The Kershaw Camp Machete Review
Kershaw was founded in 1974 to design and manufacture tools that knife users would be proud to own, carry, and use.
This has meant that every Kershaw knife must be of the highest quality. Whether it’s a hardworking pocketknife, a special collectors’ edition, or a precision kitchen knife, Kershaw always chooses appropriate, high-quality materials and is dedicated to intensive craftsmanship.
Along with extremely tight tolerances and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, this ensures that Kershaw knives provide their users with a lifetime of performance.
The Kershaw Camp 10 features an overall length of 16” with a Drop Point blade that measures 10” inches in length made from 65Mn high carbon tool steel (Rockwell hardness unknown). Also, it features a recurved edge with a Saber Grind and a black, corrosion resistant, powder coat, finish. In addition, it features a full tang with a highly ergonomic, overmolded, handle with a textured Kraton rubber coating and, it includes a heavy-duty nylon/Kydex sheath.
Although a Drop Point is a somewhat unusual blade design for a large, heavy duty, camp knife, it does tend to nicely compliment the recurved edge of this knife and thus, the Kershaw Camp 10 is definitely an effective design for cutting woody brush, tree limbs, and saplings when clearing a trial or a campsite. If fact, due to its blade length of 10″ and the weight-forward, recurved, design combined with the relatively robust construction, this knife strikes me a cross between a Malaysian Golok and an Indian Kukri or perhaps a short version of a Greek Kopis or a Turkish Yatagan.
In addition, the Saber Grind featured on the blade has a relatively high Primary Bevel Line and thus, it represents an excellent compromise between a tough and a sharp edge that will bite deeply into green wood (or any Zombies you happen to encounter) but will not bind easily. Also, the use of 65Mn steel, which is a Chinese, high carbon, tool steel, with a spring temper containing 0.62% to 0.70% Carbon, 0.90% to 1.20% Manganese, 0.17% – 0.37% Silicon and equivalent to SAE 1065, is in keeping with a knife of this type since 65Mn is a relatively soft and relatively tough steel with good impact resistance although it will not hold an edge as well as 1095 due to its lower Carbon content and thus, the edge will need to be retouched fairly often. However, the distended belly and positive included angle of the recurved cutting edge lend this knife tremendous cutting power.
Plus, the designer of this knife had the forethought to include a tiny ricasso (hurray!) which places the back of the cutting edge very close to the users hand for greater control when carving and greater leverage when plunge cutting. Furthermore, the handle of this knife displays excellent design since it is a very ergonomic and hand filling design and, the integral quillions prevent the user’s hand from accidently sliding forward on to the cutting edge while the checkered, Kraton rubber, coating provides the user with a very positive grip and thus, it is perfect for extended use even in inclement weather conditions.
Plus, it features a lanyard hole in the bolster as well as in the pommel so that the user can attach a lanyard in either position for even greater retention of the knife when hands are wet or cold or both. Last, I don’t usually crow about the sheath that is included with a knife but, in this particular case, I will make an exception because I absolutely love the sheath that is supplied with this knife! It features a molded Kydex body which is nearly impervious to abrasion as well as the elements and yet, it also features a heavy-duty nylon suspension system which gives it a really cool look!
Consequently, in my opinion, the Kershaw Camp 10 fixed blade knife is an excellent choice for a multi-use machete (or even for an apocalyptic event like these machetes) as long as it is combined with a smaller, general purpose, knife such as the Kershaw Diskin Hunter. However, it is important to note that because it is not made from a stainless steel, the exposed portion of the cutting edge will need more care and maintenance to keep it corrosion free than a knife made from a stainless steel.
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