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EDC Blade: Kershaw Livewire... their very first OTF

Certified Silly Goose

Certified Silly Goose

Master Class
The Livewire is Kershaw's first OTF knife (Out The front). It's an automatic knife, double-action, and may be illegal where you live. It's no Microtech or Guardian Tactical, but it is DAMN NICE for a sub $300 knife. Magnacut steel.

Got one recently and I really do like it. Very high quality. I'm not usually a Kershaw guy, but this is a damn fine knife and it definitely has a place in my EDC rotation.

 
Have seen them , not a bad looking blade. They certainly have a lot to like. The price I have seen was right about 300 that was right when they first came out. may have come down since, but that was close to Microtec money so I was not interested, already have two.

I am wondering about the durability of the pocket clip or its design as I have seen them for sale or discussed online. Issues seem to be, short, pointy and wears on pocket or hand, bendy, and hard to maneuver in and out of pocket. Certainly i have seen more aftermarket options for it than others. There was a lot of chatter over misfires, but often that is user error, not cleaning properly and over lubricating.

Having two microtecs I have been looking at cheaper models and got the Boker which is decent but once again has a cheaper pocket clip and had an occasion misfire until I tore it apart and cleaned very well.

Think my next will be to look at Cobra Tec just because so may guys I know tend to rave about them.
 
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Sld1959 said:
Have seen them , not a bad looking blade. They certainly have a lot to like. The price I have seen was right about 300 that was right when they first came out. may have come down since, but that was close to Microtec money so I was not interested, already have two.

I am wondering about the durability of the pocket clip or its design as I have seen them for sale or discussed online. Issues seem to be, short, pointy and wears on pocket or hand, bendy, and hard to maneuver in and out of pocket. Certainly i have seen more aftermarket options for it than others. There was a lot of chatter over misfires, but often that is user error, not cleaning properly and over lubricating.

Having two microtecs I have been looking at cheaper models and got the Boker which is decent but once again has a cheaper pocket clip and had an occasion misfire until I tore it apart and cleaned very well.

Think my next will be to look at Cobra Tec just because so may guys I know tend to rave about them.
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Cobra is nice, but if you don't mind spending the money, Guardian Tactical is amazing. The switch is on bearings, its even nicer than Microtech if you van believe it.

As for the Kershaw, the clip is the only bad thing about the knife. I put a screwdriver under mine and gave it just the gentlest of torque to lift it a hair, and that made a world of difference. I have a dedicated knife pocket anyway so it's not a huge deal for me, but it is a terrible clip.

Otherwise it's a well-built, comfortable knife that (so far) hasn't failed and seems very sturdy. Low tolerances make it feel top tier.

I've only had minemine a couple of months, and I admit I favor my GT Recon more, but I do carry it regularly and consider it to be one of my favorites.
 
Belt Fed said:
Meh, nice lookin knife. i'll keep my hellcats at less than half the price. That clip does look kinda flimsy.
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I wouldn’t rave about mine, but I will say I use it a lot and never had any problems with it. Never cleaned it out and the blade shoots out hard, every time.

Not super impressed with the steel, but it is ( Chinese ) D2 and a dagger profile which means sharpening it isn’t super easy.

Definitely worth the $100 I paid for it.
 
Certified Silly Goose said:
Can we get a pic?
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Certified Silly Goose said:
AHH yes, I've seen those before. Very, very nice knives indeed. If I remember correctly, that knife has a bit of a spring-sing problem, doesn't it? You can correct it by applying white lithium grease (or any grease, really) to the springs.
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No. I’ve had it a couple years and never even had to blow it out. Spring doesn’t “sing”. Only noise is a hard, solid click. Much more authoritative than even the Microtech.

I would definitely avoid greasing the springs unless you plan to take the knife apart a lot to clean the dirt that sticks to the grease out.
 
Bassbob said:
No. I’ve had it a couple years and never even had to blow it out. Spring doesn’t “sing”. Only noise is a hard, solid click. Much more authoritative than even the Microtech.

I would definitely avoid greasing the springs unless you plan to take the knife apart a lot to clean the dirt that sticks to the grease out.
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I blow my otfs out with a keyboard duster every couple month then squirt a bit of tuf-glide dry lubricant work it a few 1000 times, just for wife's entertainment, then let it sit aside and dry. Keeps everything working smooth and decently clean. And does not have the lint collection issues wet lubes and greases have.

Probably does not need doing that much but I enjoy sitting and messing with them while we watch TV. My wife calls them my adult fidget spinners. I tend to alternate cleanings so each one gets clean at least twice a year.
 
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Sld1959 said:
I blow my otfs out with a keyboard duster every couple month then squirt a bit of tuf-glide dry lubricant work it a few 1000 times, just for wife's entertainment, then let it sit aside and dry. Keeps everything working smooth and decently clean. And does not have the lint collection issues wet lubes and greases have.

Probably does not need doing that much but I enjoy sitting and messing with them while we watch TV. My wife calls them my adult fidget spinners. I tend to alternate cleanings so each one gets clean at least twice a year.
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I do it with my Microtech. You can feel it getting slow and occasionally it will misfire if I’m holding it upside down. Never even a hint of a slow or soft fire with the CT.
 
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