Questions about the old Kershaw Talon

bladeprince

bladeprince

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
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I found 3 of them for sale a retail store yesterday for $90 each. Probably get them for $75-$80 if I buy all three. Two with metal handles and one G-10. It didn't hit me until I got home so I didn't look at them (but I can go back).

1) Are all Kershaw Talons with a metal handles made from titanium (ones for sale on Ebay are titanium)?
2) Are all the blades made from ATS 34?
3) I thought they were lockbacks but these looked like liner locks. Were they made with different locks?

They are going for a premium on Ebay. May people have them modified into a waved a Pakal knife. That would be my reason and maybe sell one.
http://www.donrearic.com/southerncomfort.html

STR: can you do this type of conversion?

Regards
 
All the Kershaw Talons were titanium handled linerlocks with stainless steel liners under the titanium. All were ATS-34 blades.

Some were plain edge, some combo, and some came with the bottle-opener on the blade that worked like a wave.

Good heavy duty knife but you have to check that the lock holds. Mine is fine if I snap it out hard, not if I open it gently.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
All the Kershaw Talons were titanium handled linerlocks with stainless steel liners under the titanium. All were ATS-34 blades.

Some were plain edge, some combo, and some came with the bottle-opener on the blade that worked like a wave.

Good heavy duty knife but you have to check that the lock holds. Mine is fine if I snap it out hard, not if I open it gently.
Click to expand...


Ahh...none of these have the bottle opener. I thought they were converted. I assume they could be though. What do you think?

Thanks
 
There were original bottle opener blades from Kershaw.
But the regular blades can be converted.
 
They can be converted but it is not easy and not really recommended. Those are collector worthy knives in mint condition. If you buy all three and want to unload one let me know. I'll just go ahead and put in an order right now saying I'll take one of them if you decide to sell one.

Here is one I converted for a forum member. Its a lot of tough a$$ grinding to get one of these even close to the factory shape of the bottle opener. And because this owner wanted to be able to open the knife via a Wave type action I had to drill and thread it for one of my low rider clips for tip up carry.

STR
 
STR said:
They can be converted but it is not easy and not really recommended. Those are collector worthy knives in mint condition. If you buy all three and want to unload one let me know. I'll just go ahead and put in an order right now saying I'll take one of them if you decide to sell one.

Here is one I converted for a forum member. Its a lot of tough a$$ grinding to get one of these even close to the factory shape of the bottle opener. And because this owner wanted to be able to open the knife via a Wave type action I had to drill and thread it for one of my low rider clips for tip up carry.

STR
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm aware the clip also needs to be changed. Looks pretty good though. Is there a reason that your cut is farther forward and not as deep as the original bottle opener blade? Does it work better that way?

For the cost of the knife and your labor, I could probably buy a Shivworks Disciple or wait for the Spyderco P'kal to come out after the first of the year.

The notice the starting price of one on Ebay is $135. I'm assuming they keep their value more if they are not converted. Is this correct?

Thanks again.
 
Yeah. Like I said they are collector worthy knives at this point if mint. Modified they are not going to return what it will in its present condition. I've seen them on ebay for that but they sold for less here. Ebay is not always the best place to judge value.

The reason for the cut stopping short is because thats as far as my tools allow me to take it for what I charge. To do it farther back would require additional time, labor and supplies and probably carbides to continue. To be honest with you that is the first and probably last one I'll do and I would not have done that one if it had not already been a user. It is not a high profit job at all but a lot of work for little return in the end on that type of mod. The curve of the cut throws a real curve ball to the cutter.

I'd much prefer preserving the knives I modify so the modification is not permanent by installing a wave type attatchment like in my knife in my signiture line. This way I could try to use the thumb stud and not permanently modify a potential collector knife but most guys don't care. With that particular thumb stud it may not be as easy but I think it could be done though but if you are flipping the clip the whole idea is for naught anyway. Contrary to what some around here believe I do at times almost cringe with some of the requests for modifications I get on what I see as rare collector pieces and at times I do flatly refuse to do them.

STR
 
Esav Benyamin said:
All the Kershaw Talons were titanium handled linerlocks with stainless steel liners under the titanium. All were ATS-34 blades.

Some were plain edge, some combo, and some came with the bottle-opener on the blade that worked like a wave.

Good heavy duty knife but you have to check that the lock holds. Mine is fine if I snap it out hard, not if I open it gently.
Click to expand...

Above info is all correct, knives were produced in the 1997-1998 model numbers were as follows:

plain blade---1420
combo blade-1420ST
Modified (bottle opener)--1421ST

suggested retail in 1997 & 1998 was $130.00 all models
 
hardheart said:
so what were the G10 models called, I've seen a few around
Click to expand...

They were mod# 1415 & 1415ST and were a more conventional blade design, they also made a Titanium Handle in this blade design as well they were model # 1410 & 1410ST the only differance between these and the Talons was the blade design. Then we could start talking about my personal favorite in the 1400 series, the "Wild-Wild Turkey" mod #1430 , also with a titanium handle and ATS34 blade.
 
kershawguy said:
They were mod# 1415 & 1415ST and were a more conventional blade design, they also made a Titanium Handle in this blade design as well they were model # 1410 & 1410ST the only differance between these and the Talons was the blade design. Then we could start talking about my personal favorite in the 1400 series, the "Wild-Wild Turkey" mod #1430 , also with a titanium handle and ATS34 blade.
Click to expand...

Maybe I need to see them side-by-side, but the G-10 and titanium Talon blades looked the same to me. But sounds like you've seen them together.
 
bladeprince said:
Maybe I need to see them side-by-side, but the G-10 and titanium Talon blades looked the same to me. But sounds like you've seen them together.
Click to expand...

They may have made the talon in a G10 for another market and not had them in their catalog, they sometimes do. I just haven't ever seen one. I've been surprized a number of times. Here is a photo of a few of mine , the ones on the left are all 1400 series, my talons obviously aren't in this photo.

favs2.JPG

favs1.JPG
 
kershawguy said:
They may have made the talon in a G10 for another market and not had them in their catalog, they sometimes do. I just haven't ever seen one. I've been surprized a number of times. Here is a photo of a few of mine , the ones on the left are all 1400 series, my talons obviously aren't in this photo.
Click to expand...

Wow!! I'm guessing you like Kershaw's. Hope you don't mind. I just sent you an email.

Regards
 
someone had a bottle opener blade in a G10 handle on the trade forum, but they had sent it to Kershaw to have the blade switched out
 
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