Blade steel is 420HC – bad stuff. Before I even had one of my own I was sure I loved it. We’ve seen it on the Link, the Rove, the ZT 0095BW, 0770, and of course the Tilt and 0777. This blade in sculpted micarta scales would be perfection. It is made in the USA. It’s back again on the Dividend, available in two different material choices: a GRN configuration that is slightly cheaper but makes the knife more rotund, or the slim, sleek, Leek-like aluminum that I opted for. The black aluminum scales look nice, but they are not very grippy. Bad business. They did tweak it to make it better. Here are his barely-maintained Twitter and blog. If this knife had G10 or Carbon Fiber scales, it would be a much better knife in my opinion. Needs to be offered in BD1, D2, 154CM, CTS-XHP, etc. So the Dividend’s hollow-ground blade is a modified wharncliffe or drop point, depending on ho… That steel is inexpensive enough for Spyderco to export it to China. The 7777’s blade is a modified drop pointshape, measuring 3.50” long and cut from reasonable 0.12” blade stock. By definition, assisted opening also means resisted closing. The Dividend is less than half the price of other M390 knives which is the reason I bought it. Your email address will not be published. Kershaw Dividend 1812BLK is a spring assisted knife that features Bohler M390 Stainless Steel blade and a Machined Aluminum handle. On an assisted opener, liner locks beat framelocks 9 times out of 10, and this is no exception to the rule. The Dividend is a knife like that, it feels right but it is also made very well and it's blade is excellent. It doesn’t look like it would be more comfortable in hand, but it definitely is. A slimmed down version of the popular Kershaw Link, the Dividend is great for in-pocket carry and regular use. Thank you very much. Lock Type, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness, Blade Material, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Weight, Lock Ease of Use, Overall Quality. Not too big, not too small, the Kershaw Dividend is a just-right-sized pocket knife. I somewhat prefer 14C28N but that difference is dwarfed by the gap between BD-1 and the Dividend’s rendition of 420HC. On the Dividend we see that same standard, almost nondescript clip that has appeared on the Link and some ZTs. Good deal of lateral torque. Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Weight, Blade Material, None. However, this handy medium-sized folder is one of the first knives I go for when I leave the house for any other reason. Bought a Kershaw dividend in June 2017 and now it’s August 2018 is completely fallen apart. While they manage to make some interesting blades in the category once in a while, and while the quality is reliably decent, this strategy doesn’t really make for knives that feel “complete” to me. Kershaw 1812BLK Dividend Assisted Flipper Knife 3" M390 Stonewashed Plain Blade, Black Aluminum Handles The news isn’t bad so much as complicated. The clip of the Eris is better than the Dividend because it rides deeper in the pocket (unless you get the upscale Dividend w/ M390 … Best High Value Knives. This isn’t an entry-level steel, it’s an outdated one. 2020 - Explore Lukyan Turetsky's board "Kershaw Dividend", followed by 111 people on Pinterest. Blade steel is Awesome! But whatever the reason, it’s unfortunate that Kershaw chose to go with 420HC steel on the Divdend. Basically they gave us every other feature of an outstanding budget offering, while keeping it in the USA (hooray!) At the consumer’s end of the equation, it’s hard to say for sure why a certain decision was made on a knife. I do not like feel of Al handles so I removed the premium m390 blade and installed it in a new plain Dividend with GFN scales. The aluminum version of the Dividend will probably cost you just under $50 – not what I consider a value knife, and not offering much compared to other knives you can get for the same price or less. Soft and gummy. I was left uninterested by the Dividend…until they did the M390 sprint run. So true. Bought because of the steel. Its intriguing design, solid flipping action, and American pedigree have many in the knife community screaming “Buy!” Kershaw Asset. Since its initial public offering, the Kershaw Dividend has created quite the market buzz. I think we’re going to see a lot of overseas-produced knives from all sorts of manufacturers with BD-1 in the near future, so it should theoretically be even more cost-efficient if the knife is built in the US. Feels light. Why couldn’t Kershaw grab a batch for a knife like this? Lastly, I don't really like assisted opening knives. It features SpeedSafe technology and a convenient reversible deep carry clip. Kershaw Link Review – Final Thoughts. Good review though. They don’t feel particularly thought out and I find them hard to connect with. I’ve used it on the new Voyagers and it’s just fine. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. It isn’t the worst, but it isn’t wowing anyone. But the Dividend isn’t that cheap. Kershaw 20CV … The Spyderco UKPKs are CTS-BD1, US-made, and just over $50, and they were that price even when the steel was newer. The Kershaw Dividend is designed after the hugely successful Link model, but offers users a slimmer build. EXCLUSIVE SOUTHERN GRIND FOLDERS W/ S45VN STEEL! Also, there’s a definite synergy between flippers and SpeedSafe, because they eliminate the possibility of misfires. For me, I think it comes down to this: the design is solid but some good steel alongside the good price would have made it exciting. 420HC is bad, there’s no two ways around it. I found it completely stable in spine whacks and lateral torquing. I think that when Kershaw tries to do fancy it comes across as tacky (things like the three GTC collabs come to mind), but these simple, honest-looking knives are always visually appealing if not inspiring. Fits in the watch pocket in my pants. Filed Under: EDC Knives, Kershaw, Made in the USA, USA Made EDC Knives Tagged With: 420HC, speedsafe. Instead what we will get it an upgrade in 6 months or so with S35VN that will price it out of the market for people looking at KAI products. Learn how your comment data is processed. Heat treat is ok, I've seen better and worse, but should be better then some S30V based on my Link from Kershaw. I have the M390 Dividend on order as well and I am hopeful that the order will be filled. The overall design is deeply competent, but also fails to stand out compared to classic in-house Kershaws like the Skyline and Knockout, as well as their more characterful collaborations and competition outside the Kershaw family. Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019. The M390 blade is super sharp out of the box. It would be priced under a Delica with a steel that many consider better than VG-10 at cutting and maintaining, it would be priced just above a Tenacious which is Chinease made and going for around 40$ now, it would be priced just around a RAT-1 in D2 and have better looks and the benefit of USA made. On that topic, if you happen to know anyone looking to sell a Skyline 1760S30VCF…or if you have inside word Kershaw is doing another sprint run of the Skyline with a better blade, let me know! Good point about the looks. The clips they’ve been using in recent years are so much better. I’ve already posited that the Dividend is a secret sequel to the Leek (a Leekquel, if you will) and that really comes through in the aluminum model. My EDC, love it. Pocket Clip, Overall Quality, Lock Ease of Use, Weight, Ease of Opening, None. I agree with Ben in almost every way. This matches my impression of the Dividend after handling it. … but compromised seriously on the steel. And I was going to disable the AO on the Dividend, but I actually like it on this knife. Here the team at Knife Informer is proud to share our view on the best Kershaw knives for your money in the market today. Overall for the money a great knife that will last and do great work for you. Worth the money? Perfect size fits my large size hands well. The Dividend has a cutting edge of 3” and a blade length of 3-3/16”-ish depending on where you measure from. Pretty favorably. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page. That's an amazing price for M390. Kershaw (Assisted) Kershaw Al Mar. Lock Ease of Use, Handle Material, Handle Feel. That knife is the special edition Kershaw Dividend with M390 steel. In fact, it stuck in my mind as one of the most exciting knives of SHOT, full stop. It's a slimmer, sleeker pocket carry — proudly made in the USA in Kershaw's Tualatin, Oregon factory, yet still built at a very affordable price. Shop for Products Featured On Instagram Here. Astute as ever – when are we going to see more full-length reviews from you? I have medium sized hands and fits absolutely perfect. Everything they make is accessible, with even the most lavish releases rarely going over $100. The better steel needs to happen without a big jump in cost, is the key. Worth noting is that, compared to the Link as well as other SpeedSafe knives I’ve owned, the Dividend seems less snappy. Nothing wrong with it other than the steel, but I own a Blur, a Leek, 3 variations of Skylines, a Camber, an OD-2, a CQC-5K, a Needs Work, and a few other Kershaws I can’t recall right now. This post contains affiliate links. My nephew doesn't know it yet but I have found the Oso sweet's replacement. The Kershaw Dividend M390 is arguably one of the best knives for the money one can buy. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! I think the marketing strategy in recent years has been to release a bunch of entry-level knives, each with a single selling point – or in some cases a gimmick. Reviews and Ratings for Kershaw 1870CFM390 Limited Edition Knockout Assisted Flipper Knife 3.25 M390 Stonewashed Blade, Carbon Fiber Handles at KnifeCenter I have two Leeks with ZDP189 steel, so I am used to having premium steel in my EDC. Read Our Review of the Zero Tolerance 0220 Kershaw Dividend Key Features Lastly, the aluminum scale can be slippery; I will be taking a Dremel to parts of it to add some texture. Best Tactical Knives But they feel very different in use: the Link is much thicker, it fills the hand and feels like it’s meant to be used hard. The form factor for this knife is excellent. Its like pricing a Toyota up there to the point that it competes with your luxury brand in Lexus. The m390 steel is by the hardest steel i have ever used and it holds a razor sharp edge for ever. Rock solid, and exceedingly strong for all reasonable use of this EDC knife. Kershaw Dividend. There’s bound to be something that appeals to your taste and budget in Kershaw’s yearly SHOT barrage. Fantastic look and feel with durability and grip; a winner. I generally like a mix of straight edge and belly, but the curve here is so gradual in places that, functionally, it’s straight. I can almost guarantee we’ll see an upgraded Dividend, but I have a sinking feeling it will price itself out of relevance, kind of like the S35VN Link. Design Origin The Kershaw Bareknuckle is one of several knife designs inspired by the Zero Tolerance 0777, an ultra-high-end production folder that was first unveiled eight years ago. Those days seem to be behind us. The Dividend is much slimmer, with a better blade shape, and weighs nearly two ounces less. Awesome. Ah, SpeedSafe: the 8Cr13MoV of deployment methods: on so many knives, what is there left to say about it? It might be imperceptibly slower than other SpeedSafe knives but it also circumvents that problem of too much kick: you won’t have any problem holding on to the Dividend when you open it. Best EDC Knives Unfortunately, there are some things about this knife that keep it in storage and not in my pocket. Sure, Kershaw likely uses its spring-assist to compensate for an otherwise less-than-perfect action, and the spring introduces a failure point, but their good customer service somewhat makes up for that. It’s a good shape: simple, slightly hump-backed, grip neutral. The Dividend is proudly produced right here in the USA and priced to where everyone can enjoy it. I wasn’t interested in it when it was announced and have never been tempted to pick one up since. Please Like and Thumbs up! This is my outside knife to go with my ZT 0450CFZDP favorite EDC dress knife. 3 лист. Dan sent me his to compare in this review, and some hands-on time confirmed what I already suspected: I prefer the Dividend in every way. Works great and Kershaw even sends you a deep carry clip if you call them, ZT doesn't which is weird because it's the same company. Excellent fit and finish. But I keep stopping just short of enthusiasm. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. New Listing Kershaw Dividend 1812blk M390 BNIB. I bounced off the Link. Ben Schwartz is a writer and gear geek. With the design quality and the USA-made branding this really could have been a hit if it came in with BD1 or D2. No blade play, sharp out of the box, light weight, good fit in hand and no hot spots. Still, I would have waited for all of that to get sorted if it meant a better knife in the end. Just pitch ’em across the plate sometimes. It comes down to this for me—if you don’t like assists, the Fastball is your knife. Your email address will not be published. The only thing missing on the Dividend is some gimping on the back of the blade which I'm used to having on the Leek. The real competition in the Kershaw catalog, of course, comes from the Leek. Lightweight compact design with superbly easy to use flipper, locks firmly and very easy to unlock. We say a blade shape is “modified” when it deviates so much from one of the standards that we’re not really sure what to call it. Also feel free to Subscribe if you enjoy! The ergonomic shape of the knife is a perfect fit in my hand. If you pay for S35VN in a KAI knife, you just go to ZT. Required fields are marked *. Kershaw Link x2 M390 vs Bradford M390 edge retention testing, heat treat matters just like hrc - Duration: 17:48. Also, I find the liner lock not to be a joy to use. It’s just not compelling. Remember when Kershaw had some of the worst clips in the biz? Suffice to say that this was no Buck 420HC. Lock Type, Pocket Clip, Handle Feel, Blade Sharpness, Blade Material, Ease of Opening, Weight, Lock Ease of Use, Overall Quality. I love the blade shape, the “KAI handle shape” (this in-house design language is undervalued compared to the glitzy outside collabs) and the clean gray anodized finish. Thin in the pocket, easy to get your hand in and out. Honestly even with ordinary AUS-8 this would be an important budget knife. My new Dividend is used for opening boxes, shaving splinters from wood kitchen utensils, and doing minor surgery on my index finger. Get the best deals for m390 kershaw at eBay.com. What do you guys think? The liner lock on the Dividend is so squared away and familiar I have qualms about wasting more than a sentence or two discussing it. In the intro I alluded to my disenchantment with the Dividend. 420HC is definitely easy to sharpen, but there’s a baseline for edge retention that it failed to clear as implemented on the Dividend. Solid but not too too springy. And yet the Dividend’s blade shape, ergos, looks and weight are all well above average. Kershaw Blackout. This is only needed on the side opposite the carry clip.