Kershaw Black Clash Folding Knife Review

kershaw black clashWith its affordable cost and an array of features that makes it suitable for almost any job, the Kershaw Black Clash Folding Knife (Model 1605CKTST) is an ideal every-day carry (EDC) knife. Whether you use it for camping, hunting, fishing, breaking down boxes, as part of your job, for next outdoor project, or for all of the above, the Black Clash Folding Knife makes a great everyday companion with its versatility, affordability, and attractive appearance.

Blade

With a drop-point blade and a small recurve, the multipurpose Kershaw Black Clash Folding Knife excels at a wide variety of tasks, from slicing operations to cutting rope and more. The blade is made from 8CR13MoV stainless steel, which is heat-treated to ensure hardness, strength, and wear resistance. All of this adds up to an unmatched ability to hold a perfect edge, which helps ensure that the knife’s incredible sharpness is maintained for a long time to come. The blade is partially serrated using Kershaw’s aggressively designed two-step design, making this knife particularly well-suited to cutting through tough materials, including ropes, cords, webbing, and fibers.

Specs and Features

In spite of all of its other great features, there is perhaps no better quality about the Kershaw Black Clash Folding Knife than its versatility. A wide range of precision and ergonomic features give this knife the ability to stand above its competitors. This knife features a “flipper,” or a protrusion on the back of the blade that allows the user to pull back on (or “flip”) the blade easily and safely out of the handle. The flipper protrudes on both sides of the blade, making it just as easy to open for left-handed users as their right-handed counterparts. When you manually push down on the thumbstud or pull back on the flipper, the blade quickly and easily opens using Kershaw’s trademark SpeedSafe technology.

Once the knife is open, it uses a steel liner lock that automatically moves into position as the knife opens, ensuring that the blade will stay securely open and in place until the user closes it again. Another convenient feature of the Black Clash Folding Knife is its reversibility. The handle comes pre-drilled with holes that enable the user, using nothing more than a screwdriver, to change either the knife’s tip position or the side of the handle on which it carries.

Appearance and Size

As a variant of the Kershaw Clash Folding Knife (Model 1605), the sleek, simple, and elegant design of the Black Clash Folding Knife is yet another of the many ways in which this knife excels. The knife weighs in at a mere 4.3 ounces (122 g), but don’t be fooled into thinking that it will be too small to stand up to nearly any job you might need it for. Its 4.25 inch (10.7 cm) exterior folds open to reveal an impressive 3.1 inch (7.9 cm) steel blade with a black oxide coating that simultaneously enhances corrosion resistance while providing a great, basic non-reflective look. The exterior, which is slightly wider and thicker with a deep index finger indentation, is made from robust yet light glass-filled nylon, which is textured to provide for the most secure possible grip.

Pricing and Warranty

While many similar knives from other retailers will set you back upwards of $100, the Kershaw Black Clash Folding Knife costs only $47.99. As with all Kershaw products, the Black Clash Folding Knife is guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner to be free of defects from the factory. If any such defects are found, Kershaw will replace the knife free of charge. On top of Kershaw’s reputation for producing durable, quality knives since its founding in 1974, the warranty can help you rest assured that the difference in cost does not come at the expense of the quality or long-term reliability of the product.

Conclusion

The Kershaw Black Clash Folding Knife is a well-priced, durable, and versatile tool for both the worker and the avid outdoorsman alike. Its ergonomic features and quality manufacturing make it the best knife in its price range, and better than or comparable to many knives more expensive than it.