**KERSHAW TILT** :)
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:41 pm
If you are familiar with the knife brand Kershaw (owned by Kai USA), you will know it stands for quality, durability and beauty.
All Kershaw knives carry a lifetime warranty. The Tilt is no different!
Featuring a composite Vanax 75/420 stainless steel blade, titanium, carbon fibre handle overlay, ball bearing pivot, and a very limited production run, the Kershaw Tilt is the only knife of its kind.
In fact, in 2010, Kershaw was awarded "American Made Knife of the Year" for the Model 4001 Tilt.
Let me start by saying that although I might seem a little negative at times when talking about the Tilt. I really do think it is a great EDC (every day carry)folding blade knife.
I just think I need to be fair and unbiased for those of you who are considering spending $400 or more for this knife. This is the lowest price we have seen in the past few months.
When you take the Tilt out of the box for the first time you will notice the tag that shows the serial number for your knife. The number will be a low number as there have not been that many manufactured at this time. Kershaw has only made a few hundred of these. There are not thousands and thousands of these like the Leek for example.
Next you will be stunned at the quality of the finish and the attention to detail.
You might actually think this knife looks a little strange or even awkward but once you put it in your hand, nothing else will matter.
It is almost as if this knife was cast for your hand like dentures would be cast for your mouth!
It absolutely feels incredible!
There are no "weird" curves or bumps that rub your hand the wrong way. It is hard to explain the difference between the feeling of the Tilt compared with the Leek or even the Echelon. It's like the difference between a Honda Accord and a Ford Escort.
The Blade:
The Tilt's blade is made from a unique combination of Vanax 75 and 420 stainless steel. The 420SS gives the blade its strength and flexibility while the Vanax 75 has the following features:
Incredible wear factor. It will wear at least 2.5 times longer than the 420.
About the best corrosion resistance possible in a steel.
The first thing you will notice about the blade is that it is very thin. This is not a screwdriver or pry bar.
It has minimal blade play. It is a perfect balance between stability and ease of opening and closing. Any more play and it might feel loose. Any less play and the blade might be difficult to deploy.
Of course, the Tilt employs Kershaw Velocity Technology making it open lightning fast with almost no friction.
The blade finish is near perfect. However, there is a fine line that separates the Vanax 75 from 420 stainless steel. On some parts of the blade, the line is almost invisible while there are there other parts where the line is very visible. This is a little disappointing but maybe it is just a tradeoff of using the Vanax.
Frame and Framelock:
The Tilt's® frame is made of 100% titanium making it extremely strong and light. Kershaw has machined every extra gram off of the frame they could to make the knife as light as possible while still maintaining structural integrity. Learn more about the frame and framelock.
Even the pocket clip is fine piece of engineering. It is sculpted from titanium and what you would expect on a very high end collector's knife.
Kershaw's Tilt truly is a masterpiece. I have heard that it has been a bit of a nightmare for Kershaw to produce as they have used rare materials (like the Vanax 75) and new manufacturing techniques for milling and sharpening.
SPECS:
Blade Length: 4" (102 mm)
Blade Composition: Vanax 75 and 420 Stainless Steel
Blade Deployment: Kershaw Velocity Technology
Blade Edge: Non-Serated
Blade Lock: Titanium Frame Lock
Handle Composition: Titanium, Carbon Fiber Overlay
Pocket Clip: Titanium
Weight: 4.8 oz (136 grams)
Closed Length: 5 1/2" (140 mm)
Open Length: 9 1/2" (241 mm)
All Kershaw knives carry a lifetime warranty. The Tilt is no different!
Featuring a composite Vanax 75/420 stainless steel blade, titanium, carbon fibre handle overlay, ball bearing pivot, and a very limited production run, the Kershaw Tilt is the only knife of its kind.
In fact, in 2010, Kershaw was awarded "American Made Knife of the Year" for the Model 4001 Tilt.
Let me start by saying that although I might seem a little negative at times when talking about the Tilt. I really do think it is a great EDC (every day carry)folding blade knife.
I just think I need to be fair and unbiased for those of you who are considering spending $400 or more for this knife. This is the lowest price we have seen in the past few months.
When you take the Tilt out of the box for the first time you will notice the tag that shows the serial number for your knife. The number will be a low number as there have not been that many manufactured at this time. Kershaw has only made a few hundred of these. There are not thousands and thousands of these like the Leek for example.
Next you will be stunned at the quality of the finish and the attention to detail.
You might actually think this knife looks a little strange or even awkward but once you put it in your hand, nothing else will matter.
It is almost as if this knife was cast for your hand like dentures would be cast for your mouth!
It absolutely feels incredible!
There are no "weird" curves or bumps that rub your hand the wrong way. It is hard to explain the difference between the feeling of the Tilt compared with the Leek or even the Echelon. It's like the difference between a Honda Accord and a Ford Escort.
The Blade:
The Tilt's blade is made from a unique combination of Vanax 75 and 420 stainless steel. The 420SS gives the blade its strength and flexibility while the Vanax 75 has the following features:
Incredible wear factor. It will wear at least 2.5 times longer than the 420.
About the best corrosion resistance possible in a steel.
The first thing you will notice about the blade is that it is very thin. This is not a screwdriver or pry bar.
It has minimal blade play. It is a perfect balance between stability and ease of opening and closing. Any more play and it might feel loose. Any less play and the blade might be difficult to deploy.
Of course, the Tilt employs Kershaw Velocity Technology making it open lightning fast with almost no friction.
The blade finish is near perfect. However, there is a fine line that separates the Vanax 75 from 420 stainless steel. On some parts of the blade, the line is almost invisible while there are there other parts where the line is very visible. This is a little disappointing but maybe it is just a tradeoff of using the Vanax.
Frame and Framelock:
The Tilt's® frame is made of 100% titanium making it extremely strong and light. Kershaw has machined every extra gram off of the frame they could to make the knife as light as possible while still maintaining structural integrity. Learn more about the frame and framelock.
Even the pocket clip is fine piece of engineering. It is sculpted from titanium and what you would expect on a very high end collector's knife.
Kershaw's Tilt truly is a masterpiece. I have heard that it has been a bit of a nightmare for Kershaw to produce as they have used rare materials (like the Vanax 75) and new manufacturing techniques for milling and sharpening.
SPECS:
Blade Length: 4" (102 mm)
Blade Composition: Vanax 75 and 420 Stainless Steel
Blade Deployment: Kershaw Velocity Technology
Blade Edge: Non-Serated
Blade Lock: Titanium Frame Lock
Handle Composition: Titanium, Carbon Fiber Overlay
Pocket Clip: Titanium
Weight: 4.8 oz (136 grams)
Closed Length: 5 1/2" (140 mm)
Open Length: 9 1/2" (241 mm)
