Kershaw Ruby goes on sale Nov 13 6pm Pacific

[Krissig12]

Too blingy, too big, and too expensive....... Nope

Cool design though. If the sized it down and changed the looks of the front scale, it might make a great regular production piece.

 

[bld522]

An anniversary knife should be branded. Tastefully. There is branding, and there are billboards.

True that. And I'm not taking anything away from the quality of the knife. But it sure seems to me that KAI's marketing department got the final vote on the Ruby.

 

[JarrodS]

I'm not taking anything away from the quality of the knife.

Me either. ZDP is sweet steel (and I really like the fact that it's DLC). And as evilgreg already pointed out, the clip/lockbar side of this knife looks absolutely sick.

 

[poolhustler]

Man I wish just one time, KAI/ZT would make a knife that suits everyone's tastes. What the hell is wrong with them???

How hard can it be to make a knife that EVERYONE loves??

I mean really.............

 

[njblows]

Man I wish just one time, KAI/ZT would make a knife that suits everyone's tastes. What the hell is wrong with them???

How hard can it be to make a knife that EVERYONE loves??

I mean really.............

Well the 0454 came pretty close

 

[njblows]

I agree makes the 0454 look like a real bargain

 

[oregonknifenerd]

Only fault I can see is that KAI has set the standard so already high that they may be viewed as having trouble reaching it themselves with every new knife. I can see how an Anniversary Knife may not interest everyone. They weren't aiming for a plain user here though. They wanted to show off their new logo that hadn't changed in 40 years and I think this does so tastefully even if people don't understand that intent.

It is relatively slim, relatively light, has great 2 tone accents, beautiful red stand offs along the Ruby red theme, made with high end materials. Titanium is common anymore, but ZDP-189 is less so. ZDP sharpens up to laser beam sharp that I've only seen surpassed by SG2 but think ZDP is a better all around steel. Protected by a DLC that is durable and nice and dark to give nice contrast to the accents, unlike some other companies more gray colored coatings, I think the only way you can find fault is that an Anniversary celebration type knife does not interest you personally.

I think once several people have a chance to have these in hand, those that missed out are really going to wish they hadn't felt so put off by the branding. They'll realize it is a great knife...

Don't be left out of the party simply because you didn't like the invitation!

 

[poolhustler]

Well the 0454 came pretty close

Close only counts in horse shoes, hand grenades and birth control !!!

 

[Morrow]

Show of hands....who thinks every single one of these limited edition and highly collectible knives will be sold out the first day? How about the first hour?

 

[EricV]

Pretty positive they'll be gone in a day.

One of the few USA made zdp-189 knives too. Hitachi doesn't let much of that stuff across the Pacific before HT.

 

[Scurvy092]

They'll be gone in minutes of they fixed the issues from the 454.

I think based on reactions here, there will be less flippers than normal so they may mostly go to the people who want them.

That's going to make long term prices sky high and they won't be readily available.

 

[bld522]

One of the few USA made zdp-189 knives too. Hitachi doesn't let much of that stuff across the Pacific before HT.

I take it you're unfamiliar with William Henry Knives.

 

[Scurvy092]

I take it you're unfamiliar with William Henry Knives.

WH only uses clad zdp, not solid. Two different companies with two different policies.

 

[EricV]

I take it you're unfamiliar with William Henry Knives.

Last I looked they used ats-34, d2, and "damascus" on most of their knives, but its been a while since I've looked. Just checked and sure enough they have zpd on a lot of them. Cool, its a great steel I'm glad Hitachi is letting more out of the Japan, maybe they came up with a less tricky HT process.

 

[bld522]

WH only uses clad zdp, not solid. Two different companies with two different policies.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't clad ZDP start off by being unclad ZDP? Or are you suggesting that William Henry knives don't have solid ZDP cores?

 

[EricV]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't clad ZDP start off by being unclad ZDP? I mean, where does the ZDP come from before it gets clad?

The ground horns of virgin unicorns, powered metallurgy at its finest.

 

[bld522]

Exactly. Perhaps this would help:

http://www.zknives.com/knives/articles/jpnknifecladtypes.shtml#WARIKOMI

As I understand it, William Henry knives use Warikomi Awase cladding. The core is solid ZDP at 67 HRc and the cladding is applied to the sides and the spine.

 

[J_Curd]

To the last of my knowledge KAI was the only company that Hitachi will let HT ZDP outside their facilities. Is there any literal evidence that this has changed?

 

[bld522]

I can't answer that question. You'd have to ask Matt Conable whether he heat treats his own ZDP or Hitachi does it for him.

 

[sticktodrum]

I love my Ruby. Love how it looks too. Cuts like crazy, wouldn't think of selling even for twice the price.

Good luck with the sale folks. I do hope they sell to interested collectors who will enjoy it.