What happened to Kershaw?

[craytab]

As for the detent conversation, I am not all that surprised the low budget models don't have the hole. I guess it's a pretty finicky thing that can cause problems. Still, I was really surprised and a little disappointed (both times I got one) that the ZT0300 doesn't have a detent hole. Without the spring it actually flipped amazingly well, but I just wasn't comfortable with only friction holding the blade in the handle.

Yes, I thought of this too. If it was just the low budget models then why do some ZTs have no detent? The 301 I had was a great example. Seems sort of silly making a huge, thick bad ass knife that is completely dependent on a little torsion bar that does fail every once and a while. I got a 303 that someone had a detent hole drilled, swapped the blades and it is a good flipper with no reliance on that torsion bar. The 0566 I had a detent whole. It was also good without the AO. I am not sure price has a lot to do with it. Wonder what does.....

 

[Stays Sharp]

I didn't read the thread but I do know that at some point a few years ago, KAI reps stated that they were transitioning all of their mid and high end models to only be ZT branded... So popular knives like the Volt 1 and Tilt would go to ZT. .

Essentially, it's the same thing just different branding but I did at the time, voice the opinion that Kershaw is a revered brand and should continue to have premium. Fast forward a couple years and Kershaw is now mostly a China brand with models aimed more to the casual knife guy. They really built up ZT to be this super American brand but take out the marketing and it's a Japanese brand that makes the majority of their products in China.

 

[Basp2005]

Bought a Thermite for my son's first knife, own two cryo's, got them to practice doing mods on. Have a leek but it has never seen pocket time. I have generally outgrown budget knives, so I really don't notice what companies are putting out there. Never liked the lines of the blur. Leek is nice but to delicate.

 

[Scurvy092]

I just skimmed the 2016 catalog and only found 2 new knives with 3cr blades and they are gimmick knives, the Cinder and the Decoy.

Interestingly enough, neither of them are assisted opening.

4 new knives are 4cr and they all have stamped plastic handles and are priced UNDER $20.

16 new knives with 8cr, 3 of which are not assisted.

3 knives with CPM 154

 

[cbxer55]

The last Kershaw I ever bought was the Large Junkyard dog with the titanium handle and the Super Gold blade. Haven't seen anything since that caught my eye. And at that, I rarely ever carry the JYD II. Maybe a handful of times since I bought it. I just have so many knives, I tend to forget I have it.

Kershaws I do have. Multi task knife. Black Boa. Original Junkyard Dog and the JYD II. The only one that I've even touched with a hone is the Multi Task knife. ;-)

 

[RamZar]

Kershaw regular production knives start at under $10 and max out at about $115. The higher end ones now are the various Launch automatic models made in the U.S. using CPM-154 steel.

On the other hand, Zero Tolerance are all made in the U.S. using premium materials and their current regular productions (excluding discontinued and limited editions) models range in street price (MAP) from $140 to $280.

 

[rje58]

I own quite a few Kershaws. I think the Thermite is nice for the money, wish it was not a SpeedSafe. I too hate the trend away from Sandvik blade steels and would love to see non-assisted, non-auto Kershaws with Sandvik, CPM154, V10, S35, and other better blade steels. Kershaw's version of 8Cr13Mov is usually quite serviceable, though, at least in my experience.

That being said, I haven't actually carried any of my Kershaws recently - the last one I carried for more than a day or two was in 2014 when I carried my Thermite for a brief period of time.

 

[SW-EDC]

Would definitely love to see Kershaw produce USA made, CPM-154, non-assists. I think this is the shot in the arm Kershaw needs especially when you have companies like Benchmade, Microtech, and now Pro-Tech with their TR-5 Assist opener.

 

[Bill_Brasky]

I have to defend at least one of the cheap steel Kershaws that was mentioned, the Cinder. I was actually excited for it, and I carry mine everyday. Let's face it, anyone on this forum would use the (admittedly cheap-steel) Cinder blade as a second or third knife option on any given day. The bottle opener is what you might expect, but find me another <1.5 inch blade you can get 3 fingers on and control like you do the Cinder. Would you use it as an EDC? Hell no! It isn't meant for that, and if you're using it like that you're doing it all wrong.

 

[RamZar]

There's no denying that assisted opening works well with the general populace as evidenced by sales. The populace in this forum is usually excluded from the "general populace".

Still, I think Kershaw has a gap in the $115-$160 range to exploit more offerings with KVT (Nura was a no go), premium Steel & materials and made in the U.S. It could stop their erosion into a purely "budget brand".

 

[Sosa]

I think the onion influence got old and retarded the brand.

 

[Hackenslash]

I have to defend at least one of the cheap steel Kershaws that was mentioned, the Cinder. I was actually excited for it, and I carry mine everyday. Let's face it, anyone on this forum would use the (admittedly cheap-steel) Cinder blade as a second or third knife option on any given day. The bottle opener is what you might expect, but find me another <1.5 inch blade you can get 3 fingers on and control like you do the Cinder. Would you use it as an EDC? Hell no! It isn't meant for that, and if you're using it like that you're doing it all wrong.

Wow, that Cinder is a neat little device. I may have to pick one up just to give it a look. Hard to go wrong for less than $10! Even if you never carried it, it'd be great to leave around a wet bar or next to a fridge or in an ice chest...

 

[alphatiger]

I just picked up a Kershaw Grid last week. Nice knife. Long sharp blade, perfectly centered. The handles and blade are not as thick as I would like but as one of my EDC's it does various jobs well. I'm just too picky to use my Benchmades and ZT's for EDC stuff like cutting up rope, boxes and canvas. My hard earned money goes into enjoying the design of them and occasionally carrying them. To each their own I didn't by this grid to compete with my 0562cf or Reate Torrent.

 

[LoneStarNinja]

There are only two Kershaw knives that I like, the camber and s30v blur. I had a cryo but gave it to a coworker because I couldn't move the pocket clip to tip up. I ruined 3 star bits trying.

Helps to heat them up with a soldering iron first. [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk

 

[LoneStarNinja]

Love the Emerson I picked up and the Thermite. Both are fantastic knives in the $30 range. Actually probably the best IMO.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk

 

[Danke42]

Just looked at the Kershaw site and there's at least ten knives on there I'd be happy with not even counting the Onion/Shallot/Leek/Chive.

 

[MaxFisher]

I see lots of guys loving the Launch series and I'm confused....this happens often.
I have a 1 and a 3. Decent knives, but unless I hold the knife with blade spine facing up blades do not lock up. They kind of 'bounce' open.
The spring is not engaged for full length of travel.....only engaged bout half way.
Both mine were bought new. Every other auto I have, Pro Tech & Microtech, never 'bounce' open. The springs are engaged for the full travel.
Am I the only one experiencing this?? Totally turned me off and I never carry either.
Joe

None of my Kershaw Launch knives function this way.

 

[MaxFisher]

I think one of the driving factors of Kershaw's move to produce more blade overseas is the large stable of existing, profitable American made knives they have. Knives like the Blur, Leek, Skyline, Scallion, Knockout, Blackout, Whirlwind, Camber, and Link are very profitable knives that it would be a mistake to discontinue. Combine that with their obvious attempts to be a player in the auto knife game with the Launch series in 2015 and 2016, and the fact that ZT also utilizes a large portion of the US manufacturing capacity. It makes it hard to fit new US made models into the line-up. So, what do they do? They either have to discontinue proven and popular US-made models, or they have to outsource. It makes sense. I know a lot of people would have liked to see the Emerson collabs made in the US, but I think they are an outstanding product as is. My brother-in-law loves his, and I carry mine regularly. The secret third option is for Kershaw to undertake a project to increase their US manufacturing capacity to allow for a greater production volume in the US. Perhaps something like that is in the works. We certainly have less transparency with KAI these days since they stopped having a manufacturer subforum here. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.

 

[azkyakr]

I just picked up a Kershaw Showtime and a Skyline. (Heading on vacation and wanted some inexpensive knives to throw in checked luggage.)

Skyline ($43) is fantastic - great action, solid lockup, overall good quality.

Showtime ($28) is absolute garbage - bladeplay, completely off center, can't de-assist due to poor detent, lockbar goes over nearly 100%.

Skyline is made in USA, so that contributes to better quality. But I'm really surprised to see such a huge difference in fit/finish with only $15 variance in price.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I see lots of guys loving the Launch series and I'm confused....this happens often.
I have a 1 and a 3. Decent knives, but unless I hold the knife with blade spine facing up blades do not lock up. They kind of 'bounce' open.
The spring is not engaged for full length of travel.....only engaged bout half way.
Both mine were bought new. Every other auto I have, Pro Tech & Microtech, never 'bounce' open. The springs are engaged for the full travel.
Am I the only one experiencing this?? Totally turned me off and I never carry either.
Joe

You need a new set of springs.
It sucks, but it's true. My Launch 2 started doing that after about a month. I contacted KAI, and they sent me a new coil spring, a new plunger spring, and a new steel blade stop at no charge. 5 minutes with a couple of torque bits, and I had the parts changed out.

The knife now kicks like a mule and thwacks open.