I bought the Kershaw RAM almost a year ago and wanted to give it a lengthy trial as my EDC before I reviewed it. After much pocket time, I'm very pleased with the RAM; I didn't like it at first. The RAM is an American-made folder and features Grant and Gavin Hawk's patented Hawk Lock. Blade Magazine named the RAM the 2007 Most Innovative American Knife of the Year. When I bought mine, it costed around $55 in stores; I think they're around $60 now. The model number is 1910, and the RAM weighs in at 3.8 ounces.
Photos will be added soon. Until then, here's an image from kershaw-knives.net...
The Handle: The RAM's handle is basically an aluminum frame with G-10 scales on it. The frame is 6061-T6 aluminum, anodized black, and smooth. The scales are black G-10 and are nicely textured. The knife is 4-3/8" long when closed and 1/2" thick, not counting the pocket clip. Torx (T-8) screws hold the butt together, while T-6 screws hold the center together. The handle scales are held on with T-6 screws (four screws on each handle scale) and the blade pivot screw is T-8 so you can adjust tension. All screws are anodized black.
The blade stop pin is either stainless steel or aluminum, I'm not sure, but it's beefy at 3/16" thick. It's not screwed in, but will not move unless you take the handle apart. The lanyard hole is almost a triangle shape and will accomodate cordage up to 1/8" thick. The handle is an open back design, and the pillars are the nice hourglass shape.
In terms of markings, the handle is blank except for a white lasered G& G Hawk Design on the right side of the frame (exactly as in the photos above).
The pocket clip is brushed stainless steel and has the Kershaw logo stamped into it. It's held on with three black T-6 screws, and can be positioned as follows: right hand tip up, right hand tip down, or left hand tip up. Left hand tip down isn't possible; the RAM isn't drilled for this option because the pocket clip would get in the way of the Hawk Lock. Retention is great on the RAM; the clip isn't too loose or too tight. The positioning is great as well; not too high or too low.
Using the RAM proved to be easy enough; the handle shape and size offered a great grip while not being too skinny or fat for my hand. The addition of a choil was a nice touch and while I don't use choils for control, I like the option of letting the knife settle deeper into my hand. By this, I mean the RAM is barely a four-finger knife for me (I wear a size XL glove) but the choil lets me get a full grip on it without sacrificing any comfort.
The Hawk Lock: The RAM features a lock not seen before on a production knife, made by Grant and Gavin Hawk. It's essentially a spring-loaded button that slides along a track in the handle frame and connects with a pin mounted on the blade. This YouTube video can show you better than I can describe it, made by yogatopin...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJQggZu7ni8
The Hawk Lock is very secure, and mine has never failed. Remember, I've used this knife for almost a year now as an EDC. Releasing the lock is simple; just pull back on the button and the lock is released. You can open and close the RAM by using the Hawk Lock in the same manner as you'd use an AXIS Lock, but this might cause undue wear on the knife. The Hawk Lock is under spring pressure when the knife is open naturally, but also when it's closed. This helps keep the knife closed (there's no detent) and even helps when using the flipper to deploy the blade.
The Blade: The RAM uses Sandvik 13C26 stainless steel at 58-59 on the Rockwell scale. The blade is 1/8" thick and 3-3-1/4" long with a 3" cutting edge. It's hollow ground from 3/4 way up the blade and came very sharp. Not Kershaw's standard hair-popping sharp, but that was fixed with a quick pass on a leather strop. The blade is bead blasted and mine came lasered as shown above, but with the addition of First Production above 1 of 500 lasered on the left side of the blade. The right side tang has the date of manufacture - mine is MAR 08 - lasered on. There's jimping on the choil and the back of the blade and it works a bit, but I'd like to see it a little deeper.
I've had problems with Kershaw's bead blasting, as it rusts pretty easily if I don't baby it. The RAM doesn't have that problem as much, but I did notice a few tiny spots that were easily removed.
The RAM can be opened in two ways: the first is the three thumb studs on both sides of the blade. They're small (just over 1/16" thick) but they do the job if you don't want to open the RAM quickly. For me, they're unnecessary and get in the way. Again, I have large hands and I just can't get my thumb between the studs and the frame to give it a good push.
The second option is to use the flipper. This is probably the more popular way of opening the RAM, and it works very well. You can "load" the flipper with finger pressure and then just push; the Hawk Lock's spring will shoot it forward as fast (or faster than) an assisted opener. Or you can just brush it with your finger, and this will get the knife open (just not as fast as the "loading" method).
Using the RAM proved to be the same as all other Sandvik blades I've had: it holds an edge for a respectable amount of time and resharpens easily. The blade shape and length make for an ideal EDC; not too large and not too small.
Variations: The RAM is available in the following models:
1910- Plain edge, bead blasted blade.
1910ST- partially serrated blade, bead blasted.
1910CKT- black blade, plain edge.
1910CKTST- black blade, partially serrated.
The first 500 production pieces of each model will have the First Production 1 of 500 lasering on the blade, but these don't denote a separate model number. The frame and G-10 in all of the models are black.
All in all, the RAM is a very good value for a $60 knife. American-made, great materials, innovate and robust lock, and a great company behind it.
Photos will be added soon. Until then, here's an image from kershaw-knives.net...
The Handle: The RAM's handle is basically an aluminum frame with G-10 scales on it. The frame is 6061-T6 aluminum, anodized black, and smooth. The scales are black G-10 and are nicely textured. The knife is 4-3/8" long when closed and 1/2" thick, not counting the pocket clip. Torx (T-8) screws hold the butt together, while T-6 screws hold the center together. The handle scales are held on with T-6 screws (four screws on each handle scale) and the blade pivot screw is T-8 so you can adjust tension. All screws are anodized black.
The blade stop pin is either stainless steel or aluminum, I'm not sure, but it's beefy at 3/16" thick. It's not screwed in, but will not move unless you take the handle apart. The lanyard hole is almost a triangle shape and will accomodate cordage up to 1/8" thick. The handle is an open back design, and the pillars are the nice hourglass shape.
In terms of markings, the handle is blank except for a white lasered G& G Hawk Design on the right side of the frame (exactly as in the photos above).
The pocket clip is brushed stainless steel and has the Kershaw logo stamped into it. It's held on with three black T-6 screws, and can be positioned as follows: right hand tip up, right hand tip down, or left hand tip up. Left hand tip down isn't possible; the RAM isn't drilled for this option because the pocket clip would get in the way of the Hawk Lock. Retention is great on the RAM; the clip isn't too loose or too tight. The positioning is great as well; not too high or too low.
Using the RAM proved to be easy enough; the handle shape and size offered a great grip while not being too skinny or fat for my hand. The addition of a choil was a nice touch and while I don't use choils for control, I like the option of letting the knife settle deeper into my hand. By this, I mean the RAM is barely a four-finger knife for me (I wear a size XL glove) but the choil lets me get a full grip on it without sacrificing any comfort.
The Hawk Lock: The RAM features a lock not seen before on a production knife, made by Grant and Gavin Hawk. It's essentially a spring-loaded button that slides along a track in the handle frame and connects with a pin mounted on the blade. This YouTube video can show you better than I can describe it, made by yogatopin...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJQggZu7ni8
The Hawk Lock is very secure, and mine has never failed. Remember, I've used this knife for almost a year now as an EDC. Releasing the lock is simple; just pull back on the button and the lock is released. You can open and close the RAM by using the Hawk Lock in the same manner as you'd use an AXIS Lock, but this might cause undue wear on the knife. The Hawk Lock is under spring pressure when the knife is open naturally, but also when it's closed. This helps keep the knife closed (there's no detent) and even helps when using the flipper to deploy the blade.
The Blade: The RAM uses Sandvik 13C26 stainless steel at 58-59 on the Rockwell scale. The blade is 1/8" thick and 3-3-1/4" long with a 3" cutting edge. It's hollow ground from 3/4 way up the blade and came very sharp. Not Kershaw's standard hair-popping sharp, but that was fixed with a quick pass on a leather strop. The blade is bead blasted and mine came lasered as shown above, but with the addition of First Production above 1 of 500 lasered on the left side of the blade. The right side tang has the date of manufacture - mine is MAR 08 - lasered on. There's jimping on the choil and the back of the blade and it works a bit, but I'd like to see it a little deeper.
I've had problems with Kershaw's bead blasting, as it rusts pretty easily if I don't baby it. The RAM doesn't have that problem as much, but I did notice a few tiny spots that were easily removed.
The RAM can be opened in two ways: the first is the three thumb studs on both sides of the blade. They're small (just over 1/16" thick) but they do the job if you don't want to open the RAM quickly. For me, they're unnecessary and get in the way. Again, I have large hands and I just can't get my thumb between the studs and the frame to give it a good push.
The second option is to use the flipper. This is probably the more popular way of opening the RAM, and it works very well. You can "load" the flipper with finger pressure and then just push; the Hawk Lock's spring will shoot it forward as fast (or faster than) an assisted opener. Or you can just brush it with your finger, and this will get the knife open (just not as fast as the "loading" method).
Using the RAM proved to be the same as all other Sandvik blades I've had: it holds an edge for a respectable amount of time and resharpens easily. The blade shape and length make for an ideal EDC; not too large and not too small.
Variations: The RAM is available in the following models:
1910- Plain edge, bead blasted blade.
1910ST- partially serrated blade, bead blasted.
1910CKT- black blade, plain edge.
1910CKTST- black blade, partially serrated.
The first 500 production pieces of each model will have the First Production 1 of 500 lasering on the blade, but these don't denote a separate model number. The frame and G-10 in all of the models are black.
All in all, the RAM is a very good value for a $60 knife. American-made, great materials, innovate and robust lock, and a great company behind it.
Andrew, i usually refer to the ram, as the mudd's little brother!