Kershaw Blur.
Dec 18, 2014 4:49:43 GMT
Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 18, 2014 4:49:43 GMT
Introduction:
Hello again! Today I'll be sharing my Kershaw Blur with the group. This is a fairly well-storied knife, and I had wanted one for quite a while. I'm a huge fan of Kershaw, and like everything I've ever gotten from them. I got this one off of Amazon.com, for the sum of $53.50 shipped. I got it quickly and in the promised condition.
Full Disclosure:
Paid full price, not being compensated, not affiliated with seller or manufacturer.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 3 and 3/8"
Blade Material: Sandvik 14C28N
Handle Length: 4 and 1/2"
Handle Material: Aluminum
Weight: 3.9oz
Country of Manufacture: USA
Initial Impressions:
Pretty effing rad.
Blade/Opening:
The blade is 3 and 3/8" long. It is made of Sandvik 14C28N, which is a stainless steel, with good edge holding properties, good corrosion resistance and is fairly easy to sharpen. It takes a very keen edge. The blade is in a drop point configuration, with a nice belly for great shearing. It is coated in Tungsten DLC black coating, which in my experience is fairly hard-wearing. The edge is nicely even, and is very sharp. Unfortunately, the coating isn't as perfectly even as on my other coated Kershaw's. It is very difficult to see in images, but I can see some areas that look like they received less coating, leading to a slightly uneven appearance in certain lights(such as those that anal-retentive A holes like me view them in, hahaha). It doesn't detract from the performance, nor has it shown any wear with the light-duty I've put it through, but I can see it. Even when it's out of sight, I see it, hahaha.
As mentioned, the shape and sharpness are great, and very much tuned to the type of uses I have for my EDC blades.
Opening is achieved via angled thumb-studs. The studs are ridged for better traction.
This is a Speedsafe equipped knife, so opening is very fast and easy.
Handle/Lockup:
Handle is made of black anodized aluminum. Trac-Tek inserts are added to improve grip. The clip is identical to those used on the whole Ken Onion line from Kershaw. Unfortunately, it does not perform well on this model. It sits too flush with the handle, and when that is combined with the grip-tape finish of the inserts it serves to make it difficult to both attach and remove from the pocket, as well as being extremely harsh on the material.
Lockup is achieved via inset steel liners. It is very solid.
Centering is good, but not perfect.
Jimping:
Very slight, ineffective jimping is found on the thumb-ramp area, with much better jimping found on the engaging area of the liner.
Final Thoughts:
Well, I'm a bit torn. It's a quality knife. Well designed and great for its intended uses. Its weight is negligible for its size and materials. It performs fantastic. Here are my issues with it.
1. Noticeable in pocket:
It's a larger knife, and its width makes it somewhat bulky.
2. Pocket clip:
As I mentioned, it is aesthetically okay, but functionally flawed. I own four Leeks and a Shallot, and it works very well on every other Ken Onion designed model I own. It needs to angle slightly farther from the handle. It is much too tight, and is not a design that lends well to adjusting. It is both difficult to put in and take out of the pocket, and tears up the material.
3. Handle width/ shallow clip:
Like the Spyderco Manix 2, this is a fairly wide knife. This would be fine, except that the pocket clip prevents me from getting a good grip on the handle when I am closing it. To explain, on my right hand my index and middle finger only go to the first joint. Because of this, I rely on my ring finger and pinky to get the grip on the knife when one handed closing. I use the pocket clip to get a good hold, and on this model, with the clip so close to the handle, I cannot get a satisfactory hold on it when closing. This is a very personal, specific issue, and would not likely be a nuisance to the vast majority of the population. However, it is to me, hahaha.
So, do I think this is a perfect knife? No.
Is it a great knife? Yes.
Is it worth the price I paid? Yes.
Aside from the less-than-perfect blade coating and the damned pocket-clip, this is a superb knife. It's well put together, is very solid and cuts like nobodies business.
Thanks for reading, and if the spirit moves you, feel free to comment or question. Just don't question me. I am infallible.
Hello again! Today I'll be sharing my Kershaw Blur with the group. This is a fairly well-storied knife, and I had wanted one for quite a while. I'm a huge fan of Kershaw, and like everything I've ever gotten from them. I got this one off of Amazon.com, for the sum of $53.50 shipped. I got it quickly and in the promised condition.
Full Disclosure:
Paid full price, not being compensated, not affiliated with seller or manufacturer.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 3 and 3/8"
Blade Material: Sandvik 14C28N
Handle Length: 4 and 1/2"
Handle Material: Aluminum
Weight: 3.9oz
Country of Manufacture: USA
Initial Impressions:
Pretty effing rad.
Blade/Opening:
The blade is 3 and 3/8" long. It is made of Sandvik 14C28N, which is a stainless steel, with good edge holding properties, good corrosion resistance and is fairly easy to sharpen. It takes a very keen edge. The blade is in a drop point configuration, with a nice belly for great shearing. It is coated in Tungsten DLC black coating, which in my experience is fairly hard-wearing. The edge is nicely even, and is very sharp. Unfortunately, the coating isn't as perfectly even as on my other coated Kershaw's. It is very difficult to see in images, but I can see some areas that look like they received less coating, leading to a slightly uneven appearance in certain lights(such as those that anal-retentive A holes like me view them in, hahaha). It doesn't detract from the performance, nor has it shown any wear with the light-duty I've put it through, but I can see it. Even when it's out of sight, I see it, hahaha.
As mentioned, the shape and sharpness are great, and very much tuned to the type of uses I have for my EDC blades.
Opening is achieved via angled thumb-studs. The studs are ridged for better traction.
This is a Speedsafe equipped knife, so opening is very fast and easy.
Handle/Lockup:
Handle is made of black anodized aluminum. Trac-Tek inserts are added to improve grip. The clip is identical to those used on the whole Ken Onion line from Kershaw. Unfortunately, it does not perform well on this model. It sits too flush with the handle, and when that is combined with the grip-tape finish of the inserts it serves to make it difficult to both attach and remove from the pocket, as well as being extremely harsh on the material.
Lockup is achieved via inset steel liners. It is very solid.
Centering is good, but not perfect.
Jimping:
Very slight, ineffective jimping is found on the thumb-ramp area, with much better jimping found on the engaging area of the liner.
Final Thoughts:
Well, I'm a bit torn. It's a quality knife. Well designed and great for its intended uses. Its weight is negligible for its size and materials. It performs fantastic. Here are my issues with it.
1. Noticeable in pocket:
It's a larger knife, and its width makes it somewhat bulky.
2. Pocket clip:
As I mentioned, it is aesthetically okay, but functionally flawed. I own four Leeks and a Shallot, and it works very well on every other Ken Onion designed model I own. It needs to angle slightly farther from the handle. It is much too tight, and is not a design that lends well to adjusting. It is both difficult to put in and take out of the pocket, and tears up the material.
3. Handle width/ shallow clip:
Like the Spyderco Manix 2, this is a fairly wide knife. This would be fine, except that the pocket clip prevents me from getting a good grip on the handle when I am closing it. To explain, on my right hand my index and middle finger only go to the first joint. Because of this, I rely on my ring finger and pinky to get the grip on the knife when one handed closing. I use the pocket clip to get a good hold, and on this model, with the clip so close to the handle, I cannot get a satisfactory hold on it when closing. This is a very personal, specific issue, and would not likely be a nuisance to the vast majority of the population. However, it is to me, hahaha.
So, do I think this is a perfect knife? No.
Is it a great knife? Yes.
Is it worth the price I paid? Yes.
Aside from the less-than-perfect blade coating and the damned pocket-clip, this is a superb knife. It's well put together, is very solid and cuts like nobodies business.
Thanks for reading, and if the spirit moves you, feel free to comment or question. Just don't question me. I am infallible.