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

Weeeellll.... *embarassed*

Let's say that I'm about as afraid of (and prone to being involved in!) accidents as a willfully curious child. ;)

Been cut before and I'm shy since? Hate needles? Faint at the sight of blood? :p

Having said that, I've never had an AO accidentally open in the pocket... it just kind of gives me the willies to think about being stabbed in the ass or crotch by your own knife. ;)

The AO on the Bump is pretty strong, and while REALLY fun to play with, kind of dangerous in the event of an 'accidental discharge' in the pocket.

Which is why I'd be happy if it was a manual flipper with some kind of hold-close detent. The problem is, the Stud Lock relies on the torsion spring to keep it closed compared to the linerlock (no leaf and hence no detent ball) so I can't imagine how they could design a system without the AO.

It'd work for me if it was a lot easier to disengage the safety, say, a button right next to the flipper or something like that.

I guess I'm just being overly cautious; personal preference. Same reason I stick to knives with deep front guards or finger choils.

-j
 
I don't know if I trust MIM parts yet...

Relatively unstressed parts, like the safeties on Kimber's pistols, are known to sometimes break the first time they are used.

I hope Kershaw's MIM works better...
 
biogon said:
...Having said that, I've never had an AO accidentally open in the pocket... it just kind of gives me the willies to think about being stabbed in the ass or crotch by your own knife. ;)
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I had Chive and Bump accidentally opened in my pocket. The Chive is small enough that it was fully opened when I noticed that part of its blade was sticking out of my front pocket the wrong way. No, it was no way near my ass or crotch. The Bump is perhaps too big that the pocket has not enough room to allow it to be fully opened. I found out it was open when I reached into my pocket. Luckily I wasn't cut.

The AO on the Bump is pretty strong, and while REALLY fun to play with, kind of dangerous in the event of an 'accidental discharge' in the pocket.
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The AO on the Spec Bump is very strong. It feels like the knife jumps in my hand when I open it. Thank God Spec Bump has a lock (regular Bump doesn't).
 
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
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Funny stuff boats.

Actually there is much more that went into the Offset than just what you see with its MIM blade. The MIM/HIP patented process took a bunch of R&D, there were those lawyers that had to be used (patents). The mold for the MIM process is very expensive, with up front costs being very high. This was much more difficult compared to a gun part that used MIM.
The Stud Lock was a challenge to inherit into this project. The Offset also introduced our first dual torsion bar SpeedSafe, the debut of the "Double Pumper". The textured 3-D machined scales are not the norm, and not cheap. Trial and error was a factor as well. Lot's and lot's of details with the Offset.
R&D along with Ken Onion went all out on this one. Hopefully you can see boats, that the Offset is more than just the MIM/HIP blade, all that adds up to IMHO was a MSRP bargain.
All in one's perspective I guess.

I do believe the future will bring down the price of MIM/HIP technology, as we start perfecting the process. I also believe the steels that we can start to 'create" could raise the bar. Also blade geometry will get real interesting.

Just some thoughts.
 
As I understand difference between regular MIM and MIM used by Kershaw is additional technological step when they heat abd press the blade. Regular MIM gives 94% dencity of the solid metal, but Kershaw riches 99.7% (if I am not mistaken).

I have terrible experience with made in China american brand screw driver bits - Torx in particular made by MIM I guess, and it is probably easyer to make Torx this way. Never see before metal acting as dry dirt. They break at first use.

But I already use Offset and had no any problem with it.
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StudLock is best lock on the market, and I like all models having it. And Cyclon First.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I will try to get a picture of the MIM Offset blade at 60RC bending in a press for you guys to check out. That just might make some people feel more at ease with MIM/HIP technology.
 
Lenny_Goofoff said:
Just have realized that stud lock not only one-handed - usually I close it ONE-FINGERED - with my thumb!
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I do the same thing. Just push the stud forward with your thumb and then move your thumb to the spine of the blade and rotate the blade closed. Pretty much in one smooth motion. I can cycle a Studlock twice as fast as a liner/frame lock.
 
When you get the technique with crosslocks down, you can flick them closed too, like an axis lock. but it takes a lot of practice. You have to push the liner across, flick down and get your fingers out of the way before it hits you.

I think the stud lock performs best on non AO knives. When my mini mojo's ao broke, the stud lock performed much more like an axis lock. Flick it open, flick it closed.
 
I have the Spec Bump and it's my favorite knife that I own. I like it so much in fact, that I didn't hesitate for a second when, just the night before last, I ran across an Offset for nearly half of MSRP. It should be here Mon. or Tue. I'm not a real steel "techie" guy, so I won't try to make myself look more informed about MIM than I am. I will say though, that both of the "official" explanations of the differences in Kershaw's process above left me with no worries.

Having been collecting and using knives since I was old enough to make purchasing decisions for myself, Kershaw in the last few years has impressed me a lot with their innovations in design, manufacturing and QC. I don't use knives in a way that really challenges them anymore, so I won't likely be one of their customers that they would turn to for testimonials, but I'm as anxious to get my hands on that Offset as any knife I've ever ordered before, and that's due in large part to my experience with the Spec Bump, being as the AO and SL are basically the same, and I really like both features.

I also close the Bump with only my thumb, exactly as mentioned above, disengage lock, slide thumb up to the spine, and pull the blade into its closed position. Being right-handed, the edge of the clip makes the perfect resting place for the rest of my fingers to keep them safely out of the way.

As to the original question in the thread, I am looking forward to all of Kershaw's future offerings, and I'm optimistic that their R&D has produced the foundation for a new standard in blade-smithing.

Blues
 
Dang BlueStringer, really solid post, and thanks so much for the strong words. It is commentary like yours that makes producing knives very rewarding. Enjoy your Offset, and your future Kershaw offerings as well.

From the entire Kershaw family, thank you.
 
BluesStringer said:
but I'm as anxious to get my hands on that Offset as any knife I've ever ordered before, and that's due in large part to my experience with the Spec Bump, being as the AO and SL are basically the same, and I really like both features.
Blues
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You will really enjoy the offset . . beautiful beast of a knife. Feels great in the hand and in person is really a cool knife to look at!:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
I wish it will be some kind of ZT300 with stud lock. Frame lock just is not my song. As well as distribution policy etc. Well everithing ZT get from Strider I actually do not like - framelock, price policy and distribution model...

Just make SpecBump same length but 20%-30% wider... And send it to NewGrapham, KnifeCenter, KnifeWorks, Grand Prairie etc...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I fell that MIM technology has interesting potential and that Kershaw knives that are made that way should be judged on their own merits.
 
Thomas W and Tim G, thanks for posting and staying involved in this community. I wish all knife company reps were as active and approachable as you guys :thumbup: .

I'm looking forward to more SL knives in the future, hopefully in more "everyman" folders like the Leek or JYD. IMHO releasing mainstream SL folders is the best way to establish the lock's reputation and gain feedback for improvements. Spyderco's compression lock is a good example of this. I have one technical question on the SL - does it have a backup spring in case the coil spring fails?

With MIM, I'd really like to see compound geometries that offer performance benefits, such as a hollow grind from the spine that transitions into a convex grind at the edge. Another idea is continuously variable hollow grinds, made as if the wheel diameter were changing as you make a pass on the grinder. You could make vaulted tips, or a flat/hollow ground body transitioning to a convex grind at the tip. Recurve and hawkbill blades would obviously benefit greatly from MIM manufacture. Anyways, I'm sure you will have no problem pusing the limits with MIM. Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!
 
Looking forward to the ZT knives, liked the ones I handled at BLADE.

Boats - I got your MIM reference right off. I lurk around at the S&W Forums and MIM is a bad word over there.
 
I didn't know it before, but Benchmade used MIM for the handles on their model 31 balisong. I wonder if they started using it for any of the other models.
 
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