Kershaw began its foray into the knife business sometime during 1974. The company was originally based in Portland Oregon, but most early knives were manufactured in Japan. The first US manufacturing plant was opened in 1997 & the company currently offers knives made in the U.S., Japan, & China. Pete Kershaw (an ex Gerber salesman) started the business.
The Auto button is in that recessed slot and the top of the button is about 0.020" proud. The button works the action with a 2 stage feel. If you slowly press the button down, it goes in below the surface of the surrounding scale and momentarily stops, you then push just a bit harder and the blade swings out. I suspect they engineered this into it, to try and prevent accidental discharge in the pocket. Some folks may not like the 2 stages... It doesn't bother me, because I just push right through it and if in a hurry, you don't notice it. As mentioned above, I paid $90.00 for it.
jmh58 wrote:Well its Friday and I have the Blackwash Leek in the rrp where its been all this past week.. I like the feel in hand and the slimness in the pocket.. John
...YEP since 7/25.... John
Not all who wander are lost!!
Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
The blackwash Leek is the first knife to well and truly kick my PM2 out of my RFP... but only after a clip retrofit to make tip-up carry feasible. Here it is in a couple Kershaw family photos.
Thanks. I also have a Chive 1600NE ("no edge"??) with the SAMPLE NOT SHARP etch on the handle, not the blade, faded pretty badly. The blade was sharpened at one point, as i understand happens often, and I've used it in the past. A good example of untruth in advertising.
Still on the lookout for an unmodified 1600NE with a nicer etch.
Tsar Bomba wrote:Thanks. I also have a Chive 1600NE ("no edge"??) with the SAMPLE NOT SHARP etch on the handle, not the blade, faded pretty badly. The blade was sharpened at one point, as i understand happens often, and I've used it in the past. A good example of untruth in advertising.
Still on the lookout for an unmodified 1600NE with a nicer etch.
You'll be glad to know Kershaw's "Truth In Advertising" reputation is saved.
Your Chive was originally part of a store counter display. As is illustrated by the picture of my Scallion that sits on my "Love Me" shelf. It was attached to a formed piece of plastid that had an LED showing to the public and a battery w/timer circuit attached to the back of the display. The LED flashed and brought shoppers attention to the display. Originally unsharpened, someone has cut the cable that attached it to the display and sharpened the knife.
Attachments
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
Very cool photos and info, Jerry! I am aware of Kershaw's display knives (and in fact have been idly looking for a truly unsharpened one to add to the collection) but I find it amusing how you tend to see them sharpened by a previous owner more often than not. The etch, or what remains of it in the right light, does make an interesting conversation piece whenever I have a chance to tote it. I will definitely have to be on the lookout for one still attached to its display like that first beauty. It would make a fantastic addition to my pitiful little cutlery display.
I just got back from the local pawn shop with a fifteen dollar Kershaw Zing R.J.Martin design did a little research on e- bay and found these are going for around $150.00 on the bay as rare. Mine is well used but that unreal for so much money
jerryd6818 wrote:Note the battery holder is not very rugged. It needed some red-neck engineering.
I can't tell you how many of those harnesses I have gone through on certain equipment when the plastic was just too tight, or too flimsy to stand up to repeated battery changes.
garddogg56 wrote:I just got back from the local pawn shop with a fifteen dollar Kershaw Zing R.J.Martin design did a little research on e- bay and found these are going for around $150.00 on the bay as rare. Mine is well used but that unreal for so much money
Are you funnin' me dogg? $150? I wonder what I could get for my orange one (if I were interested in selling). Great find. They are a really neat knife.
Attachments
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012