Kershaw Cryo Folding Knife

I bought this knife for a friend of mine when her knife finally went out of comission, so though I don't own it, I've had some hands-on time with it and I think I got some (hopefully) accurate first impressions. Generally, though, I hate writing about gear that I haven't used for a few months. The bottom line is that buying the Cryo for 30 bucks should be legally considered theft. This knife is fantastic for the price that you pay. In the first place, the action on this knife is incredible. I'm used to my assisted EDC knife (now discontinued) but this was great. No matter if you're using it as a flipper or using the thumb studs, it just feels solid. You can snap it open very quickly and I was surprised myself at how natural it was. I loved the blade shape as well. Like many others, I'm a huge fan of Rick Hinderer knives and his designs. I was concerned that this would be a little small but after looking at it, those fears have been assuaged. The edge was sharp and I've got no complaints about it. Overall, the knife just looks really cool too. If we're being honest, a good 90% of the time, looks are what drive our purchases and this one is a looker. The grey coating is a good touch and hopefully it helps protect the knife from some of the elements it will get exposed to. For anyone who would dare complain about weight, it's perfect. The heft on it is great and it gives you a good, very solid feel in the hand. The ergonomics felt right and overall, it's a very comfortable knife to use. There are going to be some inherent issues with a knife in this class, however. To me, two things stood out. My first complaint was that the frame lock on this knife should have some jimping just to give you a reference in your hand for when you're closing it. I'm not the biggest fan of frame locks but the Cryo's was very comfortable, minus that one factor. The other addition I might like to see is a lock for the blade while it's folded. On an EDC knife, where there's a chance that it will get dropped or something might happen in the pocket, I appeciate it if that blade stays shut until I need it. I don't know how often that's going to happen, but it's something that I really do appreciate. In addition, I will mention that the knife is made in China and while there can be good quality control there, it's still China. I would love to see this blade manufactured in the United States. So despite the limitations of the Cryo, I'm going to give it 5 stars because it is THE high-value EDC blade. In the time since I started researching it, this knife has become my default suggestion for folks who are looking for a good, inexpensive knife to carry with them and increase their capability. If you pay peanuts you get moneys, so the Cryo was definitely a pleasant surprise in terms of qualtity.