Kershaw leek replacement

Z

ZtCubster

Joined
Jul 25, 2017
Messages
145
So I've owned a kershaw leek for about a year and it's one of my favorite knives. I always carry it as a back up to my zt 0620 and 0630. Or sometimes just by itself if I'm wearing basketball shorts. But i was worn it out and it lost its slight belly and its basically a Wharncliffe now. I still edc it but not as often and plan to get a new one. I was looking into a new 3 inch blade that's not too big and i can fit on the inside of my pants instead of my pocket. So now im thinking about getting a cold steel hold out III. It looks good and light but i just want to hear people's opinions on it. I don't plan using it hard or anything, mainly just for work or if a buddy wants to use a knife i won't mind handing them that one. I have thought about getting a native 5 but I'm sure that'll take over my main edc and im not ready to get out of my honeymoon stage with my Zts. My one concern is my hand slipping up on the blade but besides that it has my attention right now. Does anyone have better suggestions or things i need to know about the hold out III
 
The HO III is super slim, light, and slicey.

I still carry my aus8 version at work sometimes and it has held up well over the years.

It looks like it will fit your criteria well.
 
Have you considered a ZT 0450? Thin and relatively light. While it's not as cheap as a Leek these days, it's a step up while keeping your parameters intact.
 
McFeeli said:
Have you considered a ZT 0450? Thin and relatively light. While it's not as cheap as a Leek these days, it's a step up while keeping your parameters intact.
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Ive actually been saving up for the 0460 but as a main edc, not a back up. It'll be more of a classy-ish knife for me considering most of my knives are big and beefy. The 0450 has crossed my mind before but i plan on getting a 0452 later in the future and it doesn't really interest me getting a basically smaller version of the 0452. But it is a beautiful knife though. I will recommend it to people i know that are looking for a good smaller edc knife
 
willc said:
The HO III is super slim, light, and slicey.

I still carry my aus8 version at work sometimes and it has held up well over the years.

It looks like it will fit your criteria well.
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Do you ever feel like your hand slip forward? I know the g10 is really grippy but is it enough? And do you have any other cs knives that have cts xhp? I had a recon 1 before i gave it to my dad and the edge was chipping like crazy and kinda put me off from that steel
 
+1 on the Kershaw Dividend. Get the regular version (420HC) if you just want something cheap and quick, or the M390 version for something more durable. Note the M390 version is a sprint run, per GPKnives.
 
The Link is another nice one......available in 8CR, s35vn at HOB and M390.
 
ZtCubster said:
Ive actually been saving up for the 0460 but as a main edc, not a back up. It'll be more of a classy-ish knife for me considering most of my knives are big and beefy. The 0450 has crossed my mind before but i plan on getting a 0452 later in the future and it doesn't really interest me getting a basically smaller version of the 0452. But it is a beautiful knife though. I will recommend it to people i know that are looking for a good smaller edc knife
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Understandable. They are pretty much the same knife(save the 0460 by a curve or two), just scaled +/- . The next one that comes to mind may be Spyderco's Dragonfly. No experience with it myself, but as a back up it's up there with a lot of small folders. ZDP, H1, VG-10 as a steel option, FRN or G10 as handle choice(sadly no ZDP with the G10).
 
palonej said:
The Link is another nice one......available in 8CR, s35vn at HOB and M390.
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Yessiree, the Link is great. It's a bit heavier, but nicely done, especially in the upgraded steels.

You want an invisible carry? Try the Benchmade 535 Bugout. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying mine.
 
Keeping in the ZT theme, the 0808 feels to me to be somewhat of an overbuilt Leek.

Otherwise I support the 0450 suggestions.
 
Thank you everyone for suggestions. So far i narrowed it down to the hold out 3 and the dragonfly. Possibly the dividend but that's a maybe. I love the ZTs that were recommended but i don't feel comfortable having a nicer knife as a back up but once i start building my collection more I'll definitely get a 0460 as a back up. I like the hold out 3 for the size and it could be used for medium use if needed. But i also like the dragonfly since its small enough i won't notice it on me
 
ZtCubster said:
Do you ever feel like your hand slip forward? I know the g10 is really grippy but is it enough? And do you have any other cs knives that have cts xhp? I had a recon 1 before i gave it to my dad and the edge was chipping like crazy and kinda put me off from that steel
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The handle has plenty of contour and the g10 has good grip to it, I've never felt any slippage and I used this in all types of weather.

I have more than a few of the newer CS models in XHP and haven't had any chipping.
What knife did you experience this on?

From my experience it is fairly tough steel and I don't baby my work knives.

The Dragonfly is a great choice too but the HO is better materials and price.
 
willc said:
The handle has plenty of contour and the g10 has good grip to it, I've never felt any slippage and I used this in all types of weather.

I have more than a few of the newer CS models in XHP and haven't had any chipping.
What knife did you experience this on?

From my experience it is fairly tough steel and I don't baby my work knives.

The Dragonfly is a great choice too but the HO is better materials and price.
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I experienced it on the recon 1 tanto. Ever since then i have kind of ignored cts xhp but the hold out has really caught my eye and im nervous to buy it and not like the steel. And yeah I'm leaning towards the hold out 3 right now.
 
I have a large tanto Recon1 that I reprofiled to less than 15dps and never had chipping, thought it would roll if I torqued it in wood.

The Dragonfly is a bit smaller but is still a super capable knife.
That would be a good choice if you could get a good deal on the exchange but imo the HO III is a super underrated knife.
Plus the HO III is more in the Delica size range which is a bit more useful.
 
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