Have you ever wondered what is the difference between a locking liner and a frame lock? What is SpeedSafe and how does it work? Some of your questions might just get answered here in Knife Technology. Please see below descriptions of some of the most popular features offered on their knives today. As always, if you have any additional questions please to not hesitate to Ask a question.
 | What is SpeedSafe? SpeedSafe is the patented, assisted-opening system built into many of Kershaws best-selling Ken Onion knives. SpeedSafe assists the user to smoothly open the knife with a manual push on the blade's thumb stud or Index-Open system. (Index-Open uses a protruding portion of the blade's finger guard to give the user an alternative to the thumb stud. The user manually pulls back on the protrusion with the index finger to open the blade.)
How does SpeedSafe work? The heart of the SpeedSafe system is its torsion bar. Closed, the torsion bar helps keep the knife closed, preventing it from being opened by "gravity." In order to open the knife, the user must apply manual pressure to the thumb stud to overcome the resistance of the torsion bar. After the blade is out of the handle, the torsion bar moves along its half-moon track and takes over. The blade opens smoothly and locks into position, ready for use.
Is a SpeedSafe knife a switchblade? NO! There are many unique features of SpeedSafe knives that make them quite different than knives that are considered switchblades. Unlike a switchblade, SpeedSafe blades DO NOT deploy with the push of a button in the handle or by gravity alone. Instead, the user must manually overcome the torsion bar's resistance -- using the thumb stud or Index-Open protrusion on the blade itself -- in order to engage the SpeedSafe system. Because the user must manually overcome the torsion bar's resistance, SpeedSafe knives fall fully outside the Federal definition of a switchblade. However, due to the complexity and constantly changing nature of these laws and regulations, it is impossible for Kershaw Knives manufacture or The Kershaw Store to be aware of every restriction in every location in which the knives are sold or carried. It is the responsibility of the buyer to investigate and comply with the laws and regulations that apply in his or her specific area. At The Kershaw Store, we are proud to be able to offer this convenient, secure technology. |  | Frame Lock Locks the blade into position after the blade is deployed. The actual frame is what locks the blade in the place
To release the frame lock simply press the spring loaded lock and the blade will easily fold back into the handle. |  | |
| This is a very common way knives lock in the open position. They are also called Lock-Backs. This lock acts as a spring and it rides on the back arc of the blade as it rotates open and closed. To open the knife, grasp the blade with two fingers, or use a finger nail to slide into the nail-nick if provided and slowly rotate the knife open until it clicks. Now it is locked in the open position. To close, as the illustration shows, press down on the lock with your thumb and with the other hand carefully close the blade back into the handle. |
|  | Locking Liner Locks the blade into position after the blade is deployed. There is a liner inside of the frame that locks the blade in place. This type of liner is used on knives where the handle is attached to the frame. (ie. Aluminum Handle)
To release the locking liner simply press the spring loaded lock and the blade will easily fold back into the handle. |  | Tip Safety Lock The tip lock available on many of the Ken Onion SpeedSafe models provides added security to assure that the blade will not deploy while clipped into your pocket. |  | Blade Safety Lock The blade lock located on the spine of the handle provides added security to assure that the blade will not deploy while clipped into your pocket. |  | Stud Lock This is a new innovation for the knife industry and Kershaw has patented this, so it is theirs exclusively. The Stud Lock is for keeping the knife locked in the open position. It is an extremely secure lock that has 3 points of lock up. It is one of the strongest locks they manufacture. It can also be used for one hand opening of the blade. To unlock the blade simply press forward on the stud with your right or left Thumb to compress the spring and your blade will start to rotate closed. No the spring will not fall out, it is pressed in. It is also left uncovered so that anything that may go into the spring, i.e. dirt or pocket lint, will also be able to fall out or be blown out. |  | Full Tang Construction The inside construction of the handle and the portion where the blade connects to the handle on a fixed blade knife is called the Tang. Full Tang is the strongest type of construction on a fixed blade knife and is apparent when steel is exposed all the way around the outer edge of the handle and sometimes protrudes out the end. See illustration. |  | Blade Trader Changeable Blades Grasp the handle and, with your thumbs, press upwards on the underside of the Quick-Lock mechanism, continue pressing upward on the machanism until the blade and "bow tie" are exposed. The blade or tool can be removed from the "bow tie" and a new blade or tool seated onto the "bow tie" (when seating the blade or tool onto the "bow tie," make sure to guide it into place, top edge first, if you attempt to start with the bottom edge of the blade or tool the quick-lock mechanism may not return to its down position). Complete the task by returning the mechanism to its closed (down) postion as shown by the red arrow.
It is normal for a slight gap to be visible from the under side on the quick-lock mechanism between the blade and the handle, exposing part of the "bow tie".
Replacement parts for sets greater than 5 yrs old will not work w/current models. |  | Reversible Pocket Clip The knife handles on some models are drilled for both tip-up and tip-down clip carry allowing the clip to be rotated 180 Degrees on the handle. (Tip Up or Tip Down refers to the tip of the blade in which way it is pointing when the knife is secured using the clip.)
Removable Pocket Clip
This feature allows for tip up or tip down carry, or the clip can be removed completely.
|  | Correct Way
This is the correct way to carry your knife. It can also be carried on the outside of your pocket if you so desire. The pocket clip is just that, designed for the pocket not a belt. |  | Incorrect Way
Your pocket clip is not designed to be clipped onto your belt. This will cause damage if not breakage of the clip.As well, it could cause personal injury.
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Other Technological Definitions:
Ambidextrous Opening
We try to accommodate both right and left hand users the best we can. Now this is not always possible on every knife, but when you see our knives that claim they are Ambi-opening, this means those knives can be opened by a right handed or a left handed person, and sometimes they can be closed by both too. Look for knives that have an opening stud or lug on both sides of the blade.
Pocket Clip
The Kershaw pocket clip is just that, a pocket clip. It is not to be worn on the belt, as this can be an unsafe way to carry your knife. It is meant to be clipped with the handle on the inside of your pocket and the clip is on the outside of your pants. Many of our models that come with clips can be kept all the way inside your pocket, as in rolling around the bottom of your pocket. It can also be used as a money clip.This clip may be removed if you choose. Please see other descriptions, such as Reversible Clip.
Thumb Stud
This is a knob, disc, or an attachment to the blade near the handle of a folding knife that allows the user to open the knife using one hand. Many times this can be done with either the right or left hand on models that offer ambidextrous opening.
Glass Breaker Tip
It's small, but it can be a real lifesaver. In an emergency, a sharp blow with the carbide tip cracks windshield glass-enableing trapped accident victims to escape.
Hawk-Lock
The patent-pending Hawk-Lock provides incredible security and simplicity of operation. Once the knife's blade is opened, the Hawk-Lock moves into place and locks the blade into position. The blade cannot accidentally fold back into the handle, possibly catching the user's fingers in the way. To close the knife, the user must pull the slider back toward the butt of the knife to release the blade, and then fold the blade back into the handle.
Flipper
Flipper opening is a function of Lee Williams' design and Kershaw's extremely precise fit and finish. Unlike SpeedSafe, there is no torsion bar. Instead, Flipper opening is kinetic. To open a Flipper knife, hold the Flipper in your dominant hand, blade side up. Place your index finger on the ridged part of the blade protrusion. Pull back smoothly on the blade protrusion at the same times as you flick your wrist forward slightly. The combination of the pull back and slight flip will open the knife and lock the blade into position.
Alternately, you can apply heavy index-finger pressure with a quick pull back toward the butt of the knife. Both methods will open a Flipper knife quickly and easily. Kershaw's silky operation and precision fit and finish enable our Flipper knives to open with ease.
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