440a vs damascus leek

[blendingnoise]

Trying to round up some information and decide before I buy a Leek. I have mostly owned pocketknives and a couple of swords (hand me downs from India mainly) and daggers. All non using, so blade quality and sharpness retention etc have never been things I have read up on.

With all this being said, what steel would be good for an everyday knife to beat up a bit. I would be better served with something that would hold an edge for a while as I don't have any sharpening tools and would only consider buying one in a couple of months. Going back to school sucks budget wise for tools and toys.

From reading online it says that damascus is a better material but I also read some things that say that damascus on the cheaper side is not preferable. Some even go so far as to say that damascus introduces lots of failure points in cheaper blades where the two metals fuse. I have also read that the 440a is a good everyday blade as it is hard but it dulls quickly.

From pricing stuff out online I only get a 20$ price difference between a damascus leek vs a regular one. Is that 20$ worth it for a damascus blade at the leeks pricepoint? Would it make no difference other than a negligible one that I would not notice being that this would be my first good quality knife?

Is it mostly looks I would choose the damascus blade or will it actually perform better and what are the differences I could expect between the two blades?

 

[svrider3]

Some of the Dam Leek owners will be here to assist you shortly.

Welcome to the forums. :thumbup:

 

[phil000]

I thought the leeks were sandvik now?

Anyway, I have a 440a leek (or rather my girlfriend does jessie9) and it does ok on edge retention, that being said, I think every knife person should have a sharpmaker, and with a sharpmaker it lets you practice sharpening since 440a is FAR more forgiving than say s30v.

I have never used the kershaw damascus or any damascus, and I have no doubt that it can cut...but I always saw damascus as more of a jewelry than a high performance blade steel...

I would go with 440a. The leek is a GREAT choice, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Phil
welcome to the forums!

 

[SPXTrader]

Howdy, and welcome to BF!

First, I can't address all the Dam steels out there...I'm just not that familiar with them to do so. However, since you said you're looking for a beater, I would personally shy away from the Dam Leek, simply because I think it's more of a show piece than a daily beater. You will find those that disagree with me on this, I'm sure. Wait for 2brothers to stop by...

To address your choice of steel, you've already said 1) it will be a daily beater, and 2) you won't have any sharpening ability/systems/stones for a couple of months. This said, I would suggest 13C26 Sandvik or better for your use. It will hold an edge longer (so you can reasonably beat on it, within limits, and it won't require sharpening, again within limits). While 440A is an excellent steel for getting razor sharp, it won't hold an edge as long as the Sandvik or higher grade steels. I have a couple of Mini Mojos with the 440A, and they're very good blades. They do require touch ups with the Sharpmaker more than the 13C26, 154, S30V, and ZDP steels, in order.

This said, for your current situation I'd go with the 13C26...

Hope this helps.......

SPX

 

[blendingnoise]

Thanks for the info. After having seen some of those 3000$ folders with Turkish Damascus and heat treated(?) blue and gold colouring I don't think I could settle for something not as gorgeous as that.

My question was that what knife is Kershaw Random Task Leek?
I see it once in a while on websites and it is a reverse tanto s30v framelock leek. This is not the one I see that was made for ck&t so I am confused as they have the same specs. Is it discontinued or just a hard to find model? What model number is it if anyone knows?

 

[SPXTrader]

Check out www.kershawknives.com. Search by Product Name, then click on the Random Leek from the drop down. It's Kershaw model number 1660TGRYST. I just checked New Graham, and it appears they don't have it in stock right now. Shoot them an email (mdye@newgraham.com) and see if they can get it for you. Mike, Mary Beth and Annie at NGK are very accommodating!

 

[2brothers]

However, since you said you're looking for a beater, I would personally shy away from the Dam Leek, simply because I think it's more of a show piece than a daily beater. You will find those that disagree with me on this, I'm sure. Wait for 2brothers to stop by...


SPX

Who?? Me?? hehe

From what you have stated blendingnoise, I too would purchase a 13C26 for an everyday beater.
Something that can hold an edge for quite some time but easy to sharpen
up when needed.

I'm just a pig when it came to the DAM Leek. I carry one of them every day.
I don't have to sharpen it that often, but it is of decent Damascus.
The others are sealed away for safekeeping.

The other Kershaw models I have in 13C26 hold up very well and you won't be disappointed with a purchase of said steel.

The TGRYST model has always been a favorite of mine. I love the blade style.

mike

 

[blendingnoise]

spxtrader, thats the part which confuses me.
I am trying to find someplace that doesn't look like some shady online but the model I was talking about is this one

http://www.knivesrus.com/c=5AkA8kMY...KEN_ONION_RANDOM_TASK_LEEK_ASSISTED_OPEN.html

it goes by ks1660t in that description. The other thing that is not consistent is the description of the lock. Some say liner and some say frame. From the pictures it almost definitely looks to be the frame lock versions but I do not know if the stock pictures are specific to the one they are selling. I have also seen this model in black. The handle in that description is aluminium instead of the 410 steel that is on the website. Now you understand why I am so confused.

I specifically am looking for a black or silver reverse tanto, s30v framelock leek. Plain edge, no serration.

I PM thomas w about this as it seems he can help. Any other websites you all frequent and give business to?

 

[svrider3]

I have the 1660T. It has the 13C26 steel. The 1660TCTK was a special run. I have 2 of those.
They're hard to find but they do show up on the bay from time to time. It has S30V steel.
There isn't an all silver reverse tanto in S30V. So your only chance is to keep an
eye out on the bay for the all black 1660TCTK if S30V with PE is a must.
Oh, and yes they are both frame locks. Hope that helps clear things up a bit.

Edit: The description of the knife in the link you provided is wrong.

 

[SPXTrader]

spxtrader, thats the part which confuses me...

Hey, when it comes to Leeks, I'm confused too! I've never had a real bad thing for them, but with the OCC Leek coming out, I've got to have one...

2brothers and svrider are more able to directly answer your questions...I'm not blowing ya off, bro...they just know a lot more about Leeks than I do!

I know when I don't know, so I know when to shut up!

All I can say with a fact is be very careful of whom you deal with on the hEllBay.............

SPX

 

[2brothers]

Chesapeake Knife & Tool Random Leek (1660TCKT)

As I understand, those Leeks were made for Chesapeake Knife & Tool
which was owned by Mel Herman. They filed bankruptcy in '06.
They had kiosks set up at malls all over the place.

The only way to find one is used in a pawn shop type place, or the Bay. uggh.

Good luck.

mike

 

[strafer]

Sometimes the point on the regular leek can come in handy on a EDC. Ebay has some 1660t's currently but I'm sure they are 420 stainless even though the one says 420 stainless or sandvik 13c26. This one clames to be 13c26. Click
Personally I carry a 1660tizdp but that might be a bit pricey. Look at this one Click

 

[svrider3]

Sometimes the point on the regular leek can come in handy on a EDC. Ebay has some 1660t's currently but I'm sure they are 420 stainless even though the one says 420 stainless or sandvik 13c26. This one clames to be 13c26. Click
Personally I carry a 1660tizdp but that might be a bit pricey. Look at this one Click

Here is what Thomas said on the 1660T:

A short run of PE RL's shipped at the end of Aug. 13C26 steel, bead blast finish. The sku # will be a 1660T.

Should be hitting the streets now.