When there’s a lot of respect for your brand, it can be easy to take yourself too seriously. Since debuting last year, Kershaw’s Bel Air has become a revered top-shelf pocket knife for its ability to combine no-frills simplicity with high-end materials like premium MagnaCut steel, all for relatively fair pricing. Now, the Bel Air has arrived in its most cheeky design yet. Akin to putting polka-dots on a Porsche, the Mint Chocolate Chip variant of the knife brings a ton of personality to one of our favorite folders.
Kershaw’s Evolution
For those who’ve followed Kershaw since it was founded in 1974, the Bel Air has been something of a full-circle moment. The brand built its modern reputation on Ken Onion’s SpeedSafe collaborations — the Leek, the Blur, iconic assisted openers that defined EDC for a generation. But after five decades under Kai USA’s ownership, Kershaw’s pivot back to premium, USA-made manual folders signals somewhat of a new chapter.
The Bel Air line, which arrived in 2024 as part of the brand’s “Kershaw Originals” series, ditches the SpeedSafe approach for something more fundamental: a thin-ground, reverse-tanto blade in MagnaCut with KVT ball-bearing action and the ambidextrous DuraLock crossbar.
Dessert-Inspired Durability
The Mint Chocolate Chip edition takes that platform and dresses it up in a playful way inspired by the namesake ice cream flavor. The 6061-T6 aluminum handle gets a mint-green Cerakote finish with chocolate-brown speckling, while the 3.1-inch MagnaCut blade wears a bronze-brown Cerakote to complete the theme. Cerakote on both blade and handle doesn’t happen often, but here it’s able to add corrosion resistance and abrasion protection across the board. They’re complemented with brown oxide hardware and a deep-carry clip (also Cerakoted black).
Underneath the mint chip exterior, the fundamentals remain unchanged. Measuring 4.2″ closed, the reverse-tanto blade measures 0.09 inches thick and runs at 62-64 HRC, while MagnaCut is still the star of the show. Among the most premium blade steels, it balances edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. Its 0.09-inch thickness keeps it focused on precision, resulting is a folder that can do a whole lot despite weighing less than 3oz.
You also get the DuraLock crossbar, which remains one of the more underrated features in Kershaw’s current lineup. Pull it back to disengage, and you’ve got one-hand closing without the fuss of a liner or frame lock. Likewise, the thumb stud deployment is smooth thanks to KVT ball bearings.
Spec Sheet
Model: Bel Air Mint Chocolate Chip
Blade Steel: CPM MagnaCut (62-64 HRC)
Blade Length: 3.1″
Blade Finish: Bronze Cerakote
Handle Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
Handle Finish: Mint & brown Cerakote
Lock Type: DuraLock crossbar
Opening Mechanism: Manual KVT ball bearings, thumb studs
Closed Length: 4.2″
Overall Length: 7.3″
Weight: 2.9 oz
Clip: Reversible deep-carry (tip-up)
Origin: USA
Price: $250
Edition: Factory Special Series (limited run)
Pricing & Availability
The Mint Chocolate Chip is available now exclusively through Kershaw’s website for $208, marked down from the original $250. As a Factory Special Series release, quantities are limited — once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Recap
Kershaw Bel Air Mint Chocolate Chip
Kershaw’s taken its well-regarded Bel Air folder and given it a playful mint-and-brown Cerakote finish that mimics mint chocolate chip ice cream, all while keeping the same USA-made MagnaCut blade and KVT ball-bearing action that made the original a hit.
