Was looking at both Kershaw models and see that Rick Hinderer designed ’em. Plus both blades are 8Cr13MoV [same as Enlan/Bee and SenReMu]. Amazon sells both in the sub $30 range. Do any BLFers have either knife? I’d just like a bit of feedback if possible to help make a choice. TIA.
I have the Thermite…great knife for the money. G10, decent steel, framelock and a beautiful, unique blade shape. I am a big fan!
Kershaw has made some great knives working with outside designers (rick Hinderer, ken Onion)
They are certainly worth looking at.
The original cryo was a bit small for my ham-like hands, but my petite 20 year old daughter took to it like a duck to water.
The opening and lock-up on the Cryo II is top notch, but every time i opened it at work or in the world it drew way too much attention. “SWITCHBLADE!”, it cried, (But under 30 usd delivered is a REALLY good price for this knife.)
As law enforcement in most large urban areas in America are WWAAAYYY to beholden to their quotas for arrests/stop and frisks/”stamp out crime!” policys to be arguing with them about the subtlties between “spring assisted” and “automatic” knives.
Trust me. You are going to end up in the back of a van with seven other guys, bruised , in cuffs, if you deploy this knife to open a pizza box on the fringe of Harlem or in Boston’s Back bay late at night.
I have gone back to a Kershaw half-ton or Kershaw shuffle that you dont mind dumping if you have to.
That said, this is a sweet knife too:
CRKT Shenanigan PPS Ken Onion Folding Knife (3.25” Bead Blasted Plain) K480KKP
I have the original Cryo. It’s still one of my favourite user knives. The Hinderer design really makes the difference here, vs. Sanrenmu etc.
Two flaws, lack of ball detent to keep the blade closed, and a pretty useless thumbstud (to me).
Steel wise, the 8Cr13MoV is a nice example. The heat treat is not too soft. I would prefer VG10 or similar though. It would be nice if Kershaw made something between this price point and their ZT Hinderers with Elmax.
…was my favourite EDC.
You noticed the was?
The speedsafe gave up the ghost yesterday. Now we see if Kershaws customer service will step up. I believe they will, I had a chive or scallion or some other small onion related knife a few years ago with a problem and they took care of it fast and thoroughly.
Other than this issue, the knife has been great. I don’t have any other complaints with it, and hope that I get a resolution quickly.
BTW, they have them on for $13 at some walmarts. Check there before paying extra at amazon.
Thanks everyone for the info. I did find mention of the ‘speedsafe’ assisted opening feature used by both the Thermite and Cryo II. I’m reassessing my interest in either knife as the AO would make them illegal here. State law says something to the effect ‘can not be opened w/ one hand or using gravity or other opening assistance’, which eliminates any knife w/ thumbstuds, flippers, etc. Well, this is Maine, the outdoorsman’s paradise, maybe I can score a 155 mm howitzer for squirrel season!
Ouch. That’s a lot of knives excluded then. ;_;
Kershaw CS are great. I am sure they will send you free replacement springs.
I have the original Cryo and I’m not a big fan. Mine came with the pivot pin almost ready to fall out and other issues. Oh, and I never did get the clip out to change it to tip-up carry. The clip screws are so tight that it actually stripped my Craftsman Torx driver and totally wasted it. I got the blade centered enough to be functional but I’m not a very good knife mechanic. I’ve heard other people say that the Cryo is a high maintenance knife and I can believe it.
I don’t own the Thermite, but we got my son-in-law a Brawler for Christmas and the wife liked it because she has arthritis and it’s easy for her to open. So I got her a Brawler too and she loves it. Though it is weird hearing the “swack” of her assisted knife opening every time she goes to open the mail.
i have heard these stories of QC problems with the Cryo, but honestly I have not seen any of them on mine (well outside of what is most likely a broken torsion bar). The blade is dead center, there is no blade play in any direction and it was very sharp out of the box and is holding its edge.
I am interested in the JYDII or the Rake with the composite blades. Might be a bit on the big side for EDC though.
The Cryo is a great design but mine just wasn’t built very well. But I knew that it had a mixed reputation when I bought it so I’m not up in arms that I didn’t get a very good sample, and I never got around to returning it to Amazon, who takes that stuff back no questions asked.
The Cryo II looks better built but maybe a little big for EDC, but I’m still interested in trying it someday.