Looking for a Kershaw... with certain requirements

thejamppa

thejamppa

Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
2,907
Hello everyone!

I am looking for a Kershaw knife- In 18 months I got I got 7 Kershaw knives, now I don't have any but I like Kershaw.

However I got few requirements:

- Sub 3.2" blade. It maybe bit over, aslong length does not exceed 3.3".
- NO BEAD BLAST COATING!!!, DLC, TiNi, stonewashed or other things are just fine. I got bad experience from BeadBlasting here. All my previous Kershaw Bead blasted knife started to take rust spots since I could throw a stone to sea from my house.

- 14C28N or above steel.
- Speedsafe is no problem but I rather get one without.
- Flipper is nice.
- Slim enough for comfortable pocket carry
- No recurving blade.
- G10 handles for both sides prefered.

I've had skyline (loved it but bloody thing was pain to keep rust free and I don't have tools to strip the blade) Maybe damascus version?
I've had Groove, TiNi coated but I didn't like recurve blade.
I've had Zing. Pretty good for the money but cheap "feeling" plastic handle and bead blasting was hard to keep rust free even with oil coating. Maybe damascus version if they would have G10 handle...
I've had Lahar. Nice knife, beefy VG-10 but had recurve and too big for EDC.
I've had Needswork. Fine knife, DLC coated especially. Handle was cheap feeling plastic and bulged when carried.
I've had black DLC leek. Wasn't my thing really...

So far I've been eyeing:

Random Task II. I prefer without speedsafe but stonewash and utilitarian look. Blade length is tad over 3.2" but so little its acceptable

Speed form II: Elmax blade, satin finish. Looks great. Bit expensive though but steel should be worth of it. Bit hard to get in here though.

Kershaw Salvo: Satin finished 14c28n steel blade with 3,226" length, manual knife with frame lock and good looking blade shape. Seems to have quite nice value. Formerly known as Barrage.

Now I've seen knives sold as stone finish and satin finished in listing but are bead blasted when kershaw has changed blade finish in later runs. I just hope to get good EDC knife from kershaw without bead blast finish.

So far in knives I've looked and haven't yet owned the Salvo / Barrage looks great but I wish to have also other alternatives and verify if current run of knives I am thinking have other finish than bead blast. Well, other side is stainless steel, just lok OD-1 but without bead blasting finish according listings.

thanks in advance!

- Jani
 
I had the Salvo, It's a nice knife. The lock up is great, mine didn't have any blade play at all, and it came extremely sharp out of the box. The SS side w/pocket clip was to make it less damaging to your pockets.

Check out the Blur, another outstanding knife for the price..
 
Most of the Kershaw knives have some form of blasting unless they are stonewashed (S30V Blur and Leek). Try the Speedform II, ELMAX is very corrosion resistent, it will be something good that won't break the bank.
 
Hows about an NRG or NRG-2. Both are fine knives designed by Lee Williams. G-10 with TracTec inserts on both sides. Non assisted flipper design. I am not 100% on the blade steel though, but the finish is either satin or DLC(?) coated.

Obviously, these aren't my pictures because they are good. :D

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Check out the DLC coated version of the NRG 2. I picked one up from Kershawguy for a song. Great size and feel, the flipper design is unique, and the hollow grind cuts like a laser.
 
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I think that the speedform II is one of the nicest Kershaws to come along in a long time, well worth the money IMHO. It is great looking as well.
 
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