Kershaw 7 in Clearwater Fillet 1257: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-18

Summary

The Kershaw 7 in Clearwater Fillet 1257 is a fixed-blade fillet knife with a flexible 420J2 stainless blade, a co-polymer handle and a molded ABS sheath. The main thing owners report going wrong is edge retention: the soft 420J2 steel loses its edge quickly and needs frequent touch-ups, and one owner says it is unusually hard to sharpen. It has no consumables, so the yearly cost is the knife plus a $7 return fee for Kershaw’s free sharpening, and it is a strong value at the low end of its wide retailer price spread.

Common problems and fixes

Edge does not stay sharp — a KnifeCenter owner writes that the knife “does not want to be sharp and loses its edge quickly,” and a 2007 BladeForums thread reports the same; the fix is regular touch-ups with a honing steel or stone, because the soft 420J2 is chosen for flex. [16][18][1]
Sharpening difficulty — the same owner says it is the only knife they have owned that is hard to sharpen, and forum respondents explain the softness is deliberate so the blade can bend; if you want an easy-to-sharpen hard edge, this steel will frustrate you. [16][18]
No sharpener or extra accessories — the box holds only the knife and the sheath; no sharpener or extra parts ship with the 1257. [6][17]
No instrumented exact-model test — KSL tested the sibling 1256 and 1289, and Outdoor Life’s Kershaw winner was the 1247X, not the 1257, so there is no lab test of this exact knife. [14][15]
Retailer specs conflict — Kershaw lists 12.25 in overall and 3.3 oz, while Country Knives and Kershaw-Knives.net round to 12 in and 3.5 oz; treat the manufacturer figures as authoritative. [1][6][7]

Parts and consumables

Molded ABS sheath (included) — free with the knife; it is the only included accessory and has a belt loop for boat and backpack carry. [1][6]
Replacement blade — Kershaw replaces a broken blade not covered by warranty for $25, subject to stock; blades are not in the free parts list. [4]
Free sharpening service — Kershaw offers free sharpening as a courtesy on knives sent in for service, with a $7 return shipping and processing fee and about a two-week turnaround. [4]

Yearly running cost

There are no consumables and no subscription. The recurring cost is sharpening: Kershaw offers free lifetime sharpening with a $7 return shipping and processing fee, so a typical owner’s yearly spend is the knife plus a $7 fee each time the edge is sent in. No yearly dollar figure is published.

When it is a good buy

At the low end of its wide retailer spread — KnifeCenter $13.99, Knives Plus $15.99, Kershaw-Knives.net $18.31, Knife Works $18.99, Fish Field $20.24-$21.74, Sportsman’s Warehouse $24.99-$26.99, Kershaw direct $23.99 and BladeOps MSRP $26.95 at the 2026-10-16 check — the 1257 is repeatedly described as strong value for a mid-size fillet knife with a sheath and warranty. At the high end, Country Knives lists $34.00, where sibling Kershaw models and other budget fillet knives compete.

Named alternatives:

Rapala — the KnifeCenter owner who disliked the 1257 recommends Rapala for about $10 more as a better knife; the better choice if you prioritize edge retention. [16]
Kershaw 1247X 7.5 in Narrow Fillet — Outdoor Life’s Best Freshwater Fixed Blade; the better choice if you want a sibling Kershaw that field testers preferred, though it has “a bit too much flex for really large fish.” [15]
Kershaw 1256 folding fillet — a sibling folding fillet; the better choice if you want a folding fillet rather than a fixed blade. [14]