I have a Kwaiken, and I feel I must share a couple things about this knife. First, it's a beautiful knife, I wanted 1 for a while before I purchased it last year. The knife has a very unique design, it is an actual Shobu Zukuri design, it has a Iris Leaf tip! Very cool.
The knife is well made also, but ... it has a very major flaw. If you go on to the various knife boards and ask about the Kwaiken you will invariably come across the fact that after a bit of use the knife won't close completely. Yeah, the tip sticks out just slightly. It is enough to be very bothersome, and potentially dangerous. From what I've learned this knife has had this flaw from the beginning. It's not super bad, but it's enough that I won't carry the knife (it does have the belt clip, so it's made for pocket carry, you could carry in a sheath though). Perhaps it's been addressed by now, I honestly don't know, but from the gist on the boards it hasn't. I have several Lucas Burnley designs, as his knives, for the most part, have a distinct Japanese/Asian flavor. Perhaps additional research is called for. I'm not saying don't buy, especially at that price.
wallace4I joined the drop, then remembered reading about this tip problem, and - ahem - dropped out... I will wait for another delicious steel and carbon fiber sandwich... I'm sure there will be another coming this way soon!
BobrazYeah, it's really too bad because I love the design, with the Shobu Zukuri tip. I did go online to see if there's been improvement, but alas, no. I've actually cut my finger while trying to bring it out of my pocket. It was bad enough to bleed a bit. Not good.
wallace4This is disappointing to hear, I've been very close to getting the damasteel version. But now I'm a bit hesitant, since I thought most of the tip problems were for the first gen thumbdisk.
kenichiwaI have the titanium flipper version, less than 1 year old. I went online to read the most recent reviews I could find, the problem still persists. I can't believe Boker hasn't addressed the issue, as I'm most sure they're aware. I've disassembled mine to see if there's some sort of adjustment I could make, but no. It appears to be related to the basic design, the blade has room to seat deeper, it just won't.
wallace4Damn, that's very disappointing to hear. I've had a knife that did this very thing and it was dangerous and pocket destroying. I wish someone from Boker would testify to that issue being fixed because I've stared at this knife for some time now, but that very issue will absolutely keep me from picking it up. =(
Neblin7Yeah, I also looked at it for a while before I bought it. To make matters worse it's a blade tip up carry knife. So, you know what happens there. According to recent reviews online it's not been addressed.
The knife is well made also, but ... it has a very major flaw. If you go on to the various knife boards and ask about the Kwaiken you will invariably come across the fact that after a bit of use the knife won't close completely. Yeah, the tip sticks out just slightly. It is enough to be very bothersome, and potentially dangerous. From what I've learned this knife has had this flaw from the beginning. It's not super bad, but it's enough that I won't carry the knife (it does have the belt clip, so it's made for pocket carry, you could carry in a sheath though). Perhaps it's been addressed by now, I honestly don't know, but from the gist on the boards it hasn't. I have several Lucas Burnley designs, as his knives, for the most part, have a distinct Japanese/Asian flavor. Perhaps additional research is called for. I'm not saying don't buy, especially at that price.