Hi folks, I'm Aahzz, been reading here on and off but don't believe I've ever posted before. I'm in the market for a new EDC - here's the background.
Back in the wild days of the 1990s a friend introduced me to Spyderco - seemed nice, but I never liked the feel of the thumb hole. Bought a CRKT with a thumb stud and a half serrated blade. It's still around here somewhere.
Around about '04-'05, I was out for a neighborhood bike ride, when I saw something shiny in the street. Stopped, turns out it was a Kershaw Leek, lying open in the road. With kids about, and no adults, I didn't want to leave it there, so home with me it came. It proceeded to live in my pocket for the next 15 years or so - I absolutely loved that knife.
The problem with the Leek is that it also really liked to slip out of my pocket at inopportune moments - much as it had likely done with its previous owner. I usually found it in my car, but alas, several years back it slipped out somewhere in public and was not found again.
Replaced it with a Kershaw Gravel, as cash was somewhat tight at the time. Nice enough little knife, but I never had the love for it that I had for the Leek. I spent a fair amount of time this summer wearing a kilt with no pockets, left the Gravel somewhere in my house, and can't currently find it. I'm sure it'll turn up, but it's an excuse for a new knife.
Did some research, saw several people of the opinion that assisted opening isn't necessary, and bought a Civivi Mini Praxis. It arrived today - feels good in my hand, blade is nice, it's super sharp - but I miss that positive opening experience from the Kershaws. It opens all the way *most* of the time, as long as I flip my wrist with it...and I'm sure with practice it'll get better, but dangit, I miss my Leek.
So, the obvious answer is "Buy a Leek, Aahzz!". And, it's highly likely that I will. Still, I remember its tendency, with the smooth stainless scales, to slide out of my pocket. So, I'm looking for opinions of assisted flippers in the same price range. I looked at the Blur, but I generally prefer using my index finger on a flipper to a thumb stud - got some arthritis in the thumbs and try to take it easy. I could go smaller with the scallion, but it's still a metal handle, and I'm not sure about the 420hc steel.
Ooh - on the steel front, I also see that the Leek can be had in Magnacut for a bit over $100 - worth it over the 14c28n? I never had an issue with edge retention or strength on my previous Leek, but hey, better is better...but it's also about a $40 difference from the cheapest I've found a Leek.
Barring alternatives to the Leek, hints on how to keep a Leek stable in a jeans pocket?
Back in the wild days of the 1990s a friend introduced me to Spyderco - seemed nice, but I never liked the feel of the thumb hole. Bought a CRKT with a thumb stud and a half serrated blade. It's still around here somewhere.
Around about '04-'05, I was out for a neighborhood bike ride, when I saw something shiny in the street. Stopped, turns out it was a Kershaw Leek, lying open in the road. With kids about, and no adults, I didn't want to leave it there, so home with me it came. It proceeded to live in my pocket for the next 15 years or so - I absolutely loved that knife.
The problem with the Leek is that it also really liked to slip out of my pocket at inopportune moments - much as it had likely done with its previous owner. I usually found it in my car, but alas, several years back it slipped out somewhere in public and was not found again.
Replaced it with a Kershaw Gravel, as cash was somewhat tight at the time. Nice enough little knife, but I never had the love for it that I had for the Leek. I spent a fair amount of time this summer wearing a kilt with no pockets, left the Gravel somewhere in my house, and can't currently find it. I'm sure it'll turn up, but it's an excuse for a new knife.
Did some research, saw several people of the opinion that assisted opening isn't necessary, and bought a Civivi Mini Praxis. It arrived today - feels good in my hand, blade is nice, it's super sharp - but I miss that positive opening experience from the Kershaws. It opens all the way *most* of the time, as long as I flip my wrist with it...and I'm sure with practice it'll get better, but dangit, I miss my Leek.
So, the obvious answer is "Buy a Leek, Aahzz!". And, it's highly likely that I will. Still, I remember its tendency, with the smooth stainless scales, to slide out of my pocket. So, I'm looking for opinions of assisted flippers in the same price range. I looked at the Blur, but I generally prefer using my index finger on a flipper to a thumb stud - got some arthritis in the thumbs and try to take it easy. I could go smaller with the scallion, but it's still a metal handle, and I'm not sure about the 420hc steel.
Ooh - on the steel front, I also see that the Leek can be had in Magnacut for a bit over $100 - worth it over the 14c28n? I never had an issue with edge retention or strength on my previous Leek, but hey, better is better...but it's also about a $40 difference from the cheapest I've found a Leek.
Barring alternatives to the Leek, hints on how to keep a Leek stable in a jeans pocket?
