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Kershaw Volt I & Volt II Review
Introduction
I recently received a Kershaw Volt II as part of a pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/826994-Passaround-Zero-Tolerance-ZT-0551. Thomas W. and the fine folks at Kershaw made the knife available and Morrowj_98 organized the pass around.
As Kershaw has done with several other models, the original Volt was first introduced as a high-end limited edition and then followed by a mass-produced model called the Volt II. Here is how the two compare:
As compared to the now discontinued Volt, the Volt II is smaller, lighter, and substantially cheaper.
Blade
The original Volt has a dream-team mix of tough American made Crucible D2 tool steel and Bohler’s Austrian powder steel M390 for optimal edge holding. The drop point blade is actually made from two pieces of the different steels cut in sort of a jigsaw pattern and fused together.
The Volt II uses Chinese made 8CR13MoV steel, thought by many to be similar to AUS 8 or perhaps 440c - serviceable steels that are probably a little better at taking an edge than keeping it.
The Volt II’s 1/8th inch thick blade has a bead-blasted finish. Some Kershaw owners, including me, have had rusting issues with Kershaw’s bead-blasted knives, but I didn’t see any evidence of it yet on the Volt II. The drop point blade is available in plain edge, or partially serrated.
Both models feature a built-in “flipper” to open the blade. The original Volt is strictly manual, but the Volt II adds Kershaw’s spring assisted “SpeedSafe” opening mechanism, Neither Volt model lends itself to opening without the flipper - there is no thumb stud, nail nick, or other way to easily open the blade without deploying the flipper. When deployed, however, the flipper rotates into position as a finger guard. Jimping on the thumb ramps helps maintain grip.
When I first got the original Volt, it didn’t flip open very easily. Disassembling it and applying some Chris Reeve fluorinated grease has helped, but it still isn’t a speed demon - in part, I think, because of its thick, heavy blade. With a lighter blade and SpeedSafe, however, the Volt II opens very quickly. The smaller flipper of the Volt II makes it a touch harder to find and deploy.
Handle
The original Volt has handles crafted from 6AL4V titanium with unique black 3-D machined G-10 fiberglass inlays on the non-locking side. The workmanship is outstanding - it looks and feels like one seamless piece of material. The lock side is more conventional with some lateral grooves milled for grip and a Hinderer lock bar stop stabilizer to limit excessive travel in the lock bar.
The Volt II’s handles are made from black injection molded polymide (glass filled nylon)in a raised triangle pattern with steel liners. Both handles have finger grooves and a rounded butt for a secure grip.
Both models have a lanyard hole and pocket clip. The Volt has a small, quirky, titanium clip. The Volt II has a stylized curving Kershaw branded clip in steel, as shown. It is right-hand only, but can be configured for tip-up or tip-down carry.
Fit & Finish
My original Volt is the xxxx “blem” version, but I can’t find anything wrong with it. It is as well made as any production folder that doesn’t say Chris Reeve on it. The fit and finish on Volt II doesn’t compare to the original, but it is surprisingly good. On balance, it’s probably better than what I’ve seen from the Spyderco Byrd line.
Conclusions
I’ve owned the original Volt for over a year, but I don’t carry it much. It is a little big and heavy for EDC and its thick, beefy blade isn’t the best slicer. Despite its showpiece looks, the original Volt is more of a Zero Tolerance style heavy-duty tool than a gentleman’s knife.
The Volt II is easier to carry, but lacks its big brother’s flair.. After seeing Kershaw take one of its best ever knives and turn it into a Chinese made mass production piece, I expected to hate it. To be fair, however, it is well made, a good value and just about the perfect size -- not too big and not too small.
Thanks again to Kershaw and J. Morrow for putting the pass-around together and for www.BladeForums.com for giving us a place to make it happen.
Introduction
I recently received a Kershaw Volt II as part of a pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/826994-Passaround-Zero-Tolerance-ZT-0551. Thomas W. and the fine folks at Kershaw made the knife available and Morrowj_98 organized the pass around.
As Kershaw has done with several other models, the original Volt was first introduced as a high-end limited edition and then followed by a mass-produced model called the Volt II. Here is how the two compare:
As compared to the now discontinued Volt, the Volt II is smaller, lighter, and substantially cheaper.
Blade
The original Volt has a dream-team mix of tough American made Crucible D2 tool steel and Bohler’s Austrian powder steel M390 for optimal edge holding. The drop point blade is actually made from two pieces of the different steels cut in sort of a jigsaw pattern and fused together.
The Volt II uses Chinese made 8CR13MoV steel, thought by many to be similar to AUS 8 or perhaps 440c - serviceable steels that are probably a little better at taking an edge than keeping it.
The Volt II’s 1/8th inch thick blade has a bead-blasted finish. Some Kershaw owners, including me, have had rusting issues with Kershaw’s bead-blasted knives, but I didn’t see any evidence of it yet on the Volt II. The drop point blade is available in plain edge, or partially serrated.
Both models feature a built-in “flipper” to open the blade. The original Volt is strictly manual, but the Volt II adds Kershaw’s spring assisted “SpeedSafe” opening mechanism, Neither Volt model lends itself to opening without the flipper - there is no thumb stud, nail nick, or other way to easily open the blade without deploying the flipper. When deployed, however, the flipper rotates into position as a finger guard. Jimping on the thumb ramps helps maintain grip.
When I first got the original Volt, it didn’t flip open very easily. Disassembling it and applying some Chris Reeve fluorinated grease has helped, but it still isn’t a speed demon - in part, I think, because of its thick, heavy blade. With a lighter blade and SpeedSafe, however, the Volt II opens very quickly. The smaller flipper of the Volt II makes it a touch harder to find and deploy.
Handle
The original Volt has handles crafted from 6AL4V titanium with unique black 3-D machined G-10 fiberglass inlays on the non-locking side. The workmanship is outstanding - it looks and feels like one seamless piece of material. The lock side is more conventional with some lateral grooves milled for grip and a Hinderer lock bar stop stabilizer to limit excessive travel in the lock bar.
The Volt II’s handles are made from black injection molded polymide (glass filled nylon)in a raised triangle pattern with steel liners. Both handles have finger grooves and a rounded butt for a secure grip.
Both models have a lanyard hole and pocket clip. The Volt has a small, quirky, titanium clip. The Volt II has a stylized curving Kershaw branded clip in steel, as shown. It is right-hand only, but can be configured for tip-up or tip-down carry.
Fit & Finish
My original Volt is the xxxx “blem” version, but I can’t find anything wrong with it. It is as well made as any production folder that doesn’t say Chris Reeve on it. The fit and finish on Volt II doesn’t compare to the original, but it is surprisingly good. On balance, it’s probably better than what I’ve seen from the Spyderco Byrd line.
Conclusions
I’ve owned the original Volt for over a year, but I don’t carry it much. It is a little big and heavy for EDC and its thick, beefy blade isn’t the best slicer. Despite its showpiece looks, the original Volt is more of a Zero Tolerance style heavy-duty tool than a gentleman’s knife.
The Volt II is easier to carry, but lacks its big brother’s flair.. After seeing Kershaw take one of its best ever knives and turn it into a Chinese made mass production piece, I expected to hate it. To be fair, however, it is well made, a good value and just about the perfect size -- not too big and not too small.
Thanks again to Kershaw and J. Morrow for putting the pass-around together and for www.BladeForums.com for giving us a place to make it happen.
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