Kershaw Speed Safe

F

Full Tang Clan

Joined
Jul 22, 2000
Messages
981
Over the weekend, a friend of mine -- who knows I'm a knife knut -- showed me his new Kershaw speed safe knife.

I don't know the exact model as I haven't studied Kershaws lately; I thought it might be the Avalanche but I don't think I'm right. It had a 3.5 to 3.75 inch CPM 440V blade and distinctive scales with a dimpled grid pattern; G-10 I'm assuming based on look and feel. My friend forgot the style name. Anyone have a clue?

Anyhoo, I just examined it briefly and it felt quite well made. Very solid; although I hesitated to do any spine whack tests on some other guy's knife! The speed safe feature was quite impressive. I heeded the warnings of some Kershaw owners at this forum and was careful not to nick myself with the blade. It only took a slight nudge to spring this thing open. Suprised this thing isn't classified as an automatic.

QUESTION TO PONDER:

I'm wondering why Kershaw knives don't get the same following that, say, Spyderco or Benchmade do? Too little advertising? To much advertising? Too mainstream?

Anybody experience any problems with the speed safe? Such as the spring breaking.

P.S. I've been busy with other things and haven't visited this board in a while. So, what are some of newest, and hottest folders out there right now (past 6 months)? My last purchases were the Spyderco Native, and grooveless REKAT Sifu in D-2.
 
I purchased a Kershaw Chive last week and found it to be a fun knife. It's very small but well designed and put together with quality materials. The sliding safety lock is quite simple but works adequately. A smooth finish and speed safe action means knifesterbation to the max. I find it hard to believe that Kershaw can build this knife which is selling for $29.95 retail on the net. I paid more for mine from a local dealer).
 
i actually had a problem with the spring breaking on my boa, although i'm sure it was an isolated incident. i haven't gotten around to sending it back to kershaw yet. still love the knife.

Pete
 
i think they don't have the following of spyderco or whatever because they don't make very many tactical type knives.(?)


brandon:rolleyes:
 
I believe Kershaw has a pretty decent following, although not as large as the "biggies".

I have the Whirlwind and the Ricochet and both are really nice knives. The Ricochet has an almost "custom" look and feel to it.

I've heard of a few torsion bar probs, but the knives are fully backed up by a good warranty. I even heard of one situation of Kershaw sending out a new torsion bar for a user-installed fix.
 
Originally posted by pjenkins00
i actually had a problem with the spring breaking on my boa, although i'm sure it was an isolated incident. i haven't gotten around to sending it back to kershaw yet. still love the knife.

Pete
Click to expand...

Something I've been wondering about -- how well does the Boa work with a broken torsion bar? Does the blade still have a decent detent? And open and lock (completely manually) adequately?

I love my Boa BTW, a great design and very well implemented.
 
FTC -- am pretty sure it was in the last week or so, on this forum, that a thread asking about what people normally carry, or had in their pocket at the time. I was amazed at how many Kershaws were listed. The Boa was especially well represented. They aren't talked about a whole lot, but I think an awful lot of folks buy them, and like them.

I just traded for a combo edged Avalanche. Am not particularly fond of combo edges, but still feel I made an excellent trade. It has the grippiest/most tactile G-10 handle of any knife I have handled. The blade is about 3.5", I believe. It feels extremely secure in the hand, and has the 440V steel. But, so do the Random and Mini-task models, and the Boa. I love the opening action on it. To me feels better than the less expensive Whirlwind I also own. Feels unusually "solid" in my hand.
 
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