- Joined
- Sep 4, 2004
- Messages
- 1,670
Recently picked a couple new Kershaws, including the new Random Leek. The knife sports an attractive and practical reverse tanto-style blade in Kershaw's new, proprietary 14C28N Sandvik steel, which is stated to replace 13C26 across the company's product line. Having been very impressed with the performance of 13C26, I was naturally looking forward to working with the new steel.
O.K. ... here's the obligatory photo, without which no review is complete
:
Based upon information made available by Kershaw, 14C28N has superior corrosion resistance compared to 13C26, and may have even better edge retention due to slightly higher average hardness than what was practical with 13C26. Further, reported changes in the alloy may make the new steel a bit tougher.
The blade was found to be nicely thin, measuring about .016" just behind the edge. IMO this represents a good comprise between slicing performing and strength for an all-purpose, EDC knife of this size. The Leek also came with what is unquestionably the sharpest edge I've ever seen on a factory knife, capable of pushcutting newsprint at over 5" from point-of-hold. While factory edges aren't particularly important to me since I tend to reprofile and sharpen all my knives to my liking, edge quality such as this seems worth mentioning, and indicates a high standard of craftsmanship and quality control in Kershaw's production. And indeed, the Random Leek is executed very nicely overall, comparable in quality to many knives costing significantly more.
Like other Leeks, the new Random comes with Kershaw's Speed Safe assisted opening mechism, which works quite reliably using the flipper "tab". Also like other Leeks, for some reason I find it difficult to open the knife using the thumbstud, and after sustaining a nasty cut on my right thumb trying to hone this skill, I decided that I will be a dedicated flipper user forevermore, henceworth thinking of the dual thumbstuds as a blade stop only.
But enough of that. Real blade enthusiasts want to know, "How does this new steel perform?" And I can tell you that, so far, it's performing very, very well. Using the same test (in fact, the same rope) I used to measure edge retention for my JYD II:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4484109&postcount=1
finds the new 14C28N steel to hold an edge just as well as does 13C26 -- and this, working with the factory edge on the Random Leek, only slightly tuned with a few light passes on fine ceramic beforehand. So if you like a knife that takes and holds a very fine, keen edge for work on less abrasive materials, you should be very pleased ... and I wouldn't be surprised to find that 14C28N actually outperforms the 13C26 it replaces, once sharpening is optimized, as well as on more abrasive materials.
I'll be working the new Leek into the EDC rotation, and will try to report any new observations and findings to this thread. But I already think it's safe to say, the new Random Leek and 14C28N steel are winners.
O.K. ... here's the obligatory photo, without which no review is complete
:
Based upon information made available by Kershaw, 14C28N has superior corrosion resistance compared to 13C26, and may have even better edge retention due to slightly higher average hardness than what was practical with 13C26. Further, reported changes in the alloy may make the new steel a bit tougher.
The blade was found to be nicely thin, measuring about .016" just behind the edge. IMO this represents a good comprise between slicing performing and strength for an all-purpose, EDC knife of this size. The Leek also came with what is unquestionably the sharpest edge I've ever seen on a factory knife, capable of pushcutting newsprint at over 5" from point-of-hold. While factory edges aren't particularly important to me since I tend to reprofile and sharpen all my knives to my liking, edge quality such as this seems worth mentioning, and indicates a high standard of craftsmanship and quality control in Kershaw's production. And indeed, the Random Leek is executed very nicely overall, comparable in quality to many knives costing significantly more.
Like other Leeks, the new Random comes with Kershaw's Speed Safe assisted opening mechism, which works quite reliably using the flipper "tab". Also like other Leeks, for some reason I find it difficult to open the knife using the thumbstud, and after sustaining a nasty cut on my right thumb trying to hone this skill, I decided that I will be a dedicated flipper user forevermore, henceworth thinking of the dual thumbstuds as a blade stop only.
But enough of that. Real blade enthusiasts want to know, "How does this new steel perform?" And I can tell you that, so far, it's performing very, very well. Using the same test (in fact, the same rope) I used to measure edge retention for my JYD II:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4484109&postcount=1
finds the new 14C28N steel to hold an edge just as well as does 13C26 -- and this, working with the factory edge on the Random Leek, only slightly tuned with a few light passes on fine ceramic beforehand. So if you like a knife that takes and holds a very fine, keen edge for work on less abrasive materials, you should be very pleased ... and I wouldn't be surprised to find that 14C28N actually outperforms the 13C26 it replaces, once sharpening is optimized, as well as on more abrasive materials.
I'll be working the new Leek into the EDC rotation, and will try to report any new observations and findings to this thread. But I already think it's safe to say, the new Random Leek and 14C28N steel are winners.
