Kershaw Blur

J

JNieporte

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Nov 1, 2004
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3,352
The blur has been a staple in the Kershaw line-up for a while now. It seems that almost every knife nut has owned at least one. So why am I reviewing an already-established knife? Because it's still really good! There are many variations of the Blur; different handle colors, different blade steels and finished, different blade type, etc. but I'll only be covering the basic Blur in this review. I'll be showing examples of several Blurs for clarity, but the review will center around the plain-Jane model (in this case, I've chosen the red Blur, model 1670RD).

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The Handle: the Blur is 4-1/2" long when closed and just under 1/2" thick, not counting the pocket clip. The handles are made of hard-anodized aluminum and have Trac-Tec inserts. Basically, Trac-Tec is like skateboard tape but not as rough. It has more of a rubbery feel than it does sandpaper.

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The handles are pillar construction, and have Kershaw's nice hourglass-style spacers.

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The handles are held together with three black T-6 screws, and one black T-8 screw as the blade pivot pin screw. This lets you play with the tension on the blade for better opening, but all of mine came perfect out of the box.

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The Blurs are equipped with SpeedSafe for fast opening, and the torsion bar is located in the left-side handle scale (as opposed to say a Leek, which has the torsion bar inside the backspacer). Opening is very fast and the blade locks open firmly via linerlock.

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The Blurs share the same pocket clip as the Leek, and it's adjustable for tip up or tip down carry, but is right-hand only.

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The clip has good tension and nice placement, although tip-down carry sits a little lower in the pocket than tip-up carry. A nice thing about the Blur is that the grippy Trac-Tec isn't underneath the pocket clip, which allows for a smooth draw from your pocket; no pants snagging or ripped pockets. The pocket clip is held on with two blackened T-6 screws.

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In-hand the Blur is nice cutting tool to use. It's a four-finger knife for me, and I think it would be perfect if it had perhaps 1/2" more of handle space.

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While using the Blur, I found the jimping formed by the handle and blade spine to be adequate, but I'd like to see it longer and a little deeper. It's good, but not great.

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The Blur is easy to open and close, and is one of those "melts in your hand" knives. The comfort level is high with this model.

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The Blade: The blur's blade is made of Sandvik 14C26N stainless steel at 58-60 on the Rockwell scale. It's 3-3/8" long and 1/8" thick with a very shallow hollow grind. The finish is bead-blasted.

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The Blur has a slight recurve shape, but I've not found it to be a problem resharpening. Mine all came paper-slicing sharp right out of the box.

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The Blurs all have Kershaw's ramped thumb studs, and there's one on each side of the blade. Just put your thumb on the stud and push; there's no need for a pressure build-up and flick like you'd use on a manual linerlock. Opening is fast and smooth, as the Blur's blade rides on phosphor bronze bushings (one on each side of the blade).

There's not really much else to discuss when it comes to the Blur, except all of the variations. You'll find a Blur in almost any configuration you want: plain edge, partially serrated edge, tanto point, composite blade, S30V blade, multiple handle colors, and more. There's a Blur for everybody. Considering the price tag (around $55 for the plain version) you can buy more than one Blur and make your own variations.

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All of mine lock up solid...

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With some Packrats for size comparison...

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Thanks for the review! I currently own two Blurs. EDC them all the time. No doubt a stand up knife. Where did you get an orange Packrat?
 
Nice review. I have one of the green handled S30V Blurs that I carry sometimes. I really like everything about this knife except the AO. I just don't like AO's, but I like the Blur so much that I carry it anyway. Size, weight, and blade shape are perfect for my EDC uses.

In fact, I think you and Golbat have convinced me to get a ZDP composite Blur... then maybe a CPM154 Blur... then...
 
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The Blurs are excellent choice for EDC. :thumbup: I'm using and collecting them (so far 13 pieces :D), and easy to do a "frankenblur" any of them.

The ZDP/Sandvik CB Blur now absolutely rules :thumbup:
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and this frankenblurized :D black tanto modell is my favourite safe queen. :thumbup:
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I've acquired 2 blurs this week and I absolutely love them. The only hitch I've found is that both are a bit lacking in blade retention. A few flicks of the wrist and the blade shoots out. Especially if its in the tip up position and downward momentum is applied. Mine hasn't deployed on its own yet but I haven't really jostled it too much either. Regardless I'm loving it....just can't stop opening its addictive speed.
 
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Nice review. I think the Blur is a great knife for those moving to a modern folder for the first time. Scratch that. It's a great knife for anyone.
 
Very good review, I like my Blur, but there is always a little rattle inside the knife, just bugs me
 
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Slider817 said:
Very good review, I like my Blur, but there is always a little rattle inside the knife, just bugs me
Click to expand...

I just removed the speed assist, no more rattle, and the knife has a much more solid and high quality feel, much happier with it now
 
From my point of view, the only downside of this knife that is preventing me from getting one, is that it lacks an adequate deep choil serving as a handguard and preventing your hand to slip down the edge of the blade, especially when thrusting through.

However, please correct me if I am wrong so that I am not making a mistake of not getting one.

Furthermore, in the long-run, is there any sign of blade play?

Also can you adjust the pivot screw at the handle? If yes, then what kind of screwdriver can fit into that shape?

Thank you in advance for answering.
 
John Galba said:
From my point of view, the only downside of this knife that is preventing me from getting one, is that it lacks an adequate deep choil serving as a handguard and preventing your hand to slip down the edge of the blade, especially when thrusting through.

However, please correct me if I am wrong so that I am not making a mistake of not getting one.

Furthermore, in the long-run, is there any sign of blade play?

Also can you adjust the pivot screw at the handle? If yes, then what kind of screwdriver can fit into that shape?

Thank you in advance for answering.
Click to expand...
I owned a blem Blur and it never showed any signs of bladeplay. The pivot can be adjusted using a T8 torx bit.
 
De-assisted my S30V Blur and I'm loving it so far. I just need to loc-tite that pivot.
 
How do you de-assist them?

I got one a couple of months ago in S30V as my EDC. Didn't like it much at first, probably mostly because it was a replacement for a gorgeous now lost Mcusta but it has grown on me since. I took the pocket clip off since I never use them and all they do for me is snag. Doing that accents the slim & light design making it close to an ideal daily carry knife for me. It's not real pretty but that's not the point. Carryability and functionality as a knife is the point.
 
You just have to remove the right handle scale (non locking / left clip position side) and take out the torsion bar, they are great de-assisted. :)
 
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