Kershaw Knives was started in Portland, Oregon in 1974 when Knife salesman Pete Kershaw left Gerber Legendary Blades to form his own cutlery company based on his own designs. Early manufacturing was primarily done in Japan; in 1977, Kershaw knives became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese KAI Group. In 1998 the main production facility was opened in Wilsonville, Oregon; due to growth, the facilities were moved to a larger production site in 2003.

   Ken Onion was Kershaw's best-known designer, who had won numerous awards for his designs with the company since 1998, such as his Speed-Safe opening models. Shun Cutlery offers knives designed by both Ken Onion and Food Network personality Alton Brown. In addition to Onion, Kershaw has collaborated with custom knife makers Grant and Gavin Hawk, Frank Centofante, and Ernest Emerson.

   In 2002 Kershaw Knives released a model which was a collaboration between Ken Onion and Stephen Seagal featuring actual stingray leather on the handle. In 2004 Kershaw knives developed a multi-tool for the National Geographic Society with National Geographic filmmaker Bryan Harvey. Kershaw has also released models in collaboration with Jeep, Orange County Choppers, the American Professional Rodeo Association, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

   In May 2005, Kershaw Knives won four of the top awards at the Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia. This was the first time in the show's history that one company won this number of awards in one year: 2005 Overall Knife of the Year, 2005 Most Innovative American Design, 2005 Kitchen Knife of the Year, and 2005 Knife Collaboration of the Year.

   In June 2007, Kershaw Knives won Blade Show's "Overall Knife of the Year Award" with the model 1850 "Tyrade", in which the patent-pending concept of using two different steels in the same blade was introduced. The blade steels were D2 tool steel at the cutting edge, and a spine of CPM154 stainless steel.

    Kershaw Knives continues to offer world class knives that deliver superior style, durability and function. We stock all of the popular Kershaw knives like the Kershaw Leek, Blur, Avalanche, Scallion, Blackout, Boa and the Kershaw Whirlwind. We also stock the entire Kershaw Carabineer line.