Pros: Handle Material, Blade Material
Cons: Weight
No Benchmade, but headed in the right direction.
As said in the headline, it's no Benchmade, but you can tell Kershaw showed care in making an affordable, American made, balisong as their flagship model for a start. Now, I have never handled/used Sandvik steel of any kind so I was concerned for the toll time, usage and possible rust tgat may crop up. However, while not S30V or 154CM, it holds its ground and remarkably so. It takes an edge well but retains it well too. It's no super steel but I'd compair it to an easier to sharpen than D2. The edge retention reminds me of D2 just with less hassle in the sharpening process. The handles, while stainless steel, are lighter than some of the Lucha's counterparts in the now discountinued Benchmade series that are the heavier brothers to their older titanium habdled models. This is a boon in two ways: easier flipping experience out of the box but less collateral damage to the hands by doing so. Titanium is better by far but if you're on a budget and want a flipper for the sake of it or are like me and use balisongs for not only entertainment but work/other uses as well, you can do a lot worse. But if you're buying it and are accustomed to lighter variants it may come as a shock to you. Flytanium has your back though, and when I can afford to get a set I intend to upgrade the handles. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.