Daniel Defense chose to partner with Kershaw Knives to manufacture a Daniel Defense Folding Knife, utilizing a Ken Onion design and a Daniel Defense Blade design purposed to be an everyday carry knife. No good gun enthusiast should leave home without one.
If you know anything at all about M4-style rifles, you’ve probably heard of Daniel Defense. Founded at the turn of the 21st century by firearms enthusiast and lifelong shooter Marty Daniel, it began by producing innovative, high-quality rails and other aftermarket parts for black rifles. These parts quickly found favor among savvy shooters and armed professionals, fueling the rapid growth of the company and the scope of its product line. Daniel Defense now offers a staggering array of M4-style rifles in various calibers, as well as rails, mounts, barrels, and many other accessories. All of their parts and finished guns are proudly manufactured in their state-of-the-art 38,000-square-foot facility in Black Creek, Georgia.
Like all good gun people, the folks at Daniel Defense are also knife people. They appreciate the functional value of a good blade and wanted to offer their customers a distinctive, high-performance knife that reflected the same qualities and commitment they put into their rifles. The result of that effort is the Daniel Defense Folding Knife, made for them by Kershaw.
Made-in-USA
According to Daniel Defense, the company did extensive research during their search for a manufacturer and based their choice on a strict set of criteria. Their most important requirement was that the knife be 100% made in the USA—just like their own products. They also wanted a knife that ensured swift, positive deployment, offered ease of carry and concealment, and provided both aggressive performance and versatility in use.
The Daniel Defense folder opens by flipper only. Note the absence of thumb studs on the blade.
After thoroughly doing their homework, Daniel Defense chose Kershaw Knives because they felt that Kershaw best exemplified both the commitment to quality and the patriotic pride that are cornerstones of their own company. Kershaw jumped at the opportunity and promptly assigned their engineers and their star designer, renowned custom knifemaker Ken Onion, the task of developing a distinctive knife to meet Daniel Defense’s needs.
Daniel Defense worked closely with Kershaw’s design team and methodically developed a folding knife that met or exceeded all their performance criteria. It also offered a uniquely different blade profile while still retaining a highly recognizable Kershaw flair.
The Daniel Defense Folder features a very sturdy frame lock mechanism that offers excellent engagement on the blade’s tang ramp.
