Recently, I wrote an article on the best pocket knives for sharpness, ease of use, comfort and durability. If you haven’t read that one, you can find it here: The Sharpest Pocket Knives For Everyday Use. In that article, you’ll see that I ranked the Kershaw Blur as one of my all-time favorites, but I didn’t take the time to go into a lot of detail about why I love this knife so much.

Table of Contents
Kershaw is an industry leader.
Pete Kershaw started his cutlery career with the Gerber Legendary Blades company in 1967. He left Gerber and founded the Kershaw Knife company in Oregon in 1974 to produce hunting knives. Mr. Kershaw partnered with Japanese knife manufacturer Kai to develop and produce new lines of extraordinary knives that would set trends in the everyday carry knife world. From their first liner-lock knives (the Liner Action series) to the industry-changing SpeedSafe assisted opening feature, Kershaw strives to produce the very best possible knives for whatever jobs you do.
The Kershaw Blur is designed by Ken Onion.
Ken Onion is a well-known knife designer whose custom knives are highly sought after collector’s items. Not only does he design custom knives, he holds over 30 patents for innovations that include designs, locks and mechanisms including the SpeedSafe Assisted Opening feature. In 2008, Onion was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame.
In the mid-1990s, Kershaw reached out to Onion to design a new line of pocket knives. The first Ken Onion-designed knife, the Random Task, was launched in 1998 and featured the SpeedSafe Assisted Opening feature.
Onion’s knife designs were so popular that Kershaw opened an American manufacturing plant just to keep up with demand. His sleek, fast-folding knives with distinctive curves and style remain popular through today. Look for the Chive, Leek, Scallion, Clash, Oso Sweet, and of course the Blur to see the enduring good looks they bring to your wardrobe and your jobs. The popularity of Onion-designed knives prompted the Kershaw company to move their main focus away from fixed-blade hunting knives to concentrate more on pocket folders.
You should choose a Kershaw Blur.
The Kershaw Blur is the knife for just about everyone. The handle is comfortable. The blade is strong. From steel workers to ranchers and everyone in between, there’s a Blur for you.
Blur’s anodized aluminum handles are available in an assortment of colors that have textured rubber Trac-Tec inserts to promote secure grip and comfort, in all types of weather.
It’s easy to open your Blur with one hand, using the patented SpeedSafe Assisted Opening. Once you have the blade in motion using the thumb stud, a torsion bar inside the handle adds pressure to open the knife smoothly and quickly.
The metal on nearly all Blur series knives is Sandvik 14C28N – a strong combination of toughness and good looks with added corrosion resistance. 14C28N was developed specifically for Kershaw by Sandvik Steel. Your Blur will be extremely sharp right out of the box, stay sharp for a long time, and when it does eventually need to be sharpened, you’ll have an easy time getting the blade ship-shape again. The slightly recurved blade is perfect for multitasking, with various blade edge options such as plain, semi-serrated for cutting ropes and straps, and tanto blades for added piercing ability.
There are only two Blur models that have blades made of other metals besides Sandvik 14C28N: the (now discontinued) Exclusive edition Blur – M4 and the Blur – S30V Stonewash.
The belt clip can be positioned for tip-up or tip-down carry.
Overall open length is 7.9″; closed length is 4.5″. Weight is 3.9 ounces.
Limited lifetime warranties accompany every Kershaw knife. (Please check for warranty work availability during this time of Covid-19 restrictions.)
The Kershaw Blur has many options.
One thing I really like about this series is that, as good as it is in its most basic style [Blur – black], you can choose a model with extra features to make sure your new knife is instantly your favorite knife.
Need a partially serrated blade for smooth slicing but also for cutting ropes? Or want the added safety feature of being able to cut a safety belt webbing during an emergency? The Blur – Black Serrated has you covered, as well as the Blur – Tanto and the Blur – Glassbreaker.
Speaking of the Blur – Glassbreaker, if you’re a first responder or are concerned with being prepared in an emergency, this is a knife you should definitely consider. The carbide glassbreaker tip is much more effective than a steel one. If you need to break a windshield and cut an accident victim free from a seatbelt, you have what you need right in your hand.
Do you like a little fashion flair in your hardware? The Blur comes in a variety of handle finishes and colors.
Get one now; thank me later.
The Kershaw Blur is a fantastic knife, super sharp right out of the box, ready to go anywhere and do anything you want a good pocket knife to do. Smooth to open, comfortable to hold, and stylish. If I could choose only one pocket folder, this is the knife I’d pick. Buy one for yourself, and from the very first use, you’ll understand why.