New echelon looks different

hardingknives

hardingknives

Joined
Mar 29, 2010
Messages
588
Hello,

I just bought a new echelon off amazon, got it in the mail today. It looks different than ALL the pictures I've seen of it. There arent partial diamond cutouts around the thumbstud hole, the finish is polished and not brushed and the logos are placed differently,and it has a plain black pocket clip, others have kershaw on them. It came in what looks to be a real kershaw box, its very well made, other than I cant use the thumbstud. Have they just recently changed design or do I have a chinese knockoff?

Chad Harding
 
This is what mine looks like. Got it late November 2012. Only difference I can see from the catalog pics (http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/knives/knife/Echelon) is the pocket clip doesn't have "Kershaw" on it. My guess is it's just a minor production difference for each batch (not entirely unlike the infamous El Max 0560's ;))

Echelon_front_800x200.jpg

Echelon_back_800x200.jpg
 
The assisted opener was a nightmare for me on the Echelon. Such an amazing knife, when de-assisted.

And yup mine doesn't have Kershaw on the clip either.
 
sorry, I cant load pictures with my connection right now. That last picture look like mine except the cutout for the thumbbob. I'm fine with it just wanted to make sure it wasnt a copy
 
Kershaw lists the Echelon as having a 3.25" blade but it is really 3.06". The knife is Delica or Griptliian sized. I have gotten used to opened mine, but I think the assist would be smoother if it were a flipper.
 
hardingknives said:
sorry, I cant load pictures with my connection right now. That last picture look like mine except the cutout for the thumbbob. I'm fine with it just wanted to make sure it wasnt a copy
Click to expand...

Wait, so surrounding the thumbstud, there's no open space? The blade's "filled in" right there? That's awesome.
 
I noticed a couple of Echelons on Ebay that have the cutout as the OP describes. Must be a manufacturing change. I think the original looks nicer.

Tom
 
hardingknives said:
No, the oval cutout is there, but the ends arent scalloped. There is just milled hole and no points coming off the ends.
Click to expand...

Ok now I think I know what you're talking about. Funny thing is........one side of mine is "scalloped" like you describe and the other side isn't. I'll have to look at my other one when I get back next door to see what that one looks like.

ebayechelon.jpg


I like the "scalloped" look much better.......
 
Last edited:
Oh yeah, I see them on eBay. That looks great. My only wish now would be to ditch the hole completely.
 
I wish the Echelon had some type of finger choil on the handle. It's a great knife but feels insecure when you're used to other knives.
 
I'm a little surprised the latest batch doesn't have the "scalloped" design, maybe Kershaw had to cut down lead time....because that design really added an awesome aesthetic to the knife.
 
The removal of the machined scallops was a running change to the Echelon. Because of the sweeping plunge of the scallops, it was difficult to keep them even - if your tool goes a thousandth or two deep or shallow, it significantly changes the length and appearance of the scallops. I lobbied to remove the slot entirely, but it was decided to keep it so the knives would be more consistent with the catalog. It's a shame to have to change this knife, but sometimes a process proves to be more of a challenge than it's worth. You win some, you lose some.
 
I like the scallops, makes me glad I got one from the early batches. I do notice, though, that the scallops on mine are noticeable shorter than those on Flarp's example above, so I can see the reasoning behind the change. It's too bad; the unscalloped slot just looks... pedestrian compared to the rest of the knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top