Kershaw Knives
Encyclopedia
Kershaw Knives is a multinational corporation
that designs and manufactures a range of knives
, including kitchen cutlery, pocket knives, and outdoor knives. Currently owned by the Japanese KAI Group, Kershaw is headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon
, United States
.
in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left Gerber Legendary Blades
to form his own cutlery company based on his own designs. Early manufacturing was primarily done in Japan
; in 1977, Kershaw became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese KAI Group. 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.
The current company is named KAI USA Ltd, and has three lines of products; the original Kershaw Knives name, Shun Cutlery, which sells kitchen cutlery, and Zero Tolerance, a new line of combat knives. 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
.
Ken Onion
was Kershaw's best-known designer, who had won numerous awards for his designs with the company since 1998, such as his Speed-Safe
opening models. Shun Cutlery offers knives designed by both Ken Onion and Food Network
personality Alton Brown
. In addition to Onion, Kershaw has collaborated with custom knife makers Grant and Gavin Hawk, Frank Centofante, and Ernest Emerson
.
In 2002 Kershaw released a model which was a collaboration between Ken Onion and Stephen Seagal featuring actual stingray
leather on the handle. In 2004 Kershaw developed a multi-tool
for the National Geographic Society
with National Geographic filmmaker Bryan Harvey. Kershaw has also released models in collaboration with Jeep
, Orange County Choppers
, the American Professional Rodeo Association, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
.
In May 2005, Kershaw Knives won four of the top awards at the Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia
. This was the first time in the show's history that one company won this number of awards in one year: 2005 Overall Knife of the Year, 2005 Most Innovative American Design, 2005 Kitchen Knife of the Year, and 2005 Knife Collaboration of the Year.
In June 2007, Kershaw Knives won Blade Show's "Overall Knife of the Year Award" with the model 1850 "Tyrade", in which the patent-pending concept of using two different steels in the same blade was introduced. The blade steels were D2 tool steel at the cutting edge, and a spine of CPM154 stainless steel. In 2009, Kershaw announced a collaboration with Emerson Knives, Inc.
to produce an automatic
version of Emerson's Commander
.
steel.
Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
is seen using a Zero tolerance 0302 model knife.
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
that designs and manufactures a range of knives
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
, including kitchen cutlery, pocket knives, and outdoor knives. Currently owned by the Japanese KAI Group, Kershaw is headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon
Tualatin, Oregon
Tualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Kershaw Knives was started in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left Gerber Legendary Blades
Gerber Legendary Blades
Gerber Legendary Blades is a maker of consumer knives and multitools headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, United States, within the Portland metropolitan area. Currently Gerber is a sub-division of Fiskars Brands Inc, owned by the Fiskars company of Finland...
to form his own cutlery company based on his own designs. Early manufacturing was primarily done in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; in 1977, Kershaw became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese KAI Group. In 1998 the main production facility was opened in Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
; 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.
The current company is named KAI USA Ltd, and has three lines of products; the original Kershaw Knives name, Shun Cutlery, which sells kitchen cutlery, and Zero Tolerance, a new line of combat knives. The Zero Tolerance line represents joint designs between custom knife makers Ken Onion
Ken Onion
Ken Onion is an American award-winning custom knifemaker based in Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA who invented the "SpeedSafe" assisted opening mechanism for Kershaw Knives...
, Tim Galyean, and Strider Knives
Strider Knives
Strider Knives, Inc. is a custom and production knifemaking facility headed by Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer based in San Marcos, California.-Materials and design:...
; 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
Paralyzed Veterans of America
The Paralyzed Veterans of America is a veterans' service organization in the United States of America, founded in 1946. The organization holds 34 chapters and 61 National Service Offices in the United States...
.
Ken Onion
Ken Onion
Ken Onion is an American award-winning custom knifemaker based in Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA who invented the "SpeedSafe" assisted opening mechanism for Kershaw Knives...
was Kershaw's best-known designer, who had won numerous awards for his designs with the company since 1998, such as his Speed-Safe
Assisted-opening knife
An assisted-opening knife is a type of folding knife which uses an internal mechanism to finish the opening of the blade once the user has partially opened it using a flipper or thumbstud attached to the blade....
opening models. Shun Cutlery offers knives designed by both Ken Onion and Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
personality Alton Brown
Alton Brown
Alton Crawford Brown is an American television personality, author, actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show Good Eats and the mini-series Feasting on Asphalt and Feasting on Waves, and he is the host and main commentator on Iron Chef America...
. In addition to Onion, Kershaw has collaborated with custom knife makers Grant and Gavin Hawk, Frank Centofante, and Ernest Emerson
Ernest Emerson
Ernest R. Emerson is an American custom knifemaker, martial artist, and edged-weapons expert. Originally an engineer and machinist in the aerospace industry, Emerson became a knifemaker known for making decorative knives but later became better known for his combat knives, eventually founding a...
.
In 2002 Kershaw released a model which was a collaboration between Ken Onion and Stephen Seagal featuring actual stingray
Stingray
The stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
leather on the handle. In 2004 Kershaw developed a multi-tool
Multi-tool
A multi-tool is any one of a range of portable, versatile hand tools that combines several individual functions in a single unit...
for the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
with National Geographic filmmaker Bryan Harvey. Kershaw has also released models in collaboration with Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
, Orange County Choppers
Orange County Choppers
Orange County Choppers is a custom and production motorcycle manufacturer based in Orange County, New York, that was founded by Paul Teutul, Sr., and Paul Teutul, Jr., in 1999. The company was featured on American Chopper, a reality TV show that debuted in September 2002 on the Discovery Channel,...
, the American Professional Rodeo Association, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a conservationist organization, founded in the United States in 1984 by four hunters from Troy, Montana with the mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, and their habitat...
.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. This was the first time in the show's history that one company won this number of awards in one year: 2005 Overall Knife of the Year, 2005 Most Innovative American Design, 2005 Kitchen Knife of the Year, and 2005 Knife Collaboration of the Year.
In June 2007, Kershaw Knives won Blade Show's "Overall Knife of the Year Award" with the model 1850 "Tyrade", in which the patent-pending concept of using two different steels in the same blade was introduced. The blade steels were D2 tool steel at the cutting edge, and a spine of CPM154 stainless steel. In 2009, Kershaw announced a collaboration with Emerson Knives, Inc.
Emerson Knives, Inc.
Emerson Knives, Inc. is a production knife company founded in 1996 by custom knifemaker Ernest Emerson in an effort to mass produce his folding knife designs for the US Military and Collector markets.-History:...
to produce an automatic
Switchblade
A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated A switchblade (also known as an automatic knife, pushbutton knife, switch, Sprenger, Springer,...
version of Emerson's Commander
Commander (knife)
The Commander is a large recurve folding knife made by Emerson Knives, Inc. that was based on a custom design, the ES1-M, by Ernest Emerson that he originally built for a West Coast Navy SEAL Team...
.
Products
The Shun Classic, the best-selling line, uses VG-10VG-10
VG-10 stands for V Gold 10 , or sometimes V-Kin-10 , and is a quality cutlery grade stainless steel produced in Japan....
steel.
Entertainment
In the television show NCISNCIS (TV series)
NCIS, formerly known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S...
Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the CBS TV series NCIS. He is portrayed by Mark Harmon.-Background:...
is seen using a Zero tolerance 0302 model knife.