The affordable every-day carry folding knife segment is a competitive one, but Kershaw has quite a few respectable options to choose from. In the last two years, the company has released some even more attractive folders that are made in the USA and priced under $100. We had good experiences with the Link and the Dividend from Kershaw's American-made series, so we're glad to see the company expanding this line.
The latest knife in Kershaw's made-in-the-USA series is the 7777 Bareknuckle. We were able to get our hands on a prototype of this knife at SHOT Show 2018. This flipper was inspired by the Zero Tolerance 0777, but features a slimmer profile and different materials.
Past Kershaw knives in this line used 420HC steel, which is decent for everyday use but certainly not our first choice. The Bareknuckle's blade is made from Sandvik 14C28N, a hard and corrosion-resistant stainless steel from the well-known Swedish manufacturer. We'd consider this a clear upgrade over 420HC.
The Kershaw Bareknuckle features anodized aluminum handles with the company's patented Sub-Frame Lock. This lock is inset into the handle, providing more strength than a liner lock but lighter weight than a full frame lock. The Bareknuckle is a manual-opening flipper with a KVT ball bearing pivot. It includes a left-to-right reversible deep-carry pocket clip.
MSRP for the Kershaw Bareknuckle is $110. Production for this knife is still ramping up, but we're told it should be available for purchase in Spring 2018. For more information, go to KershawKnives.com.