Review Kershaw Heist

  

-  the knife that grows

The first thing to be decided is whether the Kershaw Heist lives up to its name or not? Are you being robbed/cheated of your money when you buy this knife? Speculation easily arises when you name a knife that way.

At that point, I can calm everyone down immediately, you won't!

Kershaw Heist

On the contrary, I can tell you that this knife keeps growing. It may be needed as it is a fairly small knife in terms of both dimensions and, not least, weight.

Namely, this is Kershaw's contribution to what is now often referred to as the "Bug-Out" class* after Benchmade's best seller. Concretely, it has come to stand for a lightweight knife, which of course they were not the first with, but equipped with some form of "crossbar lock". So a lock with a transverse bolt. After BM's patent on the "Axis lock" expired, the market completely exploded with that type of lock. Basically, every manufacturer has one on the program, although Kershaw in particular was rather late with their version. The one you find here.

Incidentally, the two components were the reason why I chose to take a closer look at Heist. It has proven to be a viable combination in the past.

The knife has slightly angular shapes which, however, work perfectly

Short version (former Twitter version): Kershaw Heist, an anonymous knife that turned out to be a real highlight!

Blade

The blade on the Heist is a modified drop point. The extra additions consist of an interesting false edge or rather thinning of the backside. The blade is initially full thickness and even has a slight thumb ramp before thinning out. What makes it not a real fake edge is that it doesn't extend all the way to the tip. There the blade regains its thickness again. Probably because it's damn thin right from the start.

Namely, the stock thickness is no more than 2.2 mm. The blade is 81 mm long and 26.5 mm high. Since the grind is quite high with its 18 mm, there are good conditions for a blade that is pleasant to use.

It is not often that you come across such thin and effective blades

In return, the blade is relatively wide, which helps with stability. The finish is a medium rough stone-washed surface which hides scratches well. The branding is fairly discreet with the Kershaw logo on one side and a bit of unnecessary text on the other side. But the text is small.

The steel choice fell on D2 which I don't think is bad in this case. Sure, it's not the most rust-proof, especially not in stone-tumbled versions, although it's preferable to the blasting Kershaw often used. But it is a relatively tough steel, which means that it can hold the thin edge without chipping. It also makes the tip last better than it would with a more brittle steel.

The steel is D2 the blade says. It also says KAI, model designation, China, and then there is a small sign that says that Heist is an "in-house production" and not the result of any external collaboration

In other words, the Kershaw Heist has a tip that is slightly stronger than the measurements suggest. It handles everything that a good tip should. Everything from removing skewers or in this household, cactus thorns, from fingers to puncturing plastic cans.

The rest of the cutting characteristics of the Heist are also just as sympathetic as I had hoped for. The thin blade handles everything from peeling a celeriac** to cutting printer paper. 

This knife excels at cuts where you use the entire height of the blade. An example is, of course, cardboard. Now I'm doing a bit of kitchen renovation and there are a few things left over from the craftsmen, including packaging material that should be recycled. An excellent work for Heist.

Those properties are repeated when cutting ropes of different thicknesses but also in nylon straps. The knife has to work a little more when I cut cable ties and harder materials, but it's mostly because the handle is so thin that it feels that way. The blade does what it's supposed to. Heist also cuts surprisingly well in wood it might be added. But do not pry when you loosen the edge from the wood, then it will break.

Overall this blade is excellent and the reasons are found in the geometry. Kershaw has invested in a thin blade, which always cuts better than a thick one.

Handle

The handle is probably the least interesting thing about Heist. Or rather, it applies to the material on the sides. It is GFN which is one of many fibre-reinforced plastic materials. Extremely practical but not that exciting. But here it is very well done. The texture on the surface provides a very good grip without feeling like sandpaper and all corners and edges are well rounded.

The handle is comfortable for being as small and especially thin as it is

Otherwise, this knife is built in the usual way around an internal and recessed steel frame. The handle is open in the back with three hourglass-shaped spacers as support. However, the frame is not lightened, which is a little strange considering that it is a lightweight knife. There are thus a few grams to cut. In return, it provides a stiff handle that does not flex if you put pressure on it, which has annoyed many owners of a BM BugOut over the years.

The knife is open in the back and built around a steel frame that is visible at the lock and at the spacers. It is unusually not drilled out

The knife is assembled with three T6 screws per side and these are well recessed in the handle sides. In addition, there is an adjustable pivot screw with a T8 on one side and a decorative D-shaped bolt on the other side. This makes the knife easy to adjust because the screw does not spin freely.

The handle also has a very spacious hole made for a lanyard for those who want to use one.

Heist is likable in all the most common grips. It could possibly be objected that the handle is somewhat short

However, the main merit of the handle is that it is comfortable to hold. As comfortable as a handle this thin can actually be. In front is found a finger guard that prevents the index finger from easily making acquaintance with the edge, and behind it a recess for said finger. 

The rear part of the back is then softly rounded, which means that it fits well in the palm of the hand when holding the knife in a saber grip. Then the thumb also ends up in a distinguished way in the place intended for it. In addition, the entire handle is slightly curved so it follows the hand better.

Overall, a very good handle where all grips work without the user having to think about it. Extra likable is that the clip has a tendency to disappear even though it is of the "deep ride" variety.

Opening and Lock

Heist opens with thumb studs which is another big plus in my eyes. I'm one of those who generally prefer it over flippers if those are the options offered. The thumb knobs provide more flexibility. You can use both thumb and index finger flicks, opening the knife slowly or quickly depending on your preference. 

These particular thumb studs are also excellent. They have the right shape, the right location, and are easy to reach. The right shape means that they don't hurt the skin while at the same time providing enough grip so you don't slip. They also stick out enough to be easy to hit. Correct placement means that they are easy to find when you open the knife, but also that they are not in the way when the blade is unfolded.

Then, of course, as with all locks of this type, you can use it to open the knife. Just pull back the locking bolt and flick your wrist and your blade is out.

Correctly placed and correctly shaped, the thumb studs are not revolutionary but work well

The other knives Kershaw released with this lock type have ball bearings. Heist has not. Something I'm happy about. A lot of positive things can be said about ball bearings, but everything has to do with how good a knife is to play with. When it comes to practicality, a pair of bronze bushings beats them every time. That is for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they are thinner which means that the whole knife can be as well. Secondly, they are self-polishing, which makes the knife smoother as you go. But mainly it is more difficult for dirt to penetrate them compared to ball bearings, which makes them more practical. Then they are also stronger laterally as the contact area against the blade is larger, which is a bonus. Yes, provided the bushings are the right size, of course.

But of course, this means that this knife was not extremely fast opening when it was new. A bit tough actually. In return, it has become faster and smoother over time and is now just right. That is, the knife is easy to open and close without problems or further thought. It just works. 

The lock is a derivative of an Axis lock and is called a DuraLock

As I said, Kershaw wasn't the fastest out of the starting blocks with this type of lock. They came out with their first models equipped with DuraLock as this version is called in early 2023. The Iridium model was first out. It was quickly followed by this knife as well as the Covalent and Monitor.

But after using the Heist for a while, I can say that I like the DuraLock. The screws don't stick out that far but are still accessible and the spring force is well modulated. The blade is held in place as it should, especially laterally. Possibly there is a slight tendency to play up and down, but nothing that affects the function. Overall a well-made lock!

To Carry

Heist is almost perfect to harbor in a pocket. It is very light, although not the lightest, the outer dimensions are modest and it is thin. The knife weighs in at a low 79 grams and the thickness is only 10.8 mm.

The clip is almost a hit, if only the attachment had been a little better, it would have been there

The material, on the other hand, is a bit rougher against trouser fabric and the like like all handles with a distinct pattern, but that's not what irritates, but something that is first noticed when you put the knife in your pocket and it has to do with the clip. 

I often carry this and similar light knives in the breast pocket of a jacket. This one is not visible at all and the pocket lid is still not closed

The clip is a simple but effective spring steel clip. The surface is gray and matches the rest of the knife purely in terms of appearance.

It can be shifted from the right to the left side and is attached with two T6 screws to a raised platform in the side of the handle. There we also have the only negative thing I have to object to the clip. The ramp is good and the tension is adequate, but when you get as far as the attachment on the clip itself, fabric likes to stick there and you have to push once more if you want to get the knife down deeper in the pocket. A small but annoying detail.

Otherwise, the knife fits properly once it is in place and it is relatively easy to pull. The dimensions mean that you hardly notice it when you've come this far.

To Conclude

The Kershaw Heist is a prime example of taking several small things and doing them right. It is sometimes said that perfection is just that, small details done correctly. Here you are quite close. Especially if you take the price range into account. If you would also like to spend a slightly higher amount for more premium material, there is a more luxurious edition of Heist. Then you get S35VN as blade steel and G10 instead of fiber plastic in the handle. But in return, the weight increases, so the question is whether you don't end up a little beside the class and the main strength of this knife.

Heist was the knife that grew from some anonymity to become a favorite

Because what we have here is a knife that starts and ends with the blade. It may look a bit elaborate but is basically quite simple and above all Kershaw has used thin stock, a high grind, and avoided having too much steel behind the edge. Then they chose D2, which is a good steel in this case because it doesn't chip so easily and thus lasts well. The result is excellent.

Then it's matched by a handle that's really good too. Certainly a little heavier than the knife that gave the name to the class, but in return actually more comfortable and it doesn't flex!

Kershaw Heist is an excellent companion for summer adventures

It can only be stated that with Heist, Kershaw has managed to achieve a real hit. Possibly it has ended up a bit overshadowed by some of their other models with Iridium at the forefront. 

But what we have here is an EDC knife that really shines. Light, and flexible and it doesn't look too bad either. Plus, it doesn't completely break the bank. Currently, it costs around 1000 SEK in Sweden. And then it is the bad exchange rate that accounts for part of it.

Knivshop.se

 

Kershaw Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 193 mm

Length Folded: 112 mm

Weight: 79 g (weighed by me, stated 79g)

Blade Length: 81 mm

Blade Thickness: 2,2 mm

Blade Steel: D2

Handle: GFN on a steel frame

Lock: DuraLock

Produced by: Kershaw, made in China

/ J - content

* There you will find, in addition to the original, knives such as SRM 255, CJRB Hectare, and Al Mar Payara.

** They often have remnants of soil on the outside, so you don't use your finest Sashimi knives for them.

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Review SRM 7415 Unicorn

 

 -  "Stay Ready for More" they said, then this one came

One thing that makes me happy is that SRM decided to name this knife. It is always easier to remember a name than a designation. In this case, the model is called Unicorn. I'm not entirely sure about what I think about this specific fairy tale creature, but it's a rare scoundrel, I understand. 

That goes for my knife collection as well. Not very many unicorns around and that is because I am usually not completely fond of what is usually called trailing points or "Persian blades", that is, with a point that rebelliously points upwards.

But all rules have exceptions and today I intend to talk about what I think of this knife!

SRM 7415 Unicorn

With this model and a few others, SRM has, if not embarked on a new path, at least broadened it. The first knives under the new-old brand SRM - "Stay Ready for More" was well-built but fairly simple knives with handles in FRN and some model in G10. The blade steel was at best D2. But they added two nice details in an "ambilock", which is their interpretation of an "axis construction" and their own contribution to the knife fauna in the form of "Ambi clip". Then came the model 7228L reviewed by me where they incorporated both of those features but upgraded the steel and thus achieved a real hit.

But not until a new titanium series with the models Asika, Fantasy, 418S and this 7415 Unicorn have they taken the step up to the higher spheres when it comes to folding knives. The blade steel has received another push upwards or at least sideways and the materials have otherwise been refined.

A unicorn, a rare creature in my knife collection

Blade

Sometimes knives have something that characterizes them and makes them feel more unique. Unicorn has a couple of such details. One of these is not visible when it is folded, It's the blade shape! This model offers something as unusual as a blade type which in English is called "trailing point", a blade where the tip strives upwards also called "Persian style". Anyway, the tip is not where it usually is in relation to the handle.

The blade finish is satin and a lot of information can be found on the sides of the blade. As usual, SRM likes to provide their knives with small short stories, but here it is done with extremely small text so I do not mind this knife. It's nicely done.

The length is 70 mm, the height at most 20 mm, although the blade, as can be seen, narrows pretty quickly. The thickness is just over 3 mm. 

The shape makes the seven-centimeter long blade a bit unique

The blade steel is something new for SRM in that they used American 154CM this time. The reason why I previously wrote that it may not have been a step up but to the side is that I am not sure that I think it is neither worse nor better for pocket knives than the VG-10 found in the model 7228L, for example.

But in any case, it is solid all-around steel that undoubtedly does well on this knife. It resists rust fairly well, takes an edge, and keeps it long enough for me to be happy. In any case, this is my general experience from, among others, Benchmade knives with the same steel and this also seems to apply to SRM so far.

The flat-ground blade is made of American 154CM

Then there was the shape of the blade. It gives some rather extreme properties. Some good and some less good or at least unique. With this look, the tip becomes needle-like. So anyone looking for that property in their knife need look no further than this. This tip is a surgical tool and thus excellent for, for example, poking out the metal shavings you can get in the hands from knife throwing or other minor "medical procedures". But there is a slight problem and that is that the damned tip is not found where it usually is but higher up! Thus, one almost has to break the wrist if a package is to be opened, for example. Now the solution is not far away, you simply turn the knife upside down!

The advantage of this type of blade is in return that you get a very long edge in relation to blade length. The curved shape means that this blade of 70 mm has an edge length of 75 mm. This is despite the fact that the blade has a "sharpening choil". But to make the best use of the edge length, you should use sweeping cuts.

Now it's not a problem in itself as this is a small and flexible pocket knife in the extremely lightweight segment and hardly something you use for carving. In fact, it works great for everyday chores, whether they include cardboard, paper, fabric, or cotton twine to tie a steak for the Sunday roast. Something that was the last thing I did with this knife before I wrote this.

Otherwise, it is notable how well this knife works in cardboard, for example. Fully flat ground and with good geometry, it glides through such materials in an excellent way. The blade is only 0.4 mm behind the edge.

Handle

If the blade makes this knife rise above the crowd, so does the handle. The material is not uncommon nowadays but still a quality one. SRM uses TC4 titanium. The dimensions are also not extreme, the handle is 90 mm long, 9 mm thick, and 22 mm high. So a rather slim handle in other words. 

But what is unusual is that it's not just weight relieved with a few internally milled pockets but the sides are completely open! It is of course made for design reasons but it naturally reduces the weight as well.

The work is very nicely done. You can tell that some machining time has been spent on this handle. All edges of the handle are beveled and smooth and this also applies to the pockets in the sides themselves. The metal has then been blasted in some form, which gives a grayish tone.

On the Unicorn, not only the back of the handle is open but also the sides

In order to create an elegant knife, the sides have been kept very clean. This means, among other things, that the lanyard attachment is incorporated with the back-spacer in the G10 that is found in the back. An extra compliment must also go to the screw solution. The knife is held together only at two points and both the rear screw and the pivot screw have a blue collar. By the way, these are the only color on the entire knife.

The back is for the most part open as well, but in the small back-spacer that is available, a bolt for the lanyard is hidden.

In the hand, this unicorn is quite sympathetic. A simple handle shape gives reasonably good ergonomics. This applies as long as you do not try to use the knife for tougher tasks. I wrote in a review about another knife the other day that it was mainly adapted for lighter cuts. This also applies to the Unicorn. The fact is that almost all fingers fit on the handle. By that, I mean that for me this is a three and a half finger knife in a hammer grip and a three-finger knife in a saber grip. So if I put force behind a cut the back end of the handle will inevitably poke into the little finger. In addition, the finger guard/flipper tab will also be a concern. It feels sharp against the index finger and so does the small corner that occurs where the lock bar is cut out.

A small knife for light tasks. For that, the handle is alright

But if you don't attack wood or other tougher jobs, none of this is a problem and beyond that, the clip is basically imperceptible in the hand if you just cut with this knife. 

This means that the handle is not bad given what kind of knife this is. This is an EDC knife and not an outdoor knife.

Opening and Lock

From such a small knife with this look, one almost expects it to be quick. There is something about the look that draws to that conclusion. Luckily, Unicorn also meets those expectations. 

As you can see, this is a knife that is opened with a flipper tab. By the way, this is the only way to get the blade out. It is so buried in the handle that you can not even open the knife with two hands if you want to. 

The unicorn has a horn, a flipper tab

Fortunately, the flipper tab is easily accessible and provides good traction against the finger. The result when activated is a fast deploying blade. The resistance of the detent ball is well-tuned. Possibly I can object that I think the tab itself is a tad bit too sharp. It could be more rounded.

The lock, a frame lock, is very well designed

Given the construction and material of this knife, maybe the lock type will not come as a surprise? It's a titanium frame lock. It has been fitted with a lock bar reinforcement in steel. It also acts as an overtravel stop, which in this case is absolutely necessary as it is not a giant thick lock bar. Without a safety function, it could have been bent out of position.

The function itself is excellent. The blade sits where it sits in the open position without moving in the slightest in any direction. The lock also gets approved when it is to be released. Sure, the lock bar does not rise above the frame, but to provide enough space for a thumb to access, the frame has been rounded on the inside on both sides. The lock bar has also been given an almost obligatory pattern to give a little more friction so that the thumb does not slip off.

To Carry

Knife, which knife? Is a question you can think of to ask when it comes to Unicorn in your pocket. Sure, a piece of the handle is visible and reveals the knife, but there is no other indication that you are wearing a tool.

With a modest weight of 48 grams, there is almost nothing to be felt in the pocket and the outer dimensions do not have a detrimental effect either. 

The clip is one of SRM's standard versions, but the function is satisfactory

The clip is also a good one. Or it depends on what the knife is to be carried for. Given the format of this knife, however, it may not be the thickest work or outdoor pants that which is closest at hand anyway. In those cases, the space under the clip is not enough. But the tension is good and holds the knife well in place and the ramp is sympathetic. It gives a good push over the edge of a jeans pocket without sticking out in any way.

The advantage of the tip not pointing outwards is also that the clip is not felt in the hand when using the knife. Especially as this clip sits a bit in on the handle, which means that you do not get the loop in the middle of the hand, which is often the case on "deep ride" clips. There are both pros and cons to both solutions.

The position of the clip causes a part of the handle to protrude from the pocket

The clip is screwed in place with two small screws with T6 heads. One of them is "load-bearing" in that it is also what holds the frame of the knife together. Then it should be noted that the clip can certainly be removed but not moved. So no love for the left-handed from SRM this time. But that in turn depends on the construction. It would not have been easy to incorporate holes on the other side especially not if it were to be done nicely. On the other hand, the knife is so ultra-light that it can easily be carried loose in a pocket.

To Conclude

At best, a knife has something that distinguishes it and makes it stand out from the crowd. If it does not, it just has to be damn good to be successful. The best is of course a combination. Unicorn is stumbling close I must say. First, it does not have one but three details that are not among the most common.

The first thing to see is the openwork handle where the blade can be seen even when the knife is folded. The second is revealed when the knife is opened and it is the blade with its cheeky tip. The third is something that is only felt when you actually hold the knife and that is that it is light as a feather. We are talking about a knife that weighs in at 1.7 oz. That's light no matter how you measure and relate it to size.

SRM 7415 Unicorn is a light EDC knife, here together with a larger cousin

Then the 7415 Unicorn also offers SRM's usual good build quality. It is noticeable that the company behind the brand has been in the industry for a long time. They are also well-known OEM manufacturers for other brands, by the way. 

The result is a well-made knife with obvious attention to detail. The most important thing is that the most important bits are in place. Blade centering and factory edge get more than approved, the lock works completely without remarks and the small lock bar in titanium has been given an overtravel stop. In addition, the lock is easy to disengage and the blade is easy and fast to open via a good flipper tab.

Then there are also smaller details that enhance the overall impression. One is how well all the pockets in the handle have been milled and ground, another is the small accent colors in the collars around the two holding screws. The way in which the lanyard attachment is made is also elegantly done. 

Possibly I can object that the clip could be more unique for this particular knife. There, SRM has obviously chosen to save to keep the total price down. But it is a small thing. The function is good.

SRM Unicorn is a knife for those who appreciate a "trailing point".

Overall, I still do not know if I am completely fond of "Persian" inspired blades. But SRM makes a damn good attempt to convert me. It is a knife that I can definitely recommend for those who like this look and are looking for an elegant-looking and light pocket knife for small daily needs.

Specification:

Length Overall: 163 mm

Length Folded: 90 mm

Weight: 48g

Blade Length: 70 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,1 mm

Blade Steel: 154CM

Handle: Titanium, TC4

Lock: Frame lock

Produced by: SRM, made in China

/ J -

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