Kershaw Tool First Impressions

Welcome | General Index | Holiday Gifts News Blog | Site Map |  New Items Your Cart Has 0 Items | $0.00   Click Here To Login

Brands Brands Listing 5.11 Products Adventure Medical Kits AE Lights Alaska Knives Alaskan ULU Knives Al Mar Knives Alta Industries Products American Tomahawks Anza Knives Arno Industries Art of War Knives ASP Bark River Knives Bear and Son Knives Benchmade Knives Beretta Knives Blackhawk Blackjack Knives Blade Tech Knives Bobster Goggles Boker Knives Bradley Knives Browning Knives Brunton Products Brusletto Products Buck Knives Burts Bees Bust a Cap Byrd Knives Camila of Solingen Camillus Knives Canal Street Cutlery CAS Iberia Case Knives Chef Works Chef'n Products Chef's Choice Chicago Cutlery Chris Reeve Knives Citadel Knives Cold Steel Knives Colonial Knives Colt Knives Columbia River Knives Combat Elite Knives Concord Products Condor Items Conk Items Cyclops Lights Dakota Watches Dark Ops Items DMT Sharpeners Dovo of Solingen Edgemaker Sharpeners Emerson Knives Entrek Knives Estwing Axes EZ Lap Fallkniven Knives Fayet Canes and Swords Finland Products Firestone Fisher Pens Forschner Fosters Knives Frost of Sweden Knives Frost Knives Furi Rachael Ray Garmin GPS GATCO Gerber Knives German Eye Knives Global Cutlery Glotoobs Grohmann Knives Gryphon Knives Hanwei Products Harley Davidson Hatch Heckler and Koch Helle Norway Hen and Rooster Knives Henckels Kitchen Hewlette Hibben Products Howard Leight Products Inova Lights Jaccard products John Primble Knives Junglee Knives Ka Bar Knives Kanetsune Knives Katz Knives Kent Brushes Kershaw Knives Kissing Crane Knives Kyocera Lamson & Goodnow Lansky Sharpeners Leatherman Multitools L'Econome Kitchen Life Hammer Linder Knives Lord of the Rings Lone Wolf Knives Mace Brand Products Maglites Magna Wonder Knives Magnum Knives Mantis Knives Marble's Knives Marttiini Knives Masters of Defense Maxam Products Maxpedition Mcusta Knives Mercer Cutlery Mercworx Knives Merkur Razors Messermeister Knives Meyerco Knives MicroTech Knives Mil-Tac Pens Miss Army Moki Knives Monadnock Mundial Kitchen Myerchin Knives Norton StonesNovaTac LightsNRA Knives Old Hickory Knives Ontario Knives Opinel Knives Optronics Lights Oriental Precision Outdoor Edge Oxforge Knives OXO Brand Peerless Cuffs Pelican Cases Pelican Lights Pentagon Lights Photon Lights Police Magnum Pepper ProForce Survival ProTech Knives Puma Knives Queen Knives Rachael Ray Rambo Movie Knives Ranger Knives Rat Knives Products Remington Rigid Knives Rubis Products Santa Fe Stoneworks Schatt and Morgan Schrade Knives SeberTech Seki-Cut Knives Sentry Sheffield Knives Shun Cutlery Sigarms Knives Smith & Wesson Knives Snap-On Knives SOG Knives Spaceage Ceramics Spyderco Knives Stanley Knives SteriPEN Water Systems Streamlight Lights Superknives SureFire Lights Swiss Tech Swiss Army Victorinox Swiss Army Wenger Thiers-Issard Timberline Knives Tool Logic TOP Gear TOPS Knives Ultimate Survival United Cutlery Utica Tools UZI Knives and Lights Valiant Armoury Victorinox Pocket Knives Victorinox Kitchen VTech Knives Wagner Pens Wenger Swiss Army Wetterling Axes William Henry Knives WileyX Glasses Winchester Knives Windmill Lighters WKC Swords Woodsman's Pal World Wide Gloves Wrangler Knives Xikar Products Zippo® Lighters	Quick Navigation General Index SITE MAP Brands Listing NewsBlog- The Latest! VIEW CART SPECIALS Shipping Charges Order Our Catalog Knife Company Directory New Items Listing About Us Folding Knife Index Fixed Blade Knife Index Security Center Survival Products Scissors Center ---------------- ASEK Aircraft Rescue Knives Assisted Openers Automatic Knives Automatic Knife Forms Axes Batteries Batons Bayonets Blade Steel is S30V Blade Steel is VG10 Blade Steel is ZDP-189 Blades for Knifemakers Belt Buckle Knives Belts Boaters Knives Book Store Boots (Combat)Boot Knives Bottles (Water) Bowie Knives Boy Scout Knives Bread Knives Butcher Knives Butterfly Knives Canes and Staffs Cannons (Miniature Desktop) Canoes Chefs Knives Civil War Collectibles Cleavers Combat Knives Combat Gear Combat Gloves and Hoods Compasses Congress Folders Credit Card Size Tools Daggers Damascus Steel Blades Desk Accessories Dive Knives Doctors Knives DVD Videos Elbow Pads Electrician Knives and Tools Fantasy Fantasy & Historical Daggers Farming Knives Fight Training Knives Fire Fighter Tools Fire Starters First Aid Kits Fish Fillet Flashlights LED Flashlights Firefighter Tools Folding Hunters Gloves Golf Items Gut Hook Knives Handcuffs Helmets (Reproductions) Holsters (Pistol) Hydration Backpacks Historic Daggers, Swords etc Hobo Knives Hunting Fixed Blades Key Ring Items Key Ring Knives Key Ring Lights Kitchen Products Knee Pads Knife Making Supplies Kukris Lanterns Lanyards Letter Openers Lighters - All Lighters - Butane Limited Editions Low Cost Accessories Lubricants Machetes and Clearing Tools Magnifying GlassesMakhilas Manicure Accessories Money Clips MultiTools Nail Nippers Neck Knives Paring Knives Passport Pouches Peanut Knives Pens (Writing) Pens Tactical/Writing Pen Knives Pins (Hat Pins) Pruners Push Knives Razors (Safety) Razors (Straight) Rescue Knives Saws Scissors and Shears Scouting Knives Security Products Sharpeners Shaving Supplies Shields Shovels and Spades Skinning Knives Sodbusters Solar Panels Sommelier Wine Items Spears Stoves Survival Clothes Survival Fixed Blades Survival Products Swords Tanto Fixed Blades Throwing Knives Tomahawks Training Knives Training Videos Trapper Knives Tweezers ULU Knives Water Purifiers Whips Whistles Whittlers Work Knives -----Storage----- Knife Sheaths Kitchen Knife Luggage Sword Displays Wood Display Boxes Knife Hard Cases Knife Soft Cases and Rolls ----------------------- Knife Care Tips Sharpening Tips Directions To Us

The new Kershaw tool is truly extraordinary. It is unique in both concept and design and is one of the most innovative items we have yet sold at the KnifeCenter of the Internet. Here are some of our first impressions.

LOOKS
First, it looks and feels very different form any other multi-tool. It does not fold up and is not really a "mini" anything. This is a full sized assortment of tools in a compact form. It also is heavier than most other multi-tools. . The flat gray finish and multitude of little nuts and knurled round fasteners give it a very "bolted together" and precision fit look. There is not a rivet that we could find.

FOLD-OUT TOOLS
Kershaw did not try to sacrifice on most of the included tools. There aren't a lot of extra tools but these should more than suffice for most people's needs. All fold out tools except the knife blade open from the inside of one handle. The Philips head screw driver is long and Full size (unlike Bucktool's 3-points instead of 4 or Schrade's 2 large and 2 small). The slotted screw driver is moderate size and there is only one (some tools have 2; a large and a small). Included is a hack saw blade which is listed as replaceable, as are, we assume, each of the tools. The can opener/ bottle opener seems well enough designed. The file is two sided with fine and coarse. The locking mechanism for the fold out tools (except for the blade) is beautifully simple. The handles close up with the desired tool extended and lock with a revolving latch. This is similar (except for the latch) to the Multi-Master from Utica.

THE BLADE
A very nice feature! From the outside of the opposite handle from the other folding tools is a thumb-stud opening locking liner drop point blade with the easy action of the Liner Action series Kershaw is famous for. This blade can be opened when the tool is open or closed and has a full 2.5" cutting edge and extends close to 3" from the tool. The action is superb.

THE PLIERS
Pliers jaws are cast steel and the fit seems very good. Wire cutter part of the pliers jaws are long. The tool works like a Vise-Grip® in that it locks into the closed position. The mechanism of this seems well conceived with easy adjustments and release bar.

HITS
Lots of hits with this new tool. Engineering seems very well done and the tool seems solid and very usable. Kershaw folks told the KnifeCenter that this tool is customizable by the owner and there will be a lot of options available down the road. Knife blade is very nice as is the locking mechanisms.

MISSES
Hard to find any. It is a rather large and heavy tool and so if you are looking for something you will forget you have on your belt, try the Leatherman Mini Tool or a Swiss Army knife. To its credit, the nylon sheath seems well made and is long and narrow and this tool may be able to be carried unobtrusively.
Only time will tell if this tool can go the distance. There are some small and likely temporary parts like the spring, but everything should be easily adjusted and/or replaced by the owner. I hope there is a converter in the works so that you can use standard 1/4" bits with this tool and so expand the applications tremendously (as you can with the Multi-Master , and with converter the GERBER Multi-Pliers, and Leatherman). Kershaw states clearly in its literature that "Corrosion is not considered a manufacturers defect and will not be warranted" and so I think you should keep your Kershaw tool oiled.

CONCLUSION
This is a welcome addition to the selection of personal multi-tools. Each brand of tool has strengths and weaknesses and the consumer ultimately wins with more choices. This tool in particular will win a lot of converts because of its unique features. I don't think anyone will be disappointed.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS FROM AN OWNER
I have owned and used almost every type of multi-tool on the market today, and I was one of the first people in line to get the new Kershaw Multi-tool when it was advertised on your site. I have a lot of positive things to say about it, but there are a few negatives that have cropped up over my few months of owning one. First of all, the vise-grips are fantastic! This tool does things my Schrade Tough Tool and Leatherman Super Tool wish they could. On the other hand, they are a bit difficult to remove if you clamp them down very tightly, and I have pinched my hand (!) inside them while locking something down (which I'll just say was not very pleasant ). I thought the one-handed knife feature would be a plus, but it seems this knife was built for opening by right-handers only; I am a lefty, so no thumb-action for me. Otherwise, the blade is wonderful (like all Kershaw blades), and I have no problem with the other heavy-duty fold-out tools. I would love to see a left-handed vesion