Kershaw
Last verified: April 2026
Read our full verification: Is Kershaw Made in USA?Verification Summary
American Score
Manufacturing Location
Tualatin, OR
Headquarters
Tualatin, OR
Founded
1974
Products Verified
24 products
Evidence Breakdown
Factory Location Specificity
Specific factory city identified
Website Claim
Brand website explicitly claims Made in USA
Manufacturing History
20+ years of USA manufacturing
Known Overseas Production
This brand also makes some products overseas. Only verified USA-made items are listed.
Verification Notes
USA-made lines (Leek, Blur, Launch, Dividend, Chive, Scallion, Shallot, Link, Bareknuckle) manufactured in Tualatin, OR. Some models (Natrix, Atmos) made in China. USA-made products clearly labeled.
Last verified: April 2026
Kershaw has been manufacturing products in Tualatin, OR since 1974. We carry 24 verified American-made Kershaw products.
Heritage & History
Kershaw Knives was founded in 1974 by Pete Kershaw, a veteran of the American cutlery industry who had previously worked at Gerber Legendary Blades in Portland, Oregon. Kershaw established his company with the goal of producing high-quality knives at accessible price points, setting up manufacturing in Tualatin, Oregon — just south of Portland in the Willamette Valley. The company was acquired in 1977 by Kai Group, a Japanese cutlery conglomerate, but the Oregon manufacturing operation was preserved and expanded.
The partnership with designer Ken Onion in the late 1990s transformed Kershaw from a respected but niche maker into one of America's most popular knife brands. Onion's SpeedSafe assisted-opening mechanism, first introduced on the Kershaw Leek in 2002, became a defining feature of the brand and spawned an entire family of 'allium-series' knives — the Leek, Scallion, Chive, and Shallot — all named after the onion family in honor of their designer. The Leek became one of the best-selling American-made folding knives in history, and the Blur followed as the workhorse counterpart with its Trac-Tec textured grip.
Made in Tualatin, Oregon
Kershaw's Tualatin, Oregon facility produces the brand's USA-made knife lines using a combination of CNC machining, laser cutting, heat treatment, and hand finishing. The factory processes American and Scandinavian steels — including 14C28N Sandvik stainless, CPM-154 powder steel, CPM S30V, and 420HC — into blades that are ground, heat-treated, and sharpened on-site. Aluminum and steel handles are CNC-machined and anodized at the facility.
Not all Kershaw knives are made in the USA — the company clearly distinguishes between its Oregon-made lines and its overseas-produced models. The USA-made collection includes the Leek (all 1660 variants), Blur (all 1670 variants), Launch automatic series, Dividend, Chive, Scallion, Shallot, Link, and Bareknuckle. Each USA-made knife carries a 'Made in USA' stamp on the blade. Models like the Natrix and Atmos are produced at Kai Group facilities in Asia, and are not represented in this collection.
Quick Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kershaw made in the USA?
Yes. Kershaw manufactures 24 verified products in Tualatin, OR. Kershaw Knives has manufactured premium folding knives in Tualatin, Oregon since 1974, with their USA-made lines — including the iconic Leek, Blur, and Launch series — produced entirely at their Pacific Northwest facility using American steel and precision CNC machining.
Where is Kershaw manufactured?
Kershaw is headquartered in Tualatin, OR. Manufacturing takes place in Tualatin, OR.
What Kershaw products can I buy?
We carry 24 verified Kershaw products across Tools & Hardware. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was Kershaw founded?
Kershaw was founded in 1974. Kershaw Knives has manufactured premium folding knives in Tualatin, Oregon since 1974, with their USA-made lines — including the iconic Leek, Blur, and Launch series — produced entirely at their Pacific Northwest facility using American steel and precision CNC machining.
Does Kershaw ship from Amazon?
Yes, all Kershaw products listed here are available on Amazon with free shipping for Prime members.
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