Kershaw Knives

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Anyone own any??

I've been researching and shopping around for a new Machete.

Most I see are painted stainless steel, no scabbard or a cheap nylon sheath.

I needed an 18" with a quality scabbard for clearing shooting lanes and trimming up my "Thicket" that could be carried safely in my truck.

Gerber used to make quality knives, but their machetes are now made in Taiwan by "Fiskars" and rebranded Gerber.

Kershaw was started in the middle 70's by an employee from Gerber. Now they have 3 factories.

Kershaw also manufacture the "Zero Tolerance" brand of knives and "Shun" Japanese kitchen cutlery.

I was really surprised at how many knife awards Kershaw has been winning. All three brands.

So I bought an 18" Kershaw machete (black powder coated carbon steel, NOT stainless) that came with a really nice durable molded scabbard with many tie down points and straps to do so.

Full tang, molded, rivitted krylon handle and only $40 delivered off Amazon.

Now, I'm really considering buying a "Zero Tolerance" for EDC.

Any feedback? Good or bad??

 

[Adk.IBO]

I was a Snap-on Tool dealer for 14-1/2 years and our brand of knives was Kershaw, sold the bajeepers out of them. EDC'd one for nearly 24 years, finally wore it out from sharpening. My future son in law has one of those machetes. I was again impressed. I recently switched to a Benchmade and I love the axis lock, tip down orientation, one handed operation and the deep carry clip (an option) for pocket retention. What I don't like is the blade style (Tanto, which was my fault) and the lower quality steel (their fault imo) compared to Kershaw. It does not hold an edge like Kershaws do. I may try an upgraded steel on a custom ordered Benchmade as I like the other features that much. I am not familiar with the model you speak of, but if the style is to your liking I'd bet you can't go wrong. No affiliation since I left Snap-on 14 years ago, but I got no complaints out of the hundreds of knives I sold.

Stay safe, John

PS: I did a quick search on the "zero tolerance" knives and the 154cm type steel (which is used on the zero tolerance knife I looked at) is the type I don't like on my Benchmade.

 

[sheepdawg]

A buddy of mine was showing me his nice new Kershaw the other day and I flipped it over and there it was, CHINA.

I do own an American Kershaw but I won't own another.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Kershaw makes great knives that represent a terrific value. As far as where a particular knife is or isn't made that's a topic for another place and time. If you are looking to move up to one of their Zero Tolerance models you are in for a real treat. The designs are very nice and the quality is superb.

I've added a couple more since these photos were taken but suffice it to say I really like my ZTs.

Don't have any photos of my Kershaws but I've got a fair number of those so if there is a particular model of that brand you are interested in I can look and will post photos if I have one.

As far as steels go each knife maker sets there own standards are far as heat treat, they pretty much all buy their steels from the same sources such as Crucible. Spyderco may heat treat their M4 steel to one hardness level where as Benchmade may take the same steel to a different level. Same steel but you may like the way one performs more than the other. The key is finding the steel the way you want it on the knife you like.

 

[Adk.IBO]

News to me, I like American too! Probably says China on Snap-on tools also.

 

[David R]

Some say China, some do not. Be picky.

 

[Mack]

Zero Tolerance brand is U.S. made, I buy older U.S. or Japan made Kershaw' s when I find them at a decent price. Some of the China ones use some really good steel and I have been tempted but don't have any yet.

 

[Hapworth]

Got a Kershaw Ken Onion Blackout that's been a constant companion for years. Recommended.

 

[Mushki]

I have a kershaw and at the price I got it for it very well may have from China. Irregardless it holds an edge better than any knife I have owned to date.

 

[Hillbilly77]

All of my knives currently in service are Kershaw.

Buy either USA or Japan made and you won't go wrong.


As far as I'm concerned, the ones made in China can stay in China.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Another Kershaw perk:

If you are so inclined, they offer free sharpening on their knives.
You only pay to ship the knife to them. They sharpen it and ship it back on their dime.

I haven't had to use their warranty dept. yet, but I've heard great reports about their customer service.

 

[Well Armed]

I own some American mand and Chinese made knives. They've both have been great knives despite what country created them. The Chinese knives are a great value, but has less expensive (but still good) steel. The American made knives are twice the price or more, but have better steel.

 

[OS-Wiz]

My EDC: Blur, BlackWash? |  Kershaw Knives

 

[ColbyBruce]

I gave my son my Kershaw Trooper a few years ago.

I have always been pleased with the Kershaw Amphibian, this one is my fourth. I still own the first one, my son got the second one, a neighbor's child got the third one.

 

[Marshwheeling]

My Kershaw knives are some of my favorites (two Leeks, One Ton, and 1920). The Made-in-USA Leeks are right at the top of my edc rotation, but the Chinese models represent very good quality for the price, IMO.

The stainless Leek is the quintessential gentleman's knife, while the rainbow model is just the thing for protective coloration when your adventures take you to Disco Night. The only downside is that it cries out for the rainbow Sig as a companion piece.

As for machetes, I am not familiar with the Kershaw, but it has to be better than the Gerbers, a couple of more miserably useless pieces of junk I have never seen. If you are looking for something for heavy brush, however, you would have to go some to do better than the Condor 13" Golok, which has become my favorite yard tool.

 

[ColbyBruce]

To the OP, look at a Esee Junglas. Not quite 18" but it is more than enough knife for light trimming chores. This is mine, shown with my Sig P228, for size comparison.

I measured the Junglas, 10" blade, 16.5" OAL. I also own the Gerber machetes, which are nice and considerably cheaper. My Junglas was a gift.

 

[JM4151]

Their service is great on these knives. If you return a knife for a problem, they usually send you a new one. I sold a lot over the years and few returns and service is fast and excellent

 

[mrcabinet2122]

I was an "upper manager" at Kershaw back in the 80's and new Pete Kershaw from before he started the company, so here's a little history lesson.

Pete Kershaw was V.P. of Sales at Gerber when manufacturing costs started to get out of control. Pete Gerber tasked Kershaw with finding a less expensive, but still quality option. That's when Kershaw discovered Kai Cutlery - a Japanese firm with a history in making samurai swords for the Nobles. Kershaw parted ways with Gerber, started Kershaw Knives, and had Kai making all of his product.

A few years in to the venture, Pete ran in to some financial hardship and sold his company to Kai. That's where the Kershaw Knives / Kai Cutlery USA brand originates from. Kai kept Kershaw on as President and the face of the company but it was, and still is, wholly Japanese run and owned.

Back then Kai subbed-out the majority of their manufacturing. It was humorous to visit one of the plants and see Kershaw, Gerber and Buck all rolling out the same door - especially with all the state-side debates about which was better! At one time, Kai was the world's largest mfg. of disposable razors, with a capacity to crank out a million units a day.

The knives produced back then were far superior to the ones made today.I remember how we all practically gagged when the first Task Force knives came in, with their rubber polymer handles and the last two or three polishing steps eliminated. They were cheap looking and, well, they were less expensive compared to the main line. It was a necessary evolution though for the company to keep up the required sales volume.

The Japanese made Kershaws are a thing of the past. If you find one, grab it (I still have a few cases of 'em ). They started making them at their Wilsonville location in the early 90's as a way to combat the rise in the Yen/Dollar ratio that started a few years earlier and never recovered. These are far superior to the Chinese blades which, typically, are made for the mass-merchandiser market. This also holds true for the other name brands as well. Keep that in mind the next time you see one of the big name blades at Wally World at a really great price - there's a reason for that.

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.

 

[jtcarm]

Love em. All of mine are Kai.

The 1050 is my all time favorite hunting knife. Unlike most folding hunters, the grips are thick, rounded, & ergonomic. 30 years & I dunno how many deer.

I also have a Black Gulch. (3120, I think) Same size as a Buck 112, but slim enough to ride in a pants pocket as an EDC.

Then there's the little 2150, which rides nicely in my watch pocket.

Finally my one and only set of kitchen knives is a circa 1985 blade trader. 29 years of carving the Thanksgiving bird, butchering deer, filleting fish and still goin strong.

 

[David R]

Mrcabnet, thank you. I have a CRKT M16 in my pocket and many kershaw in my collection.

The one kershaw I don't understand is the one says Snap On. He told me it was a ceramic blade. It rusts and is magnetic. Its a nice knife.

David