Kershaw, what's the future of the Stud Lock and MIM technology?

S

SteelDriver

Joined
Jan 28, 2002
Messages
790
I guess this is a question for Thomas W but any inside information would be welcome. :D

I know you guys have a full plate right now (ZTs, JYDs, ZDP Leek, etc.) but do you have any upcoming projects using Ken Onion's Stud Lock and/or the MIM technology introduced in the Offset?

How about bringing the Random Leek back with G-10 handles, Stud Lock, flipper, and S30V blade? A hollow-ground hawkbill would be excellent to take advantage of MIM's abilities. So would a balisong blade. How about a kerambit?

The next generation of ZT folders would also be a great place to show these off (hint hint) . . . . :cool:
 
I gotta say, this is the first time I have ever seen anyone wanting MIM in something they would pay good money for.:confused:
 
I actually am pretty fond of the stud lock. Haven't used MIM to judge it though.

Finally got to play with the new offset and it looked and felt great. The weird splash coloring does look way better in real life (although I'd still prefer another design). Wayyyy too big for me, unfortunately.

I'd like to see stud lock and framelocks cover the lineup.
 
Heck I'd like to see more studlock designs just so I can actually use a Kershaw once in a while. I love the knives, but there all framelocks. I'd be content with a Stud Lock and reversible clip. The MIM doesn't mean anything to me, I'm not for or against it.
 
SteelDriver, wow nice post, appreciate the excitement.

Certainly we are pretty booked for 06 with ZT just hitting the market, 6 new Kershaw items slated for the upcoming holiday season (not counting another ZDP project ;) ), then there is that Shun line of kitchen knives. Whew! Busy, busy, busy.

I like the Stud Lock (SL), and although new, we have yet to have any QC issues with it. I carried a ZDP/ATS34 clad Spec Bump for 8 months. Put it through the paces pretty hard...had no issues, and found it quite handy. It may not be for everybody, but it is a positive addition to alternative locks. With that said, we do not have another SL project slated for 06 or even into early 07.

I gotta say, this is the first time I have ever seen anyone wanting MIM in something they would pay good money for.
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Boats, could you expand on this, I'm not sure what you mean.

There are more MIM projects scheduled for 07. We are working on designs now, should be pretty radical.

I am hoping we will get a short run of Random Leeks out as well. Specifics have yet to be determined.
 
Sorry if I offended anyone, but I am also very big into firearms and MIM has a very negative track record in that realm.

If the MIM is just used to make swoopy scales or other non-critical parts that's one thing, if used to make the blade or the lock, that's quite another.
 
Boats,

MIM does have a negative conotation out there in other parts. What makes the difference with Kershaw's MIM technology is our patented process that involves H.I.P Hot Issostatic Pressing after the MIM operation. There are Turbine blades manufactured in the same manner. The part is 99.9% dense after this process. We have just begun to scratch the surface with the MIM/HIP technology.

One of the main benifits is that we can make our own recipie of steel, one that could not be ground using conventional methods. We can basically have a finished blade out of this outrageous steel.

The Offset blade was done in 440C just so we could get this project off the ground and go through the learning pains. Look for much more development in this area.

Tim Galyean
Kershaw Knives Research and Development.
 
I love the Stud Lock and I will buy more knives with this lock.

Boats,
Just like lots of things in life there is good and bad example of technology. MIM has been used for years with good results. The MIM in the gun industry was not done as well as it could have and failures were the result. Compare MIM to heat treating. The best blade steel is only as good as its heat treatment. Kershaw uses a patented process to get the most from MIM. I expect to see some very interesting blade material and shapes from Kershaw.
 
The stud lock is awesome. Anyone who actually gives it an honest try should see that it is easy to manipulate and very secure and sturdy.

I to have put it through a bit of torture and so far it responds just as well as it has out of the box. I like the way you able to use it to open and close the blade with out moving your thumb away from it. It is very cool that this feature has been added to some very cool knives like the bump and offset.

I feel many people may be hesitant to welcome this new locking mechanism because it has less of a track record then frame and liner locks. . . .also because there is a spring and a moving part involved, some are worried that this may cause an issue with use or cleaning.

I say, just give it a shot and see for yourself that it is a nice feature, easy to use, strong, and cleaning only takes a bit of soap water, maybe a quick blow through the hole :D and you done. I look forward to seeing it on other knives. P.S.> Thomas, is Kershaw the only company that can make this type of lock (it is a Ken Onion design?)?

As far as the MIM, I don't know much about the actual technical aspects, but I own an Offset and love it. A very nice looking knife. Something we can all appreciate from MIM is that it opens the creative doors from knife makers by allowing them to design production blades shapes that wouldn't be possible through conventional means.

That can't be bad.;)
 
Okay, for the relatively uninitiated out there, here is what MIM is. Remember I am no expert.

MIM stands for Metal Injection Molding. In a way, it should be viewed a a form of casting. Powdered metal is mixed with a polymer binder and thrown into a mold that is about a third larger than the final part will be. When heated, the polymer is melted out and the part "contracts" to its rough final size and shape.

The alleged advantage of MIM is that it creates nearly true identical parts that require only some finish polishing rather any more machining. As a casting, the process is supposed to be way cheaper than regular casting, let alone machining bar stock. (This cost savings is not seen in the Offset curiously enough, but maybe part of that is a recapturing of initial capital outlays or trademark fees to Jackson Pollock's estate for the handle coloration.)

Nevertheless, the Kershaw rep in this thread is right that MIM might be a better deal in knives than in guns for the reason of heat treating. Most MIM gun parts, if not all of them, are usually only surface hardened. Once that hardening is worn away, the exposed MIM part is not very tough. So Kershaw apparently bakes its MIM blade through to acceptable hardness.

So my only concerns about a properly cooked MIM blade would turn to an inherent fault of any casting process--voids. They might be high tech, they might have fantastic countermeasures against it, but every once in awhile a part will develop a void. An undetected void in a knife will always make its appearance at the most inopportune moment, as everyone knows.:D
 
Boats said:
An undetected void in a knife will always make its appearance at the most inopportune moment, as everyone knows.:D
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Same could be said for a conventional steel, believe me, I have seen voids and pits in 154CM, and S30V while grinding.
 
Operationally, if the Stud Lock can be made with a user-removable assisted opening, I'd like it a lot more.

I'm not a big fan of AO springs, much less with the kind of lock on the Spec Bump -- hard to disengage in a quick motion, much less impossible to disengage when wet or with gloves.

On the other hand, the Stud Lock mechanism on my Spec Bump managed to work its way OUT of the blade hole housing (!!) with sufficient opening/closing.... knifesturbation...*hides*....

... which makes me very, VERY uncomfortable about it. The fact that the retaining section is some kind of composite is also not the most reassuring.

-j
 
Tim Galyean said:
Same could be said for a conventional steel, believe me, I have seen voids and pits in 154CM, and S30V while grinding.
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I thought S30V (and RWL-34/CPM-154) is a powder steel and supposedly, technically, officially, much more resistant to voids?

Or am I misunderstanding something?

-j
 
biogon said:
Operationally, if the Stud Lock can be made with a user-removable assisted opening, I'd like it a lot more.

I'm not a big fan of AO springs, much less with the kind of lock on the Spec Bump -- hard to disengage in a quick motion, much less impossible to disengage when wet or with gloves.

On the other hand, the Stud Lock mechanism on my Spec Bump managed to work its way OUT of the blade hole housing (!!) with sufficient opening/closing.... knifesturbation...*hides*....

... which makes me very, VERY uncomfortable about it. The fact that the retaining section is some kind of composite is also not the most reassuring.

-j
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I'm not sure myself that it is hard to disengage in a quick motion. Maybe it's me and how I take pride in opening and closing my knifes, but I found it only took a bit of time to master. i open my bump in my motorcycle gloves with minimum effort.

Compared to other locks, I honestly feel that this is the easiest to manipulate. I would like to see how it compares up to other locks n the strength and durability dept. but have not seen anything to make me feel that it is not sutiable for my needs.

P.S. did you send it back to them?
 
Stephan said:
I'm not sure myself that it is hard to disengage in a quick motion. Maybe it's me and how I take pride in opening and closing my knifes, but I found it only took a bit of time to master. i open my bump in my motorcycle gloves with minimum effort.

Compared to other locks, I honestly feel that this is the easiest to manipulate. I would like to see how it compares up to other locks n the strength and durability dept. but have not seen anything to make me feel that it is not sutiable for my needs.

P.S. did you send it back to them?
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Stephan,

Sorry I wasn't clear:
It's easy enough to OPEN, of course! :)

It wasn't the StudLock that was hard to disengage; it was the safety to the lock. That little tiny screwhead is impossible to shift back and forth in the perfect of situations, much less if your hand is slippery or with gloves on.

I didn't send it back. Once I picked up all the little bits (luckily nothing sprang very far), it was easy to put it into place and press back securely.

-j
 
Oh, gotcha.

Well, I see what your saying, but maybe if it bothers you a bit, just leave it in the off postition? Dose it stay there when you put it in place? My leek and bump both seem to stay where they are set.

For me I do enjoy it being there as it dose prevent sheeple or (god forbid) if any children were to come across it from opening it. ;)
 
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