Difference between revisions of "Directory:Kershaw Knives"
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==Kershaw Knives== | ==Kershaw Knives== | ||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||
| − | [[Image:Leek.png|thumb| | + | [[Image:Leek.png|thumb|right|200px|Kershaw's most recognizable knife, the Kershaw Leek, was designed by Ken Onion in 2002. While serving as a US Marine, Onion devised a helicopter mechanism that was adopted for use by the military. This mechanism eventually morphed into the speedsafe technology that makes the Kershaw Leek so unique and safe among assisted opening knives.<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>]] |
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| − | Kershaw Knives | + | Kershaw Knives formally began in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left [[Directory:Gerber Tools | Gerber Legendary Blades]] to form his own cutlery company based on his own unique 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"/> |
| − | The current company is named KAI USA Ltd, and has three lines of products | + | The current company is officially named ''KAI USA Ltd'', and has three lines of products including the original ''Kershaw Knives'' name, ''Shun Cutlery'', which sells kitchen cutlery,<ref name="PR"/> and ''Zero Tolerance'', a new line of combat knives.<ref name="PVA">"Sharp Partnership". Paraplegia News. January 2006.</ref> The Zero Tolerance line represents joint designs between custom knife makers Ken Onion, Tim Galyean, and Strider Knives; a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each knife is donated to the Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund for the Paralyzed Veterans of [[Directory:United States|America]].<ref name="PVA"/> |
===Timeline=== | ===Timeline=== | ||
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|'''1974''' || Pete Kershaw leaves his post as a salesman at ''[[Directory:Gerber Tools|Gerber Legendary Blades]]'' and forms ''Kershaw Knives''. The original factory opens for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon with its no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. | |'''1974''' || Pete Kershaw leaves his post as a salesman at ''[[Directory:Gerber Tools|Gerber Legendary Blades]]'' and forms ''Kershaw Knives''. The original factory opens for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon with its no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. | ||
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Revision as of 20:10, 15 November 2009
| Kershaw Knives | |
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| Slogan | Independent Reseller of Kershaw Knives and Gear |
|---|---|
| Type | [[Company_Type:=Private|Private]] |
| Founded | |
| Headquarters | Template:Country data USA Haughton, [[State_Name:=Louisiana|Louisiana]] [[Country_Name:=United States|US]] |
| Industry | Electronic Shopping NAICS: 454111 453998 |
| Contact | Two Point Exterprise Haughton, US 800.458.1606 [mailto:sales@kershaw-knives.net Email] |
| Reference | Kershaw Knives is Independent Reseller of Kershaw Knives and Gear and client of Page Creations |
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Kershaw Knives.net offers information about Kershaw Knives and Gear through its large scale resale website kershaw-knives.net
Kershaw Knives
History
Kershaw Knives formally began in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left Gerber Legendary Blades to form his own cutlery company based on his own unique designs.[2][3][4] Early manufacturing was primarily done in Japan; in 1977, Kershaw became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese KAI Group.[2][4][5] 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.[4]
The current company is officially named KAI USA Ltd, and has three lines of products including the original Kershaw Knives name, Shun Cutlery, which sells kitchen cutlery,[4] and Zero Tolerance, a new line of combat knives.[6] The Zero Tolerance line represents joint designs between custom knife makers Ken Onion, Tim Galyean, and Strider Knives; a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each knife is donated to the Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.[6]
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Pete Kershaw leaves his post as a salesman at Gerber Legendary Blades and forms Kershaw Knives. The original factory opens for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon with its no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. |
| 1978 | Kershaw Knives is acquired by Japanese manufacturing giant Kai Cutlery and creates creates Kai USA Ltd. featuring their premiere Kershaw Brand. |
| 1982 | Kershaw expands ites line of Field knives and Folding Pocket knives, and introduces its Floating Fish Fillet knives for the first time. |
| 1984 | Kershaw expands its market into European territories under the banner Kai Cutlery Europe. |
| 1985 | Kershaw moves into its new facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. |
| 1997 | Kershaw Knives expands its Wilsonville Oregon facility and begins manufacturing its knives in the United States for the first time since being acquired by Kai in 1978. One of the first products to be manufactured in the USA by Kershaw Knives was the Multi-Tool, model A100C, with its unique, adjustable pliers and thumb-stud one hand opening knife blade. |
| 2000 | Kershaw’s Ken Onion designed Boa, model 1580 with SpeedSafe® wins IWA “International Knife Award”. |
| 2002 | Kershaw introduces [Ken Onion’s Leek with SpeedSafe®, model 1660VIB, the first knife with a (Rainbow Finish), wins Blade Magazine’s Blade Show “Overall Knife of the Year” award. |
| 2004 | Kershaw’s “National Geographic” Carabiner Tool, model 1004 with it’s patented features wins Blade Magazine’s Blade Show “Most Innovative Import Knife of the Year” award. |
Ken Onion
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.[7][8] Shun Cutlery offers knives designed by both Ken Onion and Food Network personality Alton Brown.[9] 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.[10][11] 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, Georgia as the 45th and youngest living member.[10] 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. [12][13]
Video Overviews
Each Kershaw Knife has a quick demonstration video to show you how the knife functions in action. You can search our Youtube channel to find more information about any Kershaw Knife currently sold.
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From left to right, the videos shown demonstrate the Kershaw Leek Knife 1660, Kershaw Junkyard Dog II Knife 1725, the Kershaw Shallot Black Serrated Knife 1840CKTST, and the Kershaw Speed Bump Knife 1595.
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Notes and References
- ^ Template:Cite news
- ^ a b Pacella, Gerard (2002), 100 Legendary Knives, Iola, USA, Krause Publications, 145. ISBN 0873494172
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d "Kershaw Knives", American Handgunner Magazine, May-June, 2005
- ^ "KAI acquires the balance of Universal" Chain Drug Review, January, 2007
- ^ a b "Sharp Partnership". Paraplegia News. January 2006.
- ^ Cascio, Pat(2007). 'Kershaw's Latest Tactical Folders', Knives Illustrated, February 2007
- ^ Gardner, Jim(2004)"Sweet Onions", Guns Magazine, June 2004
- ^ 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
- ^ a b <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Mr. SpeedSafe Joins the Club". Blade Magazine. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Onion, Kenneth L (2002-01-15). "Locking knife blade with moving locking mechanism on blade". US Patent and Trade Office. google patents. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ Ewing,Dexter. (2007). "Rock-Star Knifemakers Conclusion", Blade Magazine, February 2007
- ^ Cascio,Pat. (2003). "Steven Seagal's Knife", Tactical Knives Magazine, November 2003
