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CRKT KEN ONION SHENANIGAN
The Shenanigan is the latest collaboration folder from Columbia River Knife & Tool, designed by renowned custom knifemaker Ken Onion. This exciting new folder series joins the other two CRKT Ken Onion designed folders – the Ripple and Eros - and is available in two distinct versions, each differing in handle materials. Both models feature drop point blades of 3 ¼ inch lengths. The regular Shenanigan has a cold forged and contoured aluminum handle with a textured rubber inlay and has a blade made of premium Acuto+ stainless steel and given a black titanium nitride finish for additional corrosion resistance. The Shenanigan PPS is a lightweight but tough work knife with a contoured and radiused molded Zytel handle and a drop point blade machined from AUS-8 stainless. Both model variations feature fast, one handed flipper opening that is easily accomplished by applying light pressure to the protruding flipper which in turn causes the blade to propel to the open and locked position. Regardless of which variation of the CRKT Onion Shenanigan you choose, you are guaranteed to get a stylish but hard working everyday carry folder. Let’s take a closer look at the lightweight Shenanigan PPS first. At first glance the handle appears to be a flat profile. Once you pick the knife up it is clear that the profile isn’t as such. There is a slight contour to the handle, allowing it to rest in your grip very nicely. A large finger groove allows the user to wrap the index finger around, with the rest of the fingers falling naturally in place. At the thumb rest area, there are a series of pronounced traction notches which permit the thumb to rest on a non-slip area. A steel pocket clip carries the knife tip down and securely inside the pocket. Inlaid partial steel liners give the handle its rigidity, and on one side the liner is formed like a regular liner lock to securely lock the blade open and closed. And finally, a checkering pattern in the grip area of the handle gives the user enough hand traction without it being too aggressive. The blade of the Shenanigan PPS is made out of AUS- 8 stainless, a popular choice among knife manufacturers. This blade steels offers up good edge holding and is easy to resharpen, which is why it is the steel of choice for manufacturers like CRKT, for their working folders. The blade is given a bead blast finish which has a nice contrast to the solid black Zytel handle. The regular Shenanigan offers a few upgrades from the PPS version but otherwise, all dimensions, handle/blade features and blade lock are the same. First off is the cold forged aluminum handle. The cold forging process allows the radius and contours to be included, and thus, reducing the need for machining of the handle which will increase the price of the knife. Second, the textured rubber inlay sports a nice, mild checking pattern similar to that of the PPS version. Third, the blade is ground from Acuto+ stainless steel and gives solid performance, close to that of 440C stainless. The blade is given a black titanium nitride coating. Since the handle inlay, screws, and blade are black, this gives a really striking appearance when the gray aluminum handle is thrown into the mix. Very nice two tone appearance. And again, like the Shenanigan PPs, a black steel pocket clip is mounted to the handle to carry the knife tip down. Overall, the regular Shenanigan has a nice, upscale look to it belonging to folders that are twice as expensive as this one is. Both versions of the Shenanigan have 3 1/4 inch long drop point blades. The blades are hollow ground, with a generous belly. Both traits enhance the knife’s superb slicing ability. A swedge is ground on the top of the blade and consumes about 60 percent of the blade’s length, giving the Shenanigan a sleek appearance. Note there is a lack of thumbstuds/disk or opening hole in the blade. It is only opened via the flipper. The flipper action is the best on this knife. Why? The secret is in the detent. You apply pressure to the flipper to initiate the opening, and the detent loads up for a second and then releases that energy. When it does, the blade is propelled easily and swiftly to the open and lock position. There is no need to hit the flipper and jerk your wrist at the same time like some other manual action flipper folders on the market now. Just light finger pressure is all that is needed. Keep in mind the Shenanigan is a manual opener, not an assist. CRKT and Ken Onion have the action dialed in very nicely. Very well done!
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