Knockout or Piston?

F

flash900

Gold Member
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Jan 17, 2010
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Piston comes with G10 and a bit longer blade.

Knockout has aluminum scales, a wider blade, and the new deep-pocket clip.

Both are flippers (good) and are AO (which I don't need and prefer not to have.)

As far as I can tell, neither is stonewashed (preferred.)

If I had a choice, it would be the shorter, wider blade with G10 and deep-pocket, but that version of the Knockout is long gone.

Anybody have both and want to compare them?
 
I'm pretty sure the knockout would be my choice...one of my all time favorite Kershaws.. I've never had a Piston so I couldn't compare..but I've had many Kershaws/ZTs and the Knockout is in my top 5
 
I've got them both, and the Knockout, as chester said above, one of my favorites. Both the knives are indeed stonewashed. It's a very light stonewash, and has a gloss hone to it, but it it's a stonewash. The Knockout is actually my EDC, and not in the way too many people oft use that initialism. I carry it every day (or at the very least, every weekday). It's a great, great knife, and the shape is one of the most useful since the Skyline. As a lefty, the quad-carry option is fantastic. You don't like the aluminum handle, but I do. It slides in and out of my jeans effortlessly, and I'm of the type that doesn't care really for jimping and traction, unless it's part of the design. That being said, the G10 on the Piston is pretty much as perfect as it can be.

All three new US models (Echelon, Piston, Knockout) are meant to use the new lock implements, remove liners, and slim/lighten down/up the knife. The Piston is light, very light, for its size, however the lone G10 lends it a bit of a hollow feel. It's plenty strong, and so far it's handled heavier carving and cutting just fine, but the feel is again, a bit hollow. The Knockout is also light, but feels very very solid, likely because of the aluminum, as well as the thin stout profile which brings all the mass into a more compact area.

The frame lock on the Knockout is very strong, and doesn't even blink at spine whacks. I actually like the assist, and I always use the thumb studs for deployment. The spring launches the blade perfectly, but it doesn't have so much resistance during closing, and it's fine to do so with one hand. If I were you, I'd get the Knockout.
 
I own the Knockout and I've handled the Piston at a local store. Given that I bought one and not the other so far, the clear winner, IMO, is the Knockout. One of the things that amazed me about the Knockout is how unobtrusive such a broad, stout knife can be in pocket. The small, low-rider pocket clip makes the knife virtually unnoticeable when carried. The smooth (although not too smooth in hand) aluminum scales don't abrade the hand at all when reaching deep in my pocket for my keys. It's just an absolutely amazing EDC knife. I've carried it with me almost everywhere I go since I got it over the summer. By far the best knife Kershaw has put out recently. Don't skip out on it.
 
For me, Piston, without a doubt. But if you don't like large knives then you may not like it. It is very light for it's size but I feel that it will not fail to do anything I ask it to in a mundane day at work. But I don't think you can go wrong with either of them!
 
flash900 said:
If I had a choice, it would be the shorter, wider blade with G10 and deep-pocket, but that version of the Knockout is long gone.
Click to expand...

The only thing that's changed is the handle material. If you liked the Knockout better than the Piston before, I don't think the change to aluminum is enough to reverse that opinion. I would go with the Knockout, if I were you.
That being said, I'm not you, and I went with the Piston. I think it looks better, prefer liner locks over frame locks, and like G10 more than aluminum. I wish Kershaw had gone with the earlier design, with the satin blade and no thumb studs. But that's my only real complaint.
 
I know the knockout is well reviewed but the shape and size if the piston is very pleasing by the pictures, switch the clip and I would be sold. Two good choices there.
 
I've owned both.

The Knockout kicked the Piston out of my pocket. The Knockout's blade has more belly and slices better. Also my Knockout flies out much faster. I also prefer the AL handle scales to G-10, it has a slimmer profile in the pocket. Plus G-10 shreds my pants. The Knockout also has a deeper carry clip if you're in to that.
 
sticktodrum said:
I've got them both, and the Knockout, as chester said above, one of my favorites. Both the knives are indeed stonewashed. It's a very light stonewash, and has a gloss hone to it, but it it's a stonewash. The Knockout is actually my EDC, and not in the way too many people oft use that initialism. I carry it every day (or at the very least, every weekday). It's a great, great knife, and the shape is one of the most useful since the Skyline. As a lefty, the quad-carry option is fantastic. You don't like the aluminum handle, but I do. It slides in and out of my jeans effortlessly, and I'm of the type that doesn't care really for jimping and traction, unless it's part of the design. That being said, the G10 on the Piston is pretty much as perfect as it can be.

All three new US models (Echelon, Piston, Knockout) are meant to use the new lock implements, remove liners, and slim/lighten down/up the knife. The Piston is light, very light, for its size, however the lone G10 lends it a bit of a hollow feel. It's plenty strong, and so far it's handled heavier carving and cutting just fine, but the feel is again, a bit hollow. The Knockout is also light, but feels very very solid, likely because of the aluminum, as well as the thin stout profile which brings all the mass into a more compact area.

The frame lock on the Knockout is very strong, and doesn't even blink at spine whacks. I actually like the assist, and I always use the thumb studs for deployment. The spring launches the blade perfectly, but it doesn't have so much resistance during closing, and it's fine to do so with one hand. If I were you, I'd get the Knockout.
Click to expand...

This makes me want to go ahead and get a Knockout even more; I have a Piston, but have only carried it a few times (part of that is the number that I have to choose from, and the fact that I'm currently loving edc'ing my ZT0780). I have to agree with Sticktodrum on his description. Speaking of Stick, I have to mention that, having been off of work from the end of last November through the first part of this September, I had time to watch him grow as a BF member. I have grown to look forward to his posts and comments, and certainly value his opinions. And not to meaning to leave anyone out, I want to thank all of the great members on here, as you all have had a hand in educating, entertaining, and keeping me sane throughout my period of unemployment. I hope that I can be even a small percentage to you all of what you all are to me.
 
akahrt said:
I know the knockout is well reviewed but the shape and size if the piston is very pleasing by the pictures, switch the clip and I would be sold. Two good choices there.
Click to expand...

If I'm remembering correctly, I think that the hole spacing on the Piston pocket clip is the same as the Skyline, etc. I've been tempted to change the clip on my Piston (not that I hate the one that came on it).
 
^Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated. :) Yes, the hole spacing is the same. I actually put the Piston's clip on the Skyline, and it carries a bit lower. Not much, but noticeable.
 
flash900 said:
If I had a choice, it would be the shorter, wider blade with G10 and deep-pocket, but that version of the Knockout is long gone.
Click to expand...

I understand your preference here but respectfully disagree.

One area where I think that aluminum excels as a handle material is in making a particular model collectible and attractive. As a buyer, it seems much easier and more cost effective for makers to anodize aluminum in different colors rather than try to make synthetics like G-10 and FRN in different colors. It's lightweight and strong on its own without the need for steel liners. I see a big portion of makers (other than Kershaw) moving away from aluminum in the last few years in favor of G-10 and other materials and to me it is a shame. One has only to look at the popularity, collectibility, and beauty of the Kershaw Blur to see the draw of aluminum handles. I really hope that the Knockout has the popularity to also spawn a plethora of colored models like the Blur. I also hope the release of the Knockout leads to more aluminum handled sub-frame lock models as that seems to be a match made in heaven in terms of strength and reliability.
 
This thread seems to also reinforce my wanting for the "Knockout", which is like a more "gentlemanly" ZT 350 (which technically if it didn't have the recurve, would be top choice).
 
Good information here -- thanks -- and I'll be trying out a Knockout.

I'll be interested to see how the aluminum scales compare with those on the Mini Cyclone, which are a bit slick. I prefer grippier.

One other point about the Piston: I also prefer those slanty, Blur-style thumb studs. After using them on the Kershaw-made A.G. Russell Acies and Acies2, they are my favorite studs.
 
MaxFisher said:
I understand your preference here but respectfully disagree.

One area where I think that aluminum excels as a handle material is in making a particular model collectible and attractive. As a buyer, it seems much easier and more cost effective for makers to anodize aluminum in different colors rather than try to make synthetics like G-10 and FRN in different colors. It's lightweight and strong on its own without the need for steel liners. I see a big portion of makers (other than Kershaw) moving away from aluminum in the last few years in favor of G-10 and other materials and to me it is a shame. One has only to look at the popularity, collectibility, and beauty of the Kershaw Blur to see the draw of aluminum handles. I really hope that the Knockout has the popularity to also spawn a plethora of colored models like the Blur. I also hope the release of the Knockout leads to more aluminum handled sub-frame lock models as that seems to be a match made in heaven in terms of strength and reliability.
Click to expand...

Big fan of aluminum handles myself,god knows there is no shortage of g10 handles out there. The flipper on the Knockout is a nice safety bonus which makes using Aluminum in the KO a no brainer
 
The knockout would be an almost perfect knife with G-10 scales, IMO anyway. Thats why I am hesitant to purchase, no G-10. Aluminum=slippery.
 
I own both of them, and like them both. If I had to choose between the two I would go for the Knockout, to me it is slightly better for EDC based on size, thinness, and the deep carry pocket clip. The Piston is a larger knife and feels better in the hand than the Knockout yet is still very thin. I happen to like the G10 scales better than Aluminum but it's close. (I wish Kershaw would texture the aluminum like my BM Sequel). The speed safe on the Piston is slower than on the Knockout, my guess is they used the same size torsion bar and because the blade is larger it deploys slower on the Piston. Aesthetically I like the back spacer better on the Piston, but I like the pocket clip on the Knockout. I also prefer the blade shape on the Knockout.

As you can see (I rambled a bit), in my opinion they are very close, but I would slightly favor the Knockout.
 
I'll make this short as I've answered this question a couple times so using the search function will bring up those posts but being as I own both, I like the Knockout better. Without liners the Piston feels "cheap" to me although it IS a nice knife. Wish the Knockout had a little more "texture" to the handle as in very dry hands it can be slippery.
 
I'm back with some pics. :D

I still like the Knockout better with it's slim aluminum handles.

Maybe they'll make an aluminum Piston(hint;))

Knockout2.jpg


Piston2.jpg
 
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