Kershaw Rainbow Leek as EDC?

Jedi Knife

Jedi Knife

Banned
Joined
May 6, 1999
Messages
728
Has anyone had experience with this knife, esp. with the rainbow finish, for general use? I'm wodering how well the finish would hold up, as well as the knife in general. Any input is appreciated!

JK
 
I think it'd make a great EDC! :D I had the Chive, but
it was a bit small for me, so I passed it on to a friend ;) In
the "rainbow" pattern, it'd be a real "looker" the "speedsafe"
makes it an attractive choice as well! Imagine the look(s) you'll get
when you show it to the "un-initiated" :eek: !

I'm lookin' into a standard Leek :D


AET
 
It's a pretty knife and fun to play with, but you should be careful as its slippery-ness makes it slow to operate safely. At least, it works that way for me.
 
My 18 year old son has been carrying one for a couple months now and I checked it out the other day. The handles have a few small scratches but you have to get the light just right to see these.
A little Windex will help restore the color on any anodizing and does wonders on the handles. I agree though on the slickness of those handles!
 
I've been carrying one for a few months and give it two thumbs up.

It did hook on my coat once and come out of my pocket, it landed butt end first and then slid about 3 feet across wet asphalt. There was a very small ding where it hit and some almost imperceptible scuffs on the side it slid on.
 
Thanks for the info. So far what I'm hearing sounds encouraging. I could almost do without the speed-safe mechanism, just so I could remain confidently "legal". Speaking of legal, this knife is not over 7" overall is it? From what I gather it is exactly 7", which is the maximum knife length I will carry due to city ordinances. Anyway, I really like the way this knife looks!

JK
 
IMO,
The leek is a novelty knife. Not really intended for use. I mean, a zippered pouch for an EDC? Also as noted, it is small and slippery and opens almost automatically. Not too mention 440A for bladesteel.
BTW, the day my rainbow arrived from the dealer 888knivesrus, the blade was rubbing the scale and the knife arrived with a big shiny spot. Sum it up, looks great at home for show, but at least for me, not for go. HTH. IronMan
 
Originally posted by Ironman
IMO,
The leek is a novelty knife. Not really intended for use.
Click to expand...

Being a "novelty" is not necessarily mutually exclusive from being useful.

I read about your woes and entirely sympathize,
you should not have received a faulty one, if that fault was evident to the seller,
but this should not taint one's judgement.

For me, the Leek (and I only have a plain uncoated one) is my at home only EDC - so it get used all the time for typical things knives are used for - when they are the most convenient and to hand - which the Leek is - in spades!

440A is not any "premium" steel by any stretch of the imagination - to me it is somewhat a good compromise as a steel for a general purpose knife blade - and the Leek has proven itself as so. After nearly 4 weeks of daily use I still have not had to sharpen it and even with close examination I cannot see any shiney flat spots anywhere on the edge.

The proof of any knife is in its usage - my Leek gets used.

Reviewed - Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK (pics)
 
Ironman,
the blade was rubbing the scale
Click to expand...

Do you mean the blade was rubbing one of the liners of the handle? As far as the size of the knife is concerned, I don't want one any bigger, not even by a fraction of an inch. The steel may not be the best, but if the finish will hold up I could almost tolerate it because it looks so cool. I wouldn't want one with a big shiny spot worn through the finish, though. Thanks for the input!

JK
 
I've been carrying one for a couple months now, and I'm gonna make it my car knife (never had a car knife before), mainly for the reason Fudo stated. Too slippery. Same reason I retired my Black Chive, in favor of a recently purchased Spyie Jester (My first spydie {even though Seki made it:rolleyes: }). I love this little thing! The Leek is so slim, I'm gonna stick it in the slim slot for CD's in my dashboard, with a soon to be attached home-made lanyard (been readin those threads, and thought "Hmmm"). What's replacing my Leek as EDC? I ordered a Microtech Mini-Socom from NewGraham.com, and it seems to be taking too long to get here. I think the guy in the brown truck thinks I'm stalking him, I keep following him around the neighborhood (not really, but I though about it.)
 
Originally posted by manowar669
I've been carrying one for a couple months now, and I'm gonna make it my car knife (never had a car knife before), mainly for the reason Fudo stated. Too slippery. Same reason I retired my Black Chive
Click to expand...

Did you try the plain UNcoated Leek?

I really like it as my at home only EDC - it gets carried and used all the time - because of its slim/sleek profile, "right-sized", and for its fast "automatic" nature......

Hey, at a street price of about $40, it's worth considering, if the only real gripe you had was the coated "Rainbow" version is too slippery......
 
Finally got a Rainbow Leek on the way. Been meaning to get one for awhile, but didn't have the cash till the wife gave me some cash for a knife on Valentine's Day. I figure what better knife to get for Valentine's Day than a Rainbow Leek. :D
 
Unknown,
I have the plain uncoated leek. I still think it's slippery, especially when trying to close it with cool dry hands. It tries to slide out of my palm (the spring is trying to opem the blade, and it pushes the back of the handle across my hand.) The Black Chive is even more slippery, and since it's so small, I'm amazed I haven't cut myself yet. I think they're pretty cool though, and the Leek is a great size, and slim. I actually though of haveing a gunsmith checker the back of the handle (still might).
 
Originally posted by manowar669
I have the plain uncoated leek. I still think it's slippery, especially when trying to close it with cool dry hands. It tries to slide out of my palm (the spring is trying to opem the blade, and it pushes the back of the handle across my hand.) The Black Chive is even more slippery, and since it's so small, I'm amazed I haven't cut myself yet. I think they're pretty cool though, and the Leek is a great size, and slim. I actually though of haveing a gunsmith checker the back of the handle (still might).
Click to expand...

Thanks for that input - perhaps we're using different one-handed closing techniques?
- because even the Black Chive is no problem for me.......

Here's a brief description on how I close the knife one-handed:

(1) depress the lock-bar with thumb, when the bar is clear, using index finger to gently move the blade to about 90deg, the point where one just feels the spring, the blade now can safely stay in this position indefinitely ..... (so far this is probably what everyone naturally does)

(2) shift my grip to get fingers/thumb out of way BUT - pinch the pivot point between thumb and index finger, and rest the butt end of the handle against the heel of palm, now use the middle (the bird :D) -finger to close the blade........

So, in my case, unless my fingers are covered in Teflon grease -
I cannot see how the knife can be considered too slippery.........

I entirely agree with you about the Leek being the "right-sized" - I thought this of the cheaper and non-assisted opening frame-lock the Kerhsaw Vapor for some time now - but the Leek is just that bit better both in shape/size/weight and because of the Speed-Safe assisted opening.

The checkering of the handle back sounds attractive (although it probably would not make any practical difference for me) -
please be sure to post a photo if you have it done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top