As you should know by now, I’ve been a folding pocket knife enthusiast for quite a long time and love to put some of the more popular knives through their paces. I generally use my pocket knives on a daily basis and usually won’t carry one that doesn’t demonstrate practical functionality for my everyday needs as well as bringing something to the table when it comes to self-defense. The Kershaw Ken Onion Blur folding knife fits my needs on paper, but as I began to use it I found that it does have a few minor (and one not-so-minor) drawbacks.
Kershaw was founded in 1974 and has always aimed to design and manufacture tools that knife users would be proud to own, carry, and use. Kershaw prides itself on making sure that every Kershaw knife is made to the highest quality. Kershaw has also pioneered the use of quite a few of the technologies and advanced materials that are now a standard in the knife industry. Ken Onion, who designed the Ken Onion Blur, is an American award-winning custom knifemaker from Kaneohe, Hawaii. He invented the “SpeedSafe” assisted opening mechanism used on Kershaw Knives and served as the Premier Knife Designer for Kershaw Knives
The Ken Onion Blur looks very similar to several other modern pocket knives these days, with its tactical-style appearance and discreet pocket clip. However, what sets this aside from many is that it features the SpeedSafe opening system and a torsion bar that helps keep the knife locked. To open the knife, you apply pressure to the thumb stud and rotate the blade out of the handle. Once the blade is clear of the handle, the torsion bar moves along the track and takes over, flipping the blade the rest of the way open smoothly until it locks into place. Pretty nifty overall.
I like to see reviews of some of the “classic” knives. The Blur has been around forever, and I remember someone writing a review on it back at TTAK. I have had one and used it for years. A great value blade. I understand his issue with the liner lock, though I have seen much worse. And despite his claim in the conclusion, this would be a defensive knife of last resort for me. I just couldn’t let that line, throwaway it might be, go unremarked upon, lest you think I don’t read what I am sharing.
Read the whole thing at KnifeInformer.com
Kershaw Blur Review: Top Pedigree, One Flaw
Read the full article here