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When we think of traditional folding pocket knives, non-locking slip-joints with nail-nick-equipped blades are typically what spring to mind. And while these little pocket knives undeniably possess a timeless quality and charm to them, they tend to lack the durability and utility needed to genuinely lend themselves to everyday carry applications and hardwearing outdoor use. Recognizing this, the Oregon-based blade experts over at Kershaw have opted to redesign the traditional slip-joint to deliver a modernized and premium take on the genre that’s both EDC and camp-friendly with the brand’s all-new Federalist Knife.
The Federalist is crafted around a steel frame and liner cloaked in green canvas Micarta scales that are decorated via a special crest-shaped pivot cap design. The 4.25” handle is paired with a 3.25” (0.088” thick) clip point blade that’s composed of CPM 154 steel — Crucible’s proprietary powder-metallurgy-equipped, American-made, and all-around more high-end take on 154CM steel — before being treated to a stonewashed finish. The blade is also deployed via a traditional nail-nick, though the Federalist’s action is far smoother than regular slip-joint knives as its blade is guided by a double detent system with a pair of steel detent balls.
Thanks to the use of a larger-than-normal blade and the micarta handle, the Federalist also sports a much more modern aesthetic than most classically-styled pocket knives — an area furthered by the handle boasting a lanyard hole. What’s more, the whole knife was also designed, prototyped, manufactured, and inspected for quality control entirely in America. In total, this knife manages to tip the scales at an extremely svelte, 2.1oz, making it a stellar addition to any EDC, camping, or even backpacking loadout.
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the Kershaw Federalist Knife (Model 4320) is available now from Kershaw with pricing set at $170.
