My first Kershaw and some questions- UPDATED!

[fast14riot]

Well as the title says, I just got my first Kershaw knife today! Really just kind of an impulse buy, I wasn't even looking for any tactical knives. I figured since it was such a nice day and I have lots of free time now I would go for a walk. I live in the middle of the historic shopping district and there is no shortage of antique and consignment shops. Started off at one and all I was looking for were slip joints. Found a few, but I'll save those for another forum. Well the second to last shop I went to had a real mixed bag of knives, everything from WWI bayonettes to folding camp saws, all piled up on a shelf. Well this Kershaw was on the bottom of the pile, and looked almost new. I asked to see it and the pivot was incredibly stiff, small spots of red rust but not a single scratch anywhere! The ege was perfect and looks like it never touched a stone. It didn't have a price tag, and I handed it to the shop owner and asked what he wanted for it... after he tried to open it and couldn't do it he handed it back and said "ten bucks ok with you? Its rusted shut and you got your work cut out for ya." So I decided I could fix it and happily gave up a ten spot. So after all this rambling I am sure you want to see some pics...

This is after it has been torn completely down, cleaned and lubed, and stropped the edge.

It has G10 scales, liner lock, pocket clip can go on either end, bronze washers, but I don't know what it is called.

So my questions are:
Is this a decent knife from Kershaw?
I know that I got a decent deal for $10, but how good I don't know.
Do I have to have a receipt for any warranty repair/replacement? (I.e. original purchase receipt)
What model name, if any, does this knife go by?
Am I going to have to worry about addictive properties of this brand? I tend to have problems with this.
I have already been bitten by this knife, should I worry about being transformed into a zombie?



If you have made it this far, thanx for struggling through my rambling, I would appreciate any info you have about this knife.

-Xander

 

[Tsujigiri]

It's a Skyline. Good deal you got. And no need for receipt to get warranty work with Kershaw.

 

[Tsujigiri]

Oh, and yes, Kershaw's can be addictive. The Skyline is actually one of their lower end models, although nothing about it seems low end. Their ZT line is exceptional, and customer service is great all around.

 

[knivesandguns]

You did good for $10!

Yes you will probably end up buying many more Kershaws. They are laced with a secret.... well if I told you then it wouldn't be a secret anymore. If you ever have a problem, Kershaw's warranty service is known for taking care of customers. Use and enjoy the knife!

 

[Morrow]

The Skyline is an easy to carry flipper available at an approachable price. I have several and have give more than several away. Excellent values.

 

[RevDevil]

I don't have that version, but I do own the version with Damascus. I will say that the design, the ergonomics, the dimensions, just about everything on it is perfect. When I first got it, I carried it for a month straight, it was the only knife in my pocket. I loved the fact that it could hold an awesome edge for a long time, even though the knife itself was being used. I tend to use my knives, not just let them sit in a safe. Great deal you got on a excellent blade.

 

[fast14riot]

Thanx for the replies. I have since checked out a few reviews and online retailers and noticed that there is a 13C26N blade that seems to be more common than the 14C28N that mine is. I have caried it the second half of yestrday and today and already have a couple gripes and praises, let me know if any of these are common.

Gripes
Short pocket clip makes for high tension and a little difficult to use. I know it will wear in, but it sure seems stiff.
Rides really high in my pocket, again because of the clip. More of personal preferance than actual issue.
Rough finish on G10 under the clip sure tears up the edge of my pocket. I may polish a small spot there.
No jimping on flipper makes for less than 100% opening at times. Easy enough to remedy.
Solid spacer rather than stand-offs trap more dirt and pocket lint.
Bad location of thumb studs, can't open the knife with them.

Praises
Once cleaned and adjusted, very smooth opening with no blade wobble.
Very light weight.
Decent edge geomety with decent sharpness. I did strop to a scary sharp edge, though.
Hollow ground primary bevels.
Plain edge, a sharp knife will cut anything a serrated one will.
Handle ergonomics seem fine, I will know better after longer use.
Seems like a great platform for customizing and modding, I already have some ideas...just you wait!
MADE IN THE U.S.A.!


So far that is my immediate impression of the knife. I work in construction and depend on my knife every day, I learned real quick what works and what doesn't. I tried counting how often I use a knife durng the day, but quickly lost track because it gets used without even noticing. Many of my gripes are easy to remedy, and I think a new pocket clip is first on the list. Plus I have some mods in mind, but would like to see if anyone else has modded a kershaw before. Pics are always a plus.


Cheers-
-Xander

 

[RevDevil]

I think you picked the wrong knife for your trade, the Skyline is more of a casual type/gentlermens folder. I sure would not start scoring sheet rock and other things with it, although the many construction workers I know not one really cares about their pants pocket getting ripped up a bit by a pocket knife. The pocket clip is actually the same simensions on multiple KAI knives, a 1/8th of a turn can remedy the tension as can a slight bend with pressure applied a little bit at a time. There is a thread in General that outlines modified production knives, not sure how many Kershaws are in there, but I am sure there are a ton. Enjoy the knife

 

[whetrock]

The kershaw skyline is a very simplistic yet useful knife IMO also for 10 bucks thats a very good deal I hope you get a lot of good use out of it.

 

[fast14riot]

I think you picked the wrong knife for your trade, the Skyline is more of a casual type/gentlermens folder. I sure would not start scoring sheet rock and other things with it, although the many construction workers I know not one really cares about their pants pocket getting ripped up a bit by a pocket knife. The pocket clip is actually the same simensions on multiple KAI knives, a 1/8th of a turn can remedy the tension as can a slight bend with pressure applied a little bit at a time. There is a thread in General that outlines modified production knives, not sure how many Kershaws are in there, but I am sure there are a ton. Enjoy the knife

You are correct, I don't intend for this knife to be my workhorse and I don't really care about my work pants. I was more referring to my regular jeans, I'd hate to have a hole in $200 jeans after a couple months. I like my casual EDC knives to have the same features as I am used to with my others. I do realize this is a light-ish duty knife. I carry a folding razor knife for anything that calls for blade abuse, and I don't use my knives to open paint cans either. I am going to make my own pocket clip in the next few days, I have adjusted the tension a bit already but don't care for the wide profile, or I may try one in W-1 and put a hammon on it.

If I had paid full price and expected it to build a log cabin and then shave with it, I am sure I would be disappointed. But, for $10 I will have fun trying things out with this knife. Sure can't go wrong at that price! I will be sure to post a few pics of the mods I do over here for the die-hards. As of right now, I have it opening quite nicely, pocket clip is better, and edge is holding up pretty well.

So far, props to Kershaw. You may have a convert now...


-Xander

 

[ono724]

You are correct, I don't intend for this knife to be my workhorse and I don't really care about my work pants. I was more referring to my regular jeans, I'd hate to have a hole in $200 jeans after a couple months. I like my casual EDC knives to have the same features as I am used to with my others. I do realize this is a light-ish duty knife. I carry a folding razor knife for anything that calls for blade abuse, and I don't use my knives to open paint cans either. I am going to make my own pocket clip in the next few days, I have adjusted the tension a bit already but don't care for the wide profile, or I may try one in W-1 and put a hammon on it.



If I had paid full price and expected it to build a log cabin and then shave with it, I am sure I would be disappointed. But, for $10 I will have fun trying things out with this knife. Sure can't go wrong at that price! I will be sure to post a few pics of the mods I do over here for the die-hards. As of right now, I have it opening quite nicely, pocket clip is better, and edge is holding up pretty well.

So far, props to Kershaw. You may have a convert now...


-Xander

$200 Dollar jeans??? Oh hell no, two pair of jeans would get me a Sebenza!

 

[fast14riot]

$200 Dollar jeans??? Oh hell no, two pair of jeans would get me a Sebenza!

Well it is a carry over from my single days as a bartender. I never had a girl notice my knife, but I never once ran out the back door in the middle of the night without my knife!


-Xander

 

[mysihba]

Kershaws are bad knews for those of us that tend to be obsesive or more prone to addictions ! Maybe because I'm an old Oregon guy who carried a Black Out since...whenever they came out. It went thru many years of Firefighting/EMS/LE/PS and just...hell, and it's still going. I just love them all (well almost). Most are just works of functional art. From the lowest price import to the higher end...the perfect combination of form, function, art. In more recent times I realized I wasn't that familiar with the newer Kershaws and deicided to check out a new to me...one. That grew to the point that i'm now selling them. My old Blackout has a bit of vertical play and I thought maybe I should carry a new Blur or something, which I do for more serious stuff. Then I realized the best sales tool I had and one I used without thinking about it (not a salesman), was simply pulling out the old Black Out and telling of it's history. That combined with great Kershaw customer service, warranty...then feeling and seeing all the knives...I can't resist. My advice would be to not even think about them or try just one more. There are far worse ways too spend a few bucks....sorry about my rambling here

 

[fast14riot]

Hey guys, thought I would put an update with the new pocket clip I did for it. I posted it over in the maintenance forum and it can be found here. I have some other mods in mind and will document and update here when I do those.


-Xander