Kershaw 1090 "Northside" Hunting Folder

Over the weekend, I wandered into the local Black Sheep store and found myself simultaneously disappointed (the classic Kershaw 3140 is now made in China rather than Japan) and intrigued: a Kershaw design I'd not seen before, the 1090 Northside (http://www.agrussell.com/kershaw-northside-hunter/p/KE-1090/).

Retailing at $30, they had a bunch of these priced
at $12.

So I grabbed a couple.

It's a seriously ample knife, having a 3.75-inch
blade, and a nicely ergonomic grip.

I don't think this one wins any prizes for innovation
particularly, but it has a nicely shaped drop-point
blade made of a reasonable steel, tempered to a
usable hardness, flat ground, and quite sharp as
delivered.

Last night I got to cut up some large cardboard
boxes with it, slice up some steak, and a couple
of other random knife tasks. It kept its edge.
I was pleased.

Today I used it to make salad for lunch. Very
"slicey" for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, stuff
like that. No real effort to hack veggies, and the
curved blade turns out to be a very good general
purpose shape in the kitchen.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=140840&d=1303342036
I think I'll go back and buy a couple more.

Black Sheep occasionally does a clearance pricing on stuff that unaccountably didn't sell well when it hit the shelves, and I consequently get to pick up the occasional bargain.

This is an excellent knife for tossing in a tackle box, tool box, glove box, or just having along.

I have a "portable kitchen" box that has a variety of knives in it (shocker, I know). I'm thinking I'll have to do a review to see if the 1090 can't replace something else that's already in there.

For quality comparison, I do not see this as stacking up well against, for example, a Case (large) Sod Buster, and if I had to compare it with another purpose-made hunter, like the Buck Omni folder, I'd have to give the "quality points" nod to the Buck. (I do wish they'd release an upgraded version of this one in a better steel and with their classic fit-n-finish. I would go for that.)

That said, it's every bit as comfortable as the Omni, and the flat grind gives it a broader range of uses.

Verdict: good, general purpose full-sized (well, okay, large) folder with good ergos and decent quality.

I'm gonna a) carry this one for a week or two and get a better feel for it, and 2) pick up a couple more while they're still on clearance.

Looks like they copied the Seki Cut Folding Katana blade, a well designed blade for cutting. Should be a decent knife, what steel did Kershaw use?

Should be a decent knife, what steel did Kershaw use?

Its listed as AUS8.

Pretty decent steel then, I have always like AUS8, sharpens easily and holds the edge well. I think I have a dozen or so knives with it.

I find that Kershaw has another knife out that has a very similar blade, the 1790 Turbulence:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=140867&d=1303359065

Of course, you won't find one of these being clearanced for $12, either.

:)

And then there's the slightly larger 1940 Compound:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=140869&d=1303359595



You know, I think I see a pattern here.

Kershaw seems to like this blade shape.

Got off work a few minutes early today, and went by White Elephant on the way home (it's okay, I had to look at a Henry .22 WMR).

Drifted over to the knife counter.

Hey, what's that orange thing over there?

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=140986&d=1303531805

Oh. A Kershaw Packrat? Now novel. Hmm. Nice blade shape. Hmm. Assisted. Hmm. Made in USA. Hmm. Sharp. Hmm. 14C28N, Sandvik steel. Nice. (Oh, and the brochure cites Ken Onion as the designer.)

How much? $40? Can you put that aside while I browse?

Remarkable how that blade shape is consistent with the knives pictured above.

Excellent ergos. The drop point is right on the mid line. Continuous curve cuts nicely. Smooth.

I took the pocket clip off.

Pictures from my own camera to be shown in separate thread.

So far, quite pleased.

I like the looks of the Packrat. Nice purchase.