it pics it up and the momentum carries it through the unlocking process. that being said it would be awkward if (like the current ram) the lock moves as it opens and closes.

just my .02 :)
 
The Ram III uses the same mechanism as the original rams, just moved the button to the spine of the knife. The reasons for this was to make the knife, like 'unkownvt' mentioned, truly ambidextrous. It also solves the problem of people putting there thumb on the lock while trying to flip it. It has been very well received, looks like i'll be making another batch soon. Made up 8 of them for Blade and they sold almost instantly. As soon as i finish up this 'top secret' proto i'm working on, i'll start working on some more Ram IIIs.
ok, so maybe it's not a secret, but it makes my work more fun to think that it is.

Gavin
 
blademaker said:
The Ram III uses the same mechanism as the original rams, just moved the button to the spine of the knife. The reasons for this was to make the knife, like 'unkownvt' mentioned, truly ambidextrous. It also solves the problem of people putting there thumb on the lock while trying to flip it. It has been very well received, looks like i'll be making another batch soon. Made up 8 of them for Blade and they sold almost instantly. As soon as i finish up this 'top secret' proto i'm working on, i'll start working on some more Ram IIIs.
ok, so maybe it's not a secret, but it makes my work more fun to think that it is.

Gavin
Click to expand...

thanks gavin! keep it up. i already have fallen in love with my RAM from kershaw and upgrades are always welcome :) i am so thrilled that you guys partner with kershaw to bring the great designs you have to a price point the rest of us can afford. thanks again.
 
Normally I'd be after one of these to get and try out (then post)... but with all the kids medical bills these days I need to watch the custom spending ;)
 
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