Beyond everything, the Kershaw Link 1776 is a spring-assisted blade with a lovely slate gray grip and liner lock. But it was the fact that this lovely work of art cost less than $70 that truly struck me. It’s also made in the United States, in Kershaw’s Tualatin, Oregon, factory.
Kershaw Link 1776 has a 420HC carbon steel drop-point blade. 420HC is a heat-treated version of 420 steel with greater carbon and chrome content to increase strength and corrosion protection. Hardening to RC 56-59 is possible. While 420HC is a lower-alloy metal, it has an excellent edge and sharpens quickly.
Blackwash Finish
This folder looks amazing thanks to Kershaw Knives‘ BlackWash coating. The finish is much more lenient than hardened steel or a coated blade, as it has a pre-worn look (just like that stone-washed denim. The blade will endure a long time and be immune to spontaneous corrosion thanks to this polish and the 420HC steel. When open, it has no lateral motion providing a nice, firm grip when slicing, shaving wood, or when utilising the knife in any other way.
Pocket Clip, Handle, And Ergonomics
The handle is anodised aluminum with stainless steel inserts, as stated earlier. 3/4 of the way down the grip is a black ribbed backspacer. This knife is extremely well-made and finished. The handle has been chamfered twice for convenience and specular highlights, despite the fact that it is not 3-D moulded. There are no milling marks on the pieces, and the screws are all fixed to the same height in the grip. Even the lanyard loop is well-designed: it is larger and inserted into the hilt instead of being bored through the grip.
Application Of The 1776 Kershaw Link
The SpeedSafe system gives you a quick, crisp open with a firm click when you press the button. It may take some time to get used to the firmness of the flipper. This, on the other hand, appeals to me because it eliminates the possibility of it being opened by accident. When the flipper is open, you will enjoy how the bottom provides your fingers a little jimped edge. The reverse edge of the knife, unfortunately, lacks jimping, but the good hilt offered by the aluminium grip and the flipper ensures a secure grip.
Conclusion
In recent history, this is one of Kershaw Knives’ most affordable choices. The Link follows the path created by blades like the Skyline, Blur, as well as Knockout, and it appears that their best stuff has traditionally been made in the United States. In regards to quality, the Link is on par, but it’ll be interesting to see if it gains the same cult as these other knives. The Link is a touch chunkier than the others are, but not overly so. It has a unique design that works well in the hand. As a result, I don’t expect the Link to have the same illustrious history as other blades, but it’s still a fantastic knife.
Kershaw is also manufacturing limited versions of the Link, showing the knife’s popularity with customers and adding to its editions.
