Kershaw Analyst Exudes A Hard-Working Attitude

What’s your highest priority when choosing a pocket knife? Price? Versatility? Weight? We got our hands on the Kershaw Analyst to see where this affordable folding knife fits in the wide range of options on the market.

Kershaw Analyst Blade

The Analyst’s blade begins its life as 8Cr13MoV steel. Its highlights include easy sharpening and decent corrosion resistance. That corrosion resistance gets an extra boost and a more tactical look from Kershaw’s BlackWash coating. It earns a mid-range score for toughness and is on the lower end for edge retention. Overall, it’s a good material choice for a knife that needs to work every day while staying easy on your wallet.

The steel forms into a 3.25-inch tanto blade with its classic piercing tip and hard angle that forgoes a slicing belly. The back end of the blade features serrations. In terms of function, it’s a solid piercing and chopping shape with the serrations making rope/cord cutting easier. Without the belly of a drop point blade, it’s not as effective for slicing.

The blade quickly deploys with a finger flipper and spring assist. Jimping on the back of the spine helps secure your thumb or forefinger during use and there’s a notch cut out just in front of that.

Kershaw Analyst Handle

Kershaw turns to glass-filled nylon for the handle material, helping to keep the overall weight of this knife down to 3.5 ounces. With a length of 4.25 inches, it gives the Analyst an overall length of 7.5 inches with the blade open.

There is some light texture in select areas more for aesthetics than grip.

Inside the handle is a liner lock to secure the blade in its open position. While not as beefy as a frame lock, it avoids breaking up the look of the handle.

There’s a deep carry clip that can install in four positions. It comes on the tip-up, right-hand carry side. If you prefer something else, you can put it on the left or right for either tip-up or tip-down carry.

There’s also a lanyard hole if you prefer to tether your knife.

Kershaw Analyst Price

The MSRP on the Kershaw 2062ST is $53.99 and as usual, retail prices are a bit lower. We found it on Amazon for $36.49. Kershaw back this knife with a lifetime warranty.

The Bottom Line

The Kershaw Analyst is a great example of an affordable EDC that’s right at home on a jobsite. Its partially serrated tanto blade is highly functional and the material choices keep the price tag down. Throw one in your toolbox, another in your tacklebox, and one more in your truck for good measure. Wherever the day takes you, chances are that the Analyst is happy to go along.

Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 2062ST
• Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV with BlackWash coating
• Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon
• Blade Style: Tanto with partially serrated edge
• Opening: Spring assisted with finger flipper
• Lock: Liner
• Blade Length: 3.25 inches
• Closed Length: 4.25 inches
• Open Length: 7.5 inches
• Clip: 4-position (tip up/down, left/right)
• Weight: 3.5 ounces

The post Kershaw Analyst Folding Pocket Knife 2062ST Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Kershaw Cannonball Transforms A Premium Winner Into An Affordable EDC

Some days, it amazes me that knife brands continue to come out with new models. It seems like there are only so many ways to combine materials and shapes. Then you get something in your hands like the Kershaw Cannonball folding pocket knife and know exactly why they never quit designing.

As soon as we took the knife out of the box, we had flashbacks to the Zero Tolerance 0095—a knife Clint still carries every day after more than 6 years. We dove deeper to see if Kershaw’s 2061 can be just as epic.

Kershaw Cannonball Blade

Kershaw moves toward the upper half of blade material selection with D2 steel for the 2061. In terms of edge retention, it’s significantly better than 8Cr13MoV that comes on Kershaw’s entry-level knives but not as good as the super steels. It remains easy to sharpen and has decent corrosion resistance. Overall, it’s a step up from value steels without getting into the pricing of premium blends.

The D2 is shaped into a classic drop point design with a big belly that’s great for slicing. The spine gets some additional angling and a grind that adds visual interest before finishing off with a section of jimping. It’s 3.5 inches long and gets it no-nonsense look from a BlackWash coating. At 0.112 inches thick, it’s not the beefiest blade we’ve ever used, but it’s plenty strong enough for nearly anything.

To deploy the blade, there’s a substantial finger flipper that makes up a generous finger choil when the blade is out. The opening is spring assisted and quick.

Kershaw Cannonball Handle

The handle is stainless steel and contributes significantly to the knife’s 5.4-ounce weight. It features a similar angular design to the ZT 0950 rather than the smooth curve of the Blur. It’s 4.5 inches long and just over an inch tall, filling your hand and offering a secure grip.

Rather than sharing the scratch-hiding BlackWash coating of the blade, the handle receives a grey PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating instead.

Set into the side is a strong frame locking mechanism. While there’s nothing wrong with a good liner lock, I personally prefer the security of a frame lock and I don’t mind that it breaks up the look of the handle. It gives the knife a look that matches its strong overall personality.

On the back of the handle is a deep carry clip that comes pre-installed for a right pocket, tip-up carry. If you prefer it in your left pocket, the clip is reversible to the other side.

Kershaw Cannonball Price

The retail price of the Kershaw 2061 is $86.99 and online prices are running closer to $54.99. For a D2 knife with the look, feel, and function the Cannonball has, that’s a good price. Kershaw backs it with a limited lifetime warranty and also offers a mail-in sharpening service.

The Bottom Line

If you’re obsessed with knives, you know your favorites by name. The Zero Tolerance 0095 has been one of ours for years. The Kershaw Cannonball takes what we love about the 0095’s design, gives it a Kershaw makeover at an affordable price, and we freakin’ love it! Get your hands on this model if you’re looking for a hardworking EDC built to take whatever your day has in store for you.

Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 2061
• Blade Steel: D2 with BlackWash coating
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel with PVD coating
• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Closed Length: 4.5 inches
• Open Length: 8 inches
• Lock: Frame
• Opening: Spring assist
• Clip: Reversible deep carry
• Weight: 5.4 inches

The post Kershaw Cannonball Folding Pocket Knife Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Kershaw Flatbed Is An Affordable, Functional EDC Pocket Knife

Without even looking at the Kershaw Flatbed pocket knife, the name indicates a highly functional utility. Our knives have to work for a spot in our pockets and we wanted to know if there’s more to this one than just a name.

Kershaw Flatbed Pocket Knife Blade

Kershaw starts with 8Cr13MoV blade steel. It takes an excellent edge and while its edge retention isn’t great compared to the super steels, it’s easy to sharpen and has decent corrosion resistance. Kershaw’s Blackwash finish adds an extra layer of corrosion resistance and it’s a very attractive finish in my opinion.

Overall, it’s a respectable steel blend that we prefer over 420HC and makes for an affordable knife.

Kershaw shapes the blade into an American Tanto style that measures 3 1/8 inches. Its plain edge adds a slight belly to its leading section before hitting the classic Tanto angle. The spine of the blade introduces a curve starting at the tip before angling down and sweeping back up into the jimping.

It’s a good choice for cuts that require a solid piercing tip to get started and makes for reliable tactical use.

The blade deploys with a spring assist and finger flipper. The action is snappy and while the movement isn’t as smooth as some of the bearing-only models, it’s so quick that you won’t notice.

Kershaw Flatbed Pocket Knife Handle

The handle features a lightweight, comfortable black G10 material. Inside, there’s a liner lock that avoids disrupting the exterior look the way a frame lock does.

There’s a Blackwashed steel inlay on one side, breaking up the handle with an asymmetrical shape that adds interest.

The clip is left/right reversible and installs only in the tip-up carry position. It’s a deep carry style that only leaves ~1/4-inch of the handle exposed above your pocket.

Additional Highlights

• 4 1/8 inches closed, 7 1/4 inches open
• 3.2 ounces

Kershaw Flatbed Price

Kershaw’s price for the Flatbed is a very reasonable $39.99 and it’s running about the same at our favorite online retailers. Kershaw backs the knife with a limited lifetime warranty.

The Bottom Line

The Kershaw Flatbed folding pocket knife lives up to its name as a highly functional EDC. If you’re looking for a tough, reliable, and affordable pocket knife that’s comfortable in a wide range of applications, the Flatbed is a great choice.

Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 1376
• Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV with Blackwash finish
• Blade Style: Tanto
• Opening: Spring-assisted flinger flipper
• Handle Material: G10
• Clip: Left/right deep carry, tip-up
• Blade Length: 3 1/8 inches
• Closed Length: 4 1/8 inches
• Open Length: 7 1/4 inches
• Weight 3.2 ounces

The post Kershaw Flatbed Folding Pocket Knife Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Kershaw Reverb XL Increases Size, Shows Off Curves

The Kershaw Reverb XL folding knife is a followup to the original Reverb with some extra size. This update is more than just a simple upsized clone, though.

Pros

• Excellent value (~$30 online)
• Attractively subdued color combination
• Excellent slicing and piercing blade design
• Carabiner clip makes carrying on a bag more secure
• Titanium carbo-nitride coating improves hardness and abrasion resistance while lowering friction

Cons

• Weaker tip
• Single position pocket clip (right side, tip-up)

Reverb Vs Reverb XL

The Reverb had outdoorsmen at the heart of its design with a carabiner clip and a highly functional modified drop point blade. The Kershaw Reverb XL uses the same materials and keeps the carabiner while extending into a much curvier design.

While there are definitely some visual similarities between the two, the XL has a more elegant look. Hiding behind its sweeping curves is a blade design that you may find even more useful than the Reverb’s whether you’re on the trail or handling everyday tasks.

Blade

Materials

You’re looking at 8Cr13MoV blade steel with a titanium carbo-nitride coating. The steel is a solid mid-grade balance that’s easy to sharpen, holds an edge well, and has reasonable corrosion resistance. It’s no super-steel, but it’s a heck of a lot easier on your wallet.

The titanium carbo-nitride coating offers some additional hardness and resists abrasions well. It also has a low friction coefficient, making those slices feel easier than straight steel.

Design

With a gunmetal gray color, the blade reaches out 3″ and features a sweeping trailing point style. It has outstanding slicing characteristics and its slight downturn near the tip gives it a fantastic piercing tip as well. The downside is that its tip is more vulnerable to breaking if you drop it on a hard surface.

In terms of its ability to excel in a wide range of tasks, it’s a really great design.

Deployment

Like the smaller version, the Reverb XL is a manual opener. There’s no finger flipper, thumb studs, or bearing/spring assist. Instead of a classic nail notch, there’s a much more substantial cut in on both sides.

If you don’t have the world’s most perfect fingernails (guilty!), it’s a very easy design to open and close. You can even deploy the blade with one hand much easier than most manual opening folders.

Handle

Materials

The Kershaw Reverb XL has two different sides to its handle material choices. On the showy side, you have a blue-gray G10 handle offset with a carbon fiber overlay. The opposite side is stainless steel with a titanium nitro-carbide coating.

The combination of materials gives the knife an intriguing look and feel. It also brings down the weight from what you’d get here on a full steel handle knife. I’m pretty neutral as far as how I feel about the look. It doesn’t bother me, but it’s not going to make my top 10 list for straight visual appeal, either.

That said, I do like the color combination between the G10, carbon fiber, and coated steel. At the end of the day, this is a knife I’m carrying more for function than show.

Locking

Kershaw follows my preference of a frame lock with this model. Rather than cutting completely to the edge of the handle, it’s completely contained in the steel. The lock engages well for a manual opener and it’s easy to disengage to close it up. Like the blade deployment, it’s a design that’s pretty simple to close one-handed.

On the visual side, the coated steel matches the color of the blade, leaving the same color characteristics in both open and closed positions. There’s also a cleverly placed Kershaw logo on the inside of the lock that’s only visible when you have the knife open.

Clip

The Kershaw Reverb XL comes with a deep carry clip and it has just one position—tip-up, right-side carry. However, the big draw is the carabiner clip on the back. You can secure it to your backpack, tool bag, or a belt loop easily.

I’m the kind of guy that likes to have a knife just about everywhere, including on bags I might only grab once in a while. I really like that I can clip this one to any bag and not worry about it slipping off like a standard pocket clip can.

For the way I use it, the ability to secure the knife with the carabiner clip far outweighs the limitations of its single-position pocket clip.

Price

List price on the Kershaw Reverb XL is $49.49 and we’re seeing online prices closer to $30. That’s a pretty nice price for this one to settle into all things considered.

The Bottom Line

Kershaw’s Reverb XL starts with the same materials as the original Reverb and takes the design in a different enough direction to justify having both for your outdoor adventures or everyday tasks. The XL design is a better all-around slicing/piercing blade while the Reverb design when you’re going to introduce some prying into the mix. Its manual opening and single-position belt clip take it out of consideration for defensive carry.

Buy it if you’re looking for a knife with excellent all-around cutting characteristics and high value. Pass if you’re looking for something that doubles as defensive carry or gets into the upper echelon of steel quality.

Kershaw Reverb XL Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 1225
• Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV with TiCN coating
• Blade Length: 3″
• Handle Materials: Stainless steel with TiCN coating, G10 with carbon fiber overlay
• Clip: Carabiner, single-position deep carry (right-side, tip-up)
• Closed Length: 4.25″
• Overall Length: 7.4″
• Deployment: Manual
• Lock: Frame lock
• Weight: 2.2 ounces
• Price: $49.49 ~$30

Shop Amazon

The post Kershaw Reverb XL Folding Knife Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Kershaw XCOM Delivers a Classic Military Design in a Modern Folder

The Kershaw XCOM 3425 by Les George centers on the classic design of a WWII trench knife wrapped into a folding design. If you’re like me and love links back to what made the Greatest Generation great, this is one worth taking a closer look at.

Pros

• Classic WWII trench knife look with a folding design
• Excellent value
• Reversible deep-carry belt clip

Cons

• Partial serration would make it more functional
• Clip could be stronger

Blade

The business end of the Kershaw XCOM is a spear point with a bayonet grind. Only one side is sharpened since the opposite in is exposed in its folded position. There’s no denying its defensive carry potential with an intimidating piercing tip that draws you eyes to it. There’s not as much belly on a spear point design, so slicing isn’t as natural as it is on a drop point blade.

As a purely defensive knife and sticking to the traditional look and feel of a trench knife, there’s nothing wrong with the blade. To make it more functional for your outdoor adventures, I’d like to see a partial serration for cutting rope.

There’s no bearing or spring assist in this knife, but the blade has enough mass to still open quickly using its ambidextrous thumb disk. I prefer a finger flipper over a thumb disk. However, this one is very effective for a single motion deployment. As we’ve said way too often, sorry, Canada, you’re not allowed to carry this one thanks to the deployment.

The blade is made from Kershaw’s standard 8Cr13MoV blade steel and gets a black oxide coating. It’s easy to sharpen with reasonable corrosion resistance and decent edge retention. If you’re used to any of the “super steels”, it wears down more quickly. When you’re trying to keep the cost down, this is an excellent balance of edge performance and price.

Handle

The Kershaw XCOM 3425 has one of the most secure handles you can hope for on a folding knife. Its contoured handle reaches toward upper and lower choils at the blade with deep grooves along the way.

The handle uses glass-filled nylon for construction that gets some additional texture to secure your grip just a little bit better.

Moving to the butt of the handle, there’s a lanyard hole behind the backspacer. Right next to it is the deep carry clip that you can switch between the left and right sides. It’s a tip-up carry only. For its size, the clip has some bend to it. Keep that in mind if you’re prone to bending out your clips (guilty!).

Hiding inside the handle, the liner lock releases the blade for folding up. When you deploy the blade, it does a great job of fully engaging the blade securely. As far as liner locks go, it’s one of the best I’ve seen.

Price

The Kershaw XCOM has an MSRP of $49.49 and we’re seeing online prices closer to $30. That’s a pretty attractive price with material choices and manual deployment that help keep the price down.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a fan of military-inspired knives, the Kershaw XCOM 3425 is one to take a look at. The folding trench knife design has a place in an aspiring knife collector’s arsenal with a price you won’t mind using as an EDC. The design emphasis a defensive look at feel over the broadest possible function, but we’re not complaining.

Kershaw XCOM Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 3425
• Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
• Blade Length: 3.6″
• Opening: Manual, thumb disk
• Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon
• Closed Length: 4.4″
• Open Length: 8″
• Weight: 4.1 oz
• Clip: Reversible, tip-up
• Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
• Price: $27.80

Shop Amazon

The post Kershaw XCOM Folding Knife 3425 Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Kershaw Seguin Traces its Roots Back to the 1800s

The Kershaw Seguin is a Les George design tracing its roots back to the Texas Revolution in late 1835 to early 1836. Among many military achievements before and after, Juan Seguin accepted the formal surrender of Mexican forces at the Alamo as a representative of the Republic of Texas at the end of the conflict. There are many institutions, places, and even a WWII Liberty Ship named after him, mainly around Texas.

Pros

• Smooth, fast spring assisted opening
• Unique look
• Excellent value

Cons

• No major drawbacks

Blade

Material

Kershaw sticks with their popular 8Cr13MoV blade steel. Its easy pricing and sharpening pair with its reasonable corrosion resistance and edge retention. It’s comparable to AUS-8 but a little lower on the corrosion resistance. 440C gives you a little more edge retention but isn’t as easy to sharpen. Overall, it’s a solid choice for knives on the value side of the price scale that you don’t need a bladesmith to sharpen for you.

Design

The cutting edge is a pretty standard drop point, giving the Kershaw Seguin excellent qualities for piercing and slicing as a do-anything EDC.

The gunmetal gray PVD coating sits in pleasing contrast to the lighter gray handle.

Deployment and Locking

Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assists the opening with a smooth, fast action you initiate with the finger flipper. There are no thumb studs on this model and I’m completely okay with that since a flipper is my preference.

I also prefer a frame lock over a liner lock. I don’t mind giving up a sleeker look for a more secure lock. The Seguin’s frame lock is about as solid as they come, fully engaging the blade right out of the box.

Handle

Material

Les George selects a simple and classic stainless steel for the handle material. That gives it some heft, especially over models like the Fraxion that nearly feel weightless in your hand. Its 4.9-ounce weight is something Chris Boll and I like, but that Tom Gaige feels is too much. With our office split on this point of preference, it’s something to consider yourself.

The handle gets a bead blast finish and has a series of notches all the way around the handle. More than just decoration, they improve with your grip security. Jimping on the rear blade spine, backspacer, and rear handle also help.

Clip

First, the bad(ish) news—the clip is a single position only, securing via the backspacer. The good news is that it’s a tip-up carry that’s set for right-hand carry (sorry, lefties).

The slim clip curves up away from the handle, making it very easy to slide onto your pocket without making a fuss. Despite its thin profile, it still has pretty good strength to it.

It’s a deep carry clip (some might call it ultra-deep) that’s flush with the butt end. You can hardly tell whether you’re carrying a pen or a knife unless you really look.

Price

MSRP on the Kershaw Sequin is $59.99 and online prices currently run $31.98. That’s right on par for a knife with these materials and features.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an EDC with roots deep in the heart of Texas, it’s going to be tough to find a more attractive option than the Kershaw Seguin. Its functional design, unique look, and a nod to Juan Seguin are enough to pique plenty of interest and the price is easy enough on the wallet to put it in reach of almost any budget.

There are just two things to consider before buying. Are you good with a tip-up, right side carry only clip? Do you like a little heft in your knife? If you answer yes to both, give your freedom-loving self an EDC treat with the Seguin!

Kershaw Seguin Folding Knife Key Features

• SpeedSafe assisted open
• Flipper
• Frame lock
• Single-position deep-carry pocket clip (right, tip-up)
• Custom pivot and backspacer

Kershaw Seguin Folding Knife Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 3490
• Steel: 8Cr13MoV, gray PVD coating
• Handle: Stainless steel, bead-blasted finish
• Blade Length: 3.1 in. (8 cm)
• Closed Length: 4.25 in. (10.8 cm)
• Overall Length: 7.25 in. (18.3 cm)
• Weight: 4.9 oz. (139 g)
• Price: $31.98

Shop Amazon

The post Kershaw Seguin Folding Knife Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The Kershaw Duojet is one of the latest spring-assisted knives in their late 2018 lineup. From design to price, there are plenty of talking points, so let’s jump in.

Pros

• Excellent value with current online prices
• Very attractive, sleek design
• Finger flipper and thumb stud opening appeals to both preferences
• Secure frame lock

Cons

• Single position, tip-down clip leaves no other carry options

Blade

The Kershaw Duojet starts with their standard mid-grade 8Cr13MoV steel and shapes it into a standard drop point blade. The steel is a good balance of edge retention, ease of sharpening, and corrosion resistance. Kershaw improves the corrosion resistance and defines the look with a titanium-nitride coating.

The 3.25-inch drop point blade features a decent piercing tip followed by a prominent belly to help with slicing.

The coating gives the blade a gray finish rather than silver or black. It’s a theme that will run through the entire design.

Handle

The Kershaw Duojet handle is made from stainless steel and comes to a more angular peak on the back. This departure from a steady curve gives it a profile that you might easily mistake for a Zero Tolerance model.

The steel enjoys the same titanium-nitride coating as the blade and completes the full gray color scheme. Over the non-slip side are two carbon fiber inlays that contrast with the gray in a classy style and give the handle a subtle holographic look.

On the opposite side, the single position deep carry clip highlights a more utilitarian look. The clip sits in a tip-down carry position that you can’t move. That’s going to be an obstacle for you like to carry a knife with defense in mind and want the quick deployment that tip-up carry promotes.

Deployment and Locking

Now we come to where (I assume) the Kershaw Duojet gets its name. You get the best of both deployment worlds with a combination of a finger flipper and thumb studs. Personally, I’m a finger flipper guy and I don’t mind the thumb studs hanging out on the blade as decorations.

If you’re a thumb stud fan, this one is a mixed bag. I initially thought that the finger flipper might get in the way of a smooth thumb stud deployment, but that hasn’t been the case at all.

The issue is for Southpaws. The clip gets in the way of the left thumb stud a bit. It’s certainly still possible to open the knife, but you’re going to have to work with it for a bit and develop a feel for working around the clip.

A solid frame lock takes up 2/3 of the handle and this is really my preference between frame and liner locks. It’s a more secure feel and I like the tougher look of a handle with a frame lock.

Pricing

With an MSRP of $47.24, the Kershaw Duojet comes off as a nice mid-priced, mid-grade pocket knife. However, online prices are just over $25* right now, and that’s pretty much a steal for this build. If the single clip position isn’t a deal-breaker for you, buy several of these – one for your truck, one for your toolbox, and one for your tackle box.

*Price at the time of writing (early January 2019)

The Bottom Line

The Kershaw Duojet is a subtly handsome assisted folder that’s an excellent value. It’s an easy recommendation for an inexpensive EDC as long as you’re okay with a single position clip.

Kershaw Duojet Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 8300
• Blade Length: 3.25 inches
• Open Length: 7.75 inches
• Closed Length: 4.5 inches
• Deployment Mechanism: SpeedSafe spring assist with finger flipper and thumb studs
• Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
• Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV with titanium-nitride coating
• Handle Material: Stainless steel with titanium-nitride coating and carbon fiber inlays
• Clip Positions: 1 – tip down
• Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Price: $47.24 (MSRP), $25.78 (Amazon)

Shop Amazon

The post Kershaw Duojet Spring Assisted Knife Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Ever fall for a really good-looking girl who’s taken and then find out she has a sister that’s just as hot? That’s pretty much how I feel about the Kershaw Natrix Carbon Fiber. It’s inspired by the high-end Zero Tolerance 0770, and it is one sexy knife. If you’re into copper, Kershaw also introduced the Kershaw Natrix – Copper. That knife adds a 100% copper handle that will develop its own custom patina over time.

Pros

• Visually attractive design
• Very functional design
• Lightweight

Cons

• A little more expensive than other knives with similar blade steel

Editor’s Note: This article originally published on September 25, 2018. It has been updated to include the new Natrix Copper model.

Blade

Kershaw turns to their ever-popular 8Cr13MoV steel for the blade. It takes a fine edge with good corrosion resistance but trades off some edge retention. That means it sharpens quickly and easily but loses that sharpness faster than harder steel. As Kershaw’s go-to steel for this class, 8Cr13MoV makes for a good balance at this price. As mentioned below, the Kershaw Copper Natrix swaps out this steel for upgraded D2.

Part of the knife’s visual appeal lies in the blade coating. The titanium nitride coating on the Kershaw Natrix Carbon Fiber comes through as more of a gunmetal gray as opposed to the more common black oxide.

The blade features a drop point design that dives down from the back somewhere between a standard drop point and a sheepsfoot. The shape gives it a shallower and longer belly but with a lifted tip that still has the angle and centerline of a traditional drop point.

Handle

The Natrix continues Kershaw’s trend of lightweight folders by sticking with a G10 handle and carbon fiber overlay. The carbon fiber adds both contrast and texture against the blue/gray G10. The oversize pivot also adds a bit more visual interest.

Sleek curves in all the right places form naturally against your hand. With a forward grip, it’s a near-perfect fit with a peak that settles right in where your thumb joins your hand. The lower side of the handle also fits snugly with a large finger choil to help keep your hand from slipping forward.

Clip

The small, deep carry-style clip works well. There’s room on the handle for it to be larger, but its size maintains a more symmetrical look to the carbon fiber handle. The clip flips for left or right carry, but with only tip-up positioning.

The clip size may concern some. However, we found it to provide a reasonably strong hold.

Deployment and Lock

The Kershaw Natrix Carbon Fiber uses a KVT bearing system with a finger flipper for blade deployment. Even though it’s not spring assisted, the action is snappy and sure.

The sub-frame lock tackles a couple of areas well. Primarily, it does its job as a solid lock to keep the blade from folding accidentally. It comes just shy of seating fully under the blade, but there’s still more material securing it than thinner liner locks.

Visually, it adds some exotic intrigue that draws in attention. Its shape counters the curve of the blade in a way that makes you not care if you get caught staring. Aside from weight reduction and aesthetics, we didn’t find a functional benefit to the hole in the middle. We did like how it allowed some of the interior G10 blue to pass through.

Pricing

Making the carbon fiber upgrade adds some price over the original Kershaw Natrix. MSRP is $69.99, and you can find it online closer to $45. That’s a little on the high side for this blade material, but certainly not a surprise give the handle materials. Plus, it’s simply a great-looking knife.

Kershaw Natrix Copper 7006CU

The Kershaw Natrix Copper (model 7006CU) adds a neat twist to the line. The knife features a bead-blasted copper handle. Over time, that copper—as with all true copper products—will develop a nice patina. That means your Natrix Copper knife will be unique to you and not look exactly like any other. While the handle material is the big deal, Kershaw also upgraded to a stonewashed D2 steel blade on this USA-made model. The blade finish looks great—as you’d expect. It should also hold an edge a bit longer than the 8Cr13MoV. The blade and knife also come in a bit smaller overall. The Natrix Copper measures just 6.4 inches long with a 2.75-inch blade. Though smaller, the copper handle adds some weight to the knife, bringing it up to 3.2 ounces. We actually felt that the additional heft gave it a more substantial feel for its size.

The Bottom Line

The Kershaw Natrix Carbon Fiber and Natrix Copper are some of the best-looking folding knives you’ll find in Kershaw’s current lineup. That alone is enough of a selling point at this price, but it takes things further with an excellent ergonomic and functional design. Both have truly unique features, with the Natrix Copper winning out for those want a smaller design and don’t mind the additional weight.

Kershaw Natrix Carbon Fiber Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 7007CF
• Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV with titanium nitride coating
• Handle Material: G10 with carbon fiber overlay
• Deployment: Flipper with bearing assist
• Lock: Sub-frame lock
• Clip: Deep carry, left/right reversible, tip up
• Blade Length: 3.25″
• Closed Length: 4.25″
• Open Length: 7.5″
• Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Price: $69.99 $45.59 (Amazon)

Kershaw Natrix Copper Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 7006CU
• Blade Steel: D2, stonewashed finish
• Handle Material: Copper with bead-blasted finish
• Deployment: Flipper with bearing assist
• Lock: Sub-frame lock
• Clip: Deep carry, left/right reversible, tip up
• Blade Length: 2.75″
• Closed Length: 3.6″
• Open Length: 6.4″
• Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Price: $94.49 (Amazon)

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The post Kershaw Natrix Carbon Fiber Folding Knife Review – Now in Copper! appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The first person to point out the Kershaw Faultline told me she’s irrationally in love with the knife. I took one look and agree completely. But is it really an irrational love? Or is it just a great design?

Blade Design

The Kershaw Faultline starts with the brand’s popular 8Cr13MoV blade steel. It’s a good balance of sharpening ease that takes a fine edge. Its biggest drawback is that it won’t hold an edge terribly long, but that’s offset by a price that’s easy on your wallet.

The blade takes on a long clip point across the top that adds a decent piercing tip to go along with its broad slicing belly. A combination of two jimping styles covers the majority of the blade’s top, giving you some extra grip security when you shift your thumb forward on the blade.

Finally, Kershaw gives the blade a black oxide coating that offers a tactical look with some improvement in corrosion resistance.

What is Black Oxide Coating? Ask the Pros

Handle Design

A glass-filled nylon handle takes on an olive drab color that balances well with the blade finish. It gets a rubber overmold that’s soft enough to feel good in your hand and aid in securing your grip.

Inside, a liner lock slides over well into the blade base where there’s no chance of failure. Okay, so our legal department doesn’t like me saying “no chance of failure,” but it’s a more solid lock than some of the knives that have come through our office.

Considering the handle on its own, I’d really like it to extend out another inch. But the combination of blade and handle is so perfectly balanced on this design that I don’t want to mess with the knife’s characteristics as a whole.

Deployment

The Kershaw Faultline takes advantage of the KVT ball bearing system and a finger flipper. It’s not as fast as a spring assist, but it’s very quick and smooth. I prefer the finger flipper over thumb studs on most of my knives, but it’s more critical to me on a bearing knife like this one.

Clip

The deep carry clip has just one position – right side, tip up. That makes deployment easy for us righties, but might be an obstacle for you Southpaws.

Despite the relatively small size, the clip is stronger than it looks. It’s so strong that I had a hard time clipping it to my pocket until I gave it a slight bend out.

Price and Value

With a $39.99 MSRP and online prices running just over $25, this might be one of the best values running around. There are other options with similar material selections, it’s just that the Kershaw Faultline is such an all-around functional design that it’s at home in a variety of settings.

The Bottom Line

It’s hard to find much fault with the Kershaw Faultline given its price point and utilitarian design. You can certainly make the argument for better material choices, but you won’t find them in a $25 knife.

Kershaw Faultline Folding Knife Specifications

• Model: Kershaw 8760
• Blade Length: 3″
• Open Length: 7″
• Closed Length: 4″
• Balde Material: 8Cr13MoV with black oxide coating
• Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon with rubber overmold
• Deployment Mechanism: KVT ball bearing with flipper
• Carry Positions: Right side, tip up only
• Weight: 3.4 oz.
• MSRP: $39.99
• Online Price: $25.40 (Amazon)

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The post Kershaw Faultline 8760 Folding Knife Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

It should come as no surprise that Pro Tool Reviews would review a set of kitchen knives. While the application is different, blade design, build quality, and balance all play the same roles. Only the overall design and intended use differ. We recently acquired the Kershaw Emerson 3-Piece Kitchen Knife Set for review. Kershaw refers to this as the Emerson 3-piece Cook’s set, and they most certainly belong in a residential kitchen.

[pullquote]”It must cut and it must be comfortable. Any function or design feature that does not add to those attributes simply makes the knife less functional.” – Ernest Emerson[/pullquote]

No strangers to the work of Ernest Emerson, we did our first Kershaw Emerson knife review back in 2015. He invented the Wave auto-opening system which opens the knife as it leaves the pocket. While the Kershaw Emerson kitchen knives don’t require an open system, other ergonomic design elements remain. Ergonomics have always played a huge role in Emerson knives. This set applies those principles to the kitchen.

Kershaw Emerson Kitchen Knives Build Quality and Design

The Emerson 3-piece Cook’s set includes three staples of the kitchen: a 7-3/4 inch chef’s knife, a 4-1/4 inch paring knife, and a 7-1/4 inch bread knife.

The blades are DIN 1.4116 stainless steel. This is European steel whose components seems to fall in the neighborhood of 420HC. It’s a mid-grade stainless sharpened to a 16° cutting angle on both sides. Kershaw claims the knife uses a full-tang across the length of the handle, but it’s hidden. The glass-filled nylon handles are textured along the sides and smooth across the top and bottom.

Kershaw Emerson Chef’s Knife

The Kershaw Emerson chef’s knife weighs just 5.1 oz. It feels very light compared to the 7.3 oz. of our daily-use Wolfgang Puck chef’s knife. It also feels quite a bit forward-heavy, though this doesn’t negatively affect chopping. The Emerson chef’s knife stays sharp all the way to the handle end due to the absence of any bolster. That means you want to be careful when you grab forward of the handle. If you slide under the corner of the blade you’ll get nicked.

The height, shape, and length of the blade stayed true to what we expected from a chef’s knife, and it did well in both slicing and cutting. We tested it on greens, tomatoes, scallions—even watermelon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl_T2x4l_ac/

Kershaw Emerson Paring Knife

I liked the thumb rise on the pairing knife. There’s no jimping, but it gives you more control if you’re cutting small potatoes or similar-sized vegetables or fruit. It also helps with not having a thick bolster area near the handle. The super-light Kershaw Emerson paring knife weighs just 1.4 oz. compared to the 2.6 oz. of our WP knife.

As mentioned, there’s no real bolster on these knives. Some knives are ground down, like the one pictured above, creating a nice rigid bolster at the top of the handle. The blades on these Kershaw Emerson kitchen knives simply disappear into the handle.

Kershaw Emerson Serrated Bread Knife

The 4.1 oz. Kershaw Emerson serrated bread knife feels light in the hand. The serrations bite more aggressively on the cutting stroke than the back-stroke. I noticed quite a bit of deflection on the blade of this knife in particular. That means it easily bends sideways when you push against it. Based on the weight and where it moves, it feels as if the full tang design must utilize a narrower piece of the steel blade. It also has a narrower and thinner profile than the larger chef’s knife.

The knife functioned well for slicing through whole bread loaves and even tomatoes. We love to get sourdough bread and dip it into a hot fondue of fontina cheese mixed with garlic cloves and wine. It makes for a great Friday-night appetizer.

Kershaw Emerson 3-Pc Kitchen Knife Set Specs

• Steel: DIN 1.4116, satin finish
• Handle: Glass-filled nylon
• Blade Length: Bread 7.25 in., Chef’s 7.75 in., Paring 4.25 in.
• Overall Length: Bread 12.5 in., Chef’s 13.25 in., Paring 8 in.
• Weight (no cover): Bread 4.1 oz., Chef’s 5.1 oz., Paring 1.4 oz.
• Price: TBA

Conclusion

While these knives get the job done, don’t expect them to perform like more expensive kitchen knives. For that, check out some of KAI USA’s higher-end models. The handles on these Emerson Cook’s Set knives all have a central bump as opposed to a single smooth arc. This makes them a tad more ergonomic when you press forward using your front fingers.

The blades on these knives measure about half the thickness of my everyday kitchen set. That accounts for the slight imbalance I feel when using them. It also explains the blade deflection. I would like to see a model with a true bolster at the top of the handle. I also tend to like a more significant tang that runs through the handle. It balances the blade better and makes for a more stable knife overall.

With that said, the Kershaw Emerson 3-Piece Kitchen Knife Set would make a great gift. These would be good for someone starting off their kitchen knife collection. Kershaw also has a great reputation for quality, and we’d expect these knives to hold up well over time. Considering they come with a limited lifetime warranty, they should.

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