James.. I am with you.. I think the speed safe is nicer than the automatics.. it is very swift in opening.. with a smoothness.. not like the autos I have dealt with that open with a 'bang'... with the autos I have played with (minimal experience since I dont own one) I have felt like if I dont hang onto the knife when it opens, it might just jump out of my hand. With the speed safe, it smoothly and quickly opens up.
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Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). Now open to the forums as a whole. If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges. If there are customs issues? On you.
Ken Onion's Speed Safe
- Thread starter markim
- Start date
I've had one of Ken's Speed Safes for about a year now. It is very fast on opening, and while I was nervous about opening it because it appeared my thumb was close to the blade when it whipped open, I never came near cutting myself. In May I visited Hawaii and five different knife makers to produce some shop tours. I stayed at Ken Onion's home with his family while on Oahu and watched him make some knives. I even produced an article on making a Speed Safe that will be on the stands in about two weeks. It's in the October issue of Knives Illustrated. While there, Ken stood around opening blades on his Speed Safes almost with his eyes closed, and never once did the blades get close to his thumbs. I guess practice makes perfect, and there was no learning cuts. Oh! The knife we produced is for my wife, who'se about 5 foot tall, quite petite, and she opens and closes the knife we made with ease. It was made for her.
Well, I've been using my Whirlwind at work now for over a month. Cutting boxes (and believe me... boxes will dull most knives quick!), rope, and anything else that I need. Good edge retention, the "Speed-Safe" mechanism works as perfect now as it did the day I bought it. (and I use it ALOT !)
I haven't had any trouble with it opening unexpectedly in my pocket, or endangering my thumb during opening. Just a small nudge...and *click* it's open. Closes like a normal folding linerlock. The lock is still tight as ever.
Straight out of the box it was the typical "Shaving Sharp" that all my Kershaws have been.
My only suggestion would be to make the pocket clip interchangable for tip up or down carry.
Overall rating 1-10 .... 9.9
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Former Member, Military Intelligence ... "In God we trust...all others we monitor"
I haven't had any trouble with it opening unexpectedly in my pocket, or endangering my thumb during opening. Just a small nudge...and *click* it's open. Closes like a normal folding linerlock. The lock is still tight as ever.
Straight out of the box it was the typical "Shaving Sharp" that all my Kershaws have been.
My only suggestion would be to make the pocket clip interchangable for tip up or down carry.
Overall rating 1-10 .... 9.9
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Former Member, Military Intelligence ... "In God we trust...all others we monitor"
Hey Bud ! I look forward to seeing your article in KI. I read your artical about SOG Knives in the August edition and really enjoyed it. Great work! Thanks for your info on the Speed Safe's. I know you must have had a blast staying with Ken and making the knife for your wife.
- Joined
- Jul 17, 1999
- Messages
- 795
I have both the Random and the Mine Task, and love them both. I agree with the forumite who thinks that the Mini is a little slicker. Haven't really used either one much, so can't opine on toughness.
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"To grow older is inevitable.To grow UP is optional."
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"To grow older is inevitable.To grow UP is optional."
- Joined
- Jul 17, 1999
- Messages
- 795
(That's Mini-Task, in English!)
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"To grow older is inevitable.To grow UP is optional."
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"To grow older is inevitable.To grow UP is optional."
- Joined
- Dec 16, 1998
- Messages
- 1,066
I've had both the Kershaw RT and MT and liked both. I also have some of Ken's knives (marvelous Koa wood scales on the Tsunami look like tiger eye). I'm impressed with Kershaw's quality and their ability to produce such quality at the price.
According to Ken the opening technique is a little different with the Speed Safe. You should push the thumb stud forward parallel to the body of the knife and not out and around as with other one-hand openers. If you use the standard out and around technique your thumb falls in behind the edge as the knife drives open and you can cut yourself. Try "flipping" the stud forward a few times and you'll get the hang of it and save on band-aids.
Take care,
Mike
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TANSTAAFL
According to Ken the opening technique is a little different with the Speed Safe. You should push the thumb stud forward parallel to the body of the knife and not out and around as with other one-hand openers. If you use the standard out and around technique your thumb falls in behind the edge as the knife drives open and you can cut yourself. Try "flipping" the stud forward a few times and you'll get the hang of it and save on band-aids.
Take care,
Mike
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TANSTAAFL
- Joined
- Aug 5, 1999
- Messages
- 29
I recieved my Random Task just today. The polished G-10 looks refined and the lines are smooth. After playing with the safe speed open blade for a while, I really began to love it. Others have posted that their thumb has come close to being knicked by the blade, but this dumbfounds me as to how! As in the instructions, simply nudge the peg with your thumb and leave it on the handle. Pretty simple and safe as far as my experience. This is a really neat knife. The blade has a unique a refined design; Yet, I was disappointed to find a burr at the end point of the blade. I had to touch this up with a sharpener. The rest of the blade edge was razor sharp. I would have designed the pocket clip to have a shine (it is a gray gunmetal color) or perhaps a non glare black and also have it anchored higher up near the end. This way the knife would sit lower in my pocket.
All in all this is a great knife and is a must have to add to your everyday carry knives. If not the Random Task, you won't be dissapointed with one of the other safe speed knives.
All in all this is a great knife and is a must have to add to your everyday carry knives. If not the Random Task, you won't be dissapointed with one of the other safe speed knives.
I got the Random Task and the Mini. Never had a problem with the full size but had to send the mini back to Kershaw. After a month I got it back (well, really a new one) works great. I don't carry them but play with them from time to time.
Never could see why people were getting cut on the blade when opening.
Never could see why people were getting cut on the blade when opening.
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 26,997
I just got another Random Task and the new ones are what you want to ask for when ordering one, do not accept the older style as they just didn't cut it.
Ask for the following when ordering one and remind them that if you get something else, it's going back....
The newest ones have a black clip, nice touch, straight up thumb stud with knurling around the column and bare on top, the screws that keep the G10 on are now black also.
The blade is one of the sharpest out of the box I've gotten and I love the shape, a brutish Wharncliff of sorts and you all know how I like Wharncliff's
So by all means order one right away. It is almost as addictive as using a butterfly knife!
I got mine from a really nice fellow, Highly reccommend him for any of your knife needs.
Chris of Top of Texas Knives, tell em' G2 sent ya...Thanks again Chris!
G2
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It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me,
it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain
www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html
Ask for the following when ordering one and remind them that if you get something else, it's going back....
The newest ones have a black clip, nice touch, straight up thumb stud with knurling around the column and bare on top, the screws that keep the G10 on are now black also.
The blade is one of the sharpest out of the box I've gotten and I love the shape, a brutish Wharncliff of sorts and you all know how I like Wharncliff's
So by all means order one right away. It is almost as addictive as using a butterfly knife!
I got mine from a really nice fellow, Highly reccommend him for any of your knife needs.
Chris of Top of Texas Knives, tell em' G2 sent ya...Thanks again Chris!
G2
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It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me,
it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain
www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html
yoda4561
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 28, 1999
- Messages
- 2,606
I guess I must've handled one of the older models then... I was thoroughly impressed with the finsh and lines of the Random task. However I found the blade difficult to flick out and the liner didnt engage proplerly... I love the look of the polished G-10 and the blade was beautiful.. I think I need to handle one of the newer models, as I find the design quite appealing.
pillshovel
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 1999
- Messages
- 1,288
If you buy a Random Task from a dealer sight unseen and you end up with one of the old ones, has Kershaw been good about replacing them with the newer models (even if I wouldn't be the "original owner").
Has anybody had one of the old models and not experienced any trouble. The reason I am asking is that I am thinking about buying one of these knives from an individual (for a really good price) that is NIB and has no apparent problems. I'm just curious if I'll have a course of action if a problem arises or if I'll be stuck with a dud.
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Chad
pillshovel@netscape.net
[This message has been edited by pillshovel (edited 12 September 1999).]
Has anybody had one of the old models and not experienced any trouble. The reason I am asking is that I am thinking about buying one of these knives from an individual (for a really good price) that is NIB and has no apparent problems. I'm just curious if I'll have a course of action if a problem arises or if I'll be stuck with a dud.
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Chad
pillshovel@netscape.net
[This message has been edited by pillshovel (edited 12 September 1999).]
A friend got a Random Task and had problems with it. Kershaw promply replaced it with the new model (bronze pivit bushing instead of plastic/teflon, and a less aggressive thumb stud that doesn't tear up the thumb).
New one is excellent.
Kershaws customer service if fantastic.
New one is excellent.
Kershaws customer service if fantastic.
- Joined
- Apr 26, 1999
- Messages
- 481
I've got one of the older model Mini-Tasks. I got it from Beam. (Thanks
)
I have had no problems at all with it trying to cut my thumb, but, then, I had read about that potential problem and made sure to flick it out and not follow the stud around. The thumbstud is a little sharp at the end, but it's really easy to flick open. Shortly after I got the knife I managed to jam my right thumb on something and it was quite tender for a few days. I carried the Mini-Task for a while instead of any of those knives with the silly holes in the blade.
It was much easier to open with a bandaid on my thumb.
In response to whoever commented on the new black handles, I rather like the dull titanium clip. It goes great with khaki pants.
I have still not got the thing as sharp as I like it and one of these days I'll just have to sit down for a while and work on it till I get it right, but it is sort of acceptable.
The one thing that worries me at all is the question of legality. I know that KO and Kershaw must have done some serious research on the matter and I have seen a rumor that they sent samples to the attorneys general of all the states for opinions, but it would sure be nice to know more about the reasoning behind their conclusion that it is legal. In the meantime, I carry it occasionally and carefully and don't flick it out unless I'm sure about anybody who might see it fly open.
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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu
I have had no problems at all with it trying to cut my thumb, but, then, I had read about that potential problem and made sure to flick it out and not follow the stud around. The thumbstud is a little sharp at the end, but it's really easy to flick open. Shortly after I got the knife I managed to jam my right thumb on something and it was quite tender for a few days. I carried the Mini-Task for a while instead of any of those knives with the silly holes in the blade.
In response to whoever commented on the new black handles, I rather like the dull titanium clip. It goes great with khaki pants.
I have still not got the thing as sharp as I like it and one of these days I'll just have to sit down for a while and work on it till I get it right, but it is sort of acceptable.
The one thing that worries me at all is the question of legality. I know that KO and Kershaw must have done some serious research on the matter and I have seen a rumor that they sent samples to the attorneys general of all the states for opinions, but it would sure be nice to know more about the reasoning behind their conclusion that it is legal. In the meantime, I carry it occasionally and carefully and don't flick it out unless I'm sure about anybody who might see it fly open.
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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu
O
Ogre
Any one from UTAH here that owns one?
I just ordered one - and am curiose as to its legal side...
And what about the FAA? have they said yea or nay?
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I mean, if I went around saying I was an Emperor because some
moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, people would put me away!
I just ordered one - and am curiose as to its legal side...
And what about the FAA? have they said yea or nay?
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I mean, if I went around saying I was an Emperor because some
moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, people would put me away!
I had a Kershaw mini task early model.
No problem with the speed safe mechanisim. Never cut my self. Use the mech or kick it with your thumb (faster).
However, and maybe this old ground, after 48 hours there was blade play and i noticed that my finger engaged the locking bar. Bad. And it creaked (torqed) in a white knuckle grip.
Maybe they're better now.
The mech is great (greater reliablility) unless you're a klutz. I you cut yourself with it, then maybe you shouldn't play with knives. (did you drop it too?)
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Regards,
Ron Knight
Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it
No problem with the speed safe mechanisim. Never cut my self. Use the mech or kick it with your thumb (faster).
However, and maybe this old ground, after 48 hours there was blade play and i noticed that my finger engaged the locking bar. Bad. And it creaked (torqed) in a white knuckle grip.
Maybe they're better now.
The mech is great (greater reliablility) unless you're a klutz. I you cut yourself with it, then maybe you shouldn't play with knives. (did you drop it too?)
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Regards,
Ron Knight
Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it
I haven't played with the original or the Kershaws. However, I did play with several of Mike Vagnino's version of this opening mechanism. What I found was a great deal of variation regarding the oringal force required, and the point and speed of the torsion bar taking over. I guess if I were to get one, I'd probably want to work with a maker to make sure I was getting it exactly the way I want it. Different folks I am sure would want these parameters adjusted differently, and it makes a big difference as to how the knfie feels.
Canuck
Canuck