Kershaw Strobe First Impressions-Best new budget knife?

Knifecenter has them in stock too.... Just ordered mine from there.....
Now for the waiting....
 
Tracking info says mine was delivered a while ago. Man, don't you guys hate being stuck at work when your orders arrive?
 
Could you show some size comparisons? I haven't seen a lot, aside from the videos showing it with a couple other Kershaws. It looks big (medium-sized) on paper and it looks small on video.
 
Murphenstein44 said:
Could you show some size comparisons? I haven't seen a lot, aside from the videos showing it with a couple other Kershaws. It looks big (medium-sized) on paper and it looks small on video.
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Hey brother, I'm at work and aside from a small wanna-be SAK, the Strobe is the only blade in my pocket. I'll get some shots for ya when I get home today. It's definitely not a big knife, Murph. I would stick with calling it medium.
 
Keep in mind I wear size M gloves. Here are some in-hand shots I found in my photobucket :D Best I can do for now.

Kershaw Strobe:


Buck Marksman:


Emerson Horseman:


ZT 0551:


ZT 0566:


Kershaw Knockout:
 
I knew she had the look of a future ZT owner! But back to the Strobe, after reading all this I think I will also pull the trigger on this one. I just got a cqc-3k that's really getting all the pocket time ATM, but I'm liking the Strobe the more I read on about it.
 
I would definitely recommend it, man. It sounds like you're satisfied with the Emerson model. Fit and finish on the Strobe has to be on par with the 3K.

I've been a fan of Diskin's designs for some time now, but can't afford one. With the Strobe you get classic Diskin lines for a small price. What's not to like?
 
Interesting, it looks a bit shorter than all of those. I actually think I have pretty similar sized hands as you, but I don't terribly like it when a knife has too much hanging over the end of my grip. Thanks!

I used to have a Skyline, but I decided to use that gift card I had on a blackwash, so once I get that, I'll know if I'd like the slightly bigger Strobe.
 
I really liked the Micarta on my Strobe, but now that I have the CF on it, there's no going back for me.
But, if you are going to carry the Strobe, and get it sweaty or wet, the Micarta is a great way to go..
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Here it is with a Skyline for reference, it's not as thin in your pocket, but it is very comfortable even in medium and small hands...
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(Sorry about the flash, but I wanted to shoot straight down so it was a fair comparison)
 

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Looks great Don! I hope you make plenty of scales for this knife, I think they will be a big hit.

I took the scales off my Strobe last night, and although it looked great with them removed, the knife was FAR to slippery and it changed the ergonomics for the worse. The handle became to slim for my paws (borderline L-XL size). So I am sticking with the terrible stock plastic K-Texture aberrations until I can get some custom scales from a talented member like GatorSclaes, Spketch, ShepardCC, etc... I like everything else about the knife. Kershaw knocked it out of the park with this budget knife.
 
eschwebach said:
Looks great Don! I hope you make plenty of scales for this knife, I think they will be a big hit.

I took the scales off my Strobe last night, and although it looked great with them removed, the knife was FAR to slippery and it changed the ergonomics for the worse. The handle became to slim for my paws (borderline L-XL size). So I am sticking with the terrible stock plastic K-Texture aberrations until I can get some custom scales from a talented member like GatorSclaes, Spketch, ShepardCC, etc... I like everything else about the knife. Kershaw knocked it out of the park with this budget knife.
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Thanks for your insight, Erik! I too will deal with the slippery scales until I can pick some up from Don. His pics are nuts, aren't they?

I tried running it like a Hinderer, leaving the K-Texture on the presentation side, but like the look of the milling too much to cover it up now.
 
Is the K-texture the soft/grippy feeling crap? Or is it more like FRN? I love the look of this knife, but hate soft feeling handles and I can't justify paying the cost of the knife again for another set of scales for it.
 
venemous said:
Is the K-texture the soft/grippy feeling crap? Or is it more like FRN? I love the look of this knife, but hate soft feeling handles and I can't justify paying the cost of the knife again for another set of scales for it.
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It's basically FRN. It definitely feels like a hard plastic with the Kershaw "K" molded into it over and over. Not too grippy, not too slick.
 
Hey John, does your pivot come loose the more you flip it? Mine has done it twice now. I guess it's time for some Loctitie.
 
eschwebach said:
Hey John, does your pivot come loose the more you flip it? Mine has done it twice now. I guess it's time for some Loctitie.
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Not at all, Erik. And I've been flipping it non-stop for the past 2 days. Indeed, it does sound like Loctite time.

My 0801 suffered from a loosening pivot, once upon a time ;)
 
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