Small Pocket Knife Reviews: Kershaw Ken Onion Chive 1600 Series
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Review of the Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Pocket Knife
The Chive is the smallest pocket knife designed by Ken Onion for Kershaw. It is an ideal small knife to carry in your pocket, excellent for ordinary everyday tasks. It has a cool, but practical design. The knife opens fast and easy with only one hand. The quality of materials is good and the finish is excellent. And Kershaw support it with a limited lifetime warranty. Positively, it is a great option for anyone searching for a small, efficient high carbon knife blade for everyday tasks.
Features and Specifications
Despite of being small the Chive has all the features that Kershaw knives have.
Speedsafe: the assisted opening system designed by Ken Onion for an easy opening of the blade. It is the highlight of the knife. You start to open the knife with the thumb stud in the blade or with the index-open system and the mechanism finishes the job for you. It is called Speedsafe because the torsion bar of the mechanism helps keep the knife closed, preventing it from being opened by "gravity."
Thumb stud: For an ambidextrous opening. For me it is a little small, you have to practice several times to open the knife with this little knob.
Tip lock: for further safety the Chive features a tip lock to prevent the knife might open accidentally in your pocket. It does not seem to be strong enough and the lock has a tendency to lock the knife on its own.
Frame Lock: When the blade is deployed the frame lock secures the blade into position. Preventing that the knife closes accidentally.
Pocket click: handy to prevent making holes in your pockets and good to improve the grip of the knife.
Specifications
Blade: 420HC stainless steel, so it is a High Carbon knife
Handle: 410 stainless steel in the 1600 model
Blade Length: 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm)
Closed Length: 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm)
Weight: 1.9 oz.
Speedsafe: the assisted opening system designed by Ken Onion for an easy opening of the blade. It is the highlight of the knife. You start to open the knife with the thumb stud in the blade or with the index-open system and the mechanism finishes the job for you. It is called Speedsafe because the torsion bar of the mechanism helps keep the knife closed, preventing it from being opened by "gravity."
Thumb stud: For an ambidextrous opening. For me it is a little small, you have to practice several times to open the knife with this little knob.
Tip lock: for further safety the Chive features a tip lock to prevent the knife might open accidentally in your pocket. It does not seem to be strong enough and the lock has a tendency to lock the knife on its own.
Frame Lock: When the blade is deployed the frame lock secures the blade into position. Preventing that the knife closes accidentally.
Pocket click: handy to prevent making holes in your pockets and good to improve the grip of the knife.
Specifications
Blade: 420HC stainless steel, so it is a High Carbon knife
Handle: 410 stainless steel in the 1600 model
Blade Length: 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm)
Closed Length: 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm)
Weight: 1.9 oz.
Models
As usual the variety in these Kershaw knives is in the handle style and in the finish of the knife.
* Chive 1600 features the 410 stainless steel handle. And the blade is a 420HC stainless steel.
* Chive 1600 features the 410 stainless steel handle. And the blade is a 420HC stainless steel.
Kershaw Ken Onion Chive Pocket Knife with Speed Safe
Amazon Price: $29.90 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $49.99
Chive 1600 high carbon knife
Blade Steel: 420HC stainless-steel
Handle: 410 stainless-steel
Avg. Customer Rating: 
* Chive 1600CKT. The Tungsten DCL black coating makes a non-reflective surface.
Kershaw Knives K.O. Chive, TiNi Coated Handle & Blade, Plain
Amazon Price: (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $64.95
Chive - 1600BLK
Steel: 420HC stainless-steel Tungsten DLC coated
Handle: 410 stainless-steel Boron-coated
Avg. Customer Rating: 
* Chive - 1600BR with a 6061-T6 anodized aluminum with smoked finish handle. the photo shows the blak and red version. other colors could be Black and white, and pink
Kershaw Ken Onion Black & Red Chive Pocket Knife with Speed Safe
Amazon Price: $45.70 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $54.99
Chive - 1600BR
Steel: 420HC stainless-steel
Handle: 6061-T6 anodized aluminum with smoked finish
Avg. Customer Rating:
* Chive 1600 rainbow with its titanium oxide coating that produces a highly scratch resistant, brilliant, rainbow finish in the blade and handle.
Kershaw Ken Onion Rainbow Chive Pocket Knife with Speed Safe
Amazon Price: $47.97 (as of 07/09/2009)
Rainbow Chive - 1600VIB
Steel: 420HC stainless-steel with titanium-oxide coated
Handle: 410 stainless-steel titanium-oxide coate
* Chive 1600SS a 410 stainless steel handle with a polish finish.
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Pros & Cons of the Kershaw Chive
Pros:
* It is ideal for carrying in your pocket or for using on your keychain.
* The assisted opening mechanism is fast and the knife opens in a smooth way.
* The finish of the knife is excellent and the materials are good.
* It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
* Nobody can confuse this small pocket knife with a weapon.
* The blade is razor-sharp out of the box, holds its edge for a relatively long time and it is easy to sharpen.
Cons:
* Do you have big hands? Then this knife is probably too small for you.
* The tip lock, the locking mechanism to prevent accidental opening, doesn't feel sturdy.
* Thumb stud is too small almost useless if you have big hands. You have to use the index-opening system to open the knife comfortably.
* It is ideal for carrying in your pocket or for using on your keychain.
* The assisted opening mechanism is fast and the knife opens in a smooth way.
* The finish of the knife is excellent and the materials are good.
* It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
* Nobody can confuse this small pocket knife with a weapon.
* The blade is razor-sharp out of the box, holds its edge for a relatively long time and it is easy to sharpen.
Cons:
* Do you have big hands? Then this knife is probably too small for you.
* The tip lock, the locking mechanism to prevent accidental opening, doesn't feel sturdy.
* Thumb stud is too small almost useless if you have big hands. You have to use the index-opening system to open the knife comfortably.
Conclusion:
All in all, I recommend these knives. Because they are small and light, you will forget that you are carrying them in your pocket and they could be perfect for using on your keychain. A great knife for light duty and hard to beat for the price.
To see more of my favorites knives visit: Best Pocket Knives for Camping and Everyday Use
To see more of my favorites knives visit: Best Pocket Knives for Camping and Everyday Use
Demonstration of the Pink Chive
Demonstration of the Chive using Index opening system after release the tip lock
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by David-Ventura
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