New Pocketknife: Kershaw Leek Composite Blade

[Onomea]

I usually buy slipjoint pocketknives, preferring the traditional look, but saw this Kershaw Leek recently and was taken with the clean, minimalist, all steel design.











The blade is D2 steel cutting edge with a Sandvik 14C28N spine. (Not that I know much about what that means, but per Kershaw.) The wavy line is the brazing that permanently joins the metals. The handle is 410 stainless.

For me the primary opening mechanism, the flipper, seen at the upper left in the first photo, takes a bit of getting used to. The thumb stud will likely be easier to use once the knife loosens up some. The blade, when locked open, is released by a “liner lock,” a metal piece inside the liner that one pushes aside with one’s thumb.

In the third photo, upper left, the hole is for a lanyard, and the slot below houses a sliding lock to prevent the knife from opening unexpectedly. The clip can be affixed to either end of the handle.

In the fifth and last photo, you can see that the back of the pocket knife is open. I like the look, and I assume it makes the knife a little lighter.

MSRP is $130, but I got it for half that off Amazon. It’s a very light, sharp, high quality knife for quite a reasonable price, I think.

 

[JayCeeNC]

I have a similar Kershaw and love the flipper design. I use it by drawing my index finger down from the top; extremely fast opening for me.
First thing I did was remove the lock. If I want a fast opening knife, I hate having some little doodad I have to mess around with every time I need to open it. YMMV.

 

[MCorps0311]

Sweet looking Kershaw sticker knife!

 

[Marshwheeling]

The Kershaw Leek, designed by Ken Onion, is considered a classic by many enthusiasts. The standard 14C28N steel is excellent, with good edge retention and easy sharpening. The D2 should have even better edge retention, while being a bit more difficult to sharpen. I wouldn’t know about that, as my few D2 blades havent’t needed sharpening with the limited use I give them.

The all-stainless Leek is a very gentlemanly blade, and gives the impression of a much more expensive knife. My second Leek is the Rainbow or “disco” Leek my son gave me. I don’t go clubbing much, but if I ever do, I know I will be sporting the right knife.

 

[gwpercle]

As if I need another Leek.... Thanks for posting .Nice looking steel and I think I have some left over Christmas Amazon gift cards just burning a hole in my pocket ! Oh Yeah...another Leek !
Gary

 

[H Richard]

I've carried this one since 06, and feel undressed without it.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I have a similar Kershaw and love the flipper design. I use it by drawing my index finger down from the top; extremely fast opening for me.
First thing I did was remove the lock. If I want a fast opening knife, I hate having some little doodad I have to mess around with every time I need to open it. YMMV.

I refuse to buy one with the lock-I have heard of several instances where it locked up the knife while in use-sure it may not happen but why take a chance. For me it's "pre lock" Kershaws only.
Sorry-but I just HAD to

 

[robvious]

a Leek is my EDC knife... great piece of cutlery...

 

[Onomea]

Actually, I kind of like the lock.

I think the odds of me using the knife as a weapon are slim, and the odds of needing it as a weapon instantly, without time to manipulate the lock, slimmer yet.

And I do have a small auto — a Protech Stinger — without a lock that has had a couple of, um, negligent openings in my pocket. (Thank goodness that is a small, less than two inch, blade!)

There are often times, though,when being able to open a knife with one hand is useful because other hand is occupied. To me, the advantage of an auto or assisted opening knife is less speed of deployment than the convenience of one handed operation.

(Plus autos and assisted opening knives just have a cool factor that’s fun!)

 

[Shooter Mike]

I bought the wife 2 Leeks with the stone inlay from A.G.Russell about 7 years ago. She swaps them out every other day for her carry knife.

Kinda like shoes I guess and she loves them.

 

[Onomea]

Torx bit, actually, not an allen wrench, is what you need for removal. Probably a T6. Quite right that the lock is simple to remove though.

 

[hcaroselli]

I have had a Kershaw Leek for a few years and I really like it. It's with me every day. At first I was unsure about the shape of the blade; I had never seen that before and that is partly why I bought it. Now I am a big fan. I especially like that it is thin and light as I carry it in my pocket. I don't use the clip on any of my knives.

 

[H Richard]

The lock on mine kept sliding closed so I put a small drop of blue locktite on it and it fixed the problem.

 

[mod34]

I usually buy slipjoint pocketknives, preferring the traditional look, but saw this Kershaw Leek recently and was taken with the clean, minimalist, all steel design.











The blade is D2 steel cutting edge with a Sandvik 14C28N spine. (Not that I know much about what that means, but per Kershaw.) The wavy line is the brazing that permanently joins the metals. The handle is 410 stainless.

For me the primary opening mechanism, the flipper, seen at the upper left in the first photo, takes a bit of getting used to. The thumb stud will likely be easier to use once the knife loosens up some. The blade, when locked open, is released by a “liner lock,” a metal piece inside the liner that one pushes aside with one’s thumb.

In the third photo, upper left, the hole is for a lanyard, and the slot below houses a sliding lock to prevent the knife from opening unexpectedly. The clip can be affixed to either end of the handle.

In the fifth and last photo, you can see that the back of the pocket knife is open. I like the look, and I assume it makes the knife a little lighter.

MSRP is $130, but I got it for half that off Amazon. It’s a very light, sharp, high quality knife for quite a reasonable price, I think.

Did somebody say "Slip Joints"? Actually your Leek is a great looking knife Onomea, Well done!

 

[gnystrom]

Leek's are very nice knives but one word of caution. I carried one tip up in my back pocket and I reached back to pulled it out only to find out it had partially opened. Fortunately, I did not need stitches as the cut was so clean but...
Yes, there is a safety but I always found that to be very inconvenient until that point.

 

[PeterJ]

Cripes,,,, reading this got me to thinking, I gotta get one of those . We were at our favorite flea market today, the Don-Wes, and I went to see a knife dealer who had sold me a beautiful Texan Damascus folding knife a couple of years ago. Asked if he had any Kershaw Knives and he said that he had a couple. Turns out he had one Leek, Ken Onion Edition in black. Couldn’t believe it but had my wallet out before I knew what the price was, which turned out was exactly half of factory retail. Fantastic knife which I know will be my EDC from here on out.

 

[Krogen]

Leek's are very nice knives but one word of caution. I carried one tip up in my back pocket and I reached back to pulled it out only to find out it had partially opened. Fortunately, I did not need stitches as the cut was so clean but...
Yes, there is a safety but I always found that to be very inconvenient until that point.

I'm no expert, but I carry my Leek with the blade against my side pocket seam. That tends to keep it closed. They're not pocket knives that can be allowed rattle around in your pocket like keys and spare change. The flipper stub can easily be triggered that way. Carry them as intended and I think they are problem free. They are nice, functional, working knives. Not an artistic piece, but well made and usable. It does what I need it to do.

 

[cadmike]

I edc a very similar knife, the smaller kershaw “chive” which features a 1.9 inch blade. Otherwise it has all the same features as the Leek. It’s a very handy and practical knife. I keep it clipped into the watch pocket of my pants. I like it best because I can completely manipulate the knife with just my right hand, draw from pocket, unlock and open, make the cut, then unlock and close the knife, reinsert into pocket. It’s very well designed in that regard.