Ken Onion is probably the best known American knife designer. With the release of his Ken Onion Chef's Knife, he's practically a household name.
Okay, that might be overstepping just a bit. But he's now made several successful models for Kershaw, this Chive being a great example.
Aesthetically speaking, the Kershaw Chive is a beauty. From its smooth-powdered finish on the handle and the blade to the sleek curves, the only plastic parts you'll see would be the plastic separating the two pieces of the frame and the plastic tab that locks the blade when closed. The knife's gentle curves makes it feel comfortable opened or closed. Overall, the knife is very sleek and attractive.
The Chive is solidly constructed. It's small, light and sharp. The most notable feature, though, is the Speed-Safe opening mechanism. This provides the ease of an automatic opening mechanism, while ensuring you don't cut yourself when it engages. There's a safety to keep it in place as well. Being made mostly of metal, this little knife has some heft to it, giving it a high-quality feel to it. The blade is sharp out of the box and it holds an edge pretty well.
The Kershaw Chive Pocket Knife, as all other knives from the Kershaw Ken Onion series (Scallion, Leek), comes equipped with the Kershaw Speed-Safe technology. It is an assisted-opening system so you need to open the knife manually a little bit. Once partly open, the Speed-Safe system takes over and pops the blade open. The Chive has a thumb stud as well as a protrusion in the blade itself that will stick out the back of the handle when closed. The user can open the knife with the traditional thumb stud, or flick at the protrusion with a finger, usually the index finger. A lock near the bottom of the handle slides over the blade tip when the knife is closed to prevent accidental opening in your pocket or hand.
I really appreciate the Speed-Safe as small knives are hard to open with a "wrist-flick". The assisted opening allows for quick one-handed opening of the knife. I usually clip the knife at the edge of my pocket and can access the knife, unlock it, and flick open easily.
As for actual locking of the blade when open, the Kershaw Chive Knife locks open like most folding knives. However, instead of a liner lock, this lock is cut out of the frame. The frame lock behaves just like the liner lock, but with the benefit of the smoother rounded frame, unlocking the knife to close it is much easier on the fingers (typically I use my thumb).
My only complaint would be the position of the clip. It is attached at the hinge end, and removal of the knife places the knife in the opposite direction of where you want it in your hand to open it easily with a "flick." Because of this, I would have to rotate in my hand 180 degrees to put it in position to open. I've tried Benchmade knives and even a few Buck knives and the clip is attached on the opposite end of the handle. Just a personal complaint; it probably isn't a major issue if speed opening is not that important to you.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Pocket Knife. It is a great looking, small knife and I love how it feels in my hand.
To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Chive Assisted 1-15/16" Plain Blade, Stainless Steel Handles, click the link below.
Kershaw Chive Assisted 1-15/16" Plain Blade, Stainless Steel Handles
To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Assisted 1-15/16" High Polish Blade, High Polish Aluminum Handles, click the link below.
Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Assisted 1-15/16" High Polish Blade, High Polish Aluminum Handles
To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Chive Black Assisted Opening 1-15/16" Baton Coated Plain Blade, click the link below.
Kershaw Chive Black Assisted Opening 1-15/16" Baton Coated Plain Blade
All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.
Okay, that might be overstepping just a bit. But he's now made several successful models for Kershaw, this Chive being a great example.
Aesthetically speaking, the Kershaw Chive is a beauty. From its smooth-powdered finish on the handle and the blade to the sleek curves, the only plastic parts you'll see would be the plastic separating the two pieces of the frame and the plastic tab that locks the blade when closed. The knife's gentle curves makes it feel comfortable opened or closed. Overall, the knife is very sleek and attractive.
The Chive is solidly constructed. It's small, light and sharp. The most notable feature, though, is the Speed-Safe opening mechanism. This provides the ease of an automatic opening mechanism, while ensuring you don't cut yourself when it engages. There's a safety to keep it in place as well. Being made mostly of metal, this little knife has some heft to it, giving it a high-quality feel to it. The blade is sharp out of the box and it holds an edge pretty well.
The Kershaw Chive Pocket Knife, as all other knives from the Kershaw Ken Onion series (Scallion, Leek), comes equipped with the Kershaw Speed-Safe technology. It is an assisted-opening system so you need to open the knife manually a little bit. Once partly open, the Speed-Safe system takes over and pops the blade open. The Chive has a thumb stud as well as a protrusion in the blade itself that will stick out the back of the handle when closed. The user can open the knife with the traditional thumb stud, or flick at the protrusion with a finger, usually the index finger. A lock near the bottom of the handle slides over the blade tip when the knife is closed to prevent accidental opening in your pocket or hand.
I really appreciate the Speed-Safe as small knives are hard to open with a "wrist-flick". The assisted opening allows for quick one-handed opening of the knife. I usually clip the knife at the edge of my pocket and can access the knife, unlock it, and flick open easily.
As for actual locking of the blade when open, the Kershaw Chive Knife locks open like most folding knives. However, instead of a liner lock, this lock is cut out of the frame. The frame lock behaves just like the liner lock, but with the benefit of the smoother rounded frame, unlocking the knife to close it is much easier on the fingers (typically I use my thumb).
My only complaint would be the position of the clip. It is attached at the hinge end, and removal of the knife places the knife in the opposite direction of where you want it in your hand to open it easily with a "flick." Because of this, I would have to rotate in my hand 180 degrees to put it in position to open. I've tried Benchmade knives and even a few Buck knives and the clip is attached on the opposite end of the handle. Just a personal complaint; it probably isn't a major issue if speed opening is not that important to you.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Pocket Knife. It is a great looking, small knife and I love how it feels in my hand.
To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Chive Assisted 1-15/16" Plain Blade, Stainless Steel Handles, click the link below.
Kershaw Chive Assisted 1-15/16" Plain Blade, Stainless Steel Handles
To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Assisted 1-15/16" High Polish Blade, High Polish Aluminum Handles, click the link below.
Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Assisted 1-15/16" High Polish Blade, High Polish Aluminum Handles
To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Chive Black Assisted Opening 1-15/16" Baton Coated Plain Blade, click the link below.
Kershaw Chive Black Assisted Opening 1-15/16" Baton Coated Plain Blade
All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.
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