- Joined
- Dec 13, 2009
- Messages
- 777
This is a review for the Kershaw Volt 2. I picked up a sharpmaker a few days ago and I found this on the forum for a decent price and I picked it up. Not saying Kershaw knives are cheap and good things to practice sharpening, I wanted an inexpensive knife that wouldn't cost me a small fortune if I messed up sharpening for the first time (*cough* sebenza *cough*). Anyway, I had been looking into a cheaper edc to clip into my pocketless shorts for the times I take my dog on a walk, etc and I really liked the blade shape of the Volt 2 so I had considered it for a while but never got around to getting it.
This is my very first Kershaw. To be honest I have been eyeing that ZT0560 for a while (haven't we all?) and I am probably going to pick it up sooner or later. I have only heard amazing things about the Kershaw customer service and that is one of the reasons I wanted to spend a little more for a Kershaw over a Sanrenmu or other knife brand to practice sharpening on. I know that I can keep the knife and use it, if anything goes wrong, I can get in touch with Kershaw CS. Definitely worth the little bit extra money.
Anyway, for my very first Kershaw I am extremely impressed. I have been using some form of a CRK for almost a year now, and the fit and finish of this Volt 2 is impressive. Sure its not a CRK, but I could buy a case of these instead of a plain jane sebenza. The blade has a very small amount (extremely small, but its there) of side to side play and the blade is not extremely centered, but for a ~$20 knife who can complain? Kershaw really does give you a bang for your buck.
It is an AO (Assisted Opening) knife, with Kershaw's Speedsafe, and that makes it a knife that is extremely easy and fun to open. I feel like it isn't necessary, but it doesn't hurt either. It opens fast and with authority. The AO actually only kicks in once the flipper is just about flush with the body, and springs the knife open. I played with the knife a bit, and found that since the flipper needs to be pushed almost flush, the knife needs to be pushed out ~40 degrees and then the spring will push it open to 90 degrees and from there physics takes over and the momentum and weight of the blade flings it the other 90 degrees into the open position and the liner lock engages, locking open the knife. So closing the knife it is like any liner lock until 90 degrees where you meet some spring tension (which actually is not that bad) and you need to close it most of the way before the blade sucks into the detent for the last 10 degrees. I put pictures of this up later as the girlfriend went home for the weekend and so did the camera.
The lockup is great, no vertical blade play. It is very solid and even a tab bit early. That is a good thing though.
The blade came pretty sharp, I was able to pop a few hairs off my arm. No complaints here. Sure it isn't a fancy steel, but for an edc that I can sharpen at home anytime I need to, it isn't too big of a deal.
The scales are the classic polymide type material you see on many knives, the texturing helps but it still is a little slippery. I guess better than a rough pocket eater. But to each his/her own. The grip on the knife is fantastic for me, the flipper works as a perfect little choil to protect your fingers from the blade. I have average to small hands, but I can put my index finger in front of the choil and the rest behind it, and the blade never touches my finger. The jimping is very effective and locks my thumb in place. The thump ramp is neither too steep nor too shallow to make a difference - it is done just right. At least for me.
The clip has a little bit of side to side play, even though I tightened it down all the way, but thats okay. It is a very unobtrusive clip, and I never notice it when I grip the knife. The shape looks funkier in pictures than in real life. I thought I would dislike it, but when I got the knife and saw it in person, its not all that bad. I think I will keep it on the knife.
The backspacer looks more aggressive than it really is. I find it to be marginally beneficial, it is a little bit too flush with the knife, but thats okay. My small CRK does't even have a black spacer and I love the thing.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I have seen about the Volt 2 is that is a bit on the large size. I wish I has a mini grip to compare it to (I have have it in stores, and this knife is reminiscent of it, at least the grip width). To be honest, sure, its not the thinnest knife around, but I carried it today in my pocket along side my phone (I'm not sure how you carry your knives, but I like to just throw it in the front right pocket with my phone) and the difference between the Volt 2 and my small sebenza in a leather CRK slipcase was minimal. So I think that the size argument is overplayed. It isn't a heavy knife, but it isn't a feather weight either. Point is, unless you are carrying the knife alone, or are used to extremely light knives, you won't notice a difference.
Before I get into comparing it to my small sebenza, here are some pictures that didn't fit anywhere else.
As I said before, I have been carrying some form or CRK for about the past year. Usually a small, I don't need the extra .6" for daily use. The Volt 2 is supposed to have a slightly larger blade (3.125") than the small sebenza (2.94") but I find the difference to be hardly noticeable. In fact, when looking at the actual cutting edges of both knives, they appear to be the same.
In fact, the knives themselves are pretty similar in length, with the Kershaw being a smidgen larger.
Anyway, I think this knife would make a great user, and give my sebenza some break. I can already tell I am warming up to this knife. It nearly the same size as my small sebenza and should cut just as well.
Thanks for reading!
This is my very first Kershaw. To be honest I have been eyeing that ZT0560 for a while (haven't we all?) and I am probably going to pick it up sooner or later. I have only heard amazing things about the Kershaw customer service and that is one of the reasons I wanted to spend a little more for a Kershaw over a Sanrenmu or other knife brand to practice sharpening on. I know that I can keep the knife and use it, if anything goes wrong, I can get in touch with Kershaw CS. Definitely worth the little bit extra money.
Anyway, for my very first Kershaw I am extremely impressed. I have been using some form of a CRK for almost a year now, and the fit and finish of this Volt 2 is impressive. Sure its not a CRK, but I could buy a case of these instead of a plain jane sebenza. The blade has a very small amount (extremely small, but its there) of side to side play and the blade is not extremely centered, but for a ~$20 knife who can complain? Kershaw really does give you a bang for your buck.
It is an AO (Assisted Opening) knife, with Kershaw's Speedsafe, and that makes it a knife that is extremely easy and fun to open. I feel like it isn't necessary, but it doesn't hurt either. It opens fast and with authority. The AO actually only kicks in once the flipper is just about flush with the body, and springs the knife open. I played with the knife a bit, and found that since the flipper needs to be pushed almost flush, the knife needs to be pushed out ~40 degrees and then the spring will push it open to 90 degrees and from there physics takes over and the momentum and weight of the blade flings it the other 90 degrees into the open position and the liner lock engages, locking open the knife. So closing the knife it is like any liner lock until 90 degrees where you meet some spring tension (which actually is not that bad) and you need to close it most of the way before the blade sucks into the detent for the last 10 degrees. I put pictures of this up later as the girlfriend went home for the weekend and so did the camera.
The lockup is great, no vertical blade play. It is very solid and even a tab bit early. That is a good thing though.
The blade came pretty sharp, I was able to pop a few hairs off my arm. No complaints here. Sure it isn't a fancy steel, but for an edc that I can sharpen at home anytime I need to, it isn't too big of a deal.
The scales are the classic polymide type material you see on many knives, the texturing helps but it still is a little slippery. I guess better than a rough pocket eater. But to each his/her own. The grip on the knife is fantastic for me, the flipper works as a perfect little choil to protect your fingers from the blade. I have average to small hands, but I can put my index finger in front of the choil and the rest behind it, and the blade never touches my finger. The jimping is very effective and locks my thumb in place. The thump ramp is neither too steep nor too shallow to make a difference - it is done just right. At least for me.
The clip has a little bit of side to side play, even though I tightened it down all the way, but thats okay. It is a very unobtrusive clip, and I never notice it when I grip the knife. The shape looks funkier in pictures than in real life. I thought I would dislike it, but when I got the knife and saw it in person, its not all that bad. I think I will keep it on the knife.
The backspacer looks more aggressive than it really is. I find it to be marginally beneficial, it is a little bit too flush with the knife, but thats okay. My small CRK does't even have a black spacer and I love the thing.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I have seen about the Volt 2 is that is a bit on the large size. I wish I has a mini grip to compare it to (I have have it in stores, and this knife is reminiscent of it, at least the grip width). To be honest, sure, its not the thinnest knife around, but I carried it today in my pocket along side my phone (I'm not sure how you carry your knives, but I like to just throw it in the front right pocket with my phone) and the difference between the Volt 2 and my small sebenza in a leather CRK slipcase was minimal. So I think that the size argument is overplayed. It isn't a heavy knife, but it isn't a feather weight either. Point is, unless you are carrying the knife alone, or are used to extremely light knives, you won't notice a difference.
Before I get into comparing it to my small sebenza, here are some pictures that didn't fit anywhere else.
As I said before, I have been carrying some form or CRK for about the past year. Usually a small, I don't need the extra .6" for daily use. The Volt 2 is supposed to have a slightly larger blade (3.125") than the small sebenza (2.94") but I find the difference to be hardly noticeable. In fact, when looking at the actual cutting edges of both knives, they appear to be the same.
In fact, the knives themselves are pretty similar in length, with the Kershaw being a smidgen larger.
Anyway, I think this knife would make a great user, and give my sebenza some break. I can already tell I am warming up to this knife. It nearly the same size as my small sebenza and should cut just as well.
Thanks for reading!
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