When I first viewed the Kershaw Volt II, it struck me as one of Kershaw’s more interesting folding knife designs because, unlike a lot of their knives, it is neither clearly a tactical folder nor an everyday carry knife but it would serve well for either purpose.
Designed by custom knife maker R.J. Martin, this knife features an overall length of 7 inches and measures 3 7/8” inches when closed. It features a hollow ground, 3 1/8”, drop point blade made from bead blasted 8Cr13MoV stainless steel (Rockwell Hardness unknown) with a protrusion on the edge side of the blade behind the ricasso that Kershaw calls a “flipper” because it enables the user to pull back on it while adding a slight wrist roll to open the knife.
The knife can be easily opened one handed via the thumb stud and Kershaw’s SpeedSafe Assisted Opening System. Once the knife is open, the blade is securely locked into place by a liner lock mechanism which is then easily operated with one hand to allow the blade to close.
It features stainless steel liners and glass-filled nylon handle slabs with a lanyard hole. Lastly, this knife is both light weight (3.3 oz.) and inexpensive ($44.95 MRP) and thus, it is a good choice for a general purpose everyday carry knife.
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Read customer reviews of the Kershaw Volt II
Using the Volt II
Given the size and shape of the blade on this knife combined with the slight positive forward angle to the edge, I believe this knife would make a good everyday carry or working knife since it combines a well designed and highly serviceable blade shape with an ergonomically shaped handle design.
Blade Steel
The 8Cr13MoV stainless steel contains 0.8 % Carbon (requires 0.5% to qualify as high carbon), 13 % Chromium (requires 12.5% to qualify as stainless), 0.15% Molybdenum (forms hard, double carbide, bonds which help improve the abrasion and corrosion resistance of the steel), and 0.1% Vanadium (improves wear resistance and refines the gain for both good toughness and the ability to sharpen to a very keen edge) and is normally hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 58 to 59.
The inclusion of only 0.8% Carbon makes this steel a tough steel as opposed to a hard steel and with only 13% Chromium, it is just barely a stainless steel and as such, it is not going to be particularly corrosion resistant.
While I like the shape of the blade, I have to admit that I am a little put off by the “flipper” protrusion on the edge side of the blade since, by design, it protrudes slightly from the handle when the blade is closed. On the other hand, it does form a short quillion which could aid in preventing a user’s index finger from inadvertently slipping onto the edge of the blade so, it could be said that it serves dual useful purpose.
Handle Material
I do like the choice of glass reinforced nylon for the handle material since this is a very tough composite material that is impervious to absorbing moisture and impervious to changes in temperature. Thus, it will not swell, crack, or chip under hard use and it adds very little weight to the knife.
Therefore, in my opinion, the Kershaw Volt II folding knife is a good choice for a general purpose, every day carry, knife. In addition, although I am not particularly pleased with the choice of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel for the blade, I have to admit that it is not at all a bad choice for a hard working, general purpose, folding knife since the amount of Carbon it contains does qualify it as a high carbons steel but said Carbon content is also low enough (when combined with Molybdenum) to qualify it as a tough steel instead of a hard steel.
The Kershaw History
Kershaw was founded in 1974 to design and manufacture tools that knife users would be proud to own, carry, and use. This has meant that every Kershaw knife must be of the highest quality. Whether it’s a hardworking pocketknife, a special collectors’ edition, or a precision kitchen knife, Kershaw always chooses appropriate, high-quality materials and is dedicated to intensive craftsmanship. Along with extremely tight tolerances and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, this ensures that Kershaw knives provide a lifetime of performance.
What’s Different in this Knife?
Kershaw pioneered the use of many of the technologies and advanced materials that are now standard in the knife industry. For instance, their SpeedSafe assisted opening knives were first-to-market. Also, they introduced the concept of knives with interchangeable blades in their Blade Traders and recently, their Composite Blade technology that combines two steels into one blade gives knife users the best of both worlds by enabling them to use steel known for edge retention on the edge and steel known for strength on the spine.
So, from award-winning technologies and advanced materials to the solid sound of the blade lockup, when you’re carrying a Kershaw, you know you’re carrying the real thing and with Kershaw, you get incredible bang for your hard-earned buck. In fact, everything about a Kershaw is solidly crafted, reliable, and each of their knives is backed for the life of its original owner against any defects in materials and construction with its Limited Lifetime Warranty. In fact, people do own their Kershaw knives for a lifetime. (Although, occasionally, a Kershaw has been known to get accidentally left at a campsite, lost in the garage, or permanently borrowed by a friend).
The point is, you can always look to Kershaw for every day carrying knives that can tame any cardboard box and liberate any purchase from its plastic packaging, for sporting knives that make hunting, fishing, water sports, and camping even better, for work knives that won’t let you down, and for tactical knives that ensure you’re ready for anything.
Summary
It is reasonably corrosion resistant and the inclusion of Vanadium in the alloy enables the knife to be sharpened to a very keen edge. Thus, when taken as a whole, the Kershaw Volt II is a good choice for an inexpensive, good quality, knife that would serve the user very well for most any domestic or tactical purpose.
Written by Bill Bernhardt
Last updated: February 20, 2023 at 15:12 pm