- SpeedSafe assisted opening; Liner Lock; Flipper
- 4-position pocketclip (tip-up/down, left/right)
- Steel: 8Cr13MoV, black oxide coating; Handle: Glass-filled nylon
- Blade length: 3 in. (7.6 cm); Closed length: 4.1 in. (14.3 cm); Overall length: 7.1 in. (18 cm)
- Weight: 3.9 oz. (110.6 g)
The Brawler starts with a modified tanto blade—a shape often found in tactical and rescue knives that may be required to punch through tough materials. The tanto is an ideal shape for these piercing tasks because there is plenty of metal to support the point, making it stronger than many other blade shapes. You’ll notice that the top of the Brawler’s blade has a grind, too. This is called a swedge; it helps narrow the blade, adding to its piercing power. At the same time, the Brawler’s straight belly offers excellent cutting capacity, is perfect for bearing down on a task, and is easy to resharpen. All this makes the Brawler an excellent utility knife. The Brawler’s handle is just as functional. The angled handle curves into the palm of the user’s hand. Jimping on the back of the blade offers additional traction. With the blade deployed, the flipper doubles as a finger guard and provides additional hand protection during knife use. For fast and easy one-handed opening, the Brawler is equipped with SpeedSafe. Just pull back on the flipper and the SpeedSafe assisted opening system takes over, moving the blade out of the handle, ready for use. Sturdy glass-filled nylon handle scales, a secure locking liner, and our four-position pocketclip complete the package.
By Gary
I have used pocket knives for a while due to my job handling the shipments at the restaurant I work at. But because I never needed them for serious issues I have always gone cheap. Tac-Force, $10 cheap. The blades get wobbly and dull, so I decided to step up a bit to Kershaw. Trying to remain on the cheaper side while still having quality I figured these Kershaw Speefsafe knives would be perfect and so far I have not been disappointed at all.
The open assist feature is extremely useful when I want to get things open quickly. I also have carried a knife in the hopes that it will help in a self-defense situation but the knives I carried would never actually be any help due to their flimsy-ness. This, while small, is very sturdy. I have dropped it numerous times and there is still no blade wobble. The blade itself is thick and everything is sturdy.
The only disappointments weren't even anything to worry about. The size makes it perfect for EDC, but it's just a tiny bit small for me since I am 6,3 and 240 pounds. However it's barely noticeable in the pocket and the clip is strong. The other mild complaint was how the open assist took about a day to really get working. It was stiff at first, but simply opening it several times fixes that and it evens out quite well. Again, not even really a complaint.
Also, very probably THE SHARPEST knife I have ever picked up. I know have about 12 folders and 3 large fixed blades and NONE of these got close to how sharp this blade was straight out of the box. I could shave skin and hair alike.
So here's what I could find for pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Perfect for carrying every day for a wide array of tasks.
2. Open assist is strong and very helpful. Also a tad bit intimidating/cool looking.
3. Comfortable in the hand for a variety of grips.
4. Sturdy, doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart any time soon.
5. Sharp, sharp, sharp. Probably the sharpest knife I have ever gotten.
6. Cheap, but not lacking in quality.
Cons:
1. A teensy bit small for ME. Probably not for anyone else. I am a bit larger than your average person, so that's to be expected.
2. Took about a day to get the assisted open mechanism to smooth out.
That's about it. I hope this helps. Bottom line: If you want a good quality but still affordable EDC knife, this is it.
-Gary
The open assist feature is extremely useful when I want to get things open quickly. I also have carried a knife in the hopes that it will help in a self-defense situation but the knives I carried would never actually be any help due to their flimsy-ness. This, while small, is very sturdy. I have dropped it numerous times and there is still no blade wobble. The blade itself is thick and everything is sturdy.
The only disappointments weren't even anything to worry about. The size makes it perfect for EDC, but it's just a tiny bit small for me since I am 6,3 and 240 pounds. However it's barely noticeable in the pocket and the clip is strong. The other mild complaint was how the open assist took about a day to really get working. It was stiff at first, but simply opening it several times fixes that and it evens out quite well. Again, not even really a complaint.
Also, very probably THE SHARPEST knife I have ever picked up. I know have about 12 folders and 3 large fixed blades and NONE of these got close to how sharp this blade was straight out of the box. I could shave skin and hair alike.
So here's what I could find for pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Perfect for carrying every day for a wide array of tasks.
2. Open assist is strong and very helpful. Also a tad bit intimidating/cool looking.
3. Comfortable in the hand for a variety of grips.
4. Sturdy, doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart any time soon.
5. Sharp, sharp, sharp. Probably the sharpest knife I have ever gotten.
6. Cheap, but not lacking in quality.
Cons:
1. A teensy bit small for ME. Probably not for anyone else. I am a bit larger than your average person, so that's to be expected.
2. Took about a day to get the assisted open mechanism to smooth out.
That's about it. I hope this helps. Bottom line: If you want a good quality but still affordable EDC knife, this is it.
-Gary
By Johnny Wilson
Well made knife at a great price. I normally do not carry a knife since I started work in an office environment, but lately I have found the desire to carry again. I would prefer a smaller knife, but this knife is very fun and works very well.
Kershaw is made by the same company that makes the famous (western world famous) Shun knives. They have a reputation for being a quality knife and I have had the pleasure of owning several over the years. This knife is no exception to the standard quality that kershaw makes for a daily carry knife.
I would not class this knife as excellent quality, but it is without doubt a sturdy and well built piece that will provide years of use without issue. The blade is good and will serve all my purposes and is very sharp as new. I have not had the chance to use it enough to dull it up, and also have not had to sharpen it.
The blade lock is linear and works as expected. The grip is good, but I personally prefer a different grip for a pocket knife. I feel like the grip is smaller than my hand and I wear a large sized glove.
The singe finger blade deploy is great and works very well, getting easier with use (not easier because the blade is getting loose). It can be operated with the index finger or the thumb, depending on how you feel comfortable.
The handles are rugged and feel like very hard plastic, but not cheap in any way. I have rubbed, scratched, and scraped on them with no marks afterwards.
The pocket clip is small, very small, making it all but worthless for me. I will most likely opt to remove the clip completely, although you could also change it to either side for left and right handed people alike.
Kershaw is made by the same company that makes the famous (western world famous) Shun knives. They have a reputation for being a quality knife and I have had the pleasure of owning several over the years. This knife is no exception to the standard quality that kershaw makes for a daily carry knife.
I would not class this knife as excellent quality, but it is without doubt a sturdy and well built piece that will provide years of use without issue. The blade is good and will serve all my purposes and is very sharp as new. I have not had the chance to use it enough to dull it up, and also have not had to sharpen it.
The blade lock is linear and works as expected. The grip is good, but I personally prefer a different grip for a pocket knife. I feel like the grip is smaller than my hand and I wear a large sized glove.
The singe finger blade deploy is great and works very well, getting easier with use (not easier because the blade is getting loose). It can be operated with the index finger or the thumb, depending on how you feel comfortable.
The handles are rugged and feel like very hard plastic, but not cheap in any way. I have rubbed, scratched, and scraped on them with no marks afterwards.
The pocket clip is small, very small, making it all but worthless for me. I will most likely opt to remove the clip completely, although you could also change it to either side for left and right handed people alike.
By Tol
I needed a new "cheap" work knife. I am a kershaw fan so I decided to give the Brawler a try. I am a foundation driller so I put everything I use through a torture test. This knife has held up exceptionally well. The blade did get a little wobbly after some prying, but I was able to tighten the screw and problem solved. It has a great grip, and it's very thick so I have yet to drop it when I am using it. I can open it with one hand very easily which is a big advantage since I often have one hand holding onto something, etc. It has been subjected to oil, dirt, mud, grease, concrete, and grout. It has performed beyond my expectations. The only "downside" to this knife would be that it doesn't cut very well. Serrated blades are better for that hacking type cutting that I often need out of my knives. I was disappointed in kersaw for making this knife in china, however the knife performs as any kershaw would and has yet to fail me. I have had the knife for about 6 months now and I use it almost everyday.
By Jesse405
Excellent value. This knife has the quality and features of knifes costing 4x more! The blade is solid when extended and has a shape that makes it extremely useful. It is a strong knife and I would not hesitate to put it to any reasonable use. It comes very sharp and ready to use. A particular feature, for me is the 4 way clip design and I easily and quickly changed it to the configuration that I wanted. Just the right size and weight. Safe and sure. All the things I had hoped for in a 'clip' knife. BTW, I have looked for a long time for one that was satisfactory and this is the first one that had all the features and the strength I was looking for. Great job Kershaw! This is now my daily carry.
By kenichols29
First Impressions:
This is a well built knife, the clip feels solid and the locking mechanism feels solid too. It seems to be fairly sharp right out of the box and I am overall happy with it. I do wish it was american made, but it is nice to get kershaw quality at a budget friendly price.
This is a well built knife, the clip feels solid and the locking mechanism feels solid too. It seems to be fairly sharp right out of the box and I am overall happy with it. I do wish it was american made, but it is nice to get kershaw quality at a budget friendly price.
By Greg
great deal on a great knife. sits low in pocket with black clip, makes it perfect for carrying with black dress pants. Been my EDC the last few months - blade still sharp and coating still perfect. Can't beat it for the money.
By sailorcolin
I always carry a knife. About a year ago I lost my beloved Kershaw. I can’t believe it has taken a year to get another. In the line of work and my lifestyle, a knife is a daily necessity. So, I recently picked up a Kershaw 1990 Brawler from Amazon for about $30. I wanted another assisted open and SpeedSafe knife. The knife has a good heavy feel to it coming in a 3.9oz (observed to be true). The knife’s dimensions are fairly nice at; Blade length: 3.25 in. (82.55 mm) -Closed length: 4.1 in. (104.3 mm) -Overall length: 7.4 in. (187.96 mm) -Weight: 3.9 oz. (110.6 g) and the Blade thickness at .125in. (3.175 mm). The assisted open is a little stiff upon opening, requiring more of a pull if the finger to open it than I would like. Without messing with the compression on the main bolt, I am going to see if it eases up over time. The blade has a black anodized finish. I am interested in seeing how this holds up over time. While most of my knife usage will be opening boxes, I can not rule out the occasional whittling of some wood. The handle is a Glass-filled nylon according to the Amazon post, and has a nice textured grip that makes for a comfortable, safe hold.
By Dmurray
I love this knife and I LOVE the amazon lightning deals, which is how I snagged up this knife. I keep this in my purse and it has been great for those instances where I had wished a had a little knife. It is very good quality and just the right size for my needs.
By Heather North
I had to take some time to learn how to properly open and close this knife. In fact, I felt like a complete idiot for purchasing a knife I couldn't figure out how to use. Luckily, when I brought my defeat and shame to my dad he helped me. Now I rarely leave home without it (exception: only taking a carry-on to the airport); it's a staple in my purse or backpack. Bonus: shock men who don't expect me to have my own knife if the situation calls for it (most recently, opening a box at FedEx), and try to gallantly help me out. I also clip it to my pants when I hike alone.
Will have this for many years to come.
Will have this for many years to come.
By MostlyPractical
I own this knife and currently use it as my EDC so the following review is based upon my personal experience.
I purchased this knife with the intent of it being my every day carry and I haven't been disappointed yet. The knife has a very nice feel that does not make you doubt its quality. Its weight is just right for its size and its balance feels great.
The handle is high quality plastic and has a very comfortable texture that grips well during use. I am 6'2" and with my hands spread out the span between my thumb and pinky finger is about 9". That being said, I think the handle is a bit small for me even though all 4 fingers fit on the handle...barely. It hasn't been a big issue for me though since my 3 stronger fingers are the ones I use to hold the knife steady and I just lightly rest my pinky on the end of the handle. It's still very comfortable for me and anyone smaller won't have this issue at all.
The blade comes very sharp right out of the box and it takes very little effort to cut through things like cardboard (don't need to saw with the blade). The tanto blade style is one of my favorites and this one does not disappoint. Its sub blade is just as sharp and it comes to a very nice point that punches right through pretty much anything you hope it would.
The assisted opening is everything I hoped it would be. I've heard a few people complain that the opening mechanism is too tight or that it takes a day to break in...I personally liked the feel right out of the box, but maybe that's because I'm a bigger guy. Compared to other brands it's a little tighter and takes a tiny bit more effort to open, yes, but that also means it opens that much faster. The effort required to open the blade is just enough so that I don't worry about the knife accidentally opening when I don't want it to, but it's not so difficult that I feel like I'll lose any time on a quick draw. The spring assist is very sharp and quick and it deploys the blade with some *oomph* about as fast as you can blink (not overpowering though, just have a firm grip). I am a huge fan of the spring assist being initiated by the lever on the back side of the knife (which turns into a small guard on the blade side of the knife when it is opened) as it is much easier to access than the spring assists that are initiated by the thumb stud.
Another cool thing is that this knife has 4 options for where to put the belt clip. It has options for tip up or tip down carrying for both left and right handed people. The clip itself is a little small for my liking. I can get it clipped onto my pants where the material is only one layer thick but it's much more difficult to get it onto the places where it's two layers. I don't think you'll be able to clip it onto your belt unless it is pretty thin material. Maybe I just baby my stuff too much and should not worry about breaking or bending the belt clip, but I do anyway.
Overall I am very happy with my purchase and would buy it again without hesitation. Five stars from me!
Pros
- Sharp Blade
- Great point for punching through things
- Sturdy (no blade wobble)
- Compact and comfortable
- Spring assist opens quick and consistent
Cons
- Handle may be too small for larger people
- Belt clip might not fit some thicker belts
I purchased this knife with the intent of it being my every day carry and I haven't been disappointed yet. The knife has a very nice feel that does not make you doubt its quality. Its weight is just right for its size and its balance feels great.
The handle is high quality plastic and has a very comfortable texture that grips well during use. I am 6'2" and with my hands spread out the span between my thumb and pinky finger is about 9". That being said, I think the handle is a bit small for me even though all 4 fingers fit on the handle...barely. It hasn't been a big issue for me though since my 3 stronger fingers are the ones I use to hold the knife steady and I just lightly rest my pinky on the end of the handle. It's still very comfortable for me and anyone smaller won't have this issue at all.
The blade comes very sharp right out of the box and it takes very little effort to cut through things like cardboard (don't need to saw with the blade). The tanto blade style is one of my favorites and this one does not disappoint. Its sub blade is just as sharp and it comes to a very nice point that punches right through pretty much anything you hope it would.
The assisted opening is everything I hoped it would be. I've heard a few people complain that the opening mechanism is too tight or that it takes a day to break in...I personally liked the feel right out of the box, but maybe that's because I'm a bigger guy. Compared to other brands it's a little tighter and takes a tiny bit more effort to open, yes, but that also means it opens that much faster. The effort required to open the blade is just enough so that I don't worry about the knife accidentally opening when I don't want it to, but it's not so difficult that I feel like I'll lose any time on a quick draw. The spring assist is very sharp and quick and it deploys the blade with some *oomph* about as fast as you can blink (not overpowering though, just have a firm grip). I am a huge fan of the spring assist being initiated by the lever on the back side of the knife (which turns into a small guard on the blade side of the knife when it is opened) as it is much easier to access than the spring assists that are initiated by the thumb stud.
Another cool thing is that this knife has 4 options for where to put the belt clip. It has options for tip up or tip down carrying for both left and right handed people. The clip itself is a little small for my liking. I can get it clipped onto my pants where the material is only one layer thick but it's much more difficult to get it onto the places where it's two layers. I don't think you'll be able to clip it onto your belt unless it is pretty thin material. Maybe I just baby my stuff too much and should not worry about breaking or bending the belt clip, but I do anyway.
Overall I am very happy with my purchase and would buy it again without hesitation. Five stars from me!
Pros
- Sharp Blade
- Great point for punching through things
- Sturdy (no blade wobble)
- Compact and comfortable
- Spring assist opens quick and consistent
Cons
- Handle may be too small for larger people
- Belt clip might not fit some thicker belts
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