Fishing Talk

5 Comments

• by James Arouet

  19 Jul 2010 at 23:46

  

  I’m surprised this knife has so few reviews. The other Kershaw Leek designs have way more reviews, but this one does cost more and is a newer design. You can see tons of reviews on the other Leek designs, so I won’t comment extensively on the Leek design itself. Mostly I’ll comment on why this knife is different from those other designs and why those differences make it superior.

  It costs more than the other Leek designs, but this knife has two distinct advantages over the others: the grip and the steel used in the blade.

  First, the grip is fantastic. It feels rough in a good way, like the knife isn’t going to somehow slip out of your hand. If you run your finger along the grip, you’ll see that the knife has such an easily gripped texture that it actually exfoliates the skin on your fingers. This is a good thing because it means you aren’t going to somehow slip and cut yourself like you might with a non-textured grip. Even if your hand is sweaty or wet, I don’t see this knife slipping. I don’t think I’d ever like to go back to knives with wood or metal handles; they simply don’t provide enough “hold” on the knife. This grip makes the knife a lot safer and easier to use. It’s used on several other Kershaw knives, including the RAM, Blur, and Skyline. On this knife the entire handle (or more specifically the two outer sides, the top and bottom are smooth) is the G10 material, whereas on some other designs there are only patches of G10.

  Second, the blade steel is one of the premium steels, s30v. (For a detailed review of steels, see this link:[...]) This type of steel retains its edge longer than the steel used in the other Leek knives. It’s one of the better steels out right now, and it’s the main reason this knife costs around $30 more than the other Leeks. This steel has good wear resistance and corrosion resistance properties. It’s a fantastic steel that if cared for properly should last a very, very long time. It will take a very sharp edge and is not as hard to sharpen as some of the other “extremely wear resistant” steels. This steel, s30V, is considered one of the best all-around premium steels. If you’re really particular about what you use your knife for, then you should read up on different blade steels. After doing my research I decided that s30v was a better choice than the Sandvik steel that’s typically used in the Leek knives.

  Now for other observations. The locking mechanism works well on this knife. The blade is held securely in place. There is a small safety catch at the end of the handle so the blade won’t accidentally open. The Kershaw “Speedsafe” design is a spring-assisted mechanism that allows you to open the blade with one finger. It opens extremely fast and locks into place with a nice click sound. It does not take much pressure to open the blade, I just insert my fingernail into one of the grooves and push down slightly and it opens up and locks itself in one smooth motion. The thumb stud on the side is, in my opinion, worthless. I haven’t found a way to use it without fear of cutting myself. The “flipper” on the back of the blade is much safer.

  Despite what some people may think about this spring-assisted design, it’s much safer than conventional knives where you have to open the blade yourself. The reason for this is because I never have to touch the blade to open it. I just push down on the flipper on the back of the blade and it opens all the way and locks into position. There’s no fear of the knife slipping in your hand or accidentally cutting yourself. Also the spring-assisted open does not cause the blade to jerk out of your hand at all. There is a very slight movement, but I think even a young adult would have no problem holding on to the knife. It’s simply an excellent design.

  The pocket clip for me is more or less useless because I’m left-handed. It’s on the wrong side of the knife for me, so I plan on removing it at some point. You need a T6 torx screwdriver to remove it and you can get one of these online or at pretty much any hardware store for cheap. The pocket clip is well made but doesn’t go well with the G10 grip because the G10 is abrasive and does not allow for easy entry or removal of the knife from one’s pocket. This isn’t a problem for me because I don’t plan on trying to pull this knife out of my pocket in a flash to defend myself. I like knowing the knife is securely attached to my pocket and is not going to fall out, but I’m thinking I will remove the clip because I don’t plan on carrying this every day with me; I can’t anyway because of where I work. If you need a knife that you can pull out of your pocket lightning quick, I imagine you wouldn’t want the G10 grip. I have no problems clipping the knife to my pocket or pulling it out, but it’s rough on clothes and does take a little more effort than would a knife without G10.

  The knife arrives very sharp out of the box. As we always said in Boy Scouts, “A sharp knife is a safe knife,” so this is good.

  Kershaw is an excellent brand with a very good reputation. This knife is made in the USA, which also adds to its cost. I find that overall this is a fantastic knife that would be great to carry every day if you felt inclined to do so. It is very well made, sharp, has a grip you can rely on, and a premium steel blade. To me these features that differentiate it from the other Kershaw Leek knives make it superior and worth the extra $30. It’s a little more of an investment at first, but I’m sure this knife will last a lifetime.
  Rating: 5 / 5

• by Jimmy

  20 Jul 2010 at 02:03

  

  First of all I would like that say that all Kershaw products I have received have been of excellent quality, this knife included. They are one of the few companies that truly stands behind their products. They provide a life long warranty, free sharpening (you pay one way shipping, they pay the way back), and free replacement parts that they ship free of charge. This covers all of their knives, no matter the price you paid for them. So, If you like a quality knife and plan to have it for years to come, this could be the knife for you. Now for the knife itself.

  This knife is truly great. The stonewashed blade on this knife is excellent, Sandvik is one of the best blade making steels that I’ve found (that alone is worth the price you pay). Blade comes sharp, razor sharp, so you had better be careful with it. I also find the design of the blade itself to be useful. The tip narrows down to a needle point (still have not managed to bend or break the tip, even though it looks as if it would be easy to it’s more rugged then it looks which I find useful for various smaller tasks such as removing splinters, stickers, etc. As for the handle, its G10, which will be a positive for some and a negative for others. G10 is rough, that is its purpose. It gives you a solid grip on the knife. This however makes it a nuisance to clip on your pants as it will catch on the fabric. It is also rougher on the hand. I own the stainless steel version as well which I tend to prefer over G10 (I looks nicer, smooth in the hand, and its easier to clip on). However it all comes down to personal preference. The locking mechanism is a standard liner lock. (I find this better then lock backs as it is easier to close with one hand). It works, however can stick sometimes is not as easy to close as the stainless steel version of the knife. However is very negligible and will only really be noticed if you fiddle around with it long enough. As for the speed safe feature, it works. However the blade will not pop out on its own, so I don’t bother engaging it.

  Over all great knife, it looks good, it’s slim, and great for EDC. Most would consider it a 5/5, however I am nit picky and docked it 1 star (wanted to give it a 4.5/5 but not an option) due to the fact that the stainless steel version is easier to close and easier to clip on. I would buy it again, and recommend it to anyone looking for a good EDC knife.
  Rating: 4 / 5

• by Greg Kukanich

  20 Jul 2010 at 02:49

  

  I purchased this Kershaw Leek for use as my work carry knife,its incredibly sharp right out of the box,no touch up needed on the blade,A+ on the finish and made in the good old USA.The handle material which is G10 is very catchy in your hand,I doubt it would ever slip even if your hands are wet.The mechanism is very fast opening and it does have a lock on the handle making it impossible to accidently open.I really like the blade design,it seems like it will work great for even a occasional cardboard box cutting,something that I might add dulls good knives quickly.All in all its a little pricey but absolutely worth every penny,and Amazon has really good prices on the upper end knives.I would definately buy this one again.
  Rating: 5 / 5

• by Gary W. Wilkett

  20 Jul 2010 at 03:07

  

  As a product made in the US, it is of the highest quality, making it an excellent knife. The G10 composite handle makes it hard to drop, as it is slip-proof. The easy open assist, for either hand is another plus, making it fast to open.
  
  I was not familiar with Kershaw products before this purchase, but I will buy these products in the future from Amazon.com. That is for sure.Kershaw Ken Onion Black Leek Folding Knife with Speed Safe
  Rating: 5 / 5

• by M. Harris

  20 Jul 2010 at 05:34

  

  I knew that I wanted a Leek, and I’m glad I waited for the G10. The handle is absolutely worth the extra cost. There is no way this knife will slip in your hand. You are buying a knife that will last a lifetime.
  Rating: 5 / 5