- SpeedSafe assisted opening; Frame lock, lockbar stabilizer
- Flipper and thumbstud; Quad-carry (tip-up/tip-down; left/right) pocketclip; deep-carry
- Steel: 8Cr13MoV, titanium carbo-nitride coating; Handle: 410, titanium carbo-nitride coating
- Blade length: 2.75 in. (7 cm); Closed length: 3.75 in. (9.5 cm); Overall length: 6.5 in. (16.5 cm); Weight: 4.1 oz. (116.2 g)
If you’ve been craving a Rick Hinderer knife, but couldn’t quite part with the bucks, your last excuse has just disappeared. The Cryo is the result of collaboration between Rick Hinderer and the design and production engineers at Kershaw. And we’re sure it will satisfy both your Hinderer craving and the demands of your wallet.
A classic Rick Hinderer design, the Cryo is built of pure stainless steel coated with matte grey titanium carbo-nitride for a no-fuss look that lets the design shine through. Like all Rick’s knives, the Cryo benefits from Rick’s real world experience as a fire fighter and EMT. It’s designed to be a sturdy knife that’s still aesthetically pleasing and feels good in the hand.
For secure blade lock up, the Cryo offers a tough frame lock with lockbar stabilization. The Cryo also features Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening for fast and easy one-handed opening. Access it with either the built-in flipper or the thumbstud.
Slightly smaller than some Hinderer pocketknives, the Cryo is a superb knife for every day carry. EDC this guy for a while and we think you’ll soon appreciate its virtues. You get the tactical, hard-use looks you’re looking for, a Hinderer design, and SpeedSafe opening in this amazingly affordable Kershaw that’s destined to be the Hinderer for the rest of us.
By Todd L.
Love this little knife.
The finish is a dark matte gray with black hardware. This makes the knife anonymous and unassuming which can be handy when using a knife around people that freak when shiny blades are exposed in public.Fit and finish is superb and the titanium coating on the handle and blade seem quite rugged. The blade is a non serrated modified drop point with a beautiful profile.
I always think of a knife as a tool first, but many folks think "weapon" first which can put a damper on being comfortable about use and deployment in public. The Cryo (IMHO) is all business without being intimidating or threatening.
The blade is about 2 3/4" long and the handle is about 3 3/4". Overall length is just under 6 1/2" which is a perfect EDC length for me. Gets the job done without making me feel like a zombie slayer.
The knife uses a framelock to lock the blade and man, it is a tight lock up with about 40% of the blade thickness hitting the lock bar. Absolutely no blade play at all in any direction.
The detent is quite strong and will not allow the blade to come loose when closed in your pocket.
The lockbar has a stabilizer just like its XM-18 bigger brother to keep the lock bar from traveling out too far.
The Kershaw "Speed Assist" makes the blade fly out with very little effort. The thumbstuds are not that comfortable to use but this knife was designed to open with the flipper so . . . get over it.
The blade is Chinese 8Cr13MOV steel which I've found to be quite serviceable and also easy to sharpen. Quite sharp out of the box.
The Cryo is drilled and tapped to allow the low rider pocket clip to be fastened to the knife in all four possible positions. Lefties rejoice. Weight is a little on the heavy side at just over 4 Ounces, but isn't uncomfortable. It has the heft of a quality tool.
The knife handle is steel with no added scales. This keeps the knife very thin and it pretty much disappears in the pocket. Ergonomics are very comfortable. The flipper works as a finger choil when open. Jimping is present on the blade and handle and although not very aggressive, it does do a decent job of providing a bit more grip.
The lanyard hole has a tube which runs from side to side. The outside of the tube is shaped to look identical to the handle stand offs. Very cool. Finally, the Cryo is designed beautifully. It looks just like a miniature Hinderer XM-18. If you've been wanting a Hinderer but can't afford the price tag or feel uneasy about using a 8 1/2" long $400 knife for EDC. Check out the Kershaw Cryo, a very sexy EDC knife that keeps it's good looks while also being able to take care of business. Moz def my current favorite for everyday carry and I suspect it will remain so for some time to come.Best $30 I've spent in a while.
The finish is a dark matte gray with black hardware. This makes the knife anonymous and unassuming which can be handy when using a knife around people that freak when shiny blades are exposed in public.Fit and finish is superb and the titanium coating on the handle and blade seem quite rugged. The blade is a non serrated modified drop point with a beautiful profile.
I always think of a knife as a tool first, but many folks think "weapon" first which can put a damper on being comfortable about use and deployment in public. The Cryo (IMHO) is all business without being intimidating or threatening.
The blade is about 2 3/4" long and the handle is about 3 3/4". Overall length is just under 6 1/2" which is a perfect EDC length for me. Gets the job done without making me feel like a zombie slayer.
The knife uses a framelock to lock the blade and man, it is a tight lock up with about 40% of the blade thickness hitting the lock bar. Absolutely no blade play at all in any direction.
The detent is quite strong and will not allow the blade to come loose when closed in your pocket.
The lockbar has a stabilizer just like its XM-18 bigger brother to keep the lock bar from traveling out too far.
The Kershaw "Speed Assist" makes the blade fly out with very little effort. The thumbstuds are not that comfortable to use but this knife was designed to open with the flipper so . . . get over it.
The blade is Chinese 8Cr13MOV steel which I've found to be quite serviceable and also easy to sharpen. Quite sharp out of the box.
The Cryo is drilled and tapped to allow the low rider pocket clip to be fastened to the knife in all four possible positions. Lefties rejoice. Weight is a little on the heavy side at just over 4 Ounces, but isn't uncomfortable. It has the heft of a quality tool.
The knife handle is steel with no added scales. This keeps the knife very thin and it pretty much disappears in the pocket. Ergonomics are very comfortable. The flipper works as a finger choil when open. Jimping is present on the blade and handle and although not very aggressive, it does do a decent job of providing a bit more grip.
The lanyard hole has a tube which runs from side to side. The outside of the tube is shaped to look identical to the handle stand offs. Very cool. Finally, the Cryo is designed beautifully. It looks just like a miniature Hinderer XM-18. If you've been wanting a Hinderer but can't afford the price tag or feel uneasy about using a 8 1/2" long $400 knife for EDC. Check out the Kershaw Cryo, a very sexy EDC knife that keeps it's good looks while also being able to take care of business. Moz def my current favorite for everyday carry and I suspect it will remain so for some time to come.Best $30 I've spent in a while.
By Marktwain10
I had never carried a knife before I bought this one, but ever since a friend let me use his Kershaw blur, I wanted something similar with speedsafe technology. I didn't want to fork out too much for a knife, so I looked at the cheaper Chinese Kershaw models that I could use and abuse and not be too sad if I broke the tip off. Even though the Cryo is made overseas, it is still built with sufficient quality. When I saw a Kershaw Clash with a flipper I almost bought it, but then I saw how how slim the Cryo was and how the deep carry clip on this knife makes it look like you only have a pen in your pocket and bought it instead. I like how the Cryo has a frame lock, and that it is 100% steel. I don't mind its weight, as it's really not as heavy as people make it out to be.
After carrying it for a a couple weeks it has been great, and it weighs about as much as my small flip cell phone I keep in my other pocket. My knife came very sharp, blade centered, locks up tight, and only needed a few flips open to get it broken in. The blade, I would say, is border-lining on the small side (2 3/4 inches long), but it is a very good shape and is a perfectly usable and stout blade. It locks up tight when opened, and closes with enough resistance that I am not afraid of the knife opening in my pocket when closed either. The clip holds snug, and in my medium sized man hands this knife feels great.
The thumbstuds, however, are awkward (and you could even say dangerous) compared to other knives I've used. They take some getting used to but once you get the motion down and give it a strong flick up and outward they will work and open very fast. If you don't flick just right you can easily cut your thumb, though. I never use the thumb studs since there is a nice and safe working flipper. The titanium coating on the blade could have been applied a little better on one side of my blade (it was a little splotchy), but wasn't too bad and will eventually be worn down smooth with use. The jimping, or "grip ridges" on the handle plates also could have been machined/ drilled more precisely to match the jimping on the blade, but it's not a deal-breaker. The jimping has a decent grip and won't tear your hand up. Some people complained the knife was slick with wet hands, but with my thumb on the jimping even with soaked hands the knife remained firmly planted in my grip.
I didn't want to scare anyone when I deploy my knife in public, and this knife is perfect for not crossing that line. Also it is nice to know if I ever send my knife in to Kershaw they will sharpen it for me for free, and that it has a lifetime warranty.
EDIT: It's been a few months and out of curiosity I decided to remove the thumbstuds which can be done by holding one thumbstud still with needle-nose pliers and then with another set of pliers unscrew the other thumbstud. They screw together and connect through a hole drilled through the blade. So yes, a hole will remain when they are out but it still looks ok and is a solution for those who say the studs are useless, snag on your pocket, or add unnecessary weight to the knife. Just be careful not to slip and scratch up the knife when unscrewing the thumbstuds. When carried tip up you can also put a small zip tie through the hole, cinch it up and cut off the excess, and then you can deploy the knife like an emerson wave designed knife which allows the zip tie to catch on your pocket on the way out, leaving the knife open and in your hand the second it leaves your pocket.
Also, after a few thousand flicks open of the knife, the speedsafe torsion bar (or spring) broke. I emailed Kershaw and they sent me a replacement in the mail within a week. That is good customer service. I could still use the knife without the torsion bar because it still opens fine with the flick of the wrist. There is no detent to actively keep the blade closed without a torsion bar in place, so it is probably safer to keep a torsion bar installed so the knife never accidentally opens in your pocket. I also recently found out that if you happen to break the blade of your Kershaw, you can send it in to them and for $10 they will fit a new blade to your knife.
After carrying it for a a couple weeks it has been great, and it weighs about as much as my small flip cell phone I keep in my other pocket. My knife came very sharp, blade centered, locks up tight, and only needed a few flips open to get it broken in. The blade, I would say, is border-lining on the small side (2 3/4 inches long), but it is a very good shape and is a perfectly usable and stout blade. It locks up tight when opened, and closes with enough resistance that I am not afraid of the knife opening in my pocket when closed either. The clip holds snug, and in my medium sized man hands this knife feels great.
The thumbstuds, however, are awkward (and you could even say dangerous) compared to other knives I've used. They take some getting used to but once you get the motion down and give it a strong flick up and outward they will work and open very fast. If you don't flick just right you can easily cut your thumb, though. I never use the thumb studs since there is a nice and safe working flipper. The titanium coating on the blade could have been applied a little better on one side of my blade (it was a little splotchy), but wasn't too bad and will eventually be worn down smooth with use. The jimping, or "grip ridges" on the handle plates also could have been machined/ drilled more precisely to match the jimping on the blade, but it's not a deal-breaker. The jimping has a decent grip and won't tear your hand up. Some people complained the knife was slick with wet hands, but with my thumb on the jimping even with soaked hands the knife remained firmly planted in my grip.
I didn't want to scare anyone when I deploy my knife in public, and this knife is perfect for not crossing that line. Also it is nice to know if I ever send my knife in to Kershaw they will sharpen it for me for free, and that it has a lifetime warranty.
EDIT: It's been a few months and out of curiosity I decided to remove the thumbstuds which can be done by holding one thumbstud still with needle-nose pliers and then with another set of pliers unscrew the other thumbstud. They screw together and connect through a hole drilled through the blade. So yes, a hole will remain when they are out but it still looks ok and is a solution for those who say the studs are useless, snag on your pocket, or add unnecessary weight to the knife. Just be careful not to slip and scratch up the knife when unscrewing the thumbstuds. When carried tip up you can also put a small zip tie through the hole, cinch it up and cut off the excess, and then you can deploy the knife like an emerson wave designed knife which allows the zip tie to catch on your pocket on the way out, leaving the knife open and in your hand the second it leaves your pocket.
Also, after a few thousand flicks open of the knife, the speedsafe torsion bar (or spring) broke. I emailed Kershaw and they sent me a replacement in the mail within a week. That is good customer service. I could still use the knife without the torsion bar because it still opens fine with the flick of the wrist. There is no detent to actively keep the blade closed without a torsion bar in place, so it is probably safer to keep a torsion bar installed so the knife never accidentally opens in your pocket. I also recently found out that if you happen to break the blade of your Kershaw, you can send it in to them and for $10 they will fit a new blade to your knife.
By B-man
I sure wish I could afford a 'real' Hinderer, but they're hugely overpriced (~$800) on the secondary market and near impossible to find even if you have the $$ to spend on it. This little gem is an excellent compromise for the time being. At ~$30, it is most definitely one of the best value knives for the price. I partly disassembled mine to remove the speed assist torsion bar, as I prefer using the flipper with a flick of the wrist.
By Ticktocker
I recently received this knife and can not find a negative thing to say about it. I was worried that it may be too small but it feels and looks much bigger than the actual size. It cost me $31 but I still would have nothing to complain about if it cost me 2 or 3 times that much. It seems very well designed, well made, comfortable, solid frame lock, well centered blade, attractive finish, small and light enough to carry all day yet not too small to be effective and pleasant to look at. What more can I ask for in a $31 knife? Quality is on par with many of my Japanese, U.S. or German made knives that cost much, much more. I find that Kershaw has incredible quality control on all their products including their overseas products and the fact that it is made in China is what keeps it so inexpensive. Otherwise, my guess is that this knife would cost somewhere around the $100 mark. The great design alone is worth the price of admission. Not to mention the ergonomics, solid feel and incredibly sharp blade. Being a knife collector, I find this knife to be one of the best values available. Highly recommended!
By Ricardo J. Torres
Very solid and well built knife. It was obvious when I first unboxed it that Kershaw has good quality control over it's Chinese production facility.
There is a one star review of this product and it was obvious that the person who wrote it didn't even bother to read the description. It is an all steel knife, not titanium.
I work very hard for my money and when I buy things I look for quality and value and this knife has both. I own a few knives with the same blade steel and even though it is obviously at the lower end it still has good sharpening and edge retention qualities. It is heavy but very comfortable and well balanced with a sturdy frame lock and not lightning fast but smooth assisted open. When the blade is deployed, the flipper makes an excellent finger guard which helps to compensate for the smooth handle. The jimping is ok but I think more for looks than function.
A thin profile and deep carry pocket clip make this blade an excellent EDC choice and I have put it into rotation.
There is a one star review of this product and it was obvious that the person who wrote it didn't even bother to read the description. It is an all steel knife, not titanium.
I work very hard for my money and when I buy things I look for quality and value and this knife has both. I own a few knives with the same blade steel and even though it is obviously at the lower end it still has good sharpening and edge retention qualities. It is heavy but very comfortable and well balanced with a sturdy frame lock and not lightning fast but smooth assisted open. When the blade is deployed, the flipper makes an excellent finger guard which helps to compensate for the smooth handle. The jimping is ok but I think more for looks than function.
A thin profile and deep carry pocket clip make this blade an excellent EDC choice and I have put it into rotation.
By Jeremy Wade Casper
This knife is perfect. The assisted open feels better than my other assist open knives. Kershaw just rocks at that. This knife is slim and smooth, which makes it perfect for pocket carry. I am right handed so carrying knives in my right pocket with just the clip showing, the thumb studs always irritate my hand. With locking pliers on one side and needle nose on the other, I unscrewed the thumb studs and I now have the perfect knife - all smooth with no studs to rub on the side of my hand when I go for my keys or wallet. Let's face it, with the finger flipper on the back, when will you ever use the thumb stud to open it? NEVER. The hole that is left matches the knife anyway as there are other holes in the design. The straight edge is a must as well as I like to sharpen my knives and I think serrations get in the way of sharpening a knife. The blade is the same dark grey color as the knife. A few bolts and the clip are black. Kershaw is written on the blade is white/silver and also on the black clip. The clip itself is very user friendly as it widens out so the "mouth" of it clips onto my jeans without me having to bend it out at all. Perfect knife, perfect size.
By Home Stepper
This knife is ideal for a federal worker that wants to keep their blade on them while at work.
Not everyone is aware, but it is against federal law to possess a knife with a blade length greater than "two and one half inches" while in a federal building. Obnoxious, unhelpful, possibly unconstitutional law, but it is what it is.
Normally carrying a larger blade in my agency would be no big deal. Even if the worst happened you might be asked not to bring it to work the next day. But when you are in the legal office and are the resident security expert it's important to toe the line as much as possible. I have shown this blade to our police and they were perfectly happy - one wrote down the brand as she wanted one for herself. I used this knife as an example when we were writing our security rules. The attorneys were pleased after measuring it with a ruler, despite the manufacturer quoted length.
Good steel, very nice pocket clip, rock solid lock-up. And I can take it to work, rather than it living in my dresser along with my bigger blades.
Not everyone is aware, but it is against federal law to possess a knife with a blade length greater than "two and one half inches" while in a federal building. Obnoxious, unhelpful, possibly unconstitutional law, but it is what it is.
Normally carrying a larger blade in my agency would be no big deal. Even if the worst happened you might be asked not to bring it to work the next day. But when you are in the legal office and are the resident security expert it's important to toe the line as much as possible. I have shown this blade to our police and they were perfectly happy - one wrote down the brand as she wanted one for herself. I used this knife as an example when we were writing our security rules. The attorneys were pleased after measuring it with a ruler, despite the manufacturer quoted length.
Good steel, very nice pocket clip, rock solid lock-up. And I can take it to work, rather than it living in my dresser along with my bigger blades.
By KototeTan
This is the best value knife I've ever owned. It is super slim, has great configurability of the clip, deploys very well, and locks perfectly. Steel is great quality and tough. Finish is superb and frickin' beautiful. I got this to carry weak side, because I could switch the clip to lefty and axis down. I can draw this knife weak side, with the blade pointed out perfectly. It's made in china, but I'm a libertarian so...
I can't be positive enough about this absolute bargain.
UPDATE: The clip on this broke from being bent regularly in my back pocket on my mesh truck seat. It was a fluke. Kershaw replaced the clip in less than a week and I was back in business. Still love it. The photos are after one year carrying and using it every single day, all peaceful :)
I can't be positive enough about this absolute bargain.
UPDATE: The clip on this broke from being bent regularly in my back pocket on my mesh truck seat. It was a fluke. Kershaw replaced the clip in less than a week and I was back in business. Still love it. The photos are after one year carrying and using it every single day, all peaceful :)
By Fake name
The best chinese made folder kershaw has available at the moment. This knife was designed by Rick Hinderer and looks amazing. It opens quickly and powerfully. It feels very solid in my hand. Like all Kershaw knifes, it came razor sharp from the box. The deep carry pocket clip makes the knife disappear into your pocket. No part of the knife is visible when it's clipped onto your pocket. Steel is 8cr13mov and the part number is 1555ti.
By T. Mccleary
I'm a knife snob, and a sharpening snob. For me, pocket knives need to be easy to carry, easy to open/close, and maintain a sharp edge during use. I'll cover these criteria now:
The knife is a downsized and (significantly) cheaper version of the Zero Tolerance ZT350 (which is my main carry knife).
The blade comes with an OK factory edge, which is just OK (for snobs) or just fine (for it's intended market). I used a Lansky diamond sharpener (look at my other reviews for details) to put a much better edge on the blade. The Cryo steel (8Cr13MoV) is not as durable/tough as the 350 steel (S30V), but it sharpens to a good edge and has reasonable edge retention. Opening boxes and cutting copper wire can dull the Cryo edge sooner than the 350. Restoring the edge on the Cryo is much easier due to the softer steel.
The knife handle is easy to grip if you have medium or small hands. I have average guy hands, and when I grip the knife my pinky ends up on that little flat area at teh base of the handle. The pocket clip doesn't seem to get in the way of gripping the knife.
The assisted opening works quite well, allowing for very fast one handed opening. One handed closing is easily accomplished. When I received the knife, I found that the blade pivot was overtightened at the factory causing incomplete opening. I disassembled the knife completely and regreased with a teflon based lubricant. The knife blade now has zero side to side wobble, and is perfectly centered between the handle slabs.
The carry clip is initially overtight (almost impossible to clip/unclip to my pants pocket. I carefully bent the clip curve until it gently holds to the pocket. The carry height is very deep in the pocket, so there's very little of the knife visible.
Overall, the knife as delivered (Ok edge, blade not centered between handles, assisted opening not opening reliably) would get a 3 stars if I had paid full price. At the discounted price, it gets 4 stars. After sharpening and adjusting, it gets 5 stars. It's one of my favorite knives now. For the price (and if you're mechanically inclined enough to some adjustments), I highly recommend it for everyday carry.
The knife is a downsized and (significantly) cheaper version of the Zero Tolerance ZT350 (which is my main carry knife).
The blade comes with an OK factory edge, which is just OK (for snobs) or just fine (for it's intended market). I used a Lansky diamond sharpener (look at my other reviews for details) to put a much better edge on the blade. The Cryo steel (8Cr13MoV) is not as durable/tough as the 350 steel (S30V), but it sharpens to a good edge and has reasonable edge retention. Opening boxes and cutting copper wire can dull the Cryo edge sooner than the 350. Restoring the edge on the Cryo is much easier due to the softer steel.
The knife handle is easy to grip if you have medium or small hands. I have average guy hands, and when I grip the knife my pinky ends up on that little flat area at teh base of the handle. The pocket clip doesn't seem to get in the way of gripping the knife.
The assisted opening works quite well, allowing for very fast one handed opening. One handed closing is easily accomplished. When I received the knife, I found that the blade pivot was overtightened at the factory causing incomplete opening. I disassembled the knife completely and regreased with a teflon based lubricant. The knife blade now has zero side to side wobble, and is perfectly centered between the handle slabs.
The carry clip is initially overtight (almost impossible to clip/unclip to my pants pocket. I carefully bent the clip curve until it gently holds to the pocket. The carry height is very deep in the pocket, so there's very little of the knife visible.
Overall, the knife as delivered (Ok edge, blade not centered between handles, assisted opening not opening reliably) would get a 3 stars if I had paid full price. At the discounted price, it gets 4 stars. After sharpening and adjusting, it gets 5 stars. It's one of my favorite knives now. For the price (and if you're mechanically inclined enough to some adjustments), I highly recommend it for everyday carry.
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