KershawShuffle II Folding Pocket Knife, Small, Lightweight Utility and Multi-Function Knife, Multiple Styles

Solid construction. Easy to open and close safely, and it doesn't open when I don't want it to. Comfortable for my medium-sized hands. The blade has little to no wiggle, and is quite sharp out of the box. I was able to get it sharper fairly easily as well. The American tanto blade shape adds an unexpected amount of utility that you don't get from the usual curved edge blades.The blade-lock is fairly solid, but I would not trust it under extreme force for puncturing of upward force because of how easily it can be unlocked with one finger (read: I would NOT recommend this knife for any self defense purposes). My only major complaint would be the pocket clip bends rather easily, rendering it somewhat useless unless you are able to bend it back into shape. For the price, it is a very good utility blade. I also like the added utility of the metal loop on the end of the handle: it can be used for a variety of purposes such as a small pry-bar, flat-head screwdriver, or bottle opener.

When one first looks at this knife there is a bit of cognative dissonance: The weight of the knife is substantial, the look is streamlined, and the blade is no nonsense, none of that serrated blade work that imo, often makes a blade look cheap and stamped out, especially with a combat designed blade. But then we have what appears to be a screwdriver and...in the name of bilateral symetry perhaps? a bottle opener on both sides of the knife. I couldn't initially decide how this jibed, but no foul no harm....you have two bottle openers! The screw driver is actually a nice sturdy design, it appears that one could break glass with it, and it functions well as a striking surface if one needs to use the weapon in a combat scenerio. This knife could be grasped as a knuckle duster and this protruding surface becomes a way to transmit less than lethal force.The spine and locking mechanism is solid. Not a fan of this locking mechanism so much...but the mechanism is as solid as one can get, assuming one piece of metal will hold a blade in place, and that one will know under duress to make sure the blade comes out fully to the out position, otherwise crippling the hand... More mundane problems with this system are, when the mechanism is jarred, it can get stuck. But all materials on the knife are solid! Even the pin is held well into place on this knife, very good materials for a knife in the 20 and under range...now onto the steak! Does it sizzle?I have a fondness for the tanto blade design...It has an extra cutting surface that once understood is an excellent combat design. The blade is beautifully proportioned, one has a generous amount of blade for the size and a nice extra surface area that is not just for show. Little touches like a blood groove show excellent design and attention to detail. There is even an extra notch on the blade to secure a grip...a nice touch.Excellent knife for the price. I wish they would put a superior locking mechanism on such a nice knife and charge me twice as much frankly.

The media could not be loaded. The Good-LightweightSmall enough that it's easy to carryLarge enough that you can still get a good grip on itHandle shape is really comfortable to hold.Price!!The Bad-Handle material is plastic molded around a steel frameNo assisted opening (can be a good or bad thing, depending on whom you talk to)Poor design for the location of the frame lock (I'll explain)The blade is a little hard to open from the fully closed position but was able to modify it so its easier. (I'll explain)The pocket clip is only reversible from one side to the other, but not from one end to the other (I'll explain).Bought this for just under $18, so I really wasn't expecting much.-On first opening, I realized that the handle is made of plastic molded around the steel frame. Not a deal breaker, but it doesn't feel as "nice" in the hand compared to steel or aluminum.-I then went to open the knife, and I noticed that it was very stiff and hard to open at first. It was nice and smooth once it was pushed past the closed position. However, getting it started from the closed position required a bit of effort. After some investigation. I noticed that there is a dimple in the blade [Photo D] and a raised peg on the frame lock [Photo E]. The knife is designed so that when it's closed, the peg sits inside the dimple. The peg is on the frame lock and the pressure of the frame lock keeps the blade from sliding open on its own. Good idea! However, I found that it was a little too difficult to push it past the peg. Perhaps, after a few months of opening and closing, then that peg would have been worn down on its own and it would have become easier to open, but I had a different idea.WARNING! THIS COULD VOID YOUR WARRANTY, SO DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! I didn't care much because, for the price, I can just get another one if I have any problems.I took a very small file to knock down the top of the peg a little. You don't want to remove the peg completely, just make it shorter so that you don't have to push as hard to get it out of the dimple. After a few minutes of carefully filing, checking the opening resistance, filing, checking opening resistance, and getting it to the point that you feel good with. After doing this modification I found it is much easier to open.-The second thing that I found was problematic with this knife, is the location of the frame lock and how the handle is formed around it. The handle also comes out to be flush with the frame lock. From new, the handle is symmetrical on both sides. This meant that getting my thumb to compress the frame lock required me to rotate the knifes position in my palm so I could get the tip of my thumb in between the two sides of the handle. This made one-handed closing really annoying and difficult. So, I decided to do some more "customization".Once again, WARNING! THIS COULD VOID YOUR WARRANTY, SO DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!I took my Dremel tool and, using a circular sanding bit with a coarse grain, I removed some material on the side that my thumb sits on. I made sure to be careful to keep the contour of the original design, so it still had a comfortable finger groove. If you compare the area around the thumb stud in photos [F] and [G] then you will see the difference. This made it much easier to press the frame lock with the corner of my thumb. Now it is easy to close this knife with one hand.OVERALL, I actually really like this knife. I was looking for a lightweight daily carry knife with a short blade, but still had a good sized handle. The shape of the handle and the finger grooves make it feel really good in your hand. Very comfortable to hold. The blade is plenty sharp. I haven't had the broken blade problems that some other people have had. Also, The pocket clip is tight enough that I don't worry about it slipping. I only wish that the handle was designed so that you could change the pocket clip to the other end of the knife. That way you could pull it from your pocket with one hand, and not have to flip the knife to get the thumb stud in the right position in your hand. I haven't tried the bottle opener, but I don't drink much beer, so I don't expect to use it much.I would recommend this knife to anyone who is looking for a good daily carry knife that is inexpensive. You don't have to do the modifications I made for this to be a good knife. It is a good knife right out of the box. I just "customized" mine to suit my needs.The quarter and the dollar bill in the last two photos [H and J] are there for size comparison.

Kershaw is known for well made, durable knives. While this is made in China, it's to Kershaw's design and standards. Contrary to popular belief, China can make very good products if they are given specifications. It's an inexpensive, every day carry. Extremely durable with a good fit and finish. The blade is sharp and strong. There are no weak points in the construction and the handle is comfortable. The dimensions are small enough to be legal in most places, but large enough to be practical. Well made and would buy again.