Customer Reviews

Kershaw Orange Zing Knife with 3-D Machined Grooves on Blade

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I also own the Kershaw Skyline and Oso Sweet.

I was really attracted to this knife for its orange handle; it seemed like a cheerful everyday knife, and since most of my knives have black handles, this would offer something new and interesting. I also wanted the flipper, having a great experience with my Kershaw Skyline. The machined grooves in the blade seemed interesting and were supposedly there to improve cutting performance (I mean, they had better improve it, right? Cutting all those grooves into the blade with a CNC machine must add manufacturing expense, and it must be there for a reason.) The new Sandvik 14C28N steel is supposed to be great, take a razor edge and be more stainless than their earlier 13C26, due to the addition of nitrogen. And, it's made in Tualatin, OR.

First, the good:
Made in the USA
I like the orange polyamide handle.
Flipper and thumb stud work; thumb stud is better than the Skyline's, but the flipper isn't as flawless.
Solid lockup
Carries well in the pocket, either tip up or down.

The bad:
The bushings are nylon. The Skyline has phosphor bronze, which are much more durable, and in my experience, more fluid.
The grooves are useless. I mean, if you cut straight through something thick (maybe...if you were batoning, which you wouldn't be with this knife) then yes, they provide less surface area and possibly less friction. But I never cut that way. I almost always slice, sawing a bit, and the grooves get in the way, making little speed bumps.
I do not like the 14C28N steel. Maybe it is the stonewash finish, but this thing RUSTS. Even finger prints will cause little spots here and there, and inside the grooves it can't be rubbed out very easily. Not a stainless steel AT ALL. In my opinion it's a carbon steel, like 1095. It will take a nice edge, but it is nowhere near in the league of 154CM.

Conclusion: My EDC knife remains the Leatherman e33L. Same price, 154CM blade, same warranty, better flipper, AND, made 20 miles or so from the Kershaw Zing. And that bottle opener/carabiner makes it twice as useful.

I've had this knife for a little over a year and still love it. I don't know how that other reviewer's knife is rusting. I have used mine for just about everything, even to cut food with, and have had no problems whatsoever with the steel. The flipper is fluid and doesn't bind like my CRKT does. The grooves really don't serve much of a purpose but to look unique. They don't hinder the knives performance in any way.
I love the orange. It makes this knife appear utilitarian and very difficult to misplace which is exactly what I wanted.
Overall I love this knife. I would definitely recommend it and would buy it again myself.

Big fan of Kershaw knives,
Super good deal at that price for such a very well made knife.
It holds very good edge and the best part that i really like is the fact that the orange scales are very cool!!
Looking forward for another Kershaw deal!

This is a great little knife, especially for the price. the handle fits nicely in my hand and I really like the orange color. I lose a lot of knives so a bright handle should help. The scalloped blade is pretty but might be a pain to keep clean. I dont try to keep my knives away from work but i keep them clean. The only problem with the knife is that i really wish they would put their assisted opening mechanism.

for $34 dollars,no tax,free shipping,and 2 day delivery you cant beat it.I own more than a few of the upper tier kershaws,1 zero tolerance and a bunch more by reputable mfg,s,this zest,s light weight carryability,razor sharp edge has deffinitely found its way into my pocket more so than any of my other knives.The flipper opening system I was skeptical on Ive seen it on other kinves and it just isnt real workable,NOT this knife,its faster than my assisted opening blades,and the orange color and grooved textured blade make it unique.The length is big enough for every day use,now adays you have to be wary of local carry laws,this I think will pass in most areas,IMHO.

I was attracted to the Zing by the 3-d machined grooves, but once I saw the orange version for sale here on amazon - I was sold! So I bought it. As another reviewer stated, you gotta go orange on this knife.

I love this knife. Just as I had wanted it. Great handle and the blade is pretty unique. The locking tab on the knife is pretty stiff, so it pushes the blade to the side when closing if the hinge it too loose. This can make opening the knife a bit stiff, but it still works with a quick flip.

My husband had been shoppin around for this knife for a while and we almost purchased it at our local Bi-mart which has great prices but he went online and saw this for $18.00 less! It was a great buy!

It is a nice knife. It is small enough and fits nice in my pocket. Nice small clip! The 3D grooves does not help when you have to clean after cutting some fruit.

I've read a number of comments about this knife. It is a great little knife. The flipper is marvelous and it feels great in the hand. It is a perfect EDC. The only problem I encountered was somewhat surprising knowing that this blade is a Kershaw product. It arrived duller than any knife I've ever encountered and I'm a collector. Many have responded in a similar fashion. How can a company known for it's razor sharp products permit a knife of this quality to leave the factory unsharpened. Someone at Kershaw has dropped the ball. It's literally what Kershaw is known for. The dull blade was swiftly sharpened with my Chef's Choice sharpener, but that doesn't diminish my shock at the way this knife arrived.