I have to admit, my collection of knives has easily doubled in the past year. I never really carried a knife on my person when I was out and about, but that changed after I got my hands on an excellent Kershaw product. I wrote about the Kershaw Link not too long ago and I believe it was that knife that really triggered the fever.
Fortunately for me, I’ve found myself with another great folding knife, which is the Kershaw Vedder. The Vedder has all the features that I loved about the Link, but it is of a slightly better design in my opinion. It’s lighter, shorter, and holds a better edge. Although it’s not made in the USA, the quality has so far appeared to be in line with what you would expect from a brand like Kershaw.
To start, the Vedder is made of 8Cr13MoV, which is a Chinese steel on par with 420HC when it comes to keeping a good edge. Through heavy use, the blade on the Vedder has retained its edge longer than the Link, and most other knives in my collection for that matter. However, it has been just as easy to sharpen, if not easier. The blade on the Vedder has a titanium carbo-nitride coating for extra corrosion resistance.
The pocket clip on the Vedder is left-right reversible, but it seats much deeper than the Link. I enjoy carrying this knife because of how easy it conceals in my pocket for EDC use. A solid lanyard hole is cut into the handle to help with retention.
The soft matte grey steel handle on the Vedder also features a titanium carbo-nitride coating with a 3D-machined G-10 overlay. The overlay offers a good grip without being too rough. The blade also includes the SpeedSafe® design with a solid flipper that snaps it into a locked position very quickly.
The frame lock is very strong and requires a little more pressure than I’m used to with liner locks, but I appreciate the durability and quality of the steel frame. Unlike some liner locks, I don’t have to worry about the Vedder closing up on me during heavy use.
The Vedder weighs 4.6oz. The blade length is 3.25in, with a closed length of 4.25in and overall open length of 7.5in. The Vedder has a very distinctive look and functions flawlessly, which makes it one of my recommended knives for EDC use. You can pick yours up from Kershaw for $59.99.
Author- Rodney Pointer is a former Army Infantryman. After graduating from Airborne School, he was ruthlessly assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana to live out his days as a dirty leg. He served with the 2nd BN, 30th Infantry of the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Following his deployment to Afghanistan, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Operations. He currently works as a nuclear security contractor.
