KERSHAW OBLIVION - Weighty Folder with a Modern, Contemporary Look

-

This is my first KERSHAW knife, albeit not one of their higher end models which can cost over $300 to $400 (e.g. the Livewire Rervese Tanto, or the Launch 21). Their premium line is the Zero Tolerance. Again, in this case, a Walmart clearance find.  On the Kershaw site it retails for over $70, but my purchase was $23.50.  On Amazon you can still find one for just under $30 on discount.  Turns out this model is officially discontinued, and any you might find will be the limit of the available stock. This may explain the steep discounts online. It was introduced in 2019, so it appears to have had a comparatively short run of only about 6 years. An AI overview states, regarding the discontinuance: 

"The exact reason for the discontinuation of the Kershaw Oblivion knife is not explicitly stated in readily available information. However, it's a common occurrence for knife companies to periodically discontinue models, often for various reasons. These reasons could include factors like production shifts, changes in design preferences, or updates to the company's product line."

Clearly the knife is not considered sub-standard by buyers, and on Amazon still commands a 4.6 averaged rating.   

It has a 3.5-inch 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade, with a closed length of 4.6 inches. The handle's scale is in two pieces: stainless steel and glass-filled nylon.  It has the Kershaw trademark "SpeedSafe Assisted Opening".  Admittedly, it opens like an automatic.  As I noted in the title, it is 'weighty' coming in at 5.1 oz. making it feel truly solid and substantial in the hand (lightweight folders come in around 1 to 2.5 oz, with mid-range knives at 3 to 5 oz).  The locking mechanism is a frame-lock.  It also has a reversible deep-carry clip. It was manufactured in China

The Kershaw Knife company is headquartered out of Tualatin, Oregon.  According to Wikipedia:

"Kershaw Knives was started in Portland, Oregon in 1974 when knife salesman Pete Kershaw left Gerber Legendary Blades to form his own cutlery company based on his own designs. Early manufacturing was primarily done in Japan by Ichiro Hattori in Seki.

In 1977, Kershaw became a wholly owned subsidiary of the KAI Group.

In 1997 the U.S. production facility was opened in Wilsonville, Oregon. Due to an expanding market, the facilities were moved to a larger production site in 2003 located in Tualatin, Oregon. Other products are imported from Japanese and Chinese factories."

 

  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higonokami Knife - An Affordable Japanese Classic Combines Simplicty with Effective Style

-
  Higonokami (肥後守) knives are a  type of traditional Japanese pocket knife that goes back to 1896 . The blade of these friction folding knives is secured in the 'open' position by applying thumb pressure to the Chikiri ('Tail' lever) that is built in to the blade.  The handle is brass.  The knife is hand-crafted and supposedly the only one allowed to call his knives 'Higonokami' now is 5th generation blacksmith Mr Nagao, based in Miki. It is a light duty knife and clearly not intended for any hard or heavy task.  Usually used for opening packages, sharpening pencils, or cutting fruit.  Would make a nice EDC.  It's light and thin and fits easily in any pants pocket.   As I noted in another post, I wanted to add some unique knives to my collection, and this Japanese knife truly fits the bill. I purchased mine from Amazon for around $30.  Higonokami knives are to the Japanese what the Swiss Army Knife is to the Swiss, in being the iconic...
Read more

NexTool Mini Sailor Lite Multi-tool - Small, Well Built and TSA Compliant - A Sure Winner!

-
While this site is dedicated primarily to my knife collecting, this post represents a slight exception. As noted in a previous post my EDC pouch includes an inexpensive multi-tool. The NexTool Mini Sailor Lite Multi-tool , however, is a 'blade-less' version of their multi-tool. It appealed to me primarily because it is TSA compliant .  I still remember having to turn over a small pocket knife at security some years back (it was a cheap K-Mart knife, not a loss), and the hassle in the years since of having all kinds of things from keys to other items flagged by the screening system.  I just purchased this, so it hasn't been tested, but others have and it seems okay. It feels solid for its size; not cheaply constructed at all.  It is a 9-in-1 multi-tool which includes: 1.) needle-nosed pliers, 2.) regular pliers, 3.) Philips screwdriver, 4.) regular screwdriver, 5.) key chain ring, 6.) scissors, 7.) wire cutter, 8.) SIM card remover, and 9.) a bottle opener.  I doubt...
Read more

BUCK 110 - The Alltime Classic that Makes All the Lists, A Must Have for Any Collector

-
 In reviewing the lists of knives all collectors should have, this model surfaced repeatedly.  I have a 'knock off' version of the Buck 110 from China (it is a highly copied knife), but knew that I needed to finally invest in the genuine article.  It is a heavy knife, to be sure, especially for a folder (probably twice the weight of typical folders today with synthetic handles).  But the weight betrays its quality.  As the photos demonstrate, this knife is constructed with brass, both on the end caps, but also in the liner.  The blade is constructed of 420HC steel, which, as some will observed, is not necessarily impressive in itself, but it is the heat treatment of the steel that makes the difference.  The handle is constructed of genuine ebony with brass bolsters. All around an impressive piece of workmanship that shines brightly in the world of knives. Although large, by comparison, it also comes up in lists of "gentleman's knives" (which are usuall...
Read more