Kershaw Freefall Tanto

This is an article on the Kershaw Freefall Tanto SpeedSafe Assisted Folding Knife, with photos and description of this knife.

kershaw logo

DIMENSIONS:

  • Overall Length: 7½ in (19.1 cm)
  • Closed Length: 4¼ in (10.8 cm)
  • Weight: 4.1 oz (116.2 g)

BLADE:

  • Blade Length: 3¼ in (8.3 cm)
  • Thickness: 0.12 in (3.0 mm)
  • Material: 8Cr13MoV Stainless Steel
  • Blade HRC: 58-60
  • Finish: Stonewashed
  • Grind: Hollow (main) and Flat (tip)
  • Style: Modified Tanto
  • Edge: Plain

HANDLE:

  • Material: Glass-Filled Nylon with K-TextureTM
  • Liner: Stainless Steel

LOCK:

  • Type: Liner Lock

This is my first knife from Kershaw. The Kershaw Freefall Tanto SpeedSafe Assisted Folder is a little different from a lot of the folders that I already own, and its distinctive features are the reasons I bought this model.

I rarely cover the unboxing process of the knives I buy, but I’ll do it with this one.

For one, the bright red box is hard to ignore. But even then, what surprised me initially was that the box appeared longer; much longer than what I had expected the knife to be. And true enough, it is quite a fair bit longer; and not without reason.

Both ends of the box inside are tight-fit cuboid foams placed to protect the knife from impact and to prevent it from falling out through the box cover flaps.

While the box may look mundane on the outside, care has obviously been taken in the packaging design to ensure that the knife within is cradled safely. See the photos below, and then we’ll move on to the important bits of the Kershaw FreeFall Tanto.

Unboxing the Kershaw FreeFall Tanto

kershaw box
Bright red box. Hard to ignore.
kershaw knife unboxing
Cuboid foam pieces are found on both end of the box for protection.
kershaw knife box
It would have been nice if the knife had been wrapped in similar foam sheet instead of plastic, but that’s just being nit-picky!
kershaw freefall tanto unboxing
True enough, the Kershaw FreeFall Tanto isn’t as long as its box suggests it to be!
kershaw freefall tanto handle kershaw freefall tanto speedsafe
Advertisement

The Modified Tanto Blade

“The Freefall Tanto blade was specifically designed this way to give the tip greater stabbing strength.”

First off, the blade is a modified tanto (one of my favourite blade styles) quite different from the angular straight-edge ones that are normally seen such as The Japanese Tanto.

Tanto blades such as this usually have two grind sections – the main one parallel along the longer cutting edge, and a shorter angled one near the tip.

In the case of this knife, the longer edge section is hollow-ground, while the shorter edge near the tip is flat-ground. The Freefall Tanto blade was specifically designed this way to give the tip greater stabbing strength. The blade is kept locked in the open position by a liner lock.

stonewashed finish blade
A beautiful stonewashed finish on the blade achieved by tumbling the blade in ceramic “stones”.
knife choil
In the open position, the blade flipper edge-line sweeps smoothly in curves parallel to the handle scales, providing an effective choil for the forefinger.
kershaw speedsafe
“Kershaw” and “SpeedSafe” are laser-etched and appear on the front side of the blade…
kershaw KAI Corporation
…while blade material 8Cr13MoV and model number 3840 appear on the reverse side. Kershaw is a subsidiary of the KAI Corporation.
“…these knives are not considered as switchblades, and hence fall fully outside of the federal law’s definition of a switchblade.”

The blade is of an easy-care stonewashed finish. In the manufacturing process, the blade is tumbled with ceramic “stones”, giving the blade surface a rather even roughened scuffed appearance, which hides scratches quite well. Fingerprints also do not show on this rugged surface.

The fine random lines on such blades can be described as similar to the glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GRP) used in water tanks. They actually look quite similar.

The blade is made of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, which is printed on the reverse-side of the blade (see photo above).

Get It On eBay


SpeedSafe Assisted Opening Technology

SPEEDSAFE® ASSISTED OPENING

SpeedSafe Assisted Opening

Kershaw was the first to bring SpeedSafe® assisted opening knives to market, launching a revolution in opening systems—and winning numerous industry awards along the way. Originally designed by Hall of Fame knifemaker, Ken Onion, Kershaw’s SpeedSafe knives flew off the shelves. Today, almost all knife companies offer some sort of assisted opening knife, but none matches the popularity or proven durability of the original.

The Kershaw Freefall Tanto SpeedSafe Folding Knife is an assisted folder using Kershaw’s SpeedSafe Assisted Opening technology. By applying manual pressure on the flipper in a downwards direction, a torsion bar within the handle assists to move the blade out of the handle like as if it was spring-loaded.

This allows for smooth one-handed opening with either hand, making this knife ambidextrous. It is one of the few folding knives I have that does not have a thumb stud on the blade. There is no need for one.

SpeedSafe is a patented system that assists in the opening of the blade smoothly with a manual push on the blade’s flipper (or thumb stud, for such models) and is built into many of Kershaw’s best-selling knives.

As mentioned above, the opening of the blade is aided by a torsion bar situated within the handle. In the closed position, the same torsion bar prevents the blade from opening unintentionally due to gravity of movements in the pocket and bag.

kershaw speedsafe
Place a finger on the flipper and give it a backward downward push…
kershaw speedsafe
…and SpeedSafe Assisted Opening kicks in to deploy the blade smoothly and effortlessly!
“This is my very first Kershaw, and I’m glad that my experience with it has been a thoroughly positive one!”

As the blades on such SpeedSafe knives are not deployed by a push of a button and activated by a spring, these knives are not considered as switchblades, and hence fall fully outside of the federal law’s definition of a switchblade.

Nevertheless, Kershaw disclaim on their website that it is impossible for them to be aware of every restriction in every location due to the complexity and constantly changing nature of laws and regulations, and it is the responsibility of the knife buyer and user to investigate and determine if the knife bought complies with the laws and regulations of the specific area where the knife will be carried and used.

The SpeedSafe system is so named, because:

  • the blade opens fast, especially with the assistance of the torsion bar, and quickly locks into place securely by the liner lock.
  • the blade does not open easily unintentionally, as the knife user will need to overcome the resistance of the torsion bar.
  • the blade does not spring back abruptly upon release of the liner lock due to the resistance by the torsion bar, and requires the knife user’s manual intervention to close the blade back into its handle.
  • the blade is safely kept in the close position by the torsion bar, and will not fall open by gravity, or be accidentally deployed by any button.

Have to say the torsion bar is really the “miracle” feature and key solution here.

Handle, Liner Lock and Clip

kershaw k-texture
The new K-Texture grip is made up Kershaw’s tradename font of “k”s and provides traction.
kershaw liner lock
A steel liner is sandwiched between the matte black glass-filled nylon handle. A liner lock keeps the blade secure in the open position.
“…with a little practice, one-hand closing becomes almost second nature.”

The handle of the Kershaw Freefall Tanto SpeedSafe Assisted Folder is curved and contoured to fit the palm. For better grip, this glass-filled nylon handle is partially embossed with Kershaw’s new K-TextureTM grip, made up of tiny little “k”s in Kershaw’s unmistakable tradename font.

I thought this was a very creative effort on Kershaw’s end in coming up with a distinctive grip design, and a great way to give identity and lay Kershaw’s name to an otherwise plain handle surface. Surprisingly, this was also one of the features which drew my attention to these series of knives made by Kershaw.

kershaw clip
The tradename Kershaw is engraved onto the clip’s stonewashed finished surface. Looks flimsy, but it’s actually sturdy and clings on tightly!
kershaw knife clip
The clip is mounted on the pommel, and key-guides on both sides of the screw ensure that the clip does not move when mounted on either side of the handle.
“The blade opens fast, especially with the assistance of the torsion bar, and quickly locks into place securely by the liner lock.”

The clip with Kershaw engraved on it, is screw-mounted on the handle pommel, and may be removed so that the clip can be designated on either side of the handle. Key-guides ensure that the clip remains firmly attached and does not rock about the screw point pivot.

The clip appears to be fashioned out of the same material as the blade, with a matching stonewashed finish appearance. While the clip may look flimsy at first sight, it is actually very sturdy and rigid, and clings on tightly to pockets and fabric.

In actual tests, I found it difficult to clip on and unclip the knife from the pocket. I suspect I’ll be removing the clip as I do with most of my other folders.

Jimping

kershaw jimping
Adequate jimping found on the spine of the blade. Although the blade is of normal thickness at 3 mm, the blade spine appears thinner than usual due to slight flat ground applied to this area.
handle jimping
Jimping is also found on the back near the butt end of the handle. This is used for traction when the knife is held in the reverse grip.

Conclusion

The Kershaw Freefall Tanto SpeedSafe Assisted Folder is a very easy knife to love, and a pleasure to use.

“Her left hand was still doing wiping motions on the face – it is that easy and effortless to deploy the blade!”

I couldn’t help but pass it to my wife to let her have a first-hand feel of the SpeedSafe Assisted Opening. She was holding a facial cotton in her right hand and wiping something on her face at that time, and transferred the cotton to her left hand and continued to wipe her face, at the same time grabbing the Kershaw from my hand with her right and flipping it open with one hand. Her left hand was still doing wiping motions on the face – it is that easy and effortless to deploy the blade!

The resistance of the torsion bar does makes the blade relatively more difficult to close with one hand compared to other liner lock folding knives (without torsion bars, springs or assisted opening), but with a little practice, one-hand closing becomes almost second nature.

Still, there’s little room for the thumb to depress the liner lock, making the blade release quite cumbersome and unwieldy. A push-button liner lock release such as the one found on the Kershaw 3812 Thistle would have worked wonders here.

collection of knives
The contoured handle makes the Kershaw FreeFall Tanto comfortable to hold with the forward hammer grip…
kershaw freefall tanto
…and equally as comfortable in the reverse grip! The handle fits snugly in the palm of the hand.

For some reason, I never thought I’d buy a Kershaw; plus, they are not so easily available in my country. The Kershaw Freefall Tanto SpeedSafe Assisted Folder retails for just under US$40.00 at Kershaw’s website. This is my very first Kershaw, and I’m glad that my experience with it has been a thoroughly positive one!

knife collection
Blade: 8.3 cm (3.25″), Handle: 10.8 cm (4.25″); Overall Length: 19.1 cm (7.50″)

KERSHAW FOLDING KNIVES


KERSHAW ZERO TOLERANCE KNIVES

 
KERSHAW FOLDING KNIVES (SIMILAR SERIES)


 
OTHER KERSHAW KNIVES


 
ZERO TOLERANCE KNIVES


Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
devonbuy.com