Kershaw Leek Carbon Fiber thoughts?

R

RhinoForge

Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
4
Just received my Kershaw Leek Carbon Fiber (1660CF) and wanted to know what others thoughts were. I was impressed by an offering with a CPM-154 blade, CF scales, Speedsafe flipper at an ~$80 street price point as a slim EDC option.

My first take has been that fit and finish are impressive. Scales are impeccable; blade is perfectly centered, action is fast and smooth; knife carries wonderfully being slim and supremely light. The downsides: those scales are a bit slick. Any way to texture carbon fiber? 320g paper maybe? Also, I've always heard Kershaws tend to arrive pretty sharp out of the box but I'm not sure I've ever gotten a knife from the factory this dull... I tried to shave my hand (of course) and it was a no-go. Thinking my hand hair was a bit fine, I tried my face...nothing doing. Finally, I tried a crisp receipt I had lying around and even the paper receipt it shipped with...no dice!

That's pretty disappointing! I took it to fine and extra fine DMT credit card hones I had nearby and improved it a bit, but feel like I almost need to go to coarse to raise the burr and start from scratch. Is that typical?
 
If a knife is that dull you should try a medium grit first. If that doesn't work then go to coarse.

I touch up the edge of every knife I buy out of the box. Many of them require starting at medium tto fine to xtra fine. The sharper ones I can start on fine to xtra fine. Cpm154 should respond well to sharpening at medium grit.

I still need to buy a leather strop and diamond suspension spray.
 
I bought a Leek that was hair popping sharp from the box.

And I've bought a Scallion that needed the full meal deal sharpening treatment.

Can't say that either case was "typical". I deal with what comes out of the box.

Going to get me one of these Leeks though. Light, slim, useful blade shape... Just plain works for me.
 
1660cf.jpg


I don't like the leek for edc, but I love the look and materials this one is offering. that blade profile and pointy tip turn me off. not to mention speed safe. I'd love to get one for my collection, just be sad that it would go unused.

send it back to Kershaw to sharpen it or do it your self, all manufacturing will have some that go missed. they can't test each one.

only way to get more traction on carbon fiber would be to mill it. make milling lines vertical throughout the scales like other manufacturers do (for example my reate horizon d carbon fiber scale).
Reate-Horizon-D-models.jpg

or take a dremel tool to it and make small divets on both ends... depends how thick the cf is tho.
img-tuff-thumbz-03.jpg
 
Thanks all so far!

Gotta say, out-of-box sharpness aside, I'm loving it for EDC! It's thin, crazy light, flipper action is great, and I've yet to use the lock and yet to have it open on me in pocket despite wearing leather, cotton, and canvas jackets; sitting and standing rapidly, unintentional bumps. Used it in everything from slacks in a suit, to khakis, and even a pair of jeans with a VERY frayed pocket that I expected to cause issues... NONE.

For my EDC needs (opening and breaking down boxes, plastic wrapped pallets, the occasional bag of mulch or concrete, and the like, the shape has been great. Prying with that fine point, no, won't be trying that. But otherwise, happy.

Thinking I'm going to get a DMT DiaSharp coarse stone to raise a burr, maybe a Dmt fine, and then Shapton a to refine edges. Any thoughts on which Shaptons if I go that route?

Lastly, which dremel bit is used to make the kind of modifications seen in the pictures in the previous reply?
 
I have a bunch of different Kershaw knives. (Mostly because I live close enough to go to their annual warehouse sale, and get them cheap.) All of them have come shaving sharp. That said they edge on all could be greatly improved. My 400 grit edge pro stone seems to leave a similar texture on the edge as the factory grind. Looking at it with very little or no magnification.

O.B.
 
I really find the Leek to be a very pretty knife and the materials on this one are personally very appealing. I just loathe assisted openers though. Argh.
 
RhinoForge said:
Thinking I'm going to get a DMT DiaSharp coarse stone to raise a burr, maybe a Dmt fine, and then Shapton a to refine edges. Any thoughts on which Shaptons if I go that route?

Lastly, which dremel bit is used to make the kind of modifications seen in the pictures in the previous reply?
Click to expand...
would recommend a strop if you dont already have one also.

im not sure which dremel bit, i have not done any of those mods before. im sure there is a forum thread for it or possibly a youtube video. i havent looked at all.
 
Just waiting for Kershawguy to get them in stock then ordering one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top