Kershaw Rotary Lock #2105

BRAND:   Kershaw

MAKER:   Kai Cutlery

PATTERN:   Rotary Lock #2100

LENGTH (Closed):   3-1/8”

BOLSTERS:   The design prohibits bolsters per se, but it does come in a nickel silver case or frame.  

HANDLES:   Rosewood inlays

BLADES:   Drop point AUS 8-A

LINERS:   Nickel silver frame

TANG STAMPS:   KERSHAW / OREGON USA      Rear Stamp:  BY KAI JAPAN / 2100

CONDITION:   Very Good

DAMAGE:   Some dings and scratches in the handle and one being on the spine of the blade. Normal use and wear scratches, marks & dings.

BLADE WEAR:   Approximately 10%

SNAP:   N/A – The Rotary lock does not snap like a slip joint, it's an entirely different mechanism although there is an audible "thunk" when the blade locks open or closed.

MADE IN:   Japan

ADDITIONAL INFO:    This knife was made in the early years of Kershaw. They were just getting started good and were experimenting with custom-made limited production knives. I have included the front and back of a 1979 flyer which was in essence the Kershaw catalog in those days. They used to send out updated flyers or flyers for new knives and I would add them to our store Kershaw notebook. Often there was only one or two knives introduced at a time. The flyer tells the story that this knife is indeed a custom-made limited production knife that exemplifies the finest craftsmanship. You can get the quote exactly on the back of the flyer as I have included it in the pictures.

I think the reason the mechanism some was not as popular as say the Gerber Paul knife is because people try to open it like a Paul knife. I do not at this moment have a Paul knife in my collection that may change next week. As I recall the way the Paul knife mechanism functions is you push in on the button and turn the handle. The Kershaw Rotary lock does not have a button. So everyone, myself included, seems to push hard on the Rotary lock thinking that something supposed to be moving inwardly but it is not. The Rotary lock works by rotating it. It works quite well once you figure it out, but you must learn that once it is locked into position fully open that it needs to rotate just a little way to begin the process of closing. It is rotation not inward pressure that causes the Rotary lock to open and close. This is a great piece of cutlery history, and a unique locking mechanism. It is not pristine, but it is a complete, good-quality, functioning example of a unique knife.

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Item # 54805