The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Knives & Blades => Topic started by: Big Frank on February 28, 2025, 04:03:27 PM
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I just ordered 2 Benchmade knives. One is the SHOT Show 2025 Limited Edition Mini Freek Folding Knife. And while I was at it added a SHOT Show 2024 Exclusive Mini Osborne Folding Knife to my order. The Mini Freek has Amber ULTEM Handles and an Amethyst Cerakote CPM-M4 high-speed tool steel blade. The Mini Osbourne has a Red Cerakote CPM-S90V stainless tool steel blade and Gray G-10 handles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxBu40herMs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xz2-MRh3Lc
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USPS says the expected delivery is today. And it was also yesterday. And it will probably be next week too. They were Accepted at NASHVILLE, TN, and Arrived at NASHVILLE, TN on the 3rd. I don't know what was going on during the 4th and 5th. They were In Transit to Next Facility on the 6th, and Arrived at INDIANAPOLIS, IN. They were In Transit to Next Facility on the 7th, THEN Departed INDIANAPOLIS, IN, and Arrived at DETROIT, MI. They still have to arrive in Flint, MI, and then the post office in Flint, MI, before they can make it to me.
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Expected delivery date is now the 10th.
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I got my knives Monday. I have A Kershaw Frontrunner, Strata, and Turismo coming, expected delivery date next Monday. And I just ordered a Kershaw Cybernet, and Launch 20 today. All at least 40% off list price at GovX. The first 3 were on clearance. I hope I like them because there's no return. I like different kinds of knife actions and didn't have a slide opener like the Cybernet in my collection. And the Launch 20 is one of the few knives in the Launch series that has a 3" or less blade. You can never have too many automatics, can you?
https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/
https://www.govx.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG2Trlh7T88
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88zFT8AjDDA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkKuoDh2-pE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IssZdapl9nQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkLJ2lFuDg4
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All of my Kershaw knives arrived today. The post office delivered the 3 that were shipped on the 11th, and UPS delivered the 2 that were shipped on the 13th. Too bad I can't carry the 4.5 inch Strata around here. It flips open as easily, if not easier than most of the others. The Launch 20 Automatic works well, but I have a hard time opening the Cybernet one-handed. I have to open it partway, shift my grip, and slide it some more. It takes 2 or 3 tries to open but I can close it in one move. If my fingers weren't numb and tingling, my joints stiff, and my wrist swelled up, maybe I could slide it open as easily as the guy in the video. I can't take it apart and put a spring in it, turning it into a switchblade, because the button would slide more than 2 1/2" as soon as I pressed it. I wouldn't be able to hold it.
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I got another Kershaw Turismo today. It's made in China with quality control done here in the U.S. Older models use Kershaw's assisted mechanism with KVT ball bearings. Current production models switched to assisted with bronze phosphor washers. This one has the phosphor bronze washers instead of ball bearings, but I'm not sure about the other one. It has a 2.8" or 2.9" 59-60 HRC D2 high-carbon tool steel blade, and stainless steel handle, with a black PVD coating. The flipper is so small it's hard to use. I don't care if you can't see the flipper when the blade is open. A flipper twice as big would make it easier to open, and still only be a little bump. I still like the gently curved belly of the leaf-shaped blade, which seems bigger than it is. It's a frame lock with a deep-carry reversible tip-up pocket clip. There's nothing fancy about it, but it meets my sub-3" blade requirement. The action is super smooth after I dripped some Hoppe's No. 9 gun oil with a needle tip on both sides of the pivot. I always do that and work the bade back in and out. It makes a big difference on most knives. It was 50%, Closeout pricing while supplies last at GovX. Final sale. No returns.
https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/turismo.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkKuoDh2-pE
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I got 7 more Kershaw knives today. All 7 have blade lengths of 2.75" - 3" so I can carry them "west of the border" a mile away into Flint Twp. I got serrated blades on 3 of them and black blades on 2 of them, costing a little for for each option when available. They're all assisted opening but the Wharf feels lazy. The spring/springs isn't/aren't powerful enough for the weight of the cleaver blade. The Outright has a Black PVD coating on the blade, not the finish shown in the video, but snaps open really well. https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/outright-black-serrated.html The Conduit does too, and is probably my favorite with the Outright close behind. I really like both blade shapes, but the Conduit feels better in my hand. The Shoreline would probably be my 3rd choice if I couldn't have all 7. The Outcome and Korra are pretty basic, and the Outcome feels really thin. The handle on the Outfield is on the tiny size, but I can get a good 3-finger grip on it, with the corner of the butt resting between my 4th and 5th fingers.
1. Outcome - Silver
2. Korra - Black
3. Wharf - Gray
4. Outright - Serrated - Black
5. Conduit - Serrated - Black
6. Shoreline - Serrated - Black
7. Outfield - Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJhbwUXrPWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyAs-GSE86Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjq3hzZXVaU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTqa7-FCAp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKudYBfddk8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3K5K1zoqew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoxgiIda3HQ