I received this knife as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. At first I was a little hesitant to replace my old CaseXX pocketknife that my father passed down to me, but after only a few months, I fell in love with this blade.
The Kershaw has a sleek design that can be incorporated into just about any clothing style while still having the same brute strength of a fixed blade knife. This knife has a medium price point of around $50.00 so it is not terribly expensive and the Kershaw name has a great brand history behind it.
-Pros:
The high carbon steel blade balances the ability to hold an edge with the ability to easily sharpen a dull knife quickly.
Speedsafe opening technology allows for quick opening using only one hand.
Frame lock design: the blade will only be unlocked by pressing the frame lock button, holding the knife will tighten the lock and keep it from accidentally closing while in use.
Stainless steel design: All stainless steel is easy to clean and highly rust resistant.
Large 4 5/8” long handle allows for good grip with larger hands.
Kershaw offers free lifetime repair and sharpening (you only need to pay the shipping to their Oregon facility and they will send it back to you good as new and razor sharp).
-Cons
All stainless steel frames are slick with wet hands and transfer temperature easily. This can be a problem in cold weather.
Speedsafe design has an exceptionally strong spring and holding the knife too loose may cause it to flip out of your hand. Also, if it is hit the wrong way the knife may pop open inside your pocket.
Torx bit tightening screws are not something that most people have on hand and should the knife become loose (which hasn’t happened in over 2 years of daily use) it will be difficult to tighten without the correct bits.
The knife rides high in your pocket (sticks out about an inch high in my pocket). This isn’t a big deal, but it can be caught easily or scratch your car or other things you may lean up against.
After coupling the other user reviews with my own, I can safely say that aside from a few minor negative aspects, the Kershaw Shallot is a great knife to have on hand at all times.
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