kershaw 'onions'

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AlphaBrass01

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Jul 18, 2003
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I was just wondering what you guys thought of the onion speedsafe knives - which do you prefer? Specifically, thoughts about the boa and leek would be appreciated, and comparisons between them. Interested to hear what everybody has to say.
 
I have one of the Kershaw Boas and I have to say its one of the strongest folders I have ever seen. Its strong to the point of being a little stiff,but its easy to get used to. The assisted opening works great and the knife is easy to sharpen. All in all it is a good utility knife and I would recomend it to anybody.....
Woodlore
 
I have 4 different models and the speedsafe is outstanding.A little lube and lots of playing with the speedsafe and they open up smoothly and quickly too.Playing with the speedsafe isn't necessary but it sure is fun. lol.
 
I have the Rainbow Leek, Whirlwind, and Blackout and think they are great. Especially like the Leek, just the right shape, weight, and feel for my hands. Just might get the other "flavors" of the Leek out there.
 
I have used a Boa, Leek, (boron coated) Chive, Ricochet, and Whirlwind. I like the SpeedSafe in combination with the flipper, but the Ricochet was also a really good knife. I still have my Boa, Chive and Leek and they all perform very well. The Leek, I think, has the best blade shape, but I also like the recurves on the Chive and the Boa. The Boa is a very sturdy knife and was my primary EDC for well over a year. The Boa's SpeedSafe was the slowest of all of my SpeedSafes (due mostly in part to the heavier blade), with the Leek being the fastest. I didn't like the all black finish of the Boa, but I really didn't like the multicolored handle of the other one so I stuck with the black. The Chive's Boron Coating is a little on the slippery side, but it's extremely durable (the black on the Boa's handle rubs off). My Leek is bead blasted, which I'm not real fond of, but it seems to be a happy medium between the black and boron coatngs. I'd recommend any one of them.
 
I think the leek is the ideal urban EDC. I have a black Blur on order, and i cant wait to get my hands on the new Bump. For larger tasks, my Cuda Maxx stilleto, comes in handy.
 
The Boa is by far the tougher knife and a lot heavier. My friend has had his Boa's speed safe break twice though which I think was cause by the wieght. Both times it was replaced by Kershaw because it was a warrenty.

Have any other Boa owners had this problem, maybe it was just his?
 
i own both the plain and combo edge Leeks, and i've purchased the Scallion and the Chive for my father and wife, respectively. they are all beautiful knives, and the SpeedSafe mechanism is outstanding.

admittedly, i purchased my first Leek (1660ST) solely based on the aesthetics and the wow factor regarding the SpeedSafe action. luckily for me, what i received was a quality tool, and is now my EDC, both at work and at home. for its size, the Leek has a very reassuring "heft" to it, yet rides so slim on my pocket, i often forget i'm wearing it. the serrations on the 1660ST were a bit disappointing, however - perhaps it's the nature of the cut, or the blade thickness, but they're a bit crude on the edge.

i alternate between the thumb-stud and the index-finger "trigger", and both work fine. on a somewhat unrelated note, i seem to recall someone asking in another thread about the ease of opening/cleaning a Leek. i can say in all confidence that this task is safe and super-easy. i have opened and cleaned mine a couple times and the "pivot-screw" still tightens and adjusts nicely. the only aspect of the Leek which i dislike is the lock-tab. i find it incredibly "cheap". it has a tendency to lock and unlock when i don't want it to, despite some subtle adjustments with a torx driver. it finally drove me to the point of idiocy: i've been carrying mine without the lock for months now, without incident (something nasty is bound to happen, more on that as it develops!).

my father works in receiving at a warehouse store, and uses his Scallion an average of 20-30 times a day. not even a week after receiving his knife, he told me 4 of his fellow workers had ordered a SpeedSafe! his has seemed to hold its edge quite well, and he prefers the mid-size to the Chive or Leek. definitely something you'd want to consider. another factor is materials. the Scallion thus far is only offered with Polyamide or Aluminum handles, with steel liners. there doesn't seem to be a stainless steel version (anyone know why not?).

my wife probably only uses her Chive once or twice a week, but seems happy with it. i personally find the Chive ridiculously tiny, and as you've certainly read, the thumb-stud serves no purpose other than providing a positive stop for the blade. i'm not a big fan of the curvaceous blade on the Chive and Scallion, but i can certainly see the practicality in it.

having never handled the Boa (though this will likely be one of my next acquisitions!), nor any of the other SpeedSafes, i can't comment on them.

hope this helps (sorry if it turned out a trio of mini-reviews).

abe m.
 
I don't find the speed-safe mechanism all that safe. Sometimes, my thumb winds up chasing the blade edge.

The Bump looks excellent in the KnifeForums Magazine article. I think that it's a frame locking flipper type of knife, great handle design and blade.
 
I have Avalanche - one of the best modern productional folders.
Speed safe seems useful opening knife and on small angle it actually closing it - no way it opens in your pocet - and it does not have this flipper which always cause trouble for my Chive in the pocket.
Handle is thick to grip it comfortable, covered by rough G10, steel is CPM S60V with black TN. This is my EDC, from the point I bought it.
For some reason it does not take too much attention, but it is a great knife.
Thanks, Vassili.
 
Hi there AlphaBrass.

I have, in the last 6 months, purchased two Blackouts, and two Rainbow Leeks. I got the first two because my wife wanted a tactical edc that had enough handle for her to hold on to, she is not great at manually using thumbstuds, and she (surprised me) wanted a black blade. We each carry them in the right pocket anywhere and everywhere we go. Both partially serrated, for use in cutting a seatbelt or such, one-handed.

I got the second two, the leeks, because I wanted a "gentlemans'/ladies'" knife that we could pull out in family or sheeple company; They are fast and effective, and usually illicit, "Oh, that's pretty! That's neato!". As opposed to the Blackouts, that have little about them that says, "I wanna be your friend..." ;-) We each carry one in our left pocket.

The speedsafes have never failed, even though we flip them all open dozens of times a day, playing, watching tv, surfing the net; it's a nervous habit we both have. Can't say that any of the knives has seen any hard use, but I don't see any lessening of the torsion action for 1000's of openings/closings.

I'm currently looking at the Bumps. I think that it's a perfect blade shape/size. The recurve of the Cuda EDC balanced with the spear-point of the Leek. I'm drooling, so I'll cut this short now...

WayLander

(edited to change 100's to 1000's of openings/closings)
 
I have a black BOA, it is a fantastic knife. It has been my EDC for approx. 18 months. So far it has worked great for me.
 
for three or four years now. She still loves it. Never seen it fail to open or lock. Good slicer. She's got a Chive too, for times when a "big black knife" might not be appropriate. I'd have to give Kershaw a thumbs up.

Frank
 
These are both good knives, but in somewhat different categories. The Leek offers a decent, but not outstanding blade steel in a light, elegant frame. The Boa costs twice as much, but it features top-of-the-line materials and a heavier, more tactical styling. The Boa is a no-compromise knife in the same class as the 710, AFCK, Military, SERE 2K, and Commander. I love mine!

I would say that the Leek is a great utility knife. The Boa is more suitable for defensive use, although it handles utility tasks quite well too. I would trust my life to a Boa.

--Bob Q
 
I bought the Steven Segal knife. I really like it but there is no speed safe assisted opening. The knife has thumb studs and a small flipper. It is the smoothest opening knife I own. Opens with no effort at all. I really like the blade design as well. I like the textured leather stingray grips but from what I have read a lot of people dont like them. The grips are fairly different from what people are used to. Overall it is a very nice knife.
 
Thanks for all the positive comments guys .Glad you like your Kershaws. If you have any comments on what you would like to see me do different ..... I'm all ears . We have some pretty cool new projects just arround the corner some of which were decided upon or inspired by suggestions and or comments I have recieved by reading your posts .I am listening .
 
Hi Ken. Ok, hear this,

BUMP ME!

This isn't going to take as long as the Whisper, is it?
 
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