Yog
26-06-04, 04:24 PM
Encouraged with how much I liked my Kershaw Random Leek, I decided to try another Kershaw, this time the Quince wood Splinter.
http://www.meshmonkey.eclipse.co.uk/knives/Splinter_open.jpg
Unlike the Leek, the Splinter is not an assisted opening model, instead it’s a standard liner lock with thumb studs model. One thing the Splinter did have in common was that it came very sharp. The edge bevel is very slightly convex’ed (possibly more by manufacture than design), which I’ll sharpen flat when I have a spare five minutes. I’ve found a convex edge will keep sharp slightly longer, but when it goes I’ve found it goes quite fast.
Another similarity with the Leek is that the initial opening and closing of the Splinter was slightly rough. Not by much, but enough that you could feel if you were looking out for it. But just like the Leek, a couple dabs of lubricant and a couple hundred opening/closings and it’s now like silk.
The blade is Aus-8, which thankfully is a grade or two above the steel Kershaw uses in a lot of their folders (420 / 440A). Although probably not in the league of todays “super” steels, I have no problem at all with AUS-8. Even though it noticeably doesn’t hold an edge as well as S30v, BG-42 or even 440C, it’s about a thousand times better than anything just marked as “Stainless Steel” or “Surgical Steel”. The blade shape reminds me a little of a Spyderco Delica, perhaps a bit thinner, which is no bad thing.
Where the Splinter really does win is in it’s styling.
http://www.meshmonkey.eclipse.co.uk/knives/Splinter_closed.jpg
The most noticeable thing is the Quince wood scales, which has a VERY nice grain pattern, nice swirls and nice contrast in colours. Whilst the wood isn’t finished off as well as you would expect from a custom piece (sign of slight orange peel texture on the finish), it is very good for a production piece. There are a lot of other smaller rather nice design features like, the repeated three small hole pattern found at the front and the back, the way the wood scales flare slightly at the front and middle for a good grip, and the way the steel and wood blend and take over from each other. Thinking about it now I realise how much the Splinter reminds me of the Spyderco Howard Viele (possibly the three hole motif).
There are a couple small negatives.
Although in a standard grip (Philippine style) the knife is very comfortable, the moulded nature of the handle means that other grips are less comfortable, like choking up on the blade for up close cuts. Also I found I “noticed” the clip when I initially gripped the knife, not enough to be uncomfortable, but just enough that I knew it was there. The clip is deep pocket carry (nice), but because the back of the handle is tapered, it can be a bit hard to get a grip to draw if your hands are slippery.
One of my pet hates with some liner locks is the way the locking liner is sometimes flush with the handle slab, which can make it a bit hard to unlock (possibly due to my podgy thumb :wink: ), The top handle slab is set back slightly from the locking liner for easier access, but it is not more than a single millimetre, could do with a fraction more.
http://www.meshmonkey.eclipse.co.uk/knives/Splinter_back.jpg
Possibly not a good knife for working outside in cold wet weather (due to tapered handle and almost flush locking liner), it does make a very good gentleman come general purpose knife. The styling gives the impression the knife is worth a lot more. If the wood was finished of a bit better and you took off the Kershaw markings (a bit on the large side for my tastes), you could almost mistake it for a custom piece.
Despite the few small niggles (and they are small), I like this knife a lot. :biggthump
http://www.meshmonkey.eclipse.co.uk/knives/Splinter_open.jpg
Unlike the Leek, the Splinter is not an assisted opening model, instead it’s a standard liner lock with thumb studs model. One thing the Splinter did have in common was that it came very sharp. The edge bevel is very slightly convex’ed (possibly more by manufacture than design), which I’ll sharpen flat when I have a spare five minutes. I’ve found a convex edge will keep sharp slightly longer, but when it goes I’ve found it goes quite fast.
Another similarity with the Leek is that the initial opening and closing of the Splinter was slightly rough. Not by much, but enough that you could feel if you were looking out for it. But just like the Leek, a couple dabs of lubricant and a couple hundred opening/closings and it’s now like silk.
The blade is Aus-8, which thankfully is a grade or two above the steel Kershaw uses in a lot of their folders (420 / 440A). Although probably not in the league of todays “super” steels, I have no problem at all with AUS-8. Even though it noticeably doesn’t hold an edge as well as S30v, BG-42 or even 440C, it’s about a thousand times better than anything just marked as “Stainless Steel” or “Surgical Steel”. The blade shape reminds me a little of a Spyderco Delica, perhaps a bit thinner, which is no bad thing.
Where the Splinter really does win is in it’s styling.
http://www.meshmonkey.eclipse.co.uk/knives/Splinter_closed.jpg
The most noticeable thing is the Quince wood scales, which has a VERY nice grain pattern, nice swirls and nice contrast in colours. Whilst the wood isn’t finished off as well as you would expect from a custom piece (sign of slight orange peel texture on the finish), it is very good for a production piece. There are a lot of other smaller rather nice design features like, the repeated three small hole pattern found at the front and the back, the way the wood scales flare slightly at the front and middle for a good grip, and the way the steel and wood blend and take over from each other. Thinking about it now I realise how much the Splinter reminds me of the Spyderco Howard Viele (possibly the three hole motif).
There are a couple small negatives.
Although in a standard grip (Philippine style) the knife is very comfortable, the moulded nature of the handle means that other grips are less comfortable, like choking up on the blade for up close cuts. Also I found I “noticed” the clip when I initially gripped the knife, not enough to be uncomfortable, but just enough that I knew it was there. The clip is deep pocket carry (nice), but because the back of the handle is tapered, it can be a bit hard to get a grip to draw if your hands are slippery.
One of my pet hates with some liner locks is the way the locking liner is sometimes flush with the handle slab, which can make it a bit hard to unlock (possibly due to my podgy thumb :wink: ), The top handle slab is set back slightly from the locking liner for easier access, but it is not more than a single millimetre, could do with a fraction more.
http://www.meshmonkey.eclipse.co.uk/knives/Splinter_back.jpg
Possibly not a good knife for working outside in cold wet weather (due to tapered handle and almost flush locking liner), it does make a very good gentleman come general purpose knife. The styling gives the impression the knife is worth a lot more. If the wood was finished of a bit better and you took off the Kershaw markings (a bit on the large side for my tastes), you could almost mistake it for a custom piece.
Despite the few small niggles (and they are small), I like this knife a lot. :biggthump