Kershaw 2-Piece Starter Set, Spring Assist Knives Review

When you are carrying a Kershaw knife (or two of them) you can be sure that you are carrying the real thing, which means that you get value and plenty of it. Kershaw’s most inexpensive models are impressive, because everything about a Kershaw is solid, crafted, and reliable. You can expect their award-winning technologies and advanced materials to the solid sound of the blade lockup to always stand by your side and get the job done.

Kershaw is so confident in their products that they back each of their knives for the life of its original owner against any defects in materials and construction with their famous Limited Lifetime Warranty. And yes, it does seem crazy that people would own their knives for an entire lifetime, but they do. That’s how quality Kershaw’s tools are.

Kershaw was founded in 1974 to design and manufacture tools that knife users would be proud to own, carry, and use. This has meant that every Kershaw knife must be of the highest quality. Whether it’s a hardworking pocket knife, a hunting knife, or a special collectors’ edition, Kershaw always choses appropriate, high-quality materials and is dedicated to intensive craftsmanship. Along with extremely tight tolerances and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, this ensures that Kershaw knives provide a lifetime of performance.

When Kershaw is talking about their commitment to innovation, they say, “Kershaw pioneered the use of many of the technologies and advanced materials that are today standard in the knife industry. Our SpeedSafe assisted opening knives were first-to-market. We introduced the concept of knives with interchangeable blades in our Blade Traders. Recently, our Composite Blade technology, which combines tow steels into one blade, gives knife users the best of both worlds by enabling us to use steel known for edge retention on the edge and steel known for strength on the spine. And we will keep on innovating, bringing new and better technologies and materials to today’s knife making industry and knife-using public.”

Kershaw Knives is a brand of Kai USA Ltd, a member of the Kai Group. For over 100 years, Kai has been Japan’s premier blade producer. Kai takes an innovative approach to product development based on the close coordination of research and development, production, marketing, and distribution functions. While many of Kershaw’s quality products are made in their 55,000 sq. ft. facility in Tualatin, Oregon, they also draw on Kai’s resources to pride the very best for the customer.

Kershaw says, “If this is your first Kershaw, be prepared. You just may be back for more. If it’s not your first Kershaw, welcome back.”

Today we will be talking about the Kershaw 2-Piece starter set, which is a set of two spring assisted knives.

 

The Blades:

Both of the knives are made out of 4Cr13MoV steel. This is a value-priced steel that is extremely stain resistant. This steel is going to be very easy to sharpen, because of the softness of the steel. However, that also means that it is going to lose its edge more quickly than your typical blade steel. This steel is very corrosion resistant, but you will need to keep up on your maintenance to keep it in top shape, because it is a value priced steel. The biggest advantage that this steel boasts is its low cost. You get a steel that is going to be able to perform for a very low cost. This steel will not compare to most of the newer steels that are around though, because many of those have been specifically made for knives.

The first blade has been coated with a black oxide coating. This is when a chemical bath converts the surface of the steel to magnetite. Kershaw uses this coating on some blades, mainly for appearance, though it does add some corrosion resistance.

The second blade has been finished with a black oxide coating and then a BlackWash Finish. This is a stonewashed finish that has had an acid treatment that darkens the blade before it undergoes the stonewashing. The acid oxidation enhances a blade’s rust resistance by placing a stable oxide barrier between the steel and the environment. A very positive benefit of this finish is that it makes the blade low maintenance and preserves the original look of the blade overtimes. Plus, this finish hides the scratches and smudges that can occur with use overtime.

Both of the blades in this set have been ground into a drop point blade shape. This is the most popular blade shape that you are going to find in the market today. It is both versatile and very tough—capable of taking on almost any task: from hunting, to self-defense, to your basic everyday tasks, this blade shape is the ideal shape for all of them. The blade shape is formed by having the spine of the blade run straight from the handle to the tip of the knife in a slow curving form. This creates a lowered point, which is what makes this blade shape so easily controllable and perfect for hunting as well as fine tip work. The lowered tip is also broad, and it is the broadness of this knife blade shape that gives the blade the coveted strength of the drop point. This strength is what allows you to use this knife in almost any setting—tactical, survival, and again your everyday tasks. One of the reasons that this is such a versatile shape is because of the large belly, or cutting edge, that it boasts. This large edge is ideal for slicing, which is most likely going to be your typical tasks with either of these knives. One of the only drawbacks to this blade shape is that because the point is so broad, your ability to pierce or stab is reduced greatly.

Both of the knives feature plain edges which give cleaner cuts, are easier to sharpen, and are perfect for push cuts.

The Handles:

The handle on both knives are made out of stainless steel. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Most stainless steels also have additional elements alloyed in it to enhance specific characteristics. Stainless steels contain chromium to enable them to withstand rust. Stainless steel provides excellent durability and resistance to corrosion, but it is not particularly lightweight. Stainless steel handles can be rather slippery as well, so the manufacturer has to be sure to incorporate etching or ridges to provide the required friction. The pros of having a stainless steel knife handle is that they will be strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion. Some of the disadvantages of having a stainless steel handle is that they are heavy and they can be slippery, depending on how they are finished.

The first knife’s handle matches the blade with a black oxide coating. Just like on the blade, the finish is there to add to the aesthetic, although it does increase the corrosion resistance slightly. This handle is two-toned, with a silver middle streak and the edges are black. The ergonomics will fit comfortably in your hand—there is a shallow, elongated finger groove. The butt of the handle is squared off and does sport a lanyard hole.

The second knife’s handle has been finished just like the blade as well: it has a black oxide coating with a BlackWash finish. The BlackWash finish there for aesthetic—giving the handle a rugged, well-worn look. The coating finish on both of the handles will prolong the life of the blade as well. The handle on this second knife is more unique. The face of the handle has been honeycombed to add plenty of texture. This texture will give you fantastic grip in most environments. The spine of the handle curves slightly. The bottom of the handle also has a gentle curve. The butt of the handle is curved and also features a lanyard hole.

The Pocket Clips:

The pocket clip on the first knife is black with Kershaw stamped across the middle. The clip is held in place by two small black screws that match the rest of the hardware on this knife. The clip will keep this first knife securely in your pocket throughout your day-to-day tasks.

The pocket clip on the second knife has also been BlackWashed. The clip is kept in place by two small screws that have also been BlackWashed, which matches all of the hardware on this knife. This is a deep carry pocket clip, which means that your knife will be more secure in your pocket no matter how much you move around. Plus, you will be able to better conceal this knife in your pocket.

 

The Mechanisms:

Both of the knives feature a frame lock mechanism as well as the SpeedSafe spring assist system. Both of the knives also feature a thumb stud as well as a flipper.

In a frame lock knife, the knife handle consists of two plates of material on either side of the blade. When the knife is opened, the metal side of the frame, the lock bar, butts up against the backend of the blade and prevents the blade from closing. To close a frame lock knife, the user pushes the frame to the side, unblocking the blade and folds the blade back into the handle. Like locking liner knives, frame locks are manufactured so that the locking side of the frame is angled toward the interior of the knife, creating a bias toward the locked position. Both the blade tang and the lock bar are precisely angled so they fit together for a secure, reliable lockup. The thickness of the frame material blocking the blade open makes the frame lock extremely sturdy.

The SpeedSafe is a patented system that assist eh user to smoothly open any SpeedSafe knife with a manual push on the blade’s thumb stud or pull back on the flipper. The heart of SpeedSafe is its torsion bar. Closed, the torsion bar helps prevent the knife from being opened by “gravity;” it creates a bias toward the closed position. To open the knife, the user applies manual pressure to the thumb stud or flipper to overcome the resistance of the torsion ar. This enables the torsion bar to move along a track in the handle and assist you to open the knife. The blade opens smoothly and locks into positon, ready for use.

Because this is not an automatic knife, it does not fall under the same strict laws as an automatic knife. However, laws are always changing, so still make sure that you are aware of your local knife laws.

The thumb stud assists your opening by pushing against the thumb stud and flipping the knife open and into place. The flipper on each knife is a small protrusion that you pull back on to flip the knife open and into place. The benefit of the flipper is that it turns into a finger guard when the knife is opened.

 

The Specs:

The first knife has a blade that measures in at 3.25 inches long, with a handle that measures in at 4.5 inches long. When the knife is opened, it measures in at an overall length of 7.75 inches long.

The second knife has a blade that measures in at 2.75 inches long, with a handle that measure sin at 3.75 inches long. When the blade is opened, it measures in at an overall length of 6.5 inches long.

 

Conclusion:

This limited edition Kershaw 2-Piece Starter Set takes the guess work out of shopping with its all-inclusive package. The steels are budget steels, which means that they will be easy to sharpen although you will have to sharpen it quite often. The steel is extremely rust resistant on both of the knives. One of the knives has a coated finish, which is there for aesthetic. The other knife has a BlackWash finish that creates a rugged look. Both knives boast the SpeedSafe spring assist system for rapid deployment. Pick up this pack today at BladeOps and be ready to take on the world.