Changes

[[Image:Leek.gif|thumb|left|200px|Kershaw Leek designed by Ken Onion. While serving as a US Marine, Onion devised a helicopter mechanism that was adopted for use by the military.<ref name= "CR">{{cite news |last=Ayres|first= James |title=Cutlery Rejects Turned Gold Mines|publisher =Blade Magazine|date=2003-09-01|pages=58-68|volume=30|issue=9|accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref>   

[[Image:Leek.gif|thumb|left|200px|Kershaw Leek designed by Ken Onion. While serving as a US Marine, Onion devised a helicopter mechanism that was adopted for use by the military.<ref name= "CR">{{cite news |last=Ayres|first= James |title=Cutlery Rejects Turned Gold Mines|publisher =Blade Magazine|date=2003-09-01|pages=58-68|volume=30|issue=9|accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref>   

In 1989, Ken’s wife, Noel, made arrangements through a friend for Onion to meet custom knife maker, Stanley Fujisaka.<ref name="CR"/><ref name="HOF"/> The two became friends and Onion learned his basic knifemaking skills from Stanley, building his first knife in 1991.<ref name="HOF"/>]]

In 1989, Ken’s wife, Noel, made arrangements through a friend for Onion to meet custom knife maker, Stanley Fujisaka.<ref name="CR"/><ref name="HOF"/> The two became friends and Onion learned his basic knifemaking skills from Stanley, building his first knife in 1991.<ref name="HOF"/>]]

Kershaw Knives was started in Portland, [[Directory:Oregon|Oregon]] in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left [[Directory:Gerber Tools | Gerber Legendary Blades]] to form his own cutlery company based on his own designs.<ref name="GP">Pacella, Gerard (2002), 100 Legendary Knives, Iola, USA, Krause Publications, 145. ISBN 0873494172</ref><ref name="NI">Inman, Naomi (2002)"Birds and Bees: How Businesses Are Really Born, Business is blooming—Oregon’s outdoor retail industry leads the world.", ''Brainstorm NorthWest Magazine'', October 2002</ref><ref name="PR">"Kershaw Knives", ''American Handgunner Magazine'', May-June, 2005</ref>  Early manufacturing was primarily done in [[Directory:Japan|Japan]]; in 1977, Kershaw became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese KAI Group.<ref name="GP"/><ref name="PR"/><ref name="KAI">"KAI acquires the balance of Universal" Chain Drug Review,  January, 2007</ref>  In 1998 the main production facility was opened in Wilsonville, Oregon; due to growth, the facilities were moved to a larger production site in 2003.  Current manufacturing facilities are located in Tualatin (main factory) and some goods come from their Japan and China factories.<ref name="PR"/>  

Kershaw Knives was started in Portland, [[Directory:Oregon|Oregon]] in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left [[Directory:Gerber Tools | Gerber Legendary Blades]] to form his own cutlery company based on his own designs.<ref name="GP">Pacella, Gerard (2002), 100 Legendary Knives, Iola, USA, Krause Publications, 145. ISBN 0873494172</ref><ref name="NI">Inman, Naomi (2002)"Birds and Bees: How Businesses Are Really Born, Business is blooming—Oregon’s outdoor retail industry leads the world.", ''Brainstorm NorthWest Magazine'', October 2002</ref><ref name="PR">"Kershaw Knives", ''American Handgunner Magazine'', May-June, 2005</ref>  Early manufacturing was primarily done in [[Directory:Japan|Japan]]; in 1977, Kershaw became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese KAI Group.<ref name="GP"/><ref name="PR"/><ref name="KAI">"KAI acquires the balance of Universal" Chain Drug Review,  January, 2007</ref>  In 1998 the main production facility was opened in Wilsonville, Oregon; due to growth, the facilities were moved to a larger production site in 2003.  Current manufacturing facilities are located in Tualatin (main factory) and some goods come from their Japan and China factories.<ref name="PR"/>  

===Ken Onion===

===Ken Onion===

Ken Onion is Kershaw's best-known designer, who has won numerous awards for his designs with the company since 1998, such as his Speed-Safe opening models.<ref>Cascio, Pat(2007). 'Kershaw's Latest Tactical Folders', ''Knives Illustrated'', February 2007</ref><ref>Gardner, Jim(2004)"Sweet Onions", ''Guns Magazine'', June 2004</ref>  Shun Cutlery offers knives designed by both Ken Onion and Food Network personality Alton Brown.<ref name="DA">Devin Alexander "Look sharp: a point-and-click guide to kitchen blades". Men's Fitness. Nov 2004. FindArticles.com. 15 Jul. 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1608/is_10_20/ai_n6330873</ref>  Kershaw has also collaborated with custom knife makers Grant and Gavin Hawk, Frank Centofante, and Ernest Emerson.  

Ken Onion is Kershaw's most famous knife designer. Since joining the Kershaw company in 1998, Ken has won numerous awards for his designs such as his Speed-Safe opening models.<ref>Cascio, Pat(2007). 'Kershaw's Latest Tactical Folders', ''Knives Illustrated'', February 2007</ref><ref>Gardner, Jim(2004)"Sweet Onions", ''Guns Magazine'', June 2004</ref>  Shun Cutlery offers knives designed by both Ken Onion and Food Network personality Alton Brown.<ref name="DA">Devin Alexander "Look sharp: a point-and-click guide to kitchen blades". Men's Fitness. Nov 2004. FindArticles.com. 15 Jul. 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1608/is_10_20/ai_n6330873</ref>  Kershaw has also collaborated with custom knife makers Grant and Gavin Hawk, Frank Centofante, and Ernest Emerson.  

Onion holds 36 design patents on different items including locks, mechanisms, and knife designs.<ref name="HOF"/><ref>{{cite web  | last =Onion  | first =Kenneth L  | title =Locking knife blade with moving locking mechanism on blade  | work = US Patent and Trade Office  | publisher = google patents  | date =2002-01-15  | url =http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6338431&id  | accessdate =2007-01-18  }}</ref>  Most notable of these is the Speed-safe mechanism used by ''Kershaw Knives''.  For these many designs and his work throughout the cutlery industry promoting the art of knife making, Onion was inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 2008 Blade Show in Atlanta, [[Directory:Georgia|Georgia]] as the 45th and youngest living member.<ref name="HOF">{{cite web |title = Mr. SpeedSafe Joins the Club | work = Blade Magazine| date = 2008-07-22 | url = http://www.blademag.com/article/Ken%20Onion-Hall-Of-Fame-Induct| accessdate = 2008-07-24 }}</ref> A recent article in Blade Magazine asserts that some celebrities, such as Steven Seagal, Steven Tyler, Nicolas Cage, Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson, Wayne Newton, Stephen Lefebvre, Wayne LaPierre and Ziggy Marley own custom knives made by Onion. <ref>Ewing,Dexter. (2007). "Rock-Star Knifemakers Conclusion", ''Blade Magazine'', February 2007</ref><ref> Cascio,Pat. (2003). "Steven Seagal's Knife", ''Tactical Knives Magazine'', November 2003</ref>

Onion holds 36 design patents on different items including locks, mechanisms, and knife designs.<ref name="HOF"/><ref>{{cite web  | last =Onion  | first =Kenneth L  | title =Locking knife blade with moving locking mechanism on blade  | work = US Patent and Trade Office  | publisher = google patents  | date =2002-01-15  | url =http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6338431&id  | accessdate =2007-01-18  }}</ref>  Most notable of these is the Speed-safe mechanism used by ''Kershaw Knives''.  For these many designs and his work throughout the cutlery industry promoting the art of knife making, Onion was inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 2008 Blade Show in Atlanta, [[Directory:Georgia|Georgia]] as the 45th and youngest living member.<ref name="HOF">{{cite web |title = Mr. SpeedSafe Joins the Club | work = Blade Magazine| date = 2008-07-22 | url = http://www.blademag.com/article/Ken%20Onion-Hall-Of-Fame-Induct| accessdate = 2008-07-24 }}</ref> A recent article in Blade Magazine asserts that some celebrities, such as Steven Seagal, Steven Tyler, Nicolas Cage, Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson, Wayne Newton, Stephen Lefebvre, Wayne LaPierre and Ziggy Marley own custom knives made by Onion. <ref>Ewing,Dexter. (2007). "Rock-Star Knifemakers Conclusion", ''Blade Magazine'', February 2007</ref><ref> Cascio,Pat. (2003). "Steven Seagal's Knife", ''Tactical Knives Magazine'', November 2003</ref>