Kershaw Speedform 2 - Is there a reason nobody suggests it?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
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I sorta stumbled across the knife while looking through the website of a well-known kershaw reseller, and, on looking at the knife and the typical price range, don't understand why it's not more popular.

It's light, well-sized, good-looking, and has freaking elmax steel for less than $100 pretty much anywhere you look for it. Is there something I'm missing? A design flaw? Quality control problems?
 
Iv heard some about it. From what iv seen people dont reccomend it because they always reccomend something else, the only complaints iv heard about it is that it has a odd feeling handle and is a kind of small blade. Never heard any quality control problems, people just dont seem to like the design.
 
Have you seen the pocket clip? Great knife otherwise though. I've been thinking about one too.
 
I can get over a pocket clip given the price and blade steel - besides, it's not anywhere near as bad as the JYD clip :p
It's reminiscent of a mcusta, but cheaper and with better steel. Maybe I'm overestimating elmax, but I was under the impression it's kind of a superpremium steel.
 
I'm looking at a NIB shipped for 66.99! Pretty cheap for ElMax but it's still too small for me. So, good deal or not I won't be ordering it.
 
I've looked at one several times. For me, it comes down to 2 things and they're both aesthetic. The pocket clip is dumb and ugly. It's more that it doesn't flow with the overall design than anything else. And, I feel like the handle is a bit large for the size of the blade.
 
I have one. It's a great value knife.

Yes, the pocket clip isn't great. It is much nicer on the Zing where it belongs.

It is a little wide considering how slim the blade is. Part of it is the 3d machining of the g10 though which adds a nice touch. I consider the size, shape and weight to be on par with the Spyderco Native 5. Those are the two knives I'm going for if I decide to front pocket carry right now.

I can post some comparo photos later if you like.
 
I've heard the deployment is difficult because of thumb stud placement. That's the only reason I haven't bought one yet.
 
Well, I found it for about 65 shipped, so I went ahead and ordered one. Once I've had it for a while and put it through its paces, I'll do a fairly in-depth review. It does seem, based on appearance alone, that it would be an obvious candidate for a flipper - but, s'more of a gentleman's folder IMHO, and flippers don't seem to fit that sort of knife. Tough call. We'll see.
 
I don't like that it isn't set up for left side tip up carry, and furthermore that the shape of the handle scales would make it difficult to drill and tap for a left side clip. I'd like it better if it had plain thin flat slabs of G10 for handle scales, but then it wouldn't be a Speedform. <shrug>
 
I've been considering buying one for a while but haven't because I've been unable to find what the hardness range is and the only info I've come across is from A.G. Russell's site, stating 58-62 HRC, which is fairly wide range...I've read that ELMAX performs best above 60 HRC, around 61-62. Has anyone done testing to see what the speedform 2's hardness is or tested its edge retention?
 
It uses the same thumb studs as the Blur. It is super easy to flick but I guess if you have gargantuan thumbs, they might be a little difficult to get to. I have ZERO issues with standard deployment or flicking.
 
The knife is great if you are right handed. If you are a lefty it makes a great candidate to mod with custom scales. It has one of the most stout liner locks I have ever seen, and the blade is excellent, both in shape and performance.

I found the thumb stud to really be more of a thumb slicer, so I popped mine out and used a screw on one. My only major complaint is that my Speedform is a bit hard to flick (I need to adjust the lockbar tension), but for $70-something it is a killer knife. It makes a great candidate for modding because of the permium specs and low price point.
 
Every time I see it, I'm reminded that I'm still a bit sore they didn't make the original speedform a regular production. Though I'm certain the #2 is an excellent knife on its own merits.
 
I have one its a great knife. Lately I've been recommending it. Its narrow blade profile is great for cutting stuff.

@Fanglekai as for the actual rc hardness, I don't know but what I do know is that its freekin hard, it took forever to reprofile and it just keeps slicing. I think Kershaw knows how to HT there elmax.
 
whateatsrabbits said:
I have one its a great knife. Lately I've been recommending it. Its narrow blade profile is great for cutting stuff.

@Fanglekai as for the actual rc hardness, I don't know but what I do know is that its freekin hard, it took forever to reprofile and it just keeps slicing. I think Kershaw knows how to HT there elmax.
Click to expand...

Good to know! If it's on par with s30v it's worth a look for me.
 
Fanglekai said:
Good to know! If it's on par with s30v it's worth a look for me.
Click to expand...

If I am not mistaken, it is actually a higher grade steel than S30V. I know it was surely harder ro reprofile. Definitely the worst steel for reprofiling I have used, about on par with S90V.
 
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