Kershaw Link Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Kershaw Link | |||||
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Price | $200 List $86.85 at Amazon | $190 List $190.00 at Amazon | $220 List $198.00 at REI | $200 List $180.00 at REI | $77 List $65.00 at Amazon |
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Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A great knife for heavy-duty use and jobs that require a large blade | A high end construction of a knife carefully tuned to optimize portability and function | A compact, nearly "full size” pocket knife for the serious user and all but the heaviest of tasks | For your self-propelled outdoor adventures, we know of no better balance of packability and function than this model | There's sure to be a colorway that suits you in CIVIVI's lineup. And take confidence that a great knife will come with it no matter what |
Rating Categories | Kershaw Link | Benchmade Mini Barr... | Benchmade 15031-2 N... | Benchmade 535 Bugout | CIVIVI Button Lock... |
Blade and Edge Integrity (30%) | |||||
Ergonomics (25%) | |||||
Portability (20%) | |||||
Construction Quality (25%) | |||||
Specs | Kershaw Link | Benchmade Mini Barr... | Benchmade 15031-2 N... | Benchmade 535 Bugout | CIVIVI Button Lock... |
Blade Length (Measured) | 3.2 in | 2.8 in | 2.9 in | 3.0 in | 3 in |
Overall Length (Measured) | 7.6 in | 6.9 in | 6.9 in | 7.4 in | 7.1 in |
Closed Length (Measured) | 4.4 in | 4.0 in | 3.9 in | 4.2 in | 4.1 in |
Weight | 4.7 oz | 3.4 oz | 3.2 oz | 1.9 oz | 3.1 oz |
Thickness w/o Pocket Clip (Measured) | 0.5 in | 0.6 in | 0.5 in | 0.4 in | 0.5 in |
Blade Style | Drop point, straight edge | Drop point, straight edge | Drop point, straight edge | Drop point, straight edge | Drop point, straight edge |
Blade Material | CPM 20CV steel | 154CM stainless steel | S30V stainless steel | S30V stainless steel | Nitro-V |
Blade locks closed? | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Lock Mechanism | Liner lock | AXIS Assist (Proprietary) | AXIS Assist (Proprietary) | AXIS Assist (Proprietary) | Button lock |
Handle Material | Anodized aluminum | Plastic | Stabilized wood | Grivory | G10 laminate |
Opening Style | Assisted, flipper | Assisted, ambidextrous thumb stud | Ambidextrous thumb stud | Ambidextrous thumb stud | Flipper, non-assisted |
Carry Style | Pocket clip and lanyard hole | Pocket clip and lanyard hole | Pocket clip | Pocket clip and lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole |
Other Features or Functions | Lanyard hole, modular clip | Lanyard hole, modular clip | None | None | Lanyard hole |
Our Analysis and Test Results
One of the bulkiest and heaviest pocket knives we have tested, the Kershaw Link stands out with a large blade and ergonomic grip for big cutting jobs that may take hours. Although it sports a pretty standard blade length, it is one of the bulkiest, heaviest knives we have ever tested. This extra mass allows you to really throw your weight into tasks that require some extra oomph.
Performance Comparison
Blade and Edge Integrity
The Kershaw Link's blade is 3.2 inches long and is constructed with 20CV stainless steel, one of the strongest alloys used to make knives. The blade's sharp factory finish will last longer than most other knives on the market, and the blade won't dent or deform easily.
The blade is also extra thick: at 0.11", it is 22% thicker than other knives in Kershaw's lineup, so you don't need to worry about it bending or flexing if you need to pry something. Although the blade's simple, plain edge would normally be easy to sharpen on your own, the hardness of the steel alloy will make it much more difficult to sharpen than other comparable knives. Everything has its concessions in life. The Link's long, strong blade is overkill for users who want a simple blade for occasional cutting like opening packages. But if you need a knife to handle extended outdoor use, endless food preparation, or professional performance, this blade is up to the task. After days of use, we couldn't detect a reduction in blade sharpness and weren't able to damage the blade during normal heavy-duty use.
Ergonomics
The Kershaw Link is an ergonomic knife that is easy to use. The pocket clip is oriented with the blade's tip facing upwards, so you don't have to rotate the knife in your hands after removing it from a pocket to flick open the blade. This is our preferred orientation of the pocket clip.
The assisted opening feature won't accidentally deploy in a pocket and is initiated by pulling down on a small flipper tab with the index finger. The flipper takes some force to kick open, but the action is fast, smooth, and feels very secure.
Once the blade is open, the grip fits comfortably into the palm. The knife is a full 0.5" thick – thicker than nearly any other pocket knife on the market – which makes it easier to use for serious cutting tasks where you need to maintain a solid grip on the tool. The pocket clip is out of the way of your fingers, which makes it more comfortable to grip. Our testers felt very secure holding this knife for consequential cutting tasks.
Portability
The Kershaw Link is a heavy knife, and its large blade creates a bigger footprint than other knives on the market. The result is a large-than-average package that is noticeable when worn in a pocket or carried in a backpack.
For professional users, serious outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and hunters, the portability shortcomings are worth the hassle, since the knife's performance is so strong. Many users looking for a pocket knife will only use the tool for everyday carry and occasional use, cutting tape away from packaging and similar tasks. For these users, a much smaller and lighter pocket knife will do. This is a seriously strong knife geared towards heavy-duty use, and as such, it has a larger footprint and heavier weight than most other pocket knives on the market. Everyday users will appreciate this strength and size, but occasional users won't.
Construction Quality
This knife is built to last. The Link's housing is built from aluminum, which is nothing to write home about, but the 20CV stainless steel in the blade is seriously strong. It is one of the hardest metals used in knife production, and the thick blade only tapers down to an edge at the last moment, meaning the blade is strong and can take a beating. There is no detectable flex or bend in the blade during use.
One downside to the design of this knife is the locking mechanism. Like other knives, the blade is locked into the open position by a thin internal metal flap that bends into place when the blade is open, preventing the knife from folding closed. This flap must be pushed to the side in order to close the blade. This is generally a great locking mechanism, but in the case of the Link, the flap only moves about a millimeter into the locking position, which is less than other knives. This means that it takes less debris to get stuck in the flap to render it impossible to unlock the blade and close the knife. This is a very minor concern and the only flaw we could find with this tool.
Should You Buy the Kershaw Link?
The large blade and heft of the Link ultimately compete with the sturdiness of a fixed-blade knife while offering the convenience of a folding pocket knife. Considering its quality construction, excellent blade steel, and ergonomics, this knife presents great value despite its price tag. It is a worthy investment for anyone who uses a pocket knife daily. If you work outdoors, camp, hunt, or cut things regularly for your job, then the Link will not let you down. But if you are looking for a low-profile pocket knife for everyday carry and occasional use for mundane chores, this knife is overkill.
What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?
The premium-made Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 is an excellent choice if you want a slightly more manageable knife. Alternatively, the Benchmade 535 Bugout is a much lighter weight full-sized knife, which we like as an everyday carry option. If you're looking for a more affordable option, we love the Gerber Fast Draw - Plain Edge, which competes in size and heft to the Link but is much more reasonably priced.