New Kershaw models for 2016

I

ivanhoe

Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
108
I never found Kershaws to be too exciting, but I do want a few from the new ones!

Here's the link:
http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/knives?new=11

Launch 5 is a looker for sure:
sho9nhe.png


What do you guys think? Which ones you like?
 
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[video=youtube;E_YyXZnLDrY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_YyXZnLDrY[/video]
[video=youtube;zNPW2Z4b3fk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNPW2Z4b3fk[/video]
 
The Launch 5 is pretty much an instabuy for me as is the new Induction. I'd honestly love to see some manual knives get the Launch treatment, if you will, with a good plunge lock, CPM154 steel and made in the USA.
 
I'd think and Emerson designed Launch would be double (or would it be dual?) action. Manual open with wave, or auto with button. I'd snatch that up in a second. But that 5 does look sweet.
 
I own several Kershaws, and generally I've always thought of them as a good quality brand, with good "bang for the buck". However, I am disappointed in a trend I see in their new knives for 2016. 4Cr14 blade steel? 3Cr13? And how about this for a great quote from their promotion of one of the new budget knives: "The handle has a faux G-10 textured front scale for grip..." Faux G-10? Really? Here's another one I just found: "... handle is lightweight-yet-strong anodized aluminum with a textured faux G-10 front insert for sure grip."

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Kershaw is headed in the wrong direction - away from the reputation they have for quality at a good value.
 
I think that they have a lot of great designs.

Most of them are on the small side though.

And one of them, the Decoy, is very close to a Cold Steel Tuff-Lite or Mini-Tuff-Lite.
 
rje58 said:
I own several Kershaws, and generally I've always thought of them as a good quality brand, with good "bang for the buck". However, I am disappointed in a trend I see in their new knives for 2016. 4Cr14 blade steel? 3Cr13? And how about this for a great quote from their promotion of one of the new budget knives: "The handle has a faux G-10 textured front scale for grip..." Faux G-10? Really? Here's another one I just found: "... handle is lightweight-yet-strong anodized aluminum with a textured faux G-10 front insert for sure grip."

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Kershaw is headed in the wrong direction - away from the reputation they have for quality at a good value.
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I laughed at the very same thing :).

And I guess my tastes have changed, or the company has changed its designs (or both). But I don't find any of these new knives appealing, and I find that Kershaw must think that more knives "need" speedsafe than I do.

While I self identify as a "non steel snob", 3 and 4cr13 are a bit low end, even for me (unless they're just a few dollars).

And so many tip up only folders :thumbdn:.
 
Right - except that Cold Steel doesn't use 3Cr13 blade steel for their Tuff-Lites. If you get a Decoy and use it much, please report back on your experiences. I'd love to hear a report on how 3cr13 holds up under actual use.

I do have to give Kershaw props for one thing, though. At least they seem to be 'fessing up' on the blade steels now. The 'mystery steel' where they listed only 'stainless steel' for some of their lowest end models was even more disturbing, at least to me.

GCG199 said:
And one of them, the Decoy, is very close to a Cold Steel Tuff-Lite or Mini-Tuff-Lite.
Click to expand...
 
Lately, with Kershaw, if I like the design, the materials are crap (why can't the Cryo be made here with good steel?) and, if the materials are quality, the knife looks like it ought to be on QVC. I don't know why they've changed, unless they're just going for volume with the cheap Chinese stuff. I just find very little to interest me in their lineup anymore. Unfortunately, although ZT has the quality, their designs are getting stranger and stranger as well.
 
Would really have liked to see more models made in the U.S.
 
115Italian said:
Kershaw is the new gerber.
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I was thinking CRKT personally, but there may not be much difference. I guess it will come down to how Kershaw's quality holds up. To be fair, I've only had one Kershaw knife (a $12 Shuffle) that needed to be replaced under warranty and a couple that have needed factory service after years of EDC. Their 8Cr13MoV has held up well for me, which I'll chalk up to good heat treat. If that remains the case, I don't foresee most of the new models being bad by any means. However, it's hard to get excited about the growing trend of Chinese knives and corresponding steel, while in some cases (as already mentioned) going even cheaper on the steel and handle materials. I have to assume that the purpose in this is strictly to continue maintaining a presence in the entry-level price range. That's going to mean very little American construction in the product line.

The last new Kershaw model I've been excited about was the Camber a couple years ago. I like the look of the Launch 6, but I have no use for an auto and would rather put the money toward a ZT or a competitor at that price point.
 
whitty said:
Would really have liked to see more models made in the U.S.
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This.

I'm glad to see them expanding the Link lineup, but sad that I still can't get one with upgraded steel (either their composite blade, or S30V or something).
 
Unfortunately, the ones I'm most interested in - the autos - are the ones I can't have where I am. :(
 
115Italian said:
Kershaw is the new gerber.
Click to expand...

Ouch! I don't think it's quite THAT bad, but I also think that the majority of the Kershaw line has turned far away from aiming at us, lads. Seems like they're aiming squarely at Joe Everyman and have his blue collar squarely in their sights. And there are two reasons that I'm completely okay with this.

A. Someone who just wants a cheap knife to throw in their pocket is gonna get solid build quality and a great warranty if they grab a $15 Kershaw as opposed to a $5 Jarbenza.

B. Those 3cr13 knives that cost $10-15 are what's really gonna finance all the fancy goodies in their higher end lines like the ZTs and Launch series.

I'd be ecstatic to see KAI give a little more love to the $60-100 price range, but I get the strategy and hopefully it will pay off and lead to some more US built Kershaws.
 
Unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet), I am not picking up anything that was advertised, both by Kershaw or ZT at Shot Show 2016. I don't believe I have bought anything new from them for the past few years except for a few of the emerson collaborations to give the emerson design a try. I miss the Kershaw blades from 3-5 years ago that were USA Made, 14C28N, G10 handles. To this day my favorite is still the standard Skyline. Now, everything they are bringing to the table is #Cr# with plastic handles and awkward designs. There are offerings coming directly out of China (such as the Kizer Vanguard line-up) that have some outstanding materials and collaboration pieces that do not break the bank. I will probably be perusing that line of blades before even thinking about any of these new Kershaw offerings.
 
Why is almost everything assisted? by my count they have 27 new folding models and only 5 are manual opening? Gag me.
 
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