Kershaw 1249X Fillet Knife Review
Our verdict
The Kershaw 1249X is a $28.46 fillet knife built around a 9.5 inch steel blade, the longest blade length of the fillet knives compared here. Its 4.5 star rating across 142 reviews sits below the 1,500 reviews behind the similarly sized Kershaw 1259X, making it a smaller sample to judge against a longer, steel edged blade.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want the longest blade in this comparison, a full 9.5 inches of steel, for reaching deep into larger fish during long fillet strokes without needing to reposition the knife partway through the cut.
Skip if
Skip it if a shorter blade suits your typical catch better, or if review volume matters to you, since 142 reviews is the smallest sample of the fillet knives in this set.
- Material Steel
- Weight 3.5 Ounces
- Length 9.5 Inches
- Size 9.5"
- Color Black
- Pieces 1.0 Count
- Priced 12% below the category median ($32.23 across 74 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.5/5
4.5 average across 142 owner ratings
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Popularity1.1/5
142 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
A long fillet blade earns its keep on bigger fish, where a short knife forces extra strokes and ragged cuts. The Kershaw 1249X pairs a 9.5 inch steel blade with a 3.5 ounce overall weight, giving it the longest blade of any fillet knife covered here without adding bulk over the shorter models.
At $28.46 it lands between the Rapala BP136SH at $17.5 and the Kershaw 1259X at $20.51 on one side, and the Kershaw 1242GEX at $44.76 on the other. Compared to the 1259X, which shares a similar 3.5 ounce weight but a shorter 9 inch co-polymer blade, the 1249X trades a black steel blade and half an inch of extra length for a higher price.
Its 4.5 star rating across 142 reviews is respectable but represents the smallest review count among the fillet knives in this comparison, a fraction of the 1,500 behind the Kershaw 1259X or the 423 behind the Rapala 126SP. Bought last month is listed at 0+, the same figure shown for most of the higher priced knives in this set, aside from the 126SP's 100+ and the 1259X's 50+.
Pros
- 9.5 inch steel blade is the longest of any fillet knife in this comparison
- 3.5 ounce weight keeps it in line with the similarly weighted Kershaw 1259X
- Black steel blade construction for a straightforward, no frills fillet tool
- $28.46 price sits below the $44.76 Kershaw 1242GEX for a longer blade
- 4.5 star average rating across its review base
- Listed as In Stock at time of writing
Cons
- Only 142 reviews, the smallest sample among the fillet knives compared here
- Bought last month is listed at 0+, versus 100+ for the Rapala 126SP
- Costs more than the Rapala 126SP ($10.49) and Rapala BP136SH ($17.5)
- No handle material specified beyond the steel blade and black finish
Specifications
| Material | Steel |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.5 Ounces |
| Length | 9.5 Inches |
| Size | 9.5" |
| Color | Black |
| Pieces | 1.0 Count |
| Feature | KS1249X |
Performance notes
A 9.5 inch blade is half an inch longer than the 9 inch blade on the Kershaw 1259X and a full 3.5 inches longer than the 6 inch Rapala 126SP, extra reach that matters when working down the length of a larger fish in one motion instead of several shorter cuts. At 3.5 ounces the 1249X weighs the same as the 1259X despite the added length, so the extra blade material has not added noticeable heft based on the listed specs. Steel construction paired with a black finish is a straightforward combination, without the co-polymer material used on the 1259X or the stainless steel body of the 1242GEX. For anglers who fillet larger species where blade reach matters more than a compact knife, the 9.5 inch length is the standout spec, while the 3.5 ounce weight keeps it comparable to the mid priced options in this set rather than the heavier or lighter alternatives.
What buyers say
A 4.5 star average sits mid pack among the fillet knives here, matching the Rapala 126SP's rating but built on far fewer reviews, 142 versus 423. Compared to the Kershaw 1259X's 1,500 reviews at 4.6 stars, the 1249X's review base looks thin, which usually means fewer data points backing the rating even if the average itself looks solid. Bought last month is listed at 0+, the same as most knives in this set aside from the Rapala 126SP's 100+ and the Kershaw 1259X's 50+, suggesting current purchase activity trails those two more established listings. The pattern points to a knife with a decent but not yet heavily proven track record.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the blade on the Kershaw 1249X?
The listed blade length is 9.5 inches, which is the longest blade among the fillet knives compared on this page. That is half an inch longer than the Kershaw 1259X and well beyond the 6 inch blade on the Rapala 126SP, making it suited to larger fish that need a long, single cutting stroke.
How does the price compare to other fillet knives?
At $28.46 the 1249X costs more than the Rapala 126SP at $10.49 and the Rapala BP136SH at $17.5, and slightly more than the Kershaw 1259X at $20.51, but it costs less than the Kershaw 1242GEX at $44.76. It sits in the middle of the pricing range for the fillet knives on this page.
Does the review count matter for a 4.5 star rating?
The 1249X's 4.5 star average is built on 142 reviews, the smallest count among the fillet knives compared here. A high rating on a smaller review base is worth noting alongside knives like the Kershaw 1259X, which carries the same tier of rating but backed by 1,500 reviews, a much larger sample.