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Kershaw Vapor

W

will62

Joined
Oct 18, 2002
Messages
372
Does anyone have any opinions on the Kershaw Vapor. They seem to be well made but how do they hold up? I have carried other Kershaws with no problems and I am not expecting the equivalent of a Benchmade or other higher priced knife. Are these made in Taiwan or where?

For $20 they look like they are better than nothing.
 
are now made in China with Japanese steels.

Vapors are a very well designed (by Ken Onion) Frame-lock which has a very good reputation for strength and reliability - due to its simplicity and elegance of utilizing the full frame/scale/handle width of material (in this case steel) to form the lock-block.

The Frame-lock is exemplified by the lengendary Chris Reeve Sebenza.

I have one of the earlier ones (made in Japan) but I don't think that it should make any material difference where they are made.

Fortunately for most of us these are available at Wal*Mart for the very attractive price of under $20 - which I think is a Bargain of several magitudes - so one can handle and examine the actual knife one intends to purchase.

Personally I like my frame-locks to cover at least half the width of the blade heel thickness - so one can examine for that.

I really like mine - I think with its drilled lightening holes it is elegant and attractive, the ones I have handled all work smoothly and fine. It is "right-sized" for me - so much so that I wanted a Speed-Safe assisted opening version of the Vapor -

As it was that turned out to be the new Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK - which led to my long review:

Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK (pics)

There are quite a few pics of the Vapor in this review.
 
I have a Vapor that I got with a giftcard for christmas.I've used it in a slashing attack on a old sofa and it held up very well.The lock was solid and the razor edge made quick work of the cushions.I love the Vapor.
 
I have the vapor, the paragee, and the
camillus edc. All nice knives but the
vapor fills my hand better cause it's a
little bigger. Razor sharp out of the box.
 
Originally posted by captf
I have the vapor, the paragee, and the
camillus edc. All nice knives but the
vapor fills my hand better
Click to expand...

....thanks.

there's a lot to be said for a knife being "right-sized".

This thread led me to post on Frame-Locks where I mentioned all three of the knives you compared :cool:

- so this is really good input for me.

Thanks.
 
I have carried a Vapor 2 as my EDC for about a year or so. Being a dealer, I get to spend a day or two studying and getting a feel for alot of the models out there and I can honestly say I have had no problems with it. For the amount of money, it is a fine knife. I have several other "higher class, higher $$" that I am always afraid I might loose. The vapor is an easy one to replace. Night all! Paul
 
I figured I would pick up a Vapor, just to see for myself what it was like. I'm sure it's the best $20 knife I have purchased. The edge was so-so, but after a few minutes on the Sharpmaker I'm happy. It fits the hand welll, locks up solid as could be and opens smooth. Looks like I'll have to pick up a Vapor II, just because. Put the Vapor on the top of the list for bargin EDC.
 
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