Kershaw 1242GEX Fillet Knife Review
Our verdict
The Kershaw 1242GEX is a $44.76 fillet knife built around a curved 9 inch stainless steel blade, and its 4.7 star average across 203 reviews is the highest rating of the fillet knives compared here. At 3.5 ounces it matches the flex profile anglers expect from a full size fillet blade, though it costs more than double the Kershaw 1259X.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want a dedicated curved fillet blade with a full 9 inch stainless steel edge for cleaning larger freshwater or saltwater catch, and who are comfortable paying a premium for a blade profile geared toward long, sweeping fillet cuts.
Skip if
Skip it if budget matters more than blade length, since the Rapala 126SP delivers a 4.5 star rating across 423 reviews and 100+ bought last month at less than a quarter of the price.
- Material Stainless Steel
- Weight 3.5 Ounces
- Length 9 Inches
- Size 9"
- Color Stainless Steel
- Pieces 1.0 Ounce
- Priced 39% above the category median ($32.23 across 74 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.7/5
4.7 average across 203 owner ratings
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Popularity1.8/5
203 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Standing at the cleaning table after a good day on the water, the blade you reach for needs to flex through a fillet without binding. The Kershaw 1242GEX is built around a curved 9 inch stainless steel blade at 3.5 ounces, a shape meant for long, sweeping cuts on mid to larger fish rather than quick trimming work.
At $44.76 it sits well above every other fillet knife in this set. The Rapala 126SP runs $10.49 with a shorter 6 inch blade, the Rapala BP136SH sits at $17.5, and the Kershaw 1259X, which shares the same 9 inch, 3.5 ounce blade profile but with a co-polymer material instead of stainless steel, comes in at $20.51. The 1242GEX costs more than double its closest sibling for the added stainless steel construction.
Review numbers tell a mixed story on volume. The 1242GEX carries a 4.7 star average, the highest of the four knives compared, but across only 203 reviews, a fraction of the 1,500 reviews behind the Kershaw 1259X or the 423 behind the Rapala 126SP. Bought last month sits at 0+ for this listing, while the 126SP shows 100+ and the 1259X shows 50+, a gap worth weighing against the higher rating.
Pros
- 4.7 star average is the highest rating among the fillet knives in this comparison
- Curved 9 inch stainless steel blade built for long, sweeping fillet cuts
- Full stainless steel construction compared to the co-polymer material used on the Kershaw 1259X
- 3.5 ounce weight keeps the blade light for repeated cutting motions
- Listed as In Stock at time of writing
Cons
- At $44.76 it costs more than double the Kershaw 1259X and over four times the Rapala 126SP
- Only 203 reviews, well short of the 1,500 behind the Kershaw 1259X
- Bought last month is listed at 0+, lower than the 100+ shown for the Rapala 126SP
- No handle material listed in the specs beyond the stainless steel blade itself
Specifications
| Material | Stainless Steel |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.5 Ounces |
| Length | 9 Inches |
| Size | 9" |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Pieces | 1.0 Ounce |
| Feature | Curved Fillet 9in Blade |
Performance notes
A curved 9 inch blade is a longer, more aggressive shape than the 6 inch blade on the Rapala 126SP, and the curve is meant to follow the contour of a fillet in one continuous stroke rather than several short cuts. At 3.5 ounces, the 1242GEX weighs the same as the Kershaw 1259X, so the difference between the two comes down to material rather than heft, stainless steel here against co-polymer on the 1259X. Stainless steel construction means less concern about moisture working into a separate grip material over time, which matters for a knife that spends time near water and fish slime. The 9 inch length puts it in the same size class as the 1259X rather than the shorter Rapala knives, so it suits anglers who fillet fish on the larger end of freshwater and inshore saltwater species rather than small panfish.
What buyers say
A 4.7 star average across 203 reviews is the strongest rating of the four fillet knives here, but the review count itself is the smallest, less than half of the 423 behind the Rapala 126SP and far short of the 1,500 behind the Kershaw 1259X. That combination, high rating paired with a lower review volume, usually points to a smaller buyer base that skews satisfied rather than a knife tested by a large cross section of anglers. Bought last month is listed at 0+ for this ASIN, compared to 100+ for the Rapala 126SP and 50+ for the Kershaw 1259X, suggesting current purchase volume trails the cheaper alternatives even though the star rating leads them.
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Frequently asked questions
How does the Kershaw 1242GEX compare to the Kershaw 1259X?
Both share a 9 inch blade and weigh 3.5 ounces, but the 1242GEX is stainless steel throughout while the 1259X uses a co-polymer material and costs $20.51 versus $44.76. The 1259X also carries far more review volume, 1,500 reviews at 4.6 stars against 203 reviews at 4.7 stars for the 1242GEX.
Is the curved blade shape better for filleting?
The curved 9 inch blade on the 1242GEX is designed to follow the natural contour of a fillet in a sweeping motion, a different profile than the straighter, shorter 6 inch blade on the Rapala 126SP. Which shape works better depends on the size of fish and the angler's cutting style, not on price alone.
Is the Kershaw 1242GEX worth the higher price?
At $44.76 it costs more than any other fillet knife compared here, and its 4.7 star rating across 203 reviews is the highest of the group. Whether that premium is worth it depends on whether a full stainless steel build and a 9 inch curved blade matter more to you than the lower cost and higher review volume of alternatives like the Rapala 126SP.