New kershaws for 2014?

I think Kershaw and ZT both have been coming out with some pretty nice knives lately. The idea of a IKBS or KVT flipper would be so great.
 
We should like, get a bunch of people to email kershaw asking for them to come out with a ball bearing flipper like that. Lol. I wonder if they'd do it.
 
The only knives I like speedsafe on are the Leek and Scallion. Speedsafe seems inappropriate for larger knives. A ZT0350 with KVT would be epic! I loved that knife so much but the speedsafe ruined it for me. Just my opinion here but, I think the speedsafe design introduces blade play. It isn't a big issue on small knives like the Leek, but my ZT0350 had it. That tiny bronze washer on the torsion bar side isn't as effective at supporting the side of the blade at the pivot. Of course not all speedsafe knives will have blade play. It's not something that can be proven on a case by case basis. It might just be a peace of mind thing but in my mind, the bigger the washer diameter, the better. When I get my ZT0770 I'm going to ditch the speedsafe torsion bar and ditch the tiny washer and request another washer set from KAI so I can put the normal sized washers on both sides of the pivot.

Back on topic; more titanium, less 8CR13MOV!
 
presz said:
I too would love to see some new models made in the USA. But the Kershaw line is headed away from that quickly. When I jumped on the Kershaw band wagon 10 years or so ago there was 1 Chinese model the Vapor made in 2 sizes. All of the new Kershaw models for 2014 will be made overseas, is my bet. Any new US made models will branded Zero Tolerance. There is more money to be made per item on the ZT line and with the US factory running over capacity that would be the wise choice.


I believe it was said that the newer models of US made Kershaws have not been great sellers. The RAM I know they said sold very slowly. The Knockout, Echelon, JYD2 and Piston may all get the ax soon IMO.


The Chinese knives are nice well made knives, but they aren't US or Japanese good. Better blade steel is a must for the Chinese models.

Just my 2 cents.
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Wait. If kershaw discontinued all the American knives, wouldn't they loose that broad market appeal that they have today? Like, the average user already has a lot of cheap kershaws to choose from. If they took away American knives. They would loose people like us and only have the average user left.
 
I can't see KAI discontinuing the Skyline, Leek, or Blur ANY time soon.

What other affordable USA made knives are out there that can readily be purchased at a sports or big box store?

Maybe something from Buck if you're lucky.
 
When i first started collecting i bought alot of China made Kershaw knives because i didnt know better......Know I wont buy a Kershaw unless it says USA on the blade. Now i did go back on that one time and it was few weeks ago to try out the Thermite which i ended uop loving...lol I just want American made steel!!!!!! thats not to much to ask and to have some blades to pick from
 
northend816 said:
When i first started collecting i bought alot of China made Kershaw knives because i didnt know better......Know I wont buy a Kershaw unless it says USA on the blade. Now i did go back on that one time and it was few weeks ago to try out the Thermite which i ended uop loving...lol I just want American made steel!!!!!! thats not to much to ask and to have some blades to pick from
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Kershaw's US made knives don't even use American made steel.
 
I also believe that there will be very few if any new US made Kershaws coming in the near future. I could be wrong but I think I remember them saying something about the US shops being at max capacity and that the US made knives just don't sell very well. The Chinese made knives are very well made I just wish they would offer them in something other then 8cr13 maybe something like 9Cr13CoMov which is supposed to be similar to VG10.
 
fsatsil said:
I also believe that there will be very few if any new US made Kershaws coming in the near future. I could be wrong but I think I remember them saying something about the US shops being at max capacity and that the US made knives just don't sell very well. The Chinese made knives are very well made I just wish they would offer them in something other then 8cr13 maybe something like 9Cr13CoMov which is supposed to be similar to VG10.
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The US made Kershaws sell like hotcakes, specifically Blur/Leek/Skyline. I think part of the problem is that even very good USA Kershaws that sell okay just can't stack up to those sales beasts.
 
There was a thread I started a while back about Kershaw making its new designs in China and this is what the had to say.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1108553-What-s-up-with-Kershaw-lately/page2

"As we have mentioned many times in the past, out 2 brands, Kershaw and Zero Tolerance, are about diversity. Kershaw brings opening price points and value to the mass markets to go along with value/premium American made products. After almost 40 years, the Kershaw brand is quite versatile with its genre of offerings. The ZT brand is young in its existence, and is growing as to its sheer number of offerings to go along with it's design variety's.

It should be noted that it takes a long time for a new brand to both establish itself and its identity in a marketplace, and create enough different sku's to have the breath to compete with other more longstanding brands.

The factory here in Tualatin is at capacity. There is only so many new items you can bring to the table while trying to keep up with demand for the current offerings, and establish the ZT brand.

We're hearing a little bit here on BF's about more USA Kershaw, but wanted to share that just because you make a quality American made product doesn't mean it will sell. The "value" USA knives ($60-$100 street) is not a smooth road. Nobody does much of it (mostly because there are limited number of manufacturers that can), and it's sales are not strong. Enthusiasts want to pay more, entry level less. Retailers don't want them (too costly, limited turns), and so its left for the online community (very limited volume). It's not worth producing more of them in our opinion as it's a virtual dead end.

If there is only so much time, and so much capacity, well I think there is your answer why your seeing less Kershaw USA value new offerings.

Hope that aids in understanding."
 
Moxy said:
The only knives I like speedsafe on are the Leek and Scallion. Speedsafe seems inappropriate for larger knives. A ZT0350 with KVT would be epic! I loved that knife so much but the speedsafe ruined it for me. Just my opinion here but, I think the speedsafe design introduces blade play. It isn't a big issue on small knives like the Leek, but my ZT0350 had it. That tiny bronze washer on the torsion bar side isn't as effective at supporting the side of the blade at the pivot. Of course not all speedsafe knives will have blade play. It's not something that can be proven on a case by case basis. It might just be a peace of mind thing but in my mind, the bigger the washer diameter, the better. When I get my ZT0770 I'm going to ditch the speedsafe torsion bar and ditch the tiny washer and request another washer set from KAI so I can put the normal sized washers on both sides of the pivot.
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I agree the speedsafe does introduce blade play. I find I have to loc-tite my pivots down on my speedsafe model or they all develop blade play. I de-assisted my 566 and I need to call Kershaw and see if they will send me a larger washer for the speedsafe side.
Back on topic; more titanium, less 8CR13MOV!
 
If people would stop buying leeks, scallions, blurs, skylines, pistons, knockouts, junkyard dog IIs, chives, etc. I'm sure Kershaw would have a good reason to produce some new USA made knives and they'd get on it darn quick, until demand for the current models dies off, you'll probably continue to see 1-2 new USA made Kershaws every year and a dozen Chinese Kershaws. Same with speedsafe, if people would quit buying assisted openers I'm sure Kershaw would start producing a lot more manual opening knives. Enthusiasts are a very small part of the total market, the business men at Kershaw aren't dumb, they aren't going to forecast and build knives that historical data shows only a minority will buy.
 
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I'd like to see more thin knives, I'm talking .3xx" or less (like the shallot). It pretty much limits it to frame lock or lock back (I guess a stud lock too but hopefully they wouldn't do that) but that's fine with me. 1000 different knives come in around .4" thick but that's to wide for me.
 
bpeezer said:
I would really like to see discontinued models come back, like the small JYD, RAM, ET, or Groove. I'd have a RAM for every day of the week :D

But if we're dreaming, I'd like to see a smaller version of the Volt 3600 with a 3.25"-3.5" blade, and of course the KVT.
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I would be on that team. Especially the ET and RAM (with upgraded steel). I also wish they'd bring back the OD-1, again with upgraded steel. Nobody really seems to know why they DC'd it. The OD-2 is just too small IMO.
 
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