Widely known for reliable modern folding knives, automatics, and assisted openers, Kershaw occasionally dips into the more traditional realm of knives. The Kershaw Culpepper isn’t their first slipjoint. It has a nice fit and finish, a serviceable blade steel, and a budget friendly price of about $26. This might be one of our favorite Kershaw slipjoints to date.
The Culpepper is basically a granddaddy Barlow pattern. It’s a fairly large-sized traditional pocketknife with a slim profile and a ton of utility. It has a 3.5” clip point blade with a satin finish and a blade thickness of 0.08”. There’s a well done swedge along the spine which adds flexibility to the tip and jimping along the back that ensures a great grip in a variety of positions.
Although it does not have half stops, the straight pull opening and a really nice snap is quite nice. If one were so inclined, there’s also plenty extra material in the blade to open it with a pinch grip. The handles are polished G-10 and they’re smooth for an easy ride in your pocket. It has a handle width of 0.74” and a handle thickness of 0.47” at its widest point. It has brass pins and liners, as well as a brushed satin stainless steel bolster.
The fit and finish on this slipjoint is very good for a budget knife. The pins are all smoothly polished and not at all proud. The handles are well fitted, and they’ve done a very good job with chopping many of the edges. It comes with a reasonably generous lanyard hole for attachments. It’s 4.15” closed and weighs about 3 ounces.
Kershaw Culpepper Details
- 7Cr17MoV, Satin Finish
- 3.25” Clip Point
- 0.08” Blade Thickness
- Slipjoint
- Straight Pull Opener
- G-10 Handles
- Brass Pins and Liners
- Stainless Steel Bolsters
- Lanyard Hole
- 3 Ounces
- 4.15” Closed
- 7.4” Overall
The Kershaw Culpepper is a seriously nice knife with a good fit and finish. You can pick one up for about $26. To get this knife, click any link in the article or simply click the button below.
All images courtesy of Smoky Mountain Knife Works – smkw.com.
