Kershaw Secret Agent Fixed Blade Knife Review

Kershaw knows that there is really nothing like a Kershaw. From award-winning technologies and advanced materials to the solid sound of the blade lockup, when you’re carrying a Kershaw, you know you’re carrying the real thing. The real thing means value and plenty of it. With Kershaw, you get incredible bang for your hard-earned buck. Even our inexpensive models are impressive. In fact, everything about a Kershaw is solid, crafted, and reliable. Kershaw says, “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 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 standard in the knife industry. They say, “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 two 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 (just south of Portland), they also draw on Kai’s resources to provide the very best for the customer.

Today we will be discussing the Kershaw Secret Agent.

 

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of 8Cr13MoV steel. You may have heard that 8Cr13MoV stainless is basically the equivalent of AUS8A. And it’s true. For everyday use, even a serious “knife knut” would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a well-made 8Cr13MoV blade and a well-made AUS8A blade. Nevertheless, there are slight differences in the steel formula. While most other components are relatively equal, 8Cr13MoV has slightly more carbon for hardness and wear resistance and slightly less nickel. The key to blade performance for both of these steels is manufacturing quality. That’s where Kershaw’s expertise comes in. Kershaw precision heat-treats 8Cr13MoV steel to bring out its best high-performance characteristics: the ability to take and hold an edge, strength, and hardness. Kershaw says, “8Cr13MoV is top-of-the-line Chinese steel and, we believe, offers our customers an excellent value.” This blade steel has been hardened to a 57-59 HRC.

The blade on the Secret Agent has been finished with a black-oxide coating. Black oxide is a chemical bath that converts the surface of the steel to magnetite. Kershaw uses this coating on some blades and pocket clips, mainly for appearance, though it does add some corrosion resistance. Because it is a coating, it is going to work to prolong the life of the blade. This is because the coating creates a barrier in between the steel and the environment. This will increase the wear resistance of the blade as well as the corrosion resistance. It will also slightly help the blade cut a little more smoothly. The coating is also black, which creates a sleek look while also cutting down on glares and reflections which is crucial for someone in the field.

The blade on this knife is a spear point blade shape. A spear point blade is similar to the needle point blade because it is good for piercing. The difference between the two shapes is that the point on the spear point is stronger and it does contain a small belly that can be used for slicing. The spear point is a symmetrically pointed blade with a point that is in line with the center of the blade’s length. Both edges of the knife rise and fall equally to create a point that lines up exactly with the equator of the blade. The spear point contrasts with the needle point because the needle point blade has a sharper but weaker point, while a spear point knife does have a strong point that is also sharp enough for piercing. One of the other advantages to a spear point knife is that they do contain a small belly that can be used for some slicing and cutting. However, if you were to compare the belly to that of a drop point or a clip point, the belly is much smaller. The spear point is known as a hybrid blade design because it has a good balance between piercing and slicing. It also has the sharp point of a dagger with the strength of a drop point blade, while still keeping some of the belly that can be used for slicing.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of a rubberized co-molded handle. This is a textured rubber layer providing extra grip. The rubberized co-molded handle is black, making this an all-black look. Not only does this give your knife a very sleek look, it is also going to completely eliminate reflections and glares. Like I earlier mentioned, this is crucial in the field when you don’t want your positon to be given away.

The handle has two large finger guards, which will protect your fingers if you accidentally slip. The handle sides are symmetrical. After the finger guards there is a slight indent on both sides. This indent will provide you with a comfortable and secure grip for long term use. After the indent the handle bulges out, which will also work to give you a more solid grip.

The butt of the handle does have a lanyard section, which is wide enough for a variety of lanyards. This is especially important because you can keep your knife close to you without having to worry about it getting in the way. Plus, if you happen to need a little extra texture, you can easily wrap the lanyard around the handle before completing the task. This will provide the needed texture to get you through your chore safely. The lanyard can also be used so that if you happen to drop your knife, you can easily find it contrasting against the background. Plus, wrapping the lanyard around your wrist for safety can help in case of slippage, so that you will not lose or drop your knife.

 

The Mechanism:

This is a fixed blade, which means that there is not a mechanism. The knife does not fold close and is stored in a sheath for protection. Some people like to use a folding knife more because folding knives are more discrete and easier to conceal. Pocket knives can also be easily transported in your pocket. There is also a belief that a well-constructed folding knife blade is as tough as a fixed blade.

There are plenty of advantages to a fixed blade. For starters, they are strong and big. You can really find a fixed blade in whatever size that you want, but no matter which size you choose, they are going to be equally strong—especially the blade. Plus, fixed blades are not prone to breaking. This is because there are no moving parts on a fixed blade that can rust out or wear down with time. And, you don’t have to worry about a hinge or the insides being clean and dry for your knife to keep its quality. With this knife, all there is to it is what you see, which means there is really nothing to break. Plus, the blade can be longer and thicker because it does not have to fit inside of a handle, so the blade is not going to break either. Because of this, the knife is going to be easier to maintain overall. Like earlier mentioned, you don’t have to worry about the insides of the handle wearing down, because there are no insides of the handle. And cleaning is going to be incredibly straightforward. All you have to do is wipe down the blade and the handle and oil the blade occasionally and you are good to go.

One of the other major benefits to the Secret Agent being a fixed blade is that fixed blades are the superior tactical tool. This is because fixed blade knives can be brought into play faster than a folding knife during tactical situations. All you have to do is pull the knife out of your sheath and you are ready to go. With a folding knife, you would have to pull the knife out, open it, and then you could finally use it. With many tactical situations, every single second counts, so why waste seconds on opening a knife when you could purchase the Secret Agent instead?

Lastly, this knife can be used for a broader spectrum of things because of the durability.

 

The Sheath:

The sheath that comes with this knife is made out of molded dual-carry plastic. Plastic sheaths are some of the cheapest ones that you are going to find on the market. You do get what you pay for, so you shouldn’t be surprise that plastic sheaths are also the ones that are the cheapest quality. A plastic sheath is one of the more inhospitable home for your blade if it is going to be carried for an extended amount of time. This is because it locks in moisture which can cause rusting or corroding issues on your blade. The sheath that comes with the knife is MOLLE compatible, which is a major advantage.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 4.4 inches long while the overall length of the knife measures in at 8.7 inches long. This knife weighs in at 3.1 ounces without the sheath and 4.7 ounces with the sheath.

 

Conclusion:

When Kershaw is explaining this knife, they say, “This boot knife’s mission is to offer both performance and value. The model number of our Secret Agent boot knife could be none other than 4007.

This updated version of the boot knife features a single-edged blade with a non-reflective black-oxide finish. The blade is heat treated to Kershaw’s demanding specifications to bring out the very best qualities in the steel. The black-oxide coating provides additional blade protection.

For a secure grip, the handle is glass-filled nylon with a textured rubber over mold. The Secret Agent has a dual-carry molded sheath with a clip for convenient belt carry and slots to add your own leg carry straps. For additional versatility, the knife comes with a lanyard hole.

Discreet and concealable for tactical use and personal protection, the Secret Agent is also viable for a variety of utility purposes.” You can pick up this knife today at BladeOps and have a new favorite tactical knife.