What happened to Kershaw?

I don't know where some of you people pull your facts.

Blackout, Whirldwind, Blur, Leek, Chive, Scallion, Shallot, Rake, JYD, Camber, Skyline, and SIX different Launch models are either entirely over $50 or have several versions over $50...


17 models, all USA made, all in the $50-125 range...
 
Scurvy092 said:
I don't know where some of you people pull your facts.

Blackout, Whirldwind, Blur, Leek, Chive, Scallion, Shallot, Rake, JYD, Camber, Skyline, and SIX different Launch models are either entirely over $50 or have several versions over $50...


17 models, all USA made, all in the $50-125 range...
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Don't forget the Knockout and Link, although the latter is under $50 (not that that's a bad thing either). ;)
 
The OD Launch 3 was also S35VN. Not sure if there were others among the Launch models.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
As far as what "happened" to Kershaw, I think ZT became a more profitable focus when paired with their box store offerings. My guess is that they can make a profit on the margins of the volume they sell to walmart/academy/etc with their lower end sub $30 stuff and make more dollars per knife on the ZT by offering a more premium product that doesn't quite hit mid tech prices.

Resources probably were allocated from the mid-level as they probably don't yield as much profit.
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This sums up my thoughts on this. I haven't bought a Kershaw-branded knife since the Bladeforums.com Blue Skyline came out a few years ago. I stick with the ZT knives, when I can afford them.

I do say, though, that the Launch series is seriously tugging on my wallet, and I'm going to have one by the end of the summer.
 
Scurvy092 said:
I don't know where some of you people pull your facts.

Blackout, Whirldwind, Blur, Leek, Chive, Scallion, Shallot, Rake, JYD, Camber, Skyline, and SIX different Launch models are either entirely over $50 or have several versions over $50...


17 models, all USA made, all in the $50-125 range...
Click to expand...

One does need to note the relative ages of these designs, which is part of the OP's point. Not much NEW stuff coming out in this price range.
 
My first Kershaw was a Scallion - used it until sharpening shortened the blade to the point where the sliding lock no longer functioned - sitting in a drawer now.
My second was a black Leek - not a bad knife for what it is designed for.
At the time, the assisted opening was pretty cool.
Since then I have acquired the composite Leek, composite Rake, and composite JYD - all being regular D2 (not CPM).
Found a CPM-D2 JYD blem on eBay for a reasonable price. Will be doing a blade comparison between the CPM and regular D2 one of these days.
All of the knives mentioned above have been quality pieces, all being made in the USA.
The big box offerings seen today don't fare as well by comparison.
It's all about the money - sell 3000 $100 dollar knives or sell 300,000 $20 knives.
I will say that the inexpensive models do serve to whet the pallet for better knives and help to bring in new enthusiasts.
I'm always surprised to see people carrying a $750 hand gun they hope to never have to use, and a $20 POS knife that pisses the off every time they use it.
 
Daniel Dorn said:
One does need to note the relative ages of these designs, which is part of the OP's point. Not much NEW stuff coming out in this price range.
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Well Kershaw certainly isn't going to discontinue popular knives just for the sake of making new ones. I'm sure once they think a knife can outsell the Blur or the Leek, they will be toast.

Still, the Camber and the 6 Launch models are all 2yrs old or newer. Plus all the Emerson collabs are still very recent on the China side.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Well Kershaw certainly isn't going to discontinue popular knives just for the sake of making new ones. I'm sure once they think a knife can outsell the Blur or the Leek, they will be toast.

Still, the Camber and the 6 Launch models are all 2yrs old or newer. Plus all the Emerson collabs are still very recent on the China side.
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My thoughts exactly. Part of the reason for a lack of new knives in the mid-price, US made range is that the products they do have are selling too well to discontinue. I think that portion of the product line is in a bit of a lull creatively due to production capacity and the success of older models.

Also, the volume of models in the Launch series has about tied up what might have been available for US models.

In addition to the Camber and Launch models in the last two years, there are also multiple variations of the Link.
 
Have a Skyline and Leek, both nice. Recently ordered a Spline, import with 8Cr and Link, US made with 420HC. I have heard good things about both, the Link especially.
 
kershawguy13 said:
Have a Skyline and Leek, both nice. Recently ordered a Spline, import with 8Cr and Link, US made with 420HC. I have heard good things about both, the Link especially.
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You'll have to let me know how that Spline is. I'm really interested in that model. I love Les George designs.
 
kershawguy13 said:
Have a Skyline and Leek, both nice. Recently ordered a Spline, import with 8Cr and Link, US made with 420HC. I have heard good things about both, the Link especially.
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Link is an amazing piece. Best overall value for a domestic piece across all manufacturers.
 
I think Kershaw is exactly where they want to be. The offer a large variety of well designed knives for the beginning and intermediate knife user and for those who need a well designed daily use knife at a good price with prices ranging from $25 - $170. Then they have the ZT line of knives for those who can afford them and pay more attention to high end materials and workmanship. I have kids in college and can't afford many higher end knives so some of the models mentioned above from Kershaw like the Skyline, Blur and Leek can definitely fill and EDC role for me.
 
grownstar said:
You'll have to let me know how that Spline is. I'm really interested in that model. I love Les George designs.
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Just got it and it seems well made. A little smaller than I expected but I like the blade shape and deep carry pocket clip. A size comparison with Leek and Tenacious.
 
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