Volt.......one more time

C

cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
6,873
Been contemplating carrying my original L.E. Volt.........again. Off and on I've carried it, but only used it to do my normal activities, which really don't require much. I cut envelopes, cardstock, lightweight things like that. Every now and again I have to cut cardboard, and usually a good bit of it, but I have a couple knives that take care of this.

I don't think there were more than 275 made, but don't know for sure. I do know that to buy another will definately cost you!! But even though this knife has accrued value, and despite the fact that mine is as "mint" as a gently carried knife can be, I do not think that I will ever get rid of it! This will be one of those knives that get handed down to my son. The M390 on this knife makes it a real cutting machine, and holds that edge for a long time it seems. The action and lockup are perfect in my eye's, and fit/finish as nice as it can be. Kershaw simply knocked it out of the park with this knife, but I do wish I had gotten two of them when I could have!:(:( But hey, I at least got one, so I'm happy!:thumbup::):)

Anyone out there that have the original L.E. Volt and carry it? How has it worked out for you?
 
I just managed to snag an original Volt (#223) a few months ago at a local store for the screaming deal of $250 :eek: It's been riding in my pocket ever since. It has only gotten smoother with use. I've flipped it open over 1000 times easily. The M390 holds an edge very very well. I did get a SMALL bit of rust on the D2 portion of the blade from sweat, but it rubbed right off. I too wish I had another :D I've not been easy on it, stripping wire and such, cutting open boxes of welding rod, cutting shrink wrap off of pallets. It's a work knife :) and I love it
 
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I'd say you should use it. You have to remember that it may be worth a bit of money, but it's still a tool and was designed to be used. Would you rather give your son a unused knife with no history behind it, or a well used (by you) knife that he will cherish and use because his dad used it?
 
Here's another vote for using it. The Volt is a gorgeous knife, but as nice as it is to look at, you'll appreciate it even more by using it and enjoying the blade steel, ergonomics, and so forth.
 
Oh, it will be used, it's just that I don't have that many knife chores during a normal day of work. I always carry a slipblade in my left front pocket and it will do 100% of the work I need it to do, but I love carrying a larger blade, as I do, that is not commonly seen among the people I frequent. I don't doubt that this would be a hard working knife!

You stole that one Tyrade! Great snag.


BTW, tomorrow will see the Volt in my right front pocket, or maybe my ZT0500, or a BM 9051 AFO, maybe even my Lion Steel SR-1. I'm so fickle that you never know what you'll find!
 
00ChevyScott said:
I'd say you should use it. You have to remember that it may be worth a bit of money, but it's still a tool and was designed to be used. Would you rather give your son a unused knife with no history behind it, or a well used (by you) knife that he will cherish and use because his dad used it?
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Well Said :thumbup:
 
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Use it for all it's worth, what's the point of having one of the best knives ever if you baby it? (And if you ever ruin it just order a real one from R.J. Martin. (Just in case you're wondering, that's a distal taper full flat grind on mine.))
 
I wasn't quick enough to catch one when they came out, but I was able to get a blem of the original.

Whenever I get the appetite for a flipper it is in my pocket.

I accidentally jabbed the point into one of those glass countertop protector thingys my wife has all over the kitchen, and it mashed the tip pretty good. I had to work HARD to restore the tip to the knife.
 
Put the Volt in my pocket this morning. Feels good, like it always has, and I know if I need a laser to cut something its to be found in my right front pocket!!
 
cutter17 said:
Put the Volt in my pocket this morning. Feels good, like it always has, and I know if I need a laser to cut something its to be found in my right front pocket!!
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Love the taper and photo Joshua J!

I wish I would have had enough sense to grab one of the blems while they were available!
 
cutter17 said:
Put the Volt in my pocket this morning. Feels good, like it always has, and I know if I need a laser to cut something its to be found in my right front pocket!!
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Good to hear. I don't think you'll regret it. :thumbup:
 
Joshua J. said:
IMG_0784.jpg


Use it for all it's worth, what's the point of having one of the best knives ever if you baby it? (And if you ever ruin it just order a real one from R.J. Martin. (Just in case you're wondering, that's a distal taper full flat grind on mine.))
Click to expand...

Who did the regrind on yours? That looks great, and I would do the same in a second. Thin this out and see what that M390 can really do!
 
Toyz said:
I wasn't quick enough to catch one when they came out, but I was able to get a blem of the original.

Whenever I get the appetite for a flipper it is in my pocket.

I accidentally jabbed the point into one of those glass countertop protector thingys my wife has all over the kitchen, and it mashed the tip pretty good. I had to work HARD to restore the tip to the knife.
Click to expand...

Fixing the tip is actually really easy. It may seem a little counter intuitive but you should always grind the spine down when the tip gets broken. If you grind the edge back too much eventually the handle won't be able to cover the tip. It's also super duper easy to grind down the spine of a blade.

Tyrade83 said:
Who did the regrind on yours? That looks great, and I would do the same in a second. Thin this out and see what that M390 can really do!
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I did the grind myself. It's actually a little wavy in person, but I got the profile I wanted so I'm happy. Get a 1hp+ belt sander and practice grinding some cheap knives.
 
The Volt has been my *almost* every day carry for 18 months now.

It's taught me a lesson about limited edition knives. Whenever I have a chance, I buy two:

1) a full-fledged numbered knife from the original run to put away as a safe queen, and
2) a factory blem (if you can get one) to carry, use and abuse. This one will cost less and 99.99% of the time will perform exactly like a "real" one. And who cares about finish flaws on a knife you're going to scratch up anyway? I've owned a number of kershaw blems and half the time you can't even find what's wrong with it, and if you do find it, it's often a cosmetic issue that has nothing to do with performance.

This is the way I've gone with the Volt, the original Tyrade, and now the Tilt. One safe queen (OK, sometimes two), and one blem to carry and use hard.
 
Heres a few pics of my first Kershaw that arrived yesterday. Im really happy with this knife. With
all the features it has being a ti framelock, composite m390 steel, G10 inlay, milled ti handles,
and Hinderer lock stop this knife was a steal for the msrp when it was for sell. This one is a blem
but so far Ive not been able to identify the problem. It just shows the very strict and thorough
quality control Kershaw has. The flipper works extremely well but I do miss having thumbstuds
to open the blade slowly rather than flicking in certain situations. All n all this knife has made
me a Kershaw fan and I look forward to handling future offerings they plan to release.


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GREAT pics snowreaper1! I have never purchased a blem, but hear nothing but good about the one's coming from Kershaw. Many, many folks say the same thing you do about not being able too identify the blem. The Volt is a fantastic knife and Kershaw definately got everything about it RIGHT! Enjoy your Volt.
 
My Volt arrived today. Snowreaper1 was kind enough to sell it to me.
It is everything he and Cutter say.
I was thinking, every time I get a grail I am pursuing, it immediately becomes the best knife I have. This one certainly is.;)
The light weight of it is very surprising for such a large folder. I have been carrying a Ti Spyderco Military in my back pocket, well pleased with it but this one bumps it right out. Can't even tell it is there.
Overall, the Military is longer, but the Volt has a longer cutting edge by about 3/8 inch. The Volt opens very smoothly with very little effort. Don't have to worry about banging the parts together, very well fit and finished.
Kershaw should bring it back, if they ever do,or one comes up on the secondary market,take my advice and get one.
Tom
 
I bought one off the forum a week or so ago, because my Dad had been wanting one. Well, when it came I had to have it and talked him out of it. It's also a blem and it has been sharpened to a nice edge. Has a carry mark or two on the handle, so it's good to go for EDC. Flips so easy and smooth. Great knife, I really love it's looks and it's feel in hand. I had to do some fancy talking to get my Dad out of this one, but it was worth it!

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I have a bead on a Volt at full original retail ($300) in Like New condition (it spends it's days in and out of a display counter) and was wondering if this is the going rate for these. I've been broke since it was originally released, and I'm tempted to sell off some knife stock to pick this one up.
 
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