Kershaw Dunbar Assisted Knife Review

Kershaw, and their fans, know that there really is not much else that is like a Kershaw. They have award-winning technologies and advanced materials that make it so when you are carrying a Kershaw, you know that you’re carrying the real thing.

So what exactly is the real thing? Well, Kershaw describes it as value and lots of it. They make sure that even with their inexpensive models, you get a lot of bang for your buck. This is because everything about a Kershaw is solid, crafted, and reliable. They say, “That’s why we can back each of our knives for the life of its original owner against any defects in materials and construction with our famous Limited Lifetime Warranty. And yes, people do own their Kershaw knives for a lifetime. (Although, occasionally, a Kershaw has been known to get accidentally left at a campsite, lost in the garage, or permanently borrowed by a friend.) The point is, you can always look to Kershaw for every day carrying knives that can tame any cardboard box and liberate any purchase from its plastic packaging, sporting knives that make hunting, fishing, watersports, and camping even better, work knives that won’t let you down, and tactical knives that ensure you’re ready for anything.”

Kershaw was founded in 1974 with a mission 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 pocketknife, a hunting knife, or a special collectors’ edition, Kershaw always chooses 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.

Kershaw also has a commitment to innovation and has pioneered the use of many of the technologies and advanced materials that are today the standard in the knife industry. So you know that when you get a Kershaw, you are getting the highest quality and newest technologies of each part.

Today we will be discussing the Kershaw Duck Commander Dunbar.

 

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of 3Cr13 steel. This is a value-priced high-chromium stainless steel. This steel is not going to do much more than get the job done. It is going to resist corrosion enough, but you will want to clean and dry it ASAP after each use. It will hold an edge enough, but you are going to need to sharpen this more than you would need to sharpen other knives. This is a drawback, because when you are on a hunting trip, you want the sharpness to last as long as possible. This is not going to be the case, so you should be prepared to sharpen it in the field. This steel has been hardened to a 54-56HRC.

The blade has been finished with a bead blasted finish. This finish is created by having glass or ceramic beads blasted at the steel at a high pressure. This results in an even grey finish. A bead blasted finish reduces reflection and glare due to its even matte surface. The blasting also creates an increased surface area and micro abrasions, which both make the steel more prone to rust and corrosion. A blasted blade can rust overnight if left in a very humid environment. This is a drawback for a hunting knife, because the knife is going to get messy often. You will just need to be prepared to wipe it down often, make sure it is completely dry before putting it away, and oil it often as well.

The blade has been carved into a clip point blade shape. This is one of the more popular blade shapes that is used on the market today. This is a great all-purpose blade shape. While it is most commonly found on the Bowie knife, you are also going to find it on plenty of pocket knives. The blade shape is formed by having the back edge of the knife run straight from the handle and then stop. At this point, it will turn and continue to the point of the knife. This area looks as if it has been “cut-out” and can be either straight or curved, but on the Dunbar, it is straight. This section of the blade is also referred to as the “clip” which is where the blade shape got its name. Because of the clip, the point is lowered, which means that you are going to have more control when you are using this knife. This means that you will be less likely to nick an organ or ruin the meat when you are dressing your game. The clip point is built to excel at piercing, which means that it is going to have less drag and quicker stabbing. Clip point blades have a very large belly area that makes slicing a piece of cake; a crucial characteristic for a hunting knife. Clip points really only have one big disadvantage, which is its relatively narrow tip. This does cause it to be weaker and can break more easily, especially when used on harder targets.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of green glass-filled nylon. Glass-filled nylon, or GFN, is a nylon synthetic polymer is reinforced with glass threads for increased strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability combined with excellent wear resistance.

GFN is practically indestructible because the nylon fibers have been arranged haphazardly throughout the material. This means that no matter which way the material is stressed, it is going to remain strong and not begin to break apart. This means that GFN is resistant to bending and abrasion as well as not being brittle, which is a harder characteristic to find in a modern handle material.

GFN is also incredibly cheap, which keeps the overall cost of the knife down. This is because the material is injection molded which means there is not a lot of labor and the manufacturer can create many handles all at once.

The handle is simple, but efficient. The spine angles towards the butt, with a small groove at the very beginning to create a more comfortable handle. The belly of the handle is similar, with a squared off finger groove. There is a finger guard that is significantly enhanced by the flipper to prevent the user from accidentally getting sliced. As a cherry on top of the handle, there is a large lanyard hole.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip is black, which matches the handle on the knife. This is a deep carry pocket clip, which means that this knife is going to sit as low as possible in your pocket. This is a big advantage for a hunting knife, because you can really move through the field however you like without worrying about if the knife is going to stay secure: it is going to stay secure.

The pocket clip is also reversible for either left or right handed carry, which helps to make this knife more fully ambidextrous. This is a big advantage for a hunting knife because you will be able to hold this knife as comfortably as possible, which will help you better field dress your game.

 

The Mechanism:

This is an assisted opening knife that has been equipped with Kershaw’s SpeedSafe Assisted opening system as well as a secure liner lock and a flipper.

The SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism uses a torsion bar to help move the blade out of the handle. It also enables smooth and easy one-handed opening. It helps the blade perform as efficiently as a switchblade without actually being a switchblade. Kershaw says, “No, SpeedSafe knives are not switchblades. There are many unique features of SpeedSafe knives that make them quite different than knives that are considered switchblades. Unlike a switchblade, SpeedSafe blades DO NOT deploy with the push of a button in the handle or by gravity alone. Instead, the user must overcome the torsion bar’s resistance in order to engage the SpeedSafe system. Because of this, SpeedSafe knives fall fully outside the Federal definition of a switchblade. However, due to the complexity and constantly changing nature of these laws and regulations, it is impossible for Kershaw Knives to be aware of every restriction in every location in which our knives are sold or carried. It is the responsibility of the buyer to investigate and comply with the laws and regulations that apply in his or her specific area.” They also explain that SpeedSafe was specifically designed for sporting, work, or everyday situations where one-handed opening is preferable and safer. Its safe, efficient opening has made it a popular choice for hunters, fishermen, and those who require the one-hand opening function on the job site.

The liner lock is going to prevent folding blades from closing during use. The liner lock is the most common of today’s blade-locking systems. In knives with locking liners, the handle consists of two metal (usually steel or titanium) plates (the “liner”) on either side of the blade. Handle scales, which can be made from a variety of materials, such as G10, aluminum, plastic, or natural materials like wood or bone cover the plates. When the knife is opened, one side of the knife’s liner, often called the lock bar, butts up against the backend of the blade (the tang) and prevents the blade from closing. The lock bar is manufactured so that it angles toward the interior of the knife, creating a bias for the locked position. To close the knife, the knife user applies manual force to move the lock bar to the side so that the blade is unblocked and can be folded back into the handle. The liner lock provides a secure and convenient way to make using this Kershaw folding knife even safer.

The flipper is a protrusion on the back of the blade that the user can pull back on, or flip, in order to move the blade easily out of the handle. The flipper enables fast and easy one-handed opening. It is also ambidextrous, which means it is going to work like a charm for either left or right handers. The flipper is also safer than a thumb stud because it keeps your fingers out of the path of the blade during the opening process. The flipper will take a couple of tries to really get the hang of, so be careful when you first start using this hunting knife.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 3 inches long with a handle that measures in at 4 inches long. When the knife is opened, it measures in at an overall length of 7.25 inches long. This knife weighs in at 4 ounces, which is perfect for getting the job done with the right amount of weight, but not weighing the knife down with excess weight.

This knife is a hunting knife. It is part of Kershaw’s series of hunting knives that have been built for toughness, durability, and edge-holding capabilities that your next hunting trip is going to demand of you.

 

Conclusion:

When Kershaw is discussing this knife, they say, “As a nod to Duck Commander’s southern heritage, the Dunbar is named for the famed Louisiana civil servant—and designed to provide you with many years of reliable service. It’s a classic drop-point pocketknife with a modern look and feel.

The Dunbar is equipped with SpeedSafe® assisted to make one-handed opening easy. Once the blade is open, a locking liner secures it safely open during use. The stainless-steel blade resists chipping and corrosion and is easy to resharpen. The bead-blasted blade features the Duck Commander logo. Glass-filled nylon handles reduce the Dunbar’s weight in your pocket.

The deep-carry clip is reversible for left- or right-handed carry. Add your favorite lanyard in the Dunbar’s extra-wide lanyard hole.” You can pick up this knife from BladeOps today for a fantastic price.