The Kershaw Cryo is quite the treat for those looking to get an inexpensive Rick Hinderer designed knife with a high-quality build. The Cryo was awarded the "Best Buy of the Year" at 2012 Blade Show and it gets 2 thumbs up from us at Blade HQ.
The Cryo is a framelock knife with a Hinderer lockbar stabilizer. The stainless steel blade and handle are matte gray coated with titanium-carbo-nitride. The assisted opening blade is deployed with a push of the ambidextrous thumb stud or flipper. The pocket clip is four-way reversible for multiple carry options.
Ok so I bought this knife because I really thought it looked cool with that titanium nitride coating... and it IS really cool. The blade is big enough to handle most cutting tasks when I use it for EDC, and the coating on the blade has lasted for the 3 years I've owned it. I live in Hawaii so it's started to show a few rust spots here and there, but because it's a budget knife I've never taken it apart to clean. (Maybe I will one of these days) I love the Hinderer design, and being a flipper that's an additional added cool bonus. It's not lighting quick, but it does the job and looks good doing it!
Might have to steal it back
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Aaron R.
10-01-2019
Gave this to my mother as a gift when she wanted a knife and she absolutely loves it. Great action, super sturdy, and flies out.
Sweet!
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Tim c.
07-31-2019
This is a nice knife. Fits great in my pocket. Came sharp. It's still pretty new and breaking it in but I'm very happy with it so far
Great work flipper
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Jason G.
03-18-2019
Good work knife....the finish makes it pretty durable so it will probably cut boxes forever.... Hinderer design so you know it works amazingly
Awesome budget knife
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Jeff H.
03-15-2019
This knife was one of my first EDC knives. It has a great assisted flip and is so sleek. I broke my pocket clip on this and Kershaw sent one out no questions asked. I’d recommend this to anyone just getting into knives and daily carrying.
Cryo, EDC perfect
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Jeffery S.
03-04-2019
I have been carrying a cryo for a few years now, and it is my go to knife for typical day to day carry tasks. Love the blade shape and grind, makes it a great knife for almost anything! Would recommend to absolutely anyone!!!
Great knife great price!
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Jaden K.
02-28-2019
This knife was a gift to me from a good friend. I've had it for around a year now. I've had it with me almost every day until I got my Spyderco Para 3. It's a great EDC for a lot of reasons. It's very sharp for 1 and is perfect for any situation. The design is awesome and, the deep carry clip is great too. It's not made with the best material but, it will last for years. After about a year of having it, it has gotten a dull a few times but I just sharpen it, and it's ready to go again. It might need a little oil but works fine without it. I anyone recommend this knife to anyone. It's cheap, and it will last for years!
Very impressed
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Triston P.
02-23-2019
The knife has a bit of weight to it, but I don’t mind. Having all four options for the pocket clip positions is very convenient. And the slimmer profile and deep carry pocket clip fit nicely in almost any pocket.
At least 8 years.
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Jesse W.
02-22-2019
I have owned this knife for a long time and it still comes with me to work every day. I have broken/bent 3 pocket clips, I request a part on Kershaw's website and it's in my mailbox in less than a week, (I wish they would let me pay for them, it's not theur fault the clip is messed up!). Steel is average, but holds up fine. I love the speed safe assisted opening, Kershaw has it just right. If you really want to be happy. Buy the new D2 model, I did, and it's awesome. This one still comes to work with me though, if I lose or break it, I'll miss it, but it's easily replaced. Great knife, constantly recommend.
Nice
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Ryan U.
04-06-2018
Quick, Smooth, Solid.
Amazing EDC
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Richard G.
02-04-2018
It's an inexpensive Rick Hinderer! I know it's lower quality materials, but this knife really can take a beating. I gave it to a friend (his first knife) and he seriously abused the knife. Surprisingly, as far as functionality goes, it just needed sharpening and the pivot slightly tightened. The abuse this knife took would have given other knives some serious blade play.
I did a simple knife pimping by swapping the 1555BLKST and 1555TI blades. Made both blades look 10 times better!
I edc this knife the most! It takes a nice edge and is a surprisingly good slicer.
Great EDC for the price
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Alex M.
01-23-2018
Great ergonomics and a great design. Perfect size for my hand and has a really sturdy feel to it. Pretty nice assist and you gotta love a deep carry clip. The pivot on mine does loosen a little with each flip but I'm sure that's a one off issue.
Good Budget Knife
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Jordan S.
01-22-2018
I feel like the Cryo is a great knife for a kid to start his pocket knife collection. It's small, spring assisted, and comes from a great brand like Kershaw.
Cryo for the win.
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Sean M.
01-19-2018
I love this knife. I EDC'd it for 2 years and even though I don't carry it on me anymore it still goes in me EDC bag, that way I know I always have a reliable knife in reach. Deploys super fast and for me has great ergos.
Solid budget knife
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John F.
01-07-2018
This was my first pocket knife and my EDC for 2 years. Although a bit heavy for its size, it's slim enough that you forget it's even in your pocket. Comfortable ergonomics in any grip. The blade steel doesn't hold an edge for very long but it's easy to sharpen. Locks up well and has no blade play. After 2 years the torsion bar broke, but Kershaw replaced the whole knife for free after I sent it back.
Excelent budget EDC
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Max O.
01-07-2018
Ths has to be one of the best quality price products I’ve bought. Its beautiful and functional, overall a nice little gem
great knife
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Corbin m.
01-06-2018
This was the very first knife I bought and it started an addiction of buying and collecting knives. This knife is a great price and great value. it has a four-way clip so you can carry it any way you like. if your not sure which way you want your knife this guy is perfect. you can easily move the clip, not very many knives have that option. it opens fast with the flipper, it's a sharp and durable blade. great value. great first knife
Solid Knife
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Carson K.
01-06-2018
Pros: -solid lockup -strong tip -inexpensive -quick to deploy -wonderful design
Cons: -poor texture due to stainless steel scales -a little heavy for the size
Overall this is a great knife and would make a great gift knife for anyone.
Great EDC, Perfect Size, Getting What You Payed For
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Chris C.
01-05-2018
Amazingly priced, well built, but the only gripe I have with this blade is that the framelock is a bit stiffer than desirable. Have had experience with other framelocks in the past in varying qualities, and this is some of the sturdiest I've felt. Might be a pro in some eyes, but is a con at times for ease and comfort of deployment/closing.
One of the best Kershaw has made.
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Matthew B.
01-05-2018
I think this is one of the best knives that Kershaw has come out with. Not too big, not too small, razor sharp out of the box, easy to sharpen, and the list goes on. I can't say enough good things about the Cryo.
Good Budget edc
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andrew b.
01-05-2018
the knife is pretty well put together the blade was centered and sharpened easily it has a pretty good weight to it making it seem more expensive than it really is the only downside i had was the speedsafe, ive had the knife for about a year and in the beginning the firing action was really snappy but after time the torsion bar actually broke, the good thing is that you can request a new torsion bar from kershaws website and fix it i really recommend this knife if your looking for a cheap but well made knife
A gift from my brother
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Anthony M.
01-05-2018
My brother gifted me this knife 4 years ago when he was on leave from his service. Before recieving this knife i hadnt edc'd a knife before. I carried this knife for 4 years until the pocket clip broke off. I called kershaw and they replaced the clip for no charge and offered to sharpen the knife for free if i wanted to send it in. From time to time i still carry this knife, and it is often found in a gear bag or glovebox since being retired from edc use. Great knife, i would recommend it to anyone looking for a cool edc knife.
TSA Stole It
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Gary P.
01-05-2018
I absolutely love this knife, best value, and great quality. This is my EDC and it is so comfortable, so much so I forgot I had it at the airport and TSA stole it from me forcing me to buy another one. The edge retention is excellent and the dark coloring makes it inconspicuous so carrying it at work goes unnoticed. Overall a great knife!
Take off the thumb studs as soon as you get it, they are useless.
Bang for your buck!
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James D.
01-05-2018
Nice knife that fits great in the hand. 8cr13mov steel is easy to sharpen while also keeping a great edge. Carried it for a while and enjoyed it. Very snappy action with the flipper and even with the thumb stud. Highly recommend this knife!
Fantastic knife for the money!
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Peter K.
11-05-2017
This was my first purchase from Blade HQ and everything was shipped and received quickly, thank you! I am just starting to get into the knife hobby and really enjoying it. I have been EDC-ing the Cryo for about half a year now and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a perfect budget EDC knife.
Although there are a few cons with the Cryo it is not reason enough to not buy this knife at this price. The weight can be a little heavier than some may like but it does not weigh down the pants. The combination of the flipper and stiff spring may bite a little into your finger. The thumb studs are basically useless on the Cryo, so the flipper is the main opening method for one handed opening.
Something I noticed recently is you can hear a rattle from the spring when the knife is opened but not when the knife is closed. None of these cons give me a reason to give the Cryo anything less than a 5-star rating. Now onto the pros, price, the styling and design, deep carry pocket clip, ability to configure the pocket clip however you like, strong spring, and good sharp blade. The pros far outweigh the cons and justifies every reason to purchase this knife.
Great Value!
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Matthew G.
02-04-2017
This is a great knife for $30. I have a Benchmade Barrage that was $220 and I like this knife just as much. I have taken it apart many times and it goes together solid. It also took a great edge with the Lansky System.
My most recommended knife
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Zac R.
03-11-2016
I have been carrying a Cryo for around three years now, and absolutely love it. I have Benchmade knives and other "top shelf" knives, but I always fall back on this guy. The speedsafe mechanism is awesome and allows for fast deployment with little effort, and has never opened inadvertently in all my years of back-pocket carry. The profile of this knife is slim enough for comfortable back-pocket carry with the pocket clip removed, but for those that use the clip you will find that the clip can be mounted in all four orientations. For the price, you can't find a knife with the reliability and versatility of the Cryo.
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Description
Specifications
Reviews
The Kershaw Cryo is quite the treat for those looking to get an inexpensive Rick Hinderer designed knife with a high-quality build. The Cryo was awarded the "Best Buy of the Year" at 2012 Blade Show and it gets 2 thumbs up from us at Blade HQ.
The Cryo is a framelock knife with a Hinderer lockbar stabilizer. The stainless steel blade and handle are matte gray coated with titanium-carbo-nitride. The assisted opening blade is deployed with a push of the ambidextrous thumb stud or flipper. The pocket clip is four-way reversible for multiple carry options.
Ok so I bought this knife because I really thought it looked cool with that titanium nitride coating... and it IS really cool. The blade is big enough to handle most cutting tasks when I use it for EDC, and the coating on the blade has lasted for the 3 years I've owned it. I live in Hawaii so it's started to show a few rust spots here and there, but because it's a budget knife I've never taken it apart to clean. (Maybe I will one of these days) I love the Hinderer design, and being a flipper that's an additional added cool bonus. It's not lighting quick, but it does the job and looks good doing it!
Might have to steal it back
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Aaron R.
10-01-2019
Gave this to my mother as a gift when she wanted a knife and she absolutely loves it. Great action, super sturdy, and flies out.
Sweet!
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Tim c.
07-31-2019
This is a nice knife. Fits great in my pocket. Came sharp. It's still pretty new and breaking it in but I'm very happy with it so far
Great work flipper
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Jason G.
03-18-2019
Good work knife....the finish makes it pretty durable so it will probably cut boxes forever.... Hinderer design so you know it works amazingly
Awesome budget knife
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Jeff H.
03-15-2019
This knife was one of my first EDC knives. It has a great assisted flip and is so sleek. I broke my pocket clip on this and Kershaw sent one out no questions asked. I’d recommend this to anyone just getting into knives and daily carrying.
Cryo, EDC perfect
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Jeffery S.
03-04-2019
I have been carrying a cryo for a few years now, and it is my go to knife for typical day to day carry tasks. Love the blade shape and grind, makes it a great knife for almost anything! Would recommend to absolutely anyone!!!
Great knife great price!
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Jaden K.
02-28-2019
This knife was a gift to me from a good friend. I've had it for around a year now. I've had it with me almost every day until I got my Spyderco Para 3. It's a great EDC for a lot of reasons. It's very sharp for 1 and is perfect for any situation. The design is awesome and, the deep carry clip is great too. It's not made with the best material but, it will last for years. After about a year of having it, it has gotten a dull a few times but I just sharpen it, and it's ready to go again. It might need a little oil but works fine without it. I anyone recommend this knife to anyone. It's cheap, and it will last for years!
Very impressed
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Triston P.
02-23-2019
The knife has a bit of weight to it, but I don’t mind. Having all four options for the pocket clip positions is very convenient. And the slimmer profile and deep carry pocket clip fit nicely in almost any pocket.
At least 8 years.
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Jesse W.
02-22-2019
I have owned this knife for a long time and it still comes with me to work every day. I have broken/bent 3 pocket clips, I request a part on Kershaw's website and it's in my mailbox in less than a week, (I wish they would let me pay for them, it's not theur fault the clip is messed up!). Steel is average, but holds up fine. I love the speed safe assisted opening, Kershaw has it just right. If you really want to be happy. Buy the new D2 model, I did, and it's awesome. This one still comes to work with me though, if I lose or break it, I'll miss it, but it's easily replaced. Great knife, constantly recommend.
Nice
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Ryan U.
04-06-2018
Quick, Smooth, Solid.
Amazing EDC
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Richard G.
02-04-2018
It's an inexpensive Rick Hinderer! I know it's lower quality materials, but this knife really can take a beating. I gave it to a friend (his first knife) and he seriously abused the knife. Surprisingly, as far as functionality goes, it just needed sharpening and the pivot slightly tightened. The abuse this knife took would have given other knives some serious blade play.
I did a simple knife pimping by swapping the 1555BLKST and 1555TI blades. Made both blades look 10 times better!
I edc this knife the most! It takes a nice edge and is a surprisingly good slicer.
Great EDC for the price
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Alex M.
01-23-2018
Great ergonomics and a great design. Perfect size for my hand and has a really sturdy feel to it. Pretty nice assist and you gotta love a deep carry clip. The pivot on mine does loosen a little with each flip but I'm sure that's a one off issue.
Good Budget Knife
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Jordan S.
01-22-2018
I feel like the Cryo is a great knife for a kid to start his pocket knife collection. It's small, spring assisted, and comes from a great brand like Kershaw.
Cryo for the win.
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Sean M.
01-19-2018
I love this knife. I EDC'd it for 2 years and even though I don't carry it on me anymore it still goes in me EDC bag, that way I know I always have a reliable knife in reach. Deploys super fast and for me has great ergos.
Solid budget knife
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John F.
01-07-2018
This was my first pocket knife and my EDC for 2 years. Although a bit heavy for its size, it's slim enough that you forget it's even in your pocket. Comfortable ergonomics in any grip. The blade steel doesn't hold an edge for very long but it's easy to sharpen. Locks up well and has no blade play. After 2 years the torsion bar broke, but Kershaw replaced the whole knife for free after I sent it back.
Excelent budget EDC
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Max O.
01-07-2018
Ths has to be one of the best quality price products I’ve bought. Its beautiful and functional, overall a nice little gem
great knife
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Corbin m.
01-06-2018
This was the very first knife I bought and it started an addiction of buying and collecting knives. This knife is a great price and great value. it has a four-way clip so you can carry it any way you like. if your not sure which way you want your knife this guy is perfect. you can easily move the clip, not very many knives have that option. it opens fast with the flipper, it's a sharp and durable blade. great value. great first knife
Solid Knife
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Carson K.
01-06-2018
Pros: -solid lockup -strong tip -inexpensive -quick to deploy -wonderful design
Cons: -poor texture due to stainless steel scales -a little heavy for the size
Overall this is a great knife and would make a great gift knife for anyone.
Great EDC, Perfect Size, Getting What You Payed For
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Chris C.
01-05-2018
Amazingly priced, well built, but the only gripe I have with this blade is that the framelock is a bit stiffer than desirable. Have had experience with other framelocks in the past in varying qualities, and this is some of the sturdiest I've felt. Might be a pro in some eyes, but is a con at times for ease and comfort of deployment/closing.
One of the best Kershaw has made.
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Matthew B.
01-05-2018
I think this is one of the best knives that Kershaw has come out with. Not too big, not too small, razor sharp out of the box, easy to sharpen, and the list goes on. I can't say enough good things about the Cryo.
Good Budget edc
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andrew b.
01-05-2018
the knife is pretty well put together the blade was centered and sharpened easily it has a pretty good weight to it making it seem more expensive than it really is the only downside i had was the speedsafe, ive had the knife for about a year and in the beginning the firing action was really snappy but after time the torsion bar actually broke, the good thing is that you can request a new torsion bar from kershaws website and fix it i really recommend this knife if your looking for a cheap but well made knife
A gift from my brother
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Anthony M.
01-05-2018
My brother gifted me this knife 4 years ago when he was on leave from his service. Before recieving this knife i hadnt edc'd a knife before. I carried this knife for 4 years until the pocket clip broke off. I called kershaw and they replaced the clip for no charge and offered to sharpen the knife for free if i wanted to send it in. From time to time i still carry this knife, and it is often found in a gear bag or glovebox since being retired from edc use. Great knife, i would recommend it to anyone looking for a cool edc knife.
TSA Stole It
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Gary P.
01-05-2018
I absolutely love this knife, best value, and great quality. This is my EDC and it is so comfortable, so much so I forgot I had it at the airport and TSA stole it from me forcing me to buy another one. The edge retention is excellent and the dark coloring makes it inconspicuous so carrying it at work goes unnoticed. Overall a great knife!
Take off the thumb studs as soon as you get it, they are useless.
Bang for your buck!
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James D.
01-05-2018
Nice knife that fits great in the hand. 8cr13mov steel is easy to sharpen while also keeping a great edge. Carried it for a while and enjoyed it. Very snappy action with the flipper and even with the thumb stud. Highly recommend this knife!
Fantastic knife for the money!
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Peter K.
11-05-2017
This was my first purchase from Blade HQ and everything was shipped and received quickly, thank you! I am just starting to get into the knife hobby and really enjoying it. I have been EDC-ing the Cryo for about half a year now and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a perfect budget EDC knife.
Although there are a few cons with the Cryo it is not reason enough to not buy this knife at this price. The weight can be a little heavier than some may like but it does not weigh down the pants. The combination of the flipper and stiff spring may bite a little into your finger. The thumb studs are basically useless on the Cryo, so the flipper is the main opening method for one handed opening.
Something I noticed recently is you can hear a rattle from the spring when the knife is opened but not when the knife is closed. None of these cons give me a reason to give the Cryo anything less than a 5-star rating. Now onto the pros, price, the styling and design, deep carry pocket clip, ability to configure the pocket clip however you like, strong spring, and good sharp blade. The pros far outweigh the cons and justifies every reason to purchase this knife.
Great Value!
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Matthew G.
02-04-2017
This is a great knife for $30. I have a Benchmade Barrage that was $220 and I like this knife just as much. I have taken it apart many times and it goes together solid. It also took a great edge with the Lansky System.
My most recommended knife
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Zac R.
03-11-2016
I have been carrying a Cryo for around three years now, and absolutely love it. I have Benchmade knives and other "top shelf" knives, but I always fall back on this guy. The speedsafe mechanism is awesome and allows for fast deployment with little effort, and has never opened inadvertently in all my years of back-pocket carry. The profile of this knife is slim enough for comfortable back-pocket carry with the pocket clip removed, but for those that use the clip you will find that the clip can be mounted in all four orientations. For the price, you can't find a knife with the reliability and versatility of the Cryo.
I love the Hinderer design, and being a flipper that's an additional added cool bonus. It's not lighting quick, but it does the job and looks good doing it!