Kershaw whiplash? any thoughts?

[Tony8179]

It would be easy to get a glowing report from the fanboys, but what about from those of us who have panned the design?

Pictures (video if I can) don't lie my friend. If Thomas gets in touch with me I'll do the review. I'll do an unbiased review (even though I'm a fanboy?) on the knife and post pictures of my test. I figured I would do a destruction test. Different materials and different cutting techniques i.e. slicing, chopping, batoning, stabbing. I don't have a vise, but maybe I'll head to the old man's house and use his. Basically, all I'll be trying is to get the knife to break at that thinnest point in the tang.

 

[SPXTrader]

The entire knife is the weak spot: the thinness of the tang just happens to be the weakest spot. It looks like a knife made by Mattel for 13 year old mall ninjas ... at best.

Visually? If all you want a knife for is to keep it protected under glass, then enjoy. Personally, if I have to depend on a knife to keep me alive, then I want something that will stand up to hard use: this one won't.

Sorry I wasn't here to answer for awhile (I had an appointment at the VA Hospital).

No, I have nothing whatsoever against Kershaw. Kershaw is a good company and they've produced some good knives over the years but, IMHO, this isn't one of them. No, I haven't tested this particular knife, nor would I. I don't have to have putrid meat tested to know that it's putrid meat. One look at this thing tells me that it wouldn't stand up to the things I require of a knife. If I go out in the woods with a knife I very well may be depending on that knife to keep me alive. I wouldn't trust this thing to clean my fingernails with, let alone not fold up when I needed it most. I don't know what you're requirements may be -- perhaps you're only attracted by the oddity of the design -- but it's not for me. I would never tell anyone else what they should or should not use: that's a personal decision. But I am expressing my .02 worth. That's not trolling, that's expressing a personal opinion. Yours may be different, and more power to you.

I wouldn't worry about the Whiplash failing me in any circumstances, because I wouldn't carry it under any circumstances. I choose dependable tools. It is my opinion that the Whiplash isn't a dependable tool. For you, it may be great, and I wish you all the best.

Tedious. Yes, people do survive with very primitive means: I can too. If it comes to that, why, yes, I can knap flint to make my own knife. We're talking about choosing a knife to do what we need, though. Not hypothetical tribes of primitive people who have no choice. Just because I, personally, believe this knife would be a failure for the things I need a knife for, doesn't mean that it's not perfect for you. If that's your taste, then that's fine: your tastes and needs may be different than mine. I hope it doesn't come as a shock, but people are different. You may like the Cowboys and I like the Chargers. Neither is wrong, just different.

Yes, for me the design is worthless, yet it may be perfect for you. I don't have to actually handle that knife to see things that tell me that it won't work for me.

Best wishes,

Bob

I think your ability to offer a fair and impartial review is shot to hell. But to give you some credit, you start your next post with:

It's the latter, I think, Josh K. The man does have a point, though: none of us have handled this knife.

But you continue, and more bias is offered:

On the other hand, I find it exceedingly odd that anyone would feel so threatened by opinions other than their own. You have brought up good points, and I have emphasized that my opinion was only that: my opinion. We seem to be causing a certain amount of angst simply by seeing that the emperor has no clothes.

Here, you offer a fair compromise:

Now, that's reasonable. I, too, would like to see a review. Unfortunately, I can't afford to test this knife (I live on a paltry Social Security stipend, so I simply don't have the money), but go ahead and do a review, Tony8179, and let us know what you think.

So, to recap: In my opinion, you are unable to form an unbiased conclusion on this knife, regardless of your next post:

Just to be fair about it -- since I've been one of the most vociferous detractors of this design -- I would be willing to do a review of this knife, too. I have condemned it for what I see as major flaws, but, admittedly, I've never used it.

If you want to send me one for testing, I would give it the fairest review that I could. Could I be fair? Yes, I think I could. I'm in my mid sixties, and have been using knives since I was about eight. My early training was as a mechanical engineer (BSME -- though I never practiced). I would look at this knife for:

1.) what the blade has to offer (shape, edge holding, toughness, etc.).

2.) ergonomics.

3.) features.

4.) overall usability.

5.) overall strength.

That's the best I can offer: a chance to prove me wrong on my initial assessment. It would be easy to get a glowing report from the fanboys, but what about from those of us who have panned the design? That would be valuable information, too.

I don't really expect to be sent one of these for testing, but it was only fair to offer.

I'd pretty much put money on your last statement.

 

[dawsonbob]

Pictures (video if I can) don't lie my friend. If Thomas gets in touch with me I'll do the review. I'll do an unbiased review (even though I'm a fanboy?) on the knife and post pictures of my test. I figured I would do a destruction test. Different materials and different cutting techniques i.e. slicing, chopping, batoning, stabbing. I don't have a vise, but maybe I'll head to the old man's house and use his. Basically, all I'll be trying is to get the knife to break at that thinnest point in the tang.

Tony8179 my offer was just because I said negative things about this knife, without having actually used it. I'm simply offering to put my time where my mouth is, to see if I was wrong. I would do pretty much the same tests as you, although I would omit the vise test: I've always found those ludicrous. Any knife will break or become unusable doing that. I would test this -- or any -- knife in real world scenarios, and yes, batoning is a real world scenario.

No, I don't like the design of this knife, based solely on what I can see visually, but that doesn't mean that I'm right: I could be surprised at what the knife actually is. I thought it only fair to offer to test since you, and others, have pointed out that I was judging it only on a photograph.

 

[dawsonbob]

I think your ability to offer a fair and impartial review is shot to hell. But to give you some credit, you start your next post with:



But you continue, and more bias is offered:



Here, you offer a fair compromise:



So, to recap: In my opinion, you are unable to form an unbiased conclusion on this knife, regardless of your next post:



I'd pretty much put money on your last statement.

I've already admitted bias, SPXTrader, but that bias is an opinion only, and not based on hands-on testing. If I were to test this knife I would do so in the most impartial way I could. It's simply because it is unfair of me to condemn this thing without actually using one, so it's only fair for me to make the offer to put it through its paces. I haven't yet changed my opinion of this knife. I still think it's a poor design, but as I said, that's based only on a photo.

I don't think anyone is going to review this knife without at least some bias one way or another, because everyone has a feeling about any knife design, if only subconsciously. I would, however, be honest in my review. If it has good points, I would point them out. If it has flaws, I would point those out, too. That's the best anyone can offer.

 

[J_Curd]

A design that will produce an inherently weaker knife?

Kinda like a big hole in the blade?

I plan to buy a Whiplash. Provocative design, cool features, and I have no plans on killing zombies or mall patrons. Should work just fine.

 

[Morrow]

Kinda like a big hole in the blade?

I plan to buy a Whiplash. Provocative design, cool features, and I have no plans on killing zombies or mall patrons. Should work just fine.

I've always found mall patrons much scarier than zombies.

I don't need any straight knives but might pick one of these up just to beat the crap out it. I'm sure it will hold up fine. I'll have my new belt sander and paper wheel setup running soon and need to practice on something.

 

[Josh K]

Kinda like a big hole in the blade?

I plan to buy a Whiplash. Provocative design, cool features, and I have no plans on killing zombies or mall patrons. Should work just fine.

No, the depth of that notch and the severity of that will produce a weaker junction, whereas a rounded hidden tang will reduce stress.

I haven't seen or heard of any failures do to a big hole in the blade. The hole isn't even that big. The Temp 2 is about 6mm.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

I haven't seen or heard of any failures do to a big hole in the blade.

So what makes you think this one will be inherently weaker? If ZDP can have a hole and not break why can't the Whiplash with it's softer, more forgiving steel have a notch and still be strong?

 

[hardheart]

dawson, I'll buy the blade and you can test it. if you don't break it, send it to me after and I will

I would also like to know if the steel is in fact any tougher (impact resistant) than zdp as treated to Spyderco's specs.

 

[dawsonbob]

dawson, I'll buy the blade and you can test it. if you don't break it, send it to me after and I will

I would also like to know if the steel is in fact any tougher (impact resistant) than zdp as treated to Spyderco's specs.

hardheart, I will take you up on your offer, if you would like. I would do a review of the knife as fairly as possible. It would be what it would be -- neither a hatchet job (excuse the pun) nor unwarranted praise, just my best assessment. I must point out that I don't have the Spyderco (perhaps you have me confused with someone else), so I wouldn't be able to do a direct comparison. About the best comparison I could do would be to the Becker BK-2, which is my go-to all around knife. The Becker is a good 1095 steel, so that might prove interesting.

As far as breaking it, I wouldn't intentionally do that. If it happens, it happens. I wouldn't expect this knife to take the same abuse as a Becker, though, but I would treat them equally.

If you would like to pursue this, you can email me at: bob at dawsondoes dot com and we'll work it out.

Damn, now I'll have to get my old camera working.

 

[hardheart]

the zdp comment was following blade aficionado's. I'll send out an email right now

 

[Josh K]

So what makes you think this one will be inherently weaker? If ZDP can have a hole and not break why can't the Whiplash with it's softer, more forgiving steel have a notch and still be strong?

You're talking about the ZDP Mule I'm assuming? The hole will channel stress around it while the notch will intensify the stress and cause failure. The notch is going to suspend the blade and handle between a 1/2" (eyeballing it) joint, whereas the Spyderco, being a full tang fixed blade, has the entire width to support stress.

Comparing the ZDP Mule and Whiplash is dubious at best because the Mule has a smaller blade and handle. More force would have to be applied to equal the same amount of force on the Whiplash.

I think you're trying to use another companies trademark (round hole) as a platform to defend the Whiplash. You're comparing a relatively small hole to a large acute notch. Apples and oranges here. The round hole does little, if anything, to weaken the blade.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

I wasn't making stabs at the ZDP Mule. I'm just curious at how ZDP with a big hole, folder or fixed, handles stress with a huge weak spot in it compared to the Whiplash.

 

[Josh K]

I wasn't making stabs at the ZDP Mule. I'm just curious at how ZDP with a big hole, folder or fixed, handles stress with a huge weak spot in it compared to the Whiplash.

I don't think the round hole proves to be a "huge weak spot." First off folders are vastly different the fixed blades in the terms of what I expect them to do. Folders should not be expected to baton, torque, and twist through wood. A fixed blade I would expect that of.

Second off, considering the obvious superiority of the round hole opener (in folders) wouldn't any disadvantages (such as inherent weakness) have surfaced by now?

Circles are amazingly strong objects. Take a piece of paper, tape it into a cylinder, and see how much weight (vertical) you can put on it compared to a square or triangle.

 

[dawsonbob]

the zdp comment was following blade aficionado's. I'll send out an email right now

I got your email and sent a response. Let's get it done.

 

[hardheart]

All folders have holes in them, pivots. Smaller ones for attaching studs. Many fixed have holes for bolts/pins in the handle.

EDIT: knife ordered, you should see it soon, Bob.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

So Josh, you mean that a blade with a hole in it is stronger than a solid blade of the same material? That's what it sounds like you're saying.

 

[Tony8179]

Alright, Thomas just got in touch with me and will be sending one of these puppies this week. I'll test the hell out it and post pictures on Photobucket as well as a review here. I just want to say thanks again to Thomas for his generosity.

 

[Morrow]

Alright, Thomas just got in touch with me and will be sending one of these puppies this week. I'll test the hell out it and post pictures on Photobucket as well as a review here. I just want to say thanks again to Thomas for his generosity.

Thomas is a good people and I'm looking forward to your review.

 

[SPXTrader]

dawson, I'll buy the blade and you can test it. if you don't break it, send it to me after and I will.

Just as I quoted all of dawson's posts, this should be saved for future reference also.