Kershaw Black Chive: Blade Am. Made Knife of the Year 2001

[Dexter Ewing]

Today I got this press release through email from my contact at Kershaw Knives:

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WILSONVILLE—By an overwhelming vote of trade industry members, Kershaw’s new Black Chive was selected as The Blade Magazine’s 2001 American-Made Knife of the Year.
The winner is chosen based on a range of criteria—from form and function to craftsmanship and quality.

The Black Chive (Model 1600BLK) is one of the newest entries in Kershaw’s line of Ken Onion knives with Speed-Safe assisted opening. It is in addition to the regular Chive with the satin finish. Kershaw Ken Onion knives are among the hottest-selling in the US today.

The Chive is smaller than the current line of Kershaw Ken Onion knives and provides customers with a more-compact “Onion” that is easy to carry in the pocket or purse.

“People are saying that it’s the right design, in the right size, from the right company,” said Blade’s Steve McGowen. “Plus it has a very cool finish.”

The right-sized Chive features a 1 15/16-inch blade of premium high-carbon 420 stainless steel and measures just 2 7/8-inches closed. It weighs 1.9 ounces. Its “cool finish” is boron carbide, which not only gives the Chive a sophisticated, gray color, but enhances performance, too.

The boron carbide is incredibly durable—93 to 95 Rc. It is chip, crack, and peel resistent, coats to a razor edge, and is heat resistant to 2732 degrees F. Best of all, because the Chive’s unique boron coating is impervious to most harsh chemicals, acids, and bases, it virtually eliminates corrosion and maintains its lubrication longer. In other words, a little oil goes a long way on the new Chive.

“We’re proud to be honored as American-Made Knife of the Year,” said Doug Flagg, Director of Sales & Marketing for Kershaw Knives, Ltd. “We wanted to provide knife users with an opportunity to own our exciting Speed-Safe technology in a size that much of the industry doesn’t address. And the boron carbide is a very cool finish. We’re very excited about the benefits it offers knife users.”

In addition to the boron carbide coating, the patented Speed-Safe assisted-opening mechanism gives the Chive a significant “wow factor.” This proprietary technology enables the knife user to open the knife with one hand. A short push on the thumb stud moves the blade into position smoothly and easily. When the blade is opened a portion of the frame moves into place to lock the blade into place for safe, secure use.

The Chive also boasts top-quality Kershaw construction. It is manufactured exclusively in Kershaw’s Wilsonville, Oregon facility and is built to maintain Kershaw’s worldwide reputation for quality and innovation. Kershaw’s Black Chive—The Blade Magazine’s 2001 American-Made Knife of the Year—is sure to add spice to anyone’s knife collection.

Available November 1, 2001, the Black Chive will come in a nice gift box and will retail for $69.95. Perfect for the holiday season.


A free, full-color product catalog may be obtained by writing to Kershaw Knives, 25300 SW Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070.

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Proud member: AKTI, NCCKG, NCKK, and SCAK

Living life on the edge

 

[PhilL]

Heck Dex, I could have told you the Chive was a winner, in fact I did in about 2 or 3 posts here on BFC.

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Will Work 4 Knives
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[fishface5]

sounds cool, but the blade size is a little small. Dex, do you know, is the Scallion going to be bigger, or just a different handle material?

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[previously incarnated as fishface, since 10/98]

the beatings will continue until morale improves

 

[Dexter Ewing]

FF% - The Chive is smaller than the Scallion. They are both essentially the same design but with different handle materials.

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Proud member: AKTI, NCCKG, NCKK, and SCAK

Living life on the edge

 

[Bugs3x]

Thanks, Dexter. Nice to get some more details. While I know that 420HC isn't bad steel, the phrase, "premium high-carbon 420 stainless steel" has kind of an oxymoron ring to it. I know its advertising, but it still bothers me to see people make so many efforts to render so many words from our great language so meaningless. Premium indeed!



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Asi es la vida

Bugs

 

[pjenkins00]

"When the blade is opened a portion of the frame moves into place to lock the blade into place for safe, secure use. "


did they say it's a frame lock? If so, Niiice!