Knife Review: Kershaw Seguin

The Kershaw Seguin

Kershaw and their fans know that there is nothing that compares to a Kershaw. They have the award-winning technologies, they have the advanced materials, they have the solid sound of the blade lockup. All of this means that when you are carrying a Kershaw, you know that you are carrying the real deal.

So what does the real deal mean? Well, Kershaw says, “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, reliable. 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 everyday 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.”

They were founded in 1974 with the mission to design and manufacture tools that knife users were going to be proud to own, carry, and use. This means that each and every one of their knives need to be made with the highest quality. From hunting knives to collectors knives, Kershaw makes sure that they choose the high-quality materials and pair it with intensive craftsmanship to get a top-quality knife.

Not only that, but they have a commitment to innovation. 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 knifemaking industry and knife-using public.”

The good thing about Kershaw is that you know you will always be able to rely on their knives. They have a good selection coming out this year, so keep your eyes peeled for all of their new knives hitting the shelves. The one that we will be talking about today is the Seguin. This will be coming to BladeOps soon, so make sure you check back until we get it.

The Blade:

The blade on the Seguin is made out of 8Cr13MoV steel. When Kershaw discusses this steel and how they use it, they say, “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. 8Cr13MoV is top-of-the-line Chinese steel and, we believe, offers our customers an excellent value.” This is a budget steel, but because of Kershaw’s high end heat treatment, it is going to act as if it weren’t a budget blade. It still won’t measure up to those premium or super steels, but you are never going to have to question whether or not it is going to get the job done. The steel can be hardened to an HRC level of 57-59.

• Budget steel keeps the cost greatly reduced.
• Kershaw’s heat treatment is exceptional, making this stele act less like a budget steel.
• HRC: 57-59.
• This steel is going to get the job done well, but not excel at much.

The blade has been coated with a PVD coating. PVD stands for Physical Vapor Disposition. Kershaw explains this by saying, “Specialized materials are vaporized via a vacuum process. Then the vaporized material is deposited as a thin layer on selected objects. In our case, it enables us to finish our blades and/or handles with a thin coating that adds color and offers excellent wear and corrosion resistance.” The thing about PVD is that it is going to stay on better than other coatings. It also adds a matte grey color that cuts down on glares and reflections. Other than that, the PVD coating is going to act lie a regular coating; prolonging the life of the blade and making slicing smoother.

• Coating stays on the blade well.
• The coating prolongs the life of the blade.

The Handle:

The handle is made out of stainless steel, which does add durability to the knife. It is also what adds a significant portion of the weight that you are going to find on the Seguin. The handle has been heavily machined for texture and control. The machining also adds a unique look to the handle that is unique. You aren’t going to find this look on any other. The machining lines both the edges of the handle.

The spine of the handle has a slight curve to the butt of the handle that is squared off. The belly of the knife has a finger guard that is enhanced by the flipper. After the finger guard, there is a finger groove that is short and deep, and then another one that is longer and shallower.

• Stainless steel adds durabily tot the knife.
• Stainless steel adds heft to the knife.
• The steel has been machined for grip and texture.
• There is a finger guard that is enhanced by the flipper.

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on the Seguin is a single position deep carry pocket clip. This can only be attached for right handed carry with the blade tip up. The clip is a dark gray that contrasts with the handle but matches the blade. It is a skinnier clip. The hardware on the Sequin is a combination of silver and a matte gray that matches the blade.

• Deep carry clip for more concealed and secure carry.
• Single position clip means that the knife is not ambidextrous friendly.

The Mechanism:

The Seguin has been equipped with both a SpeedSafe Assisted Opening mechanism as well as a frame lock. It also has a flipper, which is used to help open the knife.

The SpeedSafe was brought to the market by Kershaw, which revolutionized the cutlery industry. Along its journey, it also won plenty of industry awards. This mechanism was designed by Ken Onion, who is a great in the Hall of Fame for knife makers. At this point, almost all companies have a mechanism that is similar to the SpeedSafe, but we know that you can never go wrong with the original mechanism.

The SpeedSafe works because of its torsion bar. When the knife is closed, the torsion bar helps to prevent he knife from swinging open. When you want to open the knife, the user is going to apply manual pressure to semi-open the knife, which will overcome the tension of the torsion bar. This, in turn, will swing open the blade. Kershaw says, “SpeedSafe® was specifically designed for sporting, work, or everyday situations where one-handed opening is preferable and safer. It’s 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.”

• SpeedSafe is easy to use.
• SpeedSafe is reliable.
• SpeedSafe is quick and durable.
• SpeedSafe makes a non-automatic feel more smooth without the legal issues.

The frame lock is a locking mechanism where the knife handle has two plates of material on either side of the blade, which is its frame. At least one of these plates is going to be metal, which is going to give you a secure lock-up as well as a more durable mechanism. When the Seguin is opened, one of the metal sides, which is known as the lockbar, is going to butt up against the back of the blade, which will prevent the blade from closing. If you are hoping to close the Seguin, push the frame to the side, which will unlock the blade, and then you can fold the blade closed again.

One of the benefits of the frame lock is just how durable it really is. Because it is made out of metal, it is going to be one of the most reliable blade locking mechanisms on the market. This does mean that you can take on those tougher tasks with confidence.

• Frame lock is thick, which is going to make it tough as well.
• Frame lock is easy to use and very reliable.

The flipper is a small protrusion that extends out of the spine of the handle when the knife is closed. On the Seguin, the protrusion is a triangularly square. The user is then going to pull back on, or flip, in order to move the blade easily out of the handle. One of the benefits of a flipper is that it is safer to use than a thumb stud, because the flipper does not put your fingers in the path of the blade when you do swing it open. It also acts as a finger guard once the knife is opened, which adds an extra element of safety. Lastly, the flipper is ambidextrous friendly because you can access it on either side of the handle.

• Easy to use.
• Ambidextrous friendly.
• Acts as a finger guard when the knife is opened.

The Specs:

The blade on the Seguin measures in at 3.1 inches long with a handle that measures in at 4.25 inches long. This creates an overall length of 7.25 inches hewn the knife is opened. This is a slightly heavier knife because of the handle material, weighing in at 4.9 ounces. This is still a good weight for an EDC, because it isn’t over 5 ounces.

Conclusion:

When Kershaw talks about the Seguin, they say, “With a Les George design, functionality is always Job 1. You'll see it on full display in the new Seguin (Seh-geen). It has everything knife enthusiasts have come to expect from Les' knives and more. Because in addition to its practicality, the Seguin also offers truly eye-catching style.

“At nearly 5 ounces, the all-stainless-steel Seguin feels solid in-hand. It opens with authority thanks to Kershaw's SpeedSafe assisted opening and a substantial flipper. Added jimping on the flipper gives it additional "tooth" so it's even easier to open your knife. The Seguin's 3.1-inch blade is a perfect, mid-sized option for a full range of cutting tasks. The 8Cr13MoV blade steel takes a mean edge and is easy to re-sharpen. Gray PVD coating enhances hardness and protects the blade.

“The durable stainless steel handle stands up to just about any working condition—hot, cold, wet, or dry. Les even included his characteristic index finger contour for greater blade control. But it's the handle's heavily machined texture that immediately gets attention. Additional line texturing can be found on the aluminum backspacer, giving the Seguin an attractive, integrated appearance.

“The single-position deep-carry pocketclip wraps around the handle into an internal pocket, where it's secured with the backspacer screws. This means that the knife slides easily into its deep-carry position, without any pocketclip screws obstructing the path to the pocket.

“And in case you were wondering, Les named the Seguin in honor of Juan Seguin, a hero of the Texas Revolution.”

Shop all Kershaw knives here.