Kershaw Chill

J

JNieporte

Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
3,352
The Chill is one of Kershaw's new models from China. It was designed by R.J. Martin (he also designed the Groove, Zing, Volt, Rogue, and Blitz). This one is a dedicated flipper model; there are no thumb studs. It sells for around $20 in stores. The Chill is model 3410, and weighs in at 1.9 ounce on my scale (even lighter than the Skyline). I'll be using the Skyline as its comparison for this review, as they're so close in size and weight.
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The Handle: The Chill is 3-7/8" long when closed and 5/16" thick not counting the pocket clip. It has dual stainless steel liners, which are drilled out to reduce weight. The backspacer is black Zytel.
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The Chill has black G-10 handle scales, and I find that they're textured to look like carbon fiber. Maybe that's just me. They feel great, just perfect in roughness and pattern.
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The handle isn't Torx construction, but rather hex screws. There are six (three on each side) holding the knife together through the backspacer. There's also a lanyard hole, and it will accomodate cordage up to 1/8" thick.
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The blade pivot pin screw is also a hex screw, a tad larger, and came just perfect in terms of blade tension.
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The Chill has a reversible pocket clip, right-hand only (tip up or down). The clip is brushed stainless steel with Kershaw's logo stamped in. It's adjustable via the same size hex screws as the handle screws.
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The clip has nice tension in the pocket and placement is good, but I've found that in tip-down position, the spot on the clip that touches your pocket also touches the very first handle screw. Maybe this is intentional, I don't know. It doesn't affect performance in any way, but it's something I noticed.

The Chill is a linerlock, and it locks up very solid. The liner isn't jimped, but it doesn't need to be. The liners are each 1/16" thick.
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The blade rides on two bushings; the one on the locking side is phosphor bronze while the one on the non-locking side is white nylon. Opening is easily accomplished with the flipper, and requires no wrist flip.

In hand, the Chill is very comfortable. Even more so than the Skyline.
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It's thinner than the Skyline, despite the Chill having two stainless steel liners and the Skyline only having one. (My red Skyline is shown to tell the difference immediately.)
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Continued below due to photo upload limitations...
 
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The Blade: The Chill has a thin, narrow blade which is perfect for slicing. It's 3-3/8" long with a 3-1/4" cutting edge, and it's flat ground from about 3/4 way up the blade. The blade is just under 1/8" thick and has a brushed finish.

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Blade steel is 8Cr13MoV, and mine came extremely sharp right out of the box. Kershaw heat treats their 8Cr13MoV to 58-60 on the Rockwell scale, and I've found that this makes it slightly better than other brands using this steel.
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The blade doesn't have any jimping, but again, I don't think it needs it. It handles very well and works as a lightweight EDC. There are no thumb studs, just a flipper, but it works extremely well. Opening is smooth and fast, and doesn't require a wrist flick. I've only used my chill for a few hours, but I'll tell you that it keeps a very respectable edge (remember, we're talking about a $20 knife here) and resharpens easily.

The Chill would make a great starter knife, a cool gift, or even an inexpensive EDC that you can take with you just about anywhere. I don't think I've encountered a knife with a 3-3/8" blade and under 2 ounces; it just hasn't happened yet. Kershaw has outdone themselves, again, by putting their name on such a knife at such a low price.
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Nice review. I was really, really impressed with my chill when I took it out of the box... amazing what Kershaw is bringing to the consumer at that price-point.
 
Great review as usual !

I liked the Chill since seeing it , have yet to buy one yet though , soon.... I love flippers and Kershaw so why not ? :D

I want to get one not only to use but to mod , that knife is screaming to be modded.

How solid is the knife considering it's size and linerlock ? My Zing for instance I consider a very solid little knife.


Tostig
 
Thanks for the review. I've been thinking about getting one as an oversea's travel knife. I'll put one on my next order.
 
It looks like a nice knife but I really wish it had thumb studs. The dedicated flipper seems to really limit the places where I would be "comfortable" using it. Having the option to open a knife slowly with thumb studs (or a hole) with less flash is very desirable to me.
 
Tostig said:
...How solid is the knife considering it's size and linerlock ? My Zing for instance I consider a very solid little knife...
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It locks up solid; no play at all. Because it's so lightweight, it feels cheap or flimsy, but it's really solid. It's a hard one to explain. The Chill won't give out on you.
 
Thanks for the great review. I just got this knife today and love it, this will definitely get thrown in EDC rotation. BTW I got mine at academy sports for $19.99 and it came with this cool carabiner knife.
 
*resurrect*
Quick question for those who've got the Chill:
JNieporte says that the opening requires no wrist flick at all. Yet in all YT reviews I've seen so far, the reviewers use wrist flicks to open it and none of them seem to be able to open it with only finger pressure.

What are your experiences?
 
Getting a flipper to open without a wrist flick is easily accomplished, with the proper technique. Some flippers need to be "pre-loaded"; that is when you place you finger on the flipper, push up (towards the front of the knife where the blade will eventually be) slightly first then snap your finger back. I have never had this trick not work for me.

And make sure you are using the pad of your finger on the tip of the flipper.
 
amue;

SPXTrader said:
Getting a flipper to open without a wrist flick is easily accomplished, with the proper technique. Some flippers need to be "pre-loaded"; that is when you place you finger on the flipper, push up (towards the front of the knife where the blade will eventually be) slightly first then snap your finger back. I have never had this trick not work for me.
And make sure you are using the pad of your finger on the tip of the flipper.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: To this. The Chill just needs a small amount of "loading" to open without wrist movement. It's a very good knife; an excellent knife at $18.
 
Hey guys,

thanks for your suggestions.
I got my Chill in the mail today. The flipper opening is really easy, as you said. No problems there.
But I've noticed that the liner is already beyond the blade center when open, I'd say the detent ball is about 1mm away from hitting the right liner.
Is it supposed to be like this?
 
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amue said:
Hey guys,

thanks for your suggestions.
I got my Chill in the mail today. The flipper opening is really easy, as you said. No problems there.
But I've noticed that the liner is already beyond the blade center when open, I'd say the detent ball is about 1mm away from hitting the right liner.
Is it supposed to be like this?
Click to expand...

Mines a little father away but hasn't been an issue. Best 16 bucks you can spend and great review.
 
Just resurrecting this fine review after almost 2 years. The Chill remains a nice piece of knife for a $20 bill. Its almost as diminuitive in the pocket as the tiny SOG Flash 1, though it sports a longer blade and the scales provide a little more real estate. The handle actually fills the hand, with no pinkie dangle. It actually feels good in the hand. And while no supersteel, the 8Cr13MoV is a good performer for EDC, and getting G10 rather than plastic on a $20 knife is a nice touch. And milled liners to save another ounce? Right on.

Thanks also to Brother Nieporte for noting that the fasteners are hexes and not torx. No wonder my torx bit was not working!

At this bargain price, I may pick up another just bling it up with some shine on the blade.
 
Yeah, another great RJ Martin design from Kershaw.

I am making it a point to get all of his Kershaw designs now.
 
I hate to bump up an old thread, but I too am roused by the fit and finish as well as construction on these newer imported offerings, from these big US knife companies. Kershaw in particular has put out some stellar knives, sporting some pretty respectable names in the knife world. I'm impressed greatly with the Chill in general. IMHO it's the epitome of what R.J. Martin is about in the production of folders. Not too terribly overbuilt as well as featuring long slender blades. Seems like a pretty cool and inexpensive way to go against the grain and try out a folder that isn't one of those behemoth knives under the "hard use" moniker.
 
I'm a recent Chill convert.

The Chill also is a great way to find out how much you enjoy a completely manual flipper.

Skyline fans, note that the Chill also is ridiculously cheap!
 
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