- Joined
- Jan 2, 2013
- Messages
- 1,508
Introductory Tidbits:
In early August, some compelling force made me look into RJ Martin’s collaborations with Kershaw, particularly the RJ I and the Chill. Due to their low cost, I procured both of these knives. Upon receiving both of the knives, reality set in. I really had no use for the Chill, but the RJ I was pretty much the embodiment of everything I liked in knives when I was 14, but came to dislike. Despite this, I decided that I would put it to work, pretty much believing that it would confirm my dislike of combo edge, spring assisted tantos. In the end, I was quite pleasantly surprised.
Scope of Use:
One thing that puzzled me about the RJ I is what it is intended for. Kershaw seems to promote it as a utility tool, emphasizing the value of its belly and serrations, while only briefly emphasizing the piecing ability of its tip. Trawling through Amazon reviews of this knife, there seems to be a consensus that this is an excellent defensive knife, due to its aggressive blade profile and spring assist. My evaluation was more in line with Kershaw’s conclusion; although it could be a weapon, it is much better as a tool.
Basic Overview:
I paid $25 for the knife and feel I got the full worth of it. Fit and finish was pretty good, the blade was centered and the grinds were fairly even, but not perfect. Also, the handle scales and backspacer were flush with the liners. The Speedsafe assist is fairly easy to actuate and fires strong, much nicer than SOG or cheapo spring assists. Lockup is rock solid, with zero play in any direction, with a nice thick liner inspiring a great deal of confidence. The blade is 3.5 inches of 8CR13MOV and is hollow ground almost to the tip. The two-step serrations were very sharp out of the box, readily able to push cut copy paper, although the tano edge and plain edge portions were fairly dull. 10-15 swipes on a Spyderco UF rod brought these areas up to satisfactory sharpness, so no real complaints in that respect. The blade is titanium nitride coated with bead blasted, skeletonized liners. The TiNi coating has held up nicely, experiencing some wear on the back side of the serrations after cutting a quantity of carboard.
Ergonomics:
In general, the ergonomics of the RJ I were a very pleasant surprise. The handle is rather oddly shaped, with a finger grove and a pseudo-sub hilt sort of thing, but these caused no problems for me. I have large hands, so this might be more of an issue for other hand sizes. I found the RJ I to be very comfortable in all grips, ranging from sabre to reverse, even when white knuckling. Sabre grip proved to be the most natural and comfortable grip with this knife, with the thumb very naturally falling on the thumb ramp. There is no jimping on the knife, other than the liner. I would prefer it on the thumb ramp, but it did not otherwise seem to be a problem. The primary opening mechanism for the RJ I is the flipper, requiring more of a “pull” than a “push” to open. I have found opening with the tip of my index finger to be somewhat uncomfortable, so I prefer to engage the flipper with the side of my index finger. This method of opening also puts the knife into a sabre grip more rapidly.
The ergos are not perfect, however. The 3D machined G10, although grippy, looks terrible. In my opinion, it simply looks cheap and sort of ruins the looks of the knife. Also, I have found that the G10 divots tend to accumulate lint and skin residue quite readily. Although the knife is primarily designed to be opened with the flipper, there are thumb studs. They are sharp, difficult to engage, and generally serve no purpose. In short, they are terrible and shouldn’t be there. The deep carry pocket clip is very nice, but when mounted for tip up carry, it leaves a fair amount of knife sticking out of the pocket. Additionally, I have found the knife to be somewhat difficult to remove from the pocket in tip up, so a lanyard would probably be a good idea if this was a primary EDC knife.
Real World Cutting Performance:
Despite my original reservations, I found the RJ I to be an excellent performer during the month or so that I carried it. For general utility tasks like opening packages or cutting tape, the tanto’s secondary tip proved extremely beneficial, while the serrations were helpful when cutting heavy plastics or cardboard. One of the more surprising aspects of the RJ I’s performance was in the kitchen. I have no kitchen knives in my apartment at school, so the RJ I saw extensive use as a paring or utility knife. Against vegetables like green peppers, the tanto’s secondary tip proved quite good at draw cuts, while the hollow ground edge performed well at slicing onions. Meats or softer foods proved to be more of a problem, with the knife suffering from some binding issues. I primarily credit this to low initial sharpness, however. I didn’t have an opportunity to do as much outdoors work as I would have liked, but I was able to do some carving work. For very basic carving tasks, like carving a peg or a pointy stick for a marshmallow, the RJ I performed surprisingly well (on par with a Mora Robust), although you are limited to the non-serrated portion of the blade. While carving up some sticks, I also evaluated tip and serration strength. The tip survived some light prying in wood, and I experienced no issues after sawing into wood with the serrations.
Non-Scientific Edge Retention:
While watching Uncommon Valor at a buddy’s apartment, I took the opportunity to do some edge retention testing on a pair of shipping boxes. The two-step serrations did not bind while slicing, a very nice feature. The knife cut quite easily until roughly half way through the second box, at which point the knife had dulled significantly. By the end of the second box, the serrations were the only part of the edge that was cutting. At the conclusion of the tests, the entire edge was dull, with the serrations not being able to cut copy paper on a draw cut. These tests are primarily done to give me a qualitative impression of how a blade steel with perform, but they also give me an impression of how the knife’s ergonomics are under heavy use. I experience no real discomfort during the test, even when white knuckling in a hammer grip. Resharpening proved to be something of a chore, due to the combo edge and tanto tip. Using Spyderco medium and fine stones freehand, I was able to get a reasonable sharp edge on the underrated portions, but I am still struggling to get the serrations close to factory sharp. These issues are more related to my skill level, rather than the knife itself. As for the performance of the steel, it did little more than go blunt during testing. I didn’t observe any rolling that I have seen with other 8CR13MOV knives.
Fantasy Operator/ Tactical Performance:
The general consensus among online purchasers of the RJ I that it makes an excellent self-defense knife, rather than a utility blade. As a result, I decided to evaluate it accordingly. Many reviewers stated that the spring assist was a desirable quality in a self-defense blade, due to its intimidating noise and rapid deployment. First off, I sincerely doubt that anyone would be scared off by the sound of a spring assist; that is just as much of a myth as intruders being scared off by a shotgun racking. As for rapid deployment, it isn’t any more dramatic than flicking open a manual folder. Wave or auto will always be faster. Doing my best Dan Inosanto impression on some boxes and weeds, I can say that it does stab and snap cut pretty well. Additionally, the base of the handle makes a nice impact point for pain compliance or breaking up chunks of ice for a drink.
While the RJ I could function well as a deadly weapon, there are some things that must be taken into consideration. Knives, particularly when used or carried for self-defense, are a significant legal liability. Additionally, they require fairly significant training to be proficient with as a weapon. While I am sure that Jim Keating could probably use the RJ I responsibly and effectively, I sincerely doubt that the vast majority of online users could (myself included). All of these considerations aside, the economics of the RJ I really don’t make any sense if it is going to be carried as a weapon. A $6 cheapo would probably serve the “I want a knife to scare bad guys off with” crowd quite well, while those more serious about self-defense would probably be better served by the Cold Steel Kobun; arguably a more effective knife for the same price.
Conclusions:
Reviewing the Kershaw RJ I was fun experience. I learned a great deal about what features can add to the overall functionality of the knife For $25, the RJ I is a very good knife for everyday use. It will do pretty much anything you need it to and do it comfortably. It isn’t perfect and the steel isn’t the best, but I feel that it would serve the average knife user well. Also, it wouldn’t make a bad gift to a beginning knife nut.
Thanks for your time and may God bless you and yours.
- Bill
In early August, some compelling force made me look into RJ Martin’s collaborations with Kershaw, particularly the RJ I and the Chill. Due to their low cost, I procured both of these knives. Upon receiving both of the knives, reality set in. I really had no use for the Chill, but the RJ I was pretty much the embodiment of everything I liked in knives when I was 14, but came to dislike. Despite this, I decided that I would put it to work, pretty much believing that it would confirm my dislike of combo edge, spring assisted tantos. In the end, I was quite pleasantly surprised.
Scope of Use:
One thing that puzzled me about the RJ I is what it is intended for. Kershaw seems to promote it as a utility tool, emphasizing the value of its belly and serrations, while only briefly emphasizing the piecing ability of its tip. Trawling through Amazon reviews of this knife, there seems to be a consensus that this is an excellent defensive knife, due to its aggressive blade profile and spring assist. My evaluation was more in line with Kershaw’s conclusion; although it could be a weapon, it is much better as a tool.
Basic Overview:
I paid $25 for the knife and feel I got the full worth of it. Fit and finish was pretty good, the blade was centered and the grinds were fairly even, but not perfect. Also, the handle scales and backspacer were flush with the liners. The Speedsafe assist is fairly easy to actuate and fires strong, much nicer than SOG or cheapo spring assists. Lockup is rock solid, with zero play in any direction, with a nice thick liner inspiring a great deal of confidence. The blade is 3.5 inches of 8CR13MOV and is hollow ground almost to the tip. The two-step serrations were very sharp out of the box, readily able to push cut copy paper, although the tano edge and plain edge portions were fairly dull. 10-15 swipes on a Spyderco UF rod brought these areas up to satisfactory sharpness, so no real complaints in that respect. The blade is titanium nitride coated with bead blasted, skeletonized liners. The TiNi coating has held up nicely, experiencing some wear on the back side of the serrations after cutting a quantity of carboard.
Ergonomics:
In general, the ergonomics of the RJ I were a very pleasant surprise. The handle is rather oddly shaped, with a finger grove and a pseudo-sub hilt sort of thing, but these caused no problems for me. I have large hands, so this might be more of an issue for other hand sizes. I found the RJ I to be very comfortable in all grips, ranging from sabre to reverse, even when white knuckling. Sabre grip proved to be the most natural and comfortable grip with this knife, with the thumb very naturally falling on the thumb ramp. There is no jimping on the knife, other than the liner. I would prefer it on the thumb ramp, but it did not otherwise seem to be a problem. The primary opening mechanism for the RJ I is the flipper, requiring more of a “pull” than a “push” to open. I have found opening with the tip of my index finger to be somewhat uncomfortable, so I prefer to engage the flipper with the side of my index finger. This method of opening also puts the knife into a sabre grip more rapidly.
The ergos are not perfect, however. The 3D machined G10, although grippy, looks terrible. In my opinion, it simply looks cheap and sort of ruins the looks of the knife. Also, I have found that the G10 divots tend to accumulate lint and skin residue quite readily. Although the knife is primarily designed to be opened with the flipper, there are thumb studs. They are sharp, difficult to engage, and generally serve no purpose. In short, they are terrible and shouldn’t be there. The deep carry pocket clip is very nice, but when mounted for tip up carry, it leaves a fair amount of knife sticking out of the pocket. Additionally, I have found the knife to be somewhat difficult to remove from the pocket in tip up, so a lanyard would probably be a good idea if this was a primary EDC knife.
Real World Cutting Performance:
Despite my original reservations, I found the RJ I to be an excellent performer during the month or so that I carried it. For general utility tasks like opening packages or cutting tape, the tanto’s secondary tip proved extremely beneficial, while the serrations were helpful when cutting heavy plastics or cardboard. One of the more surprising aspects of the RJ I’s performance was in the kitchen. I have no kitchen knives in my apartment at school, so the RJ I saw extensive use as a paring or utility knife. Against vegetables like green peppers, the tanto’s secondary tip proved quite good at draw cuts, while the hollow ground edge performed well at slicing onions. Meats or softer foods proved to be more of a problem, with the knife suffering from some binding issues. I primarily credit this to low initial sharpness, however. I didn’t have an opportunity to do as much outdoors work as I would have liked, but I was able to do some carving work. For very basic carving tasks, like carving a peg or a pointy stick for a marshmallow, the RJ I performed surprisingly well (on par with a Mora Robust), although you are limited to the non-serrated portion of the blade. While carving up some sticks, I also evaluated tip and serration strength. The tip survived some light prying in wood, and I experienced no issues after sawing into wood with the serrations.
Non-Scientific Edge Retention:
While watching Uncommon Valor at a buddy’s apartment, I took the opportunity to do some edge retention testing on a pair of shipping boxes. The two-step serrations did not bind while slicing, a very nice feature. The knife cut quite easily until roughly half way through the second box, at which point the knife had dulled significantly. By the end of the second box, the serrations were the only part of the edge that was cutting. At the conclusion of the tests, the entire edge was dull, with the serrations not being able to cut copy paper on a draw cut. These tests are primarily done to give me a qualitative impression of how a blade steel with perform, but they also give me an impression of how the knife’s ergonomics are under heavy use. I experience no real discomfort during the test, even when white knuckling in a hammer grip. Resharpening proved to be something of a chore, due to the combo edge and tanto tip. Using Spyderco medium and fine stones freehand, I was able to get a reasonable sharp edge on the underrated portions, but I am still struggling to get the serrations close to factory sharp. These issues are more related to my skill level, rather than the knife itself. As for the performance of the steel, it did little more than go blunt during testing. I didn’t observe any rolling that I have seen with other 8CR13MOV knives.
Fantasy Operator/ Tactical Performance:
The general consensus among online purchasers of the RJ I that it makes an excellent self-defense knife, rather than a utility blade. As a result, I decided to evaluate it accordingly. Many reviewers stated that the spring assist was a desirable quality in a self-defense blade, due to its intimidating noise and rapid deployment. First off, I sincerely doubt that anyone would be scared off by the sound of a spring assist; that is just as much of a myth as intruders being scared off by a shotgun racking. As for rapid deployment, it isn’t any more dramatic than flicking open a manual folder. Wave or auto will always be faster. Doing my best Dan Inosanto impression on some boxes and weeds, I can say that it does stab and snap cut pretty well. Additionally, the base of the handle makes a nice impact point for pain compliance or breaking up chunks of ice for a drink.
While the RJ I could function well as a deadly weapon, there are some things that must be taken into consideration. Knives, particularly when used or carried for self-defense, are a significant legal liability. Additionally, they require fairly significant training to be proficient with as a weapon. While I am sure that Jim Keating could probably use the RJ I responsibly and effectively, I sincerely doubt that the vast majority of online users could (myself included). All of these considerations aside, the economics of the RJ I really don’t make any sense if it is going to be carried as a weapon. A $6 cheapo would probably serve the “I want a knife to scare bad guys off with” crowd quite well, while those more serious about self-defense would probably be better served by the Cold Steel Kobun; arguably a more effective knife for the same price.
Conclusions:
Reviewing the Kershaw RJ I was fun experience. I learned a great deal about what features can add to the overall functionality of the knife For $25, the RJ I is a very good knife for everyday use. It will do pretty much anything you need it to and do it comfortably. It isn’t perfect and the steel isn’t the best, but I feel that it would serve the average knife user well. Also, it wouldn’t make a bad gift to a beginning knife nut.
Thanks for your time and may God bless you and yours.
- Bill
