Kershaw LEEK...or Suggest Another Assisted Opener for Me..

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey all,

I have been carrying a Spyderco Endura or Delica every day now for about 2 years. I also have a Native III that doesn't get much pocket time. I like the Spyderco line.
Lately I have been reading about these Assisted Openers, but had never had the chance to handle one. That changed when I was going through Wally World. I looked in the case and there was a Kersha LEEK. Naturally I HAD to check it out. After a minute or so of fondling it I decided that the LEEK is a pretty cool knife. I like the AO feature. After I got home I stated checking out some of the online sellers for prices and other models.
I know there are LOTS of other AO knives out there besides the Ken Onion knives. I have also looked at the CRKT Voodoo, only on the web though. Can you all suggest other AO knives that I should look at before I commit to the LEEK? I would like to stay under $125 and a blade of between 3 to 4 inches.
Any other suggestions on what AO knives that I should check out would be really helpful. What have you found to be a good quality AO knife? If you have and carry an AO knife, what is it and why did you pick it? If you could HAVE any AO under the price limit, which one would you take?

Thanks for the information and advice, I appreciate it.

Nala
 
STR is selling an NIB SOG TwitchXL on the knives selling forum for 30.00 shipped. I heard that was a pretty good AO knife, and it sells for around 60 on most websites.
 
The Kershaw Blur is also a good knife if you want something with a more tactical look to it. The Camillus Blaze also fits this bill. The SOG Twitch XL is very nice also if you want something more sophisticated looking and the SOG Trident or Flash II are also very nice. The BM Apparition is a very cool knife also that kind of fits both the rugged and classy look combined into one nice knife. If you want to spend a little more the Kershaw Bump is a real stunner. Got mine for $100

P.S. GO THUNDERING HERD!!! Not really a football fan but I did graduate from Marshall University.
 
I dunno... I really like the Leek design. Wait a little bit and you can snag one in S30V, too.
 
I bought a Leek and Chive at the same time. Really like the Leek as it snaps open with some real force. The Chive however is a little weak and mushy in comparison. I don't know if that's typical or not. I would like another Leek with a reverse tanto point but can't seem to find one anywhere.
I'm also thinking about a Bump, heard good things but never handled one.
 
I was kind of in the same situation you were. I finally had to just get a few in my hands, and I was sold on the Leek. There may be better AOs out there, but for the price combined with the feel the Leek worked for me. If you can handle a few, it may help make up your mind.

EpO
 
Nalapombu said:
Lately I have been reading about these Assisted Openers, but had never had the chance to handle one. That changed when I was going through Wally World. I looked in the case and there was a Kersha LEEK. Naturally I HAD to check it out. After a minute or so of fondling it I decided that the LEEK is a pretty cool knife. I like the AO feature.
Click to expand...

The Kershaw/Ken Onion Leek is one of the best AO out there. It's what I use as a benchmark standard.

Here's a broken (repeating) record :o -

I liked the Leek enough that I own 3 (OK, three different ones)

Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK (pics)

Kershaw Rainbow Leek - a pictorial review

Black "boron" Leek

You should be aware that the smoke/swirl finish handled Leeks are actually Liner-Locks, as opposed to all the ones I reviewed above which are Frame-Locks (sometimes called Integral locks)

--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2006.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
 
I think that the Buck Sirus and related family of AO's are way under-rated. I have two and love them. They are great knives. The Rush is the small one and its a great little knife. The Sirus is a good practical sized 3+" bladed knife and it has a nice snap to it. The handles are anodized Al, so this is not a knife for paratroopers or anyone who needs to hold a knife with wet hands.

The standard steel is 440HC which is quite soft and easy to sharpen. You can get the Sirus in ATS34 if you wish. I have found this knife to be a far better knife than SOG Meridian TOPO and I just like the wider blade as opposed to the Kershaw's with 3" or so blades. The CRKT Voodoo is an enormous disappointment. Handle one and check the blade play---dismal. Also, it has a wierd lock/spine mechanism that looks kind of weak. The whole AO market is getting quite a few crappy pieces--even from good manufacturers. Kershaw seems consistently good in terms of quality from what I have experienced but quite a few folks on this forum have complained of failed locks. I like the Kershaw Boa but the ones that I have handled seem to be under-sprung for the size of blade. Maybe this improves as the knife loosens up a bit.
 
The Leek is pretty much the standard AO knife. If you want to try out an AO knife in your EDC rotation, I think the Leek is where to start. It may not be the "best" AO knife, but it is the standard and a great (and cheap) way to get into AOs.

The Spec Bump is one of Kershaw's high-end knives, and it has AO. It has a blade of 3.5 to 4 inches (I forget exactly). It is slightly smaller than a Manix, but also thinner in the pocket. It goes for less than $120 online. If you want to try out a high-end, larger AO knife, it is the standard in that category.

There is also an S30V, G-10 Leek coming out. If you want a smaller knife (versus a larger one like the Spec Bump), this will be a great option as it is sort of a premium Leek. I might still suggest the standard Leek as your first AO since it is a cheaper way to try out an AO knife in EDC. But if you are pretty sure you will like using an AO knife as EDC, then there is no reason to not spring for the better version.

I also like Buck's ASAP knives. I have a Rush and like it nearly as much as my Leek. The fit and finish is rough, but there is something about the knife that makes it more of a joy to use than my Leek. I don't know why. I like the Leek slightly more, though, because of the fit and finish and sexier design.

A friend of mine at work has a Sirus. It is a nice knife. His isn't ATS-34, but you can get one in ATS-34 if you want harder steel.
 
I just bought a Kershaw Avalanche S30V, $73.00 at Two Point Enterprise on the net. Very nice for the money, well built. I also have a Twitch XL...no comparison in quality or operation. My Camillus Heat is due in tomorrow, if you want I can let you know about that one.
 
I just received my Leek today and am favorably impressed. I got the one with the red and black anodized handle. Looks way better in person than in the pictures! It opens nicely, the blade is the perfect EDC size for me and the blade shape is very cool. And as an extra bonus, I'm a tip up carry guy and was pleased to see that you can reverse the pocket clip. Count me in the Leek Lover's Club!
 
I'm liking my Leek. I got the green handle and black blade. If I were you, I'd try to snag a G-10/S30V model.:thumbup:
 
The Spec Bump is one of Kershaw's high-end knives, and it has AO.

Has anybody mentioned Boa yet??
 
Jockohomo said:
I would like another Leek with a reverse tanto point but can't seem to find one anywhere.
Click to expand...
Chesapeake Knife & Tool has a Leek with a reverse tanto called the Random Leek. It also uses S30V steel but it isn't cheap.
http://www.ckandt.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=1101&catid=138
Also, I've noticed the opposite in regards to the Chive. Mine has a very strong opening while my brothers Scallion seems kind of sluggish to me. Haven't tried the Leek yet but that will soon change.
I personally wouldn't recommend SOG because I've yet to find one of their AOs that doesn't have lots of blade play. I have a Twitch and a Flash II and both of them developed vertical and horizontal blade play very quickly. The blade play only goes away if you tighten the pivot so much that the AO won't work anymore. Maybe I just got unlucky but that's my two cents.
 
Skipped em all (busy tonight) so hope I'm not repeating tooooo much.

The Spec Bump is awesome! Feels great, looks pretty good, good deal all around. Pick one up.

But my favorite LOOKING Kershaw is the mini mojo, easy. Always wanted one...only 440A, but it's a rather small knife, so you probably won't be building a fort with it anyway. Not that great of a deal though.

The random leek is my favorite leek by leaps and bounds. I'm not sure I'd pay 120 for one, but I do think it's worth it...and if reverse tantos are one of my favorite blade shapes (they are), than this is THE example I'd use to show people reverse tantos.
 
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