Help replacing a cruddy Chive, EDC pocket knife

A

Abouna

Joined
Aug 12, 2006
Messages
59
Well, I bought a Chive about 6 months ago. I really wanted a smallish AO for my EDC keychain. The knife is quite nice but unfortunately I've had it. The AO is a bit flaky and now the lock has broken (which in itself is astounding, how does a little steel pin break with mild use in only 6 months?).

Several people here and KF advised against AO for pocket carry telling me it would open up. Well, they were right, if I don't lock it, I've found it open many times (which obviously stinks when your fishing around for your keys). Plus, having to lock an AO kind of defeats the purpose.

Any suggestions for a Chive size knife that is EASY to one hand? I'd like to stay at 3" or so, like the Chive. One caveat, I'm not partial to Spydercos. I had a Jester and just didn't like the opening (I think I'd prefer a stud) or the finish (I realize some of the pricier Spydercos are probably much nicer finish).
 
Really, I would give a Spyderco with a more generous sized hole a chance. Check out the Lava, Cricket, Poliwog, Navigator 2, and dragonfly. I've had the lava, it is cool. I want a cricket and Nav 2 they look like very nice knives. People go crazy over their dragonfly's and that is probably most close to a chive. Check out the new eched dragonflys with vg-10 steel or you can go for just a plain old FRN one or SS. But really, Spyderco is the master of "little big knives" exactly what you are looking for. The thumbhole is amazing too what are you talking about! :eek: :D Easiest one hand opening method around! (except axis lock) The jester probably isn't a good example of the thumbhole.

http://www.newgraham.com/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=dragonfly

Other than that...The Al Mar osprey or hawk I always thought looked great, but pricey and no clip...
 
The Benchmade mini Griptilian is sweet, in D2, it's even sweeter! Smooth as silk!

Matador-
 
I would also recommend a Spyderco as well. Besides the ones that were mentioned looking at the Spin.
 
OK, I'll look at Spydercos again.

Anyone have any experience with the Al Mars? They look great (no clip is just fine with me, all I need is a lanyard hole).
 
An AO as a clipless keychain knife isn't a good idea at all. I'm not surprised you were disappointed with it. I am kind of surprised the AO stopped functioning so soon though. I've had a Chive for 7 years and it's still going strong. Send it back to Kershaw. I carry mine in the pocket with a lanyard and use the lock. When I start to use it, I disengage the lock and keep it unlocked until I'm done. Usually I carry the Chive when I go fishing so I unlock it at the water and reengage when I'm going back to the car. The Chive is not a SD knife in the least so having the lightning quick open isn't much of a concern to me, it's just fun to play with and makes one handed opening fairly quick.

Maybe try a Byrd Finch or Starling, Kershaw LFK, Buck/Mayo Cutback or Benchmade 707. Probably your best bet would be the Boker Subcom. It is a good, cheap, solidly built keychain-able folder with a thumbstud and can be opened one handed pretty easily once worn in. It has a good reputation which means something especially since Boker catches some crap here (and for good reason). Anyway, let us know what you wind up going with.
 
The Spyderco Spin is a great little lightweight knife - only weighs 1.35 oz. Excellent VG-10 steel and the framelock is a very stout design. It has a lanyard hole and the clip is removable if you want to take it off.
(picture below is actual size)

spyc86.jpg
 
I should have mentioned this before, I do not like FRN scales. That eliminates most of the Spydercos.
 
What about a Benchmade Benchmite or an A G Russell small titanium & VG-10 folder? They're about 2.5" closed and some have backlocks. You can also get a variety of handle scales on them?
 
dalefuller said:
What about a Benchmade Benchmite or an A G Russell small titanium & VG-10 folder? They're about 2.5" closed and some have backlocks. You can also get a variety of handle scales on them?
Click to expand...

Benchmade Benchmite II needs a modification to open one handed.
Do a search on Benchmite here to find it.
 
If you don't like the Spyderco's, take a look at the Sog Blink. It's a small AO. The difference between it and the Chive is the Chive has the little flipper that tends to open it in your pocket (that's the problem I had anyway). The Blink doesn't have the flipper and I've not had the same problem with it opening in my pocket.

Rob
 
Benchmite - too hard to open, and I don't want to mod it.

SOG Blink - I think I'll stay away from AO if I can.

I'm getting tempted to try an Al Mar, the price is a bit steep though.

I'm also tempted to try a Boker SubCom but the blade design just seems too single purpose, I know your not cutting an apple with it!
 
I recently purchased a Byrd G10 Robin. The blade is 2.5" and closed it's at 3.31", a little bigger than your preference. I carry mine in the bottom of my pocket with the clip on, although it's removable. It doesn't have a Spyderhole, but a bird's eye or comet shaped thumbhole. Most of my knives have thumbstuds and they have been my preference as well. With just a little practice I can easily open and close one handed. I personally wouldn't like it on my keychain. It does have a lanyard hole. It's a nice little knife designed by Spyderco, made in China.
 
BM opportunist
Kershaw LFK

Al Mar ultralights are nice, but a bit much for linerless handles and aus8 blade steel. And the lock was little stiff for the grabby thumbstud on my Falcon. If you don't like the subcom, there is also the wharcom.
 
If you're tempted to try Al Mar you won't be disapponted with the osprey model. It weighs a little over a 1/2 ounce and the fit and finish on the Osprey is extremely nice. These knives are made for Al Mar by Moki, one of the most respected knife companies in Japan.

Check out New Graham knives - they have several models available. They aren't cheap but quality seldom is. (The Osprey below with white micarta is around $70 bucks)
http://www.newgraham.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=59

AM1001WM.jpg
 
Since you don't like the shape of the Subcom, how about the Boker Wharcom? I don't know that you can cut an apple with a tiny blade like the Chive but I'd be impressed to see it done. I prefer a 3" blade for my fruits.

Hmm, there are plenty of small Spydies with non-FRN handles. Let's see... the SS Cricket, Navigator, Spin, Lava, Poliwog... IMHO Boker and Spyderco have some of the best small knives around.

Of course, my personal choice for a good but tiny knife is the Boker Subcom... it is small enough to be innocuous but large enough to be useful. I'm almost never without it.
 
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