Kershaw Starter Assisted Opening Flipper Knife 1301BW

$24.98

Kershaw Starter Assisted Opening Flipper Knife with speedsafe opening. The new Starter's design is machined and complex—yet smoothly functional.

The BlackWash finish gives it a rough-and-tumble look, yet the finish isn’t just for looks. The coating provides an extra measure of protection for the metal, and the BlackWash helps hide any additional scratches you put on the knife during normal use.

The Starter is equipped with SpeedSafe® assisted opening for fast and easy one-handed opening. It opens neatly with the built-in flipper or thumbstud. A liner lock safely secures the blade open during use, and then closes easily for storage or carry. The all-steel design really shows off the BlackWash finish. The Starter includes our deep-carry pocketclip so the knife rides comfortably low in the pocket for discreet carry.

Flipper may be used on either manual or assisted opening knives. The “flipper” is a protrusion on the back of the blade that the user can pull back on, or flip, in order to move the blade easily out of the handle.

SpeedSafe® Assisted Opening assists you to open any SpeedSafe® knife quickly and easily with a manual push on the thumbstud or pull back on the flipper; built into many Kershaw best sellers.

Liner Lock helps locks the blade open during use; one side of the knife’s steel “liner,” the steel plate to which the handle scales are attached, moves into position behind the blade to securely lock it open.

Flipper, thumbstud
SpeedSafe® assisted opening
Liner lock
Single-position deep-carry pocketclip
Steel: 4Cr14, black-oxide BlackWash™ finish
Handle: Stainless steel, black-oxide BlackWash™ finish
Blade length: 3.5 in. (8.9 cm)
Closed length: 4.5 in. (11.4 cm)
Open length: 7.9 in. (20.1cm)
Weight: 6.3 oz (178.6 g)

Product variants

Out of stock

Pickup currently unavailable at NORTH RIVER OUTDOORS

Pairs well with

Real-time Inventory: Ships Daily

60 Day Risk-Free Returns

Best In Class Customer Service

Fast Shipping & Easy Returns

5 stars: 1 (33%)
4 stars: 1 (33%)
3 stars: 1 (33%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

It's Okay for the Price

The Kershaw Starter (1301BW) is okay for the price, but I think that for about $1.00 more the Kershaw Manifold (1303BW) is a noticeably better workaday or starter knife.

The length measurements in the description are accurate, but the listed weight measurements are obviously way off. This knife weighs 6.65 oz. on my scale (as compared to the Kershaw Manifold which weighs in at 5.90 oz.). I like the feel of heavier knives in my hand, but 6.65 oz seems pretty overweight even for the stoutest of everyday use knives.

The blade, scales and liner locks are all sturdy and well-fitted, though I was surprised to find the factory edge to be a bit dull; most Kershaw knives I've had come with a good-to-excellent edge on them. The knife point is also a bit more blunt and rounded than is useful for easy slitting --- but that seems to be true on most inexpensive Kershaws. Since this isn't the easiest steel to rework and sharpen at home, it would be nice if this blade came to a crisp point straight from the factory.

I love Kershaws --- even cheap Kershaws --- but this is probably one of their most disappointing offers. If you're in the market for a budget blade, Kershaw knives are usually a good choice, but I'd recommend spending the extra dollar to get the Kershaw Manifold.

I like my Kershaw OSO Sweet better

I also have a Kershaw OSO sweet with the same Speedsafe mechanism. I consider my OSO Sweet just about the perfect inexpensive EDC knife. I reduced my opinion of this knife for the following reasons.

1. The slightly larger size (4-1/2" closed v 4" closed) and metal handle makes it about twice as heavy (almost 7 oz v. 3+ oz).
2. The pivot screw is hard to adjust. The nut on the other side of the handle that holds the screw is round and wants to spin. I had to fiddle with it about 10 minutes to loosen the screw. It was very easy to adjust the screw on my OSO Sweet because it has a hex shaped nut on the back side of the screw, which fits into a hex shaped alcove in the handle this naturally acts as a wrench to prevent the nut from spinning as you adjust the screw.

Kershaw 1301BW Starter Folding Knife

it's a substantial piece of gear. Great function. Just easy enough to open with either the speedsafe tab or thumb stud.
A bit heavy but solid. So glad I purchased this knife could not pass up the Kershaw for the price!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your shipping policies and how fast will my order arrive?

North River Outdoors offers free shipping for purchases of $99 and over within the United States (some oversized items may incur charges). We strive to ship in-stock orders within 24-48 hours, often the same day if placed before 5 PM Eastern Time. Standard free shipping typically arrives via UPS or USPS within 3-6 business days. We currently ship to the USA at this time. You can track your order status by logging into "My Account" on our website.

What is your return and exchange policy?

We offer a 60-day return policy for unopened and unused items, for a 100% refund. Items must be returned in the same (or similar) condition in which they were received. Opened, used, or damaged products, or those not following our return policy, may be subject to a 15% restocking fee. We reserve the right to refuse returns in non-sellable condition. Customers are responsible for return shipping costs.

For Returns? Log into view your Order History and select "Return" to start the process. You can also contact our Store via Email or use our Contact Form to initiate a return.

Do you offer any services like knife sharpening or gear repair?

Yes! We offer a range of services at our Virginia store, including knife sharpening, axe sharpening and rehandling, knife/axe cleaning and conditioning, and waxed canvas bag/pack waxing and conditioning. We also provide laser engraving. Drop-off for services is available Monday-Saturday, with a typical turnaround of 1-2 business days.

How can I ensure I'm buying genuine products and not falling for scam websites?

We understand your concern. To ensure you're buying quality, genuine gear from North River Outdoors, always check the URL to confirm it's www.northriveroutdoors.com. Our website is secure, professional, and features real-time inventory and product reviews. Be wary of "half-off" or "flash deals" on other sites using our logo – these are often scams. We are a reputable USA Outdoor & Knife Store operating since 2012.

Where is your physical store located and what are your hours?

Our physical store, North River Outdoors, is located at 2941 River Road W, Goochland, VA 23063 USA. Our store hours are always kept up-to-date on our website. You can find our contact information, including phone and email, on our "Contact Us" or "Our Store" pages.

Do you offer Classes or Events?

Yes, our Virginia store hosts a variety of hands-on training Classes and Events throughout the year. We invite you to check our website's "Classes & Events" section or our blog for an updated calendar and information on upcoming workshops, like knife forging, carving classes and our popular Axe Throwing Events.