Kershaw Knives

[sodacan]

Kershaw makes a nice (American made) knife. They are in my EDC rotation, and their customer service is excellent. Their stuff made in Asia is pretty nice for the money if you want to spend less. We are fortunate that there are still quality knives made America.

 

[gdnagle]

Not American made but I have several Condor Tool and Knives Machetes made in El Salvador they have thick blades and come with leather sheath. Check Amazon for machetes an you will come across several different types. Most will be foreign made as are the Kershaw Machete's. Depending on what your cutting you might want a different type of machete instead of the straight blade.

I have several Kershaw knives and like them.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Never been a knowledgeable knife person....... but

I've had a 1640ST; Ken Onion Vapor (Japan) 2.75-3 inch blade......... for years as my edc.......love it and never leave home without it........

I got one of their "Amphibians" back in the early 80s...... neat boot knife..... looking for a purpose......LOL

Lately I've been looking at some of the Hogue offerings and now see that Wilson Combat is also selling "special" featured Hogue knives ( one has a nice Ken Hackathorne write up).......... any thoughts on these

 

[fdw]

I have a couple of the "speedsafes", one with serrated blade. Been very pleased with the knives and carry one or the other daily.

 

[jtcarm]

Sorry to rain on anyone's sentiments, but the Chinese are capable of producing as good a quality as almost anyone. Their quality is pretty much a result of what price point American companies and their customers want. Manufacturers from power tools to guns to whatever are under intense pressure from the big box stores (and thus, stockholders) to deliver products at lower price points, so manufacturing gets off shored. Even the iconic Buck brand was forced to do this for some models. The more astute buyers see the lower-end products in the big box stores and conclude China is only capable of producing junk.

In wood working power machines, China produces everything from Harbor Freight junk to top end Jet and Grizzly machines. At both ends of the spectrum are machines of the same design that look as if built in the same factory.

If you want to buy American to support our manufacturing or boycott China's oppressive govt, great, I do the same when I can. There's a lot of Chinese products I won't touch, like the plywood sold in the big boxes. But don't assume durable goods made in China are inferior.

 

[Cyrano]

here's mine. I sure like it. It's going in the pocket in the driver's side door, with that partially serrated blade for cutting seat belts if needed.

 

[John Rus]

I have a Kershaw double cross for nearly ten years and is still in good working order today. Good knives.

Cheers,
John.

Edit. I believe I attached the image link correctly but I only see a question mark icon. Did I do something wrong?

 

[6518John]

I've ranted for far too long, but will leave you with a great bit of irony. When the aforementioned Yen crisis hit, Kershaw tasked his VP of sales, Paul Gillespie, with finding a less expensive source (sound familiar?). Gillespie found a decent South Korean supplier and didn't feel like doing any favors for Kai, so he and sales manager Rod Bremmer left and started Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT). Always remember that Karma is a bitch.

This could be avoided by a simple non-compete agreement. Amazing to me a major manufacturer would not have them in place for it's top people. I have done them for little companies doing $50k in yearly sales.

And thanks for the background. Absolutely fascinating.

And WELCOME to the forum!

 

[deadin]

My only Kershaw......

 

[6518John]

here's mine. I sure like it. It's going in the pocket in the driver's side door, with that partially serrated blade for cutting seat belts if needed.

That is an excellent idea!

 

[Marshwheeling]

I have a Kershaw double cross for nearly ten years and is still in good working order today. Good knives.

Cheers,
John.

Edit. I believe I attached the image link correctly but I only see a question mark icon. Did I do something wrong?

Yep. You are trying to post a web page (.HTML suffix) as if it were an image (.jpg suffix). I can see your page by clicking on the question mark box with the <ctrl> key and selecting "open in a new page".
Here's your image (I hope):

I got that by <ctrl> clicking on the image in your page, selecting "Copy Image Address", and pasting that link into my reply. If you QUOTE this reply, you can see what the link to the image alone looks like, as well as your link to the page.

 

[shouldazagged]

I think we have to face the truth of what jtcarm said in post #25 above.

I remember very well when the label "Made in Japan" led most Americans to assume it meant junk products. Then we began seeing really excellent knives coming from the Seiki City area, many of superb quality.

Of course the boundless leverage of the world's largest retailer has long dictated overseas production and abundant lower-end products. But it would be a mistake to underestimate Chinese manufacturing capability, even if I try to minimize purchases of their stuff on principle.

 

[John Rus]

Thanks alot, it works!

John.

 

[gdnagle]

I think we have to face the truth of what jtcarm said in post #25 above.

I remember very well when the label "Made in Japan" led most Americans to assume it meant junk products. Then we began seeing really excellent knives coming from the Seiki City area, many of superb quality.

Of course the boundless leverage of the world's largest retailer has long dictated overseas production and abundant lower-end products. But it would be a mistake to underestimate Chinese manufacturing capability, even if I try to minimize purchases of their stuff on principle.

Made in{insert country here} doesn't mean junk all the time it just means put a American out of business or out of work. Not much can be done about this as most items are made someplace else.

 

[chief38]

I've got a Kershaw Leek (with pocket clip & USA made) that was a gift a few years back. It is all Stainless Steel, nicely finished, and relatively sharp for a Stainless knife. All in all a quality piece!

My standard EDC knife is a 3 blade Marbles (produced in Gladstone MI-USA) Large Stockman but occasionally I carry the Kershaw too. So far it has been a reliable knife with a reasonable edge holding ability. It does not give you the fine smooth cut my Marbles does, but that's not what it was made for. It is however a great general purpose modern knife and is well worth the price as compared to lots of others I have seen.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

The machete I received (called a "Camp 18") sez "Kershaw" on the handle and scabbard, "KAI" on the blade.

 

[H Richard]

I have carried a Kershaw Leek since 2006 and won't be without it. Whatever steel they are using in the blades is great, it takes an edge and holds it. The solid aluminum scales are impervious to just about everything. The "One Hand" opening is a godsend and it can be a SD tool as well. The "torsion bar" does get weak every couple years, but a note to Kershaw and they will send you a hand-full for free. I use this knife for everything. And whatever the black finish is it is really tough and durable.

 

[radar1972]

I have carried a Kershaw Ken Onion Scallion in my watch pocket for years. Handy knife!

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Welp

I finally convinced myself to spring for a ZT "Strider/Onion" LE.

Spring assisted folder, tiger striped blade and serial numbered.

I've carried a 'Microtech' DA folder since 2001 which my bro gave to me on my burfday so I'm gonna retire that for sentimental reasons.

Alltho the Microtech is spring assisted, there is no button on the handle to release it.
One side of the handle is jointed and by minipulating that feature the spring is deployed.

I've had two off duty LEO's inspect the knife very carefully and neither had any idea the blade was assisted until I showed them how.
Twice.
Not as handy as a button, but really stealthy.

My new ZT is gonna be here Wed. so it's an early Christmas at SmokeStack's.

Thanks for all the comments and reviews guys and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

 

[Shootbrownelk]

You think China makes anything as well as Americans do? I guess you don't frequent Harbor Freight....cheap junk.