Deciding between Kershaw & Cold Steel

V

vcw

Joined
Jun 21, 2007
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80
Hello,

I'm deciding between a Kershaw Leek Titanium Nitride coated and a Cold Steel Ti-Lite w/Zytel Handle or the Cold Steel 6in blade Ti-Lite w/Zytel Handle.

What's the difference between a "Leafspring lock" and a "Liner Lock"?

I had a Kershaw Chive a while back, but the tip of the blade chipped, do you think it is easy for any of these knives to chip, like when being stabbed into wood, etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions about about which knife I should get?


Thanks!

Victor
 
Victor, welcome to Bladeforums!

Kershaw or Cold Steel? Kershaw every time. The Cold Steel Ti-Lites are gimmicks, even the titanium handled expensive version. Not a great slicer, just another pretty face: it IS a nice design (by Phil Boguszewski) but what can you actually do with it?

A leafspring lock IS a liner lock. Many companies like to use their own names for common designs.

Kershaw has been upgrading already good knives with better steel, and this past year, has come out with so many great new knives, it's hard to keep up. I picked up an S30V/G10 Leek myself.

I suggest you spend a little time reading up first, before you make any decisions, although there are some really nice Kershaws that aren't nearly as expensive as you'd think: Storm, JunkYard Dog, Groove, Blur, Cyclone ... and we just got a Kershaw company forum here where you can find all their knives discussed at length!

Sorry about your Chive, but that is a small knife and not really suited for hard work. You need a pretty heavy duty blade to be stabbing into wood and the Chive is more of a gentleman's knife.
 
No contest: Get the leek.

I've had a black coated leek for a couple years now and used it every day at work and its still in fine shape. I won't get into how hard I used it here as I plan to put a review up shortly...I will say that because of how inexpensive it was I didn't much care if it broke, bent, or was mangled. None of those things occured and despite my best attempts the coating on the blade still looks almost brand new.

The leek is a thin blade wharny type knife, prying and stabbing into wood is not in its design parameters. If you need a chisel or prybar then buy one of those tools and use the razor like leek as it was intended....to cut stuff.

If the speedsafe action slows down all it needs is to be washed out at the sink or opened and cleaned, either way it will come right back up to speed. Its actually faster than my microtech socom elite.


The knives in your comparison request arent exactly in the same class. What are you really intending to do with the knife?
 
Do you know any other kinds of knives with the same quality or better with a stronger tip?
 
Benchmade and Spyderco are two more that are REAL GOOD. There are several good ones out there. It will depend on the size of the knife that you want plus style of blade,type of steel, ect. There are plenty to choose from. GOOD LUCK! Kevin:)
 
I want a fast opening knife, like the feature on the Cold Steel Ti-Lite, where you could flip it open when you take it our of your pocket.
And also a strong tip that won't chip easily if stabbed into something.

Is a Kershaw leek G10 handle stonger than a regular Kershaw leek?
And what's the best blade material to get?

Thanks!

Victor
 
If you want a speed assist then Kershaw has several. If you are going to get a leek I would get the G10 handle with S30V. You can also get there Bump, Boa, and they also have some good ones with out speed assist but have a flipper like the Junk Yard Dog and JYD2, Groove. If you want fast out of the pocket then a Spyderco Endura with the Wave or Delica with the wave. Emerson has several that they make with the Wave. If you can get a Camillus Heat that is another good speed assist. Kershaw also has the Cyclone and Mini Cyclone which you can use a switch and change from speed assist to non speed assist. There are a lot of good ones out there and it can be a tough choice. If you have a knife shop in your area then you might go there and see what they have in stock that you can feel and try. GOOD LUCK! Kevin:)
 
Spyderco Endura Wave or Delica Waves are some of the fastest opening production knives on the market at comparable prices to what you're looking for AND their tips were purposely designed to be thicker for hard-use purposes. BTW the "wave" on the Endura and Delica can be used to open bottles. eh?eh?

Of the two you asked about, Kershaw all the way. Cold Steel provides good value in some of their knives, but Kershaw gives more value per dollar IMHO.
 
kershaw definitely, you can find leeks in s30v which is a big step up from 420 or 440, for a bit more, it is a great deal more tough, and is worth the extra $20 bucks.
 
ignoramus said:
Spyderco Endura Wave or Delica Waves are some of the fastest opening production knives on the market at comparable prices to what you're looking for AND their tips were purposely designed to be thicker for hard-use purposes. BTW the "wave" on the Endura and Delica can be used to open bottles. eh?eh?

Of the two you asked about, Kershaw all the way. Cold Steel provides good value in some of their knives, but Kershaw gives more value per dollar IMHO.
Click to expand...

DITTO, I have the ti-lite and I love it, but the Waved spydercos are not only more versatile in their uses with better blades, but its easier on the pckets than the ti-lite, meaning they won't rip up your pants as fast or as easily as the ti-lite can...
 
As engrossing as the Cold Steel DVD is, mechanically they seem to be a quality knife wherever they are made. A Cold Steel just leaves me kinda cold. Kershaw just seems a little more warm and fuzzy.
 
You want something that opens when it comes outta your pocket? Spyderco Waved Delica or pick an Emerson, I like the 8 and 13
 
How does the "wave" work on the Spyderco knives?

I have a S&W knife with G10, but I had to return it a couple times cause I found out they were defects and they had cracks on the g10 handle.
Do you think the Kershaws will have defects on them like how I had defects on my S&W?

Thanks!

Victor
 
First, I dont think you will find any cracks on any of Kershaws G10 handled knives. If you were to get one like that they would take care of it. Second the wave feature is a is a hook like feature on top of the blade that catches on your pants pocket as you pull it out. You will draw the knife away from you and the wave feature will catch on your pants pocket. That is the easiest way I can explain it. Look at some pictures and you will get an idea or go to the Emerson website and they hyave a video that you can look at. Kevin:)
 
vcw said:
How does the "wave" work on the Spyderco knives?

I have a S&W knife with G10, but I had to return it a couple times cause I found out they were defects and they had cracks on the g10 handle.
Do you think the Kershaws will have defects on them like how I had defects on my S&W?

Thanks!

Victor
Click to expand...

It works in the exact same way as the Cold Steel Ti Lite does, but most if not everyone who's seen both will agree, the Spyderco Endura or Delica Wave works more effectively and consistently. Here's a clip:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pK6lOTz1Ebs

If you were to ask everyone based on what you're looking for if you should get a Spyderco Wave or the other 2 options, I would bet money that most people here (that means the experienced ones) would suggest the Spyderco Wave over the others.
 
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