- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,955
Being a knife maker, mechanic, and general repairman and pimper has its advantages because I get to see and handle a lot of what is available in the cutlery world that would otherwise fly below my radar. Then there are those knives being made that the factory has covered all the bases on so well that the chances of me ever seeing one this way are so slim I'm forced to buy one if I ever hope or want to see it. This particular model is one of those knives.
I look at this one as the knife mechanic that I am and say what could I do to really improve it's user value for an owner to help make it better for EDC? Granted that is an odd way to look at a knife I guess, especially for a knife collector since most of them have disdain for what us pimpers and mechanics do to knives. But the truth is collectors are a very minor fraction of the knife population. Users on the other hand are the majority and user friendliness is what I look at first and foremost in a knife. I'm pretty well known for my bare bones no nonsense utility oriented knives and work. Its my primary focus for a folder.
This knife is there as is. It is sleek and beautiful to behold and yet utility oriented combining both in a super package. Its got my favorite blade shape, being the straight edge Wharncliff style. Its designed by one of the premier masters in knife making Mr. Ken Onion and is a spectacular piece of modern day knife making history.
It came shaving sharp, the blade is absolutely flawless, in grind and profile with each side identical and the finish on the titanium slab handle has a slight texture to it giving it a better grip than other bare metal knives I have. The assisted opening feature is just the icing on the cake with this piece. What more could a guy want? How bout made in the USA? Well, guess what? It is. Being that it was ZDP189 I automatically just assumed it was a Japanese knife. Wrong. Its stamped Made in the USA right on the blade. Great feature there IMO.
Ok lets look at what more one could want further. If I must find fault to write about its here. I prefer tip up carry. It rides a bit high in the pocket for me there. Low rider? Well, maybe, but the lanyard would have to go because a low rider will block its usefulness, and may interfere with the lock mechanism for the blade to keep it from accidentally opening in the pocket. A low rider pocket clip could make finding the lock release button more difficult also. As a result of the position of the lanyard and lock button a low rider would prevent it from riding as deep as it could if they were not there. Further, the low rider would have little effect in that mode of carry since it would not add very much depth to the way it rides on the pocket. By my ruler it would only make it ride approximately 1/4" to a max 3/8" deeper than it currently rides in tip up carry mode. In tip down carry a low rider would be better but then the clip would overhang off one end, and under hang on the other mount position. In short a low rider is not really something to look at although it could be done for one side or the other only but it would not flip well to both mounting positions but be one way specific basically.
I'll grant you the above is an STR view of how I look at the knife and a lot of guys are not going to really think that way so take that with a grain of salt.
What about the rest of the knife? Ok, the clip acts nicely as a lock stabalizer in tip up carry mode. It does nothing to aid the lock from overextending or rebending out in tip down mode though and I nearly over tweaked it causing it to rebend the first time I went to close it by being caught off guard with that fact when it stuck a bit and I had to push it to disengage it. They come from the factory set for tip down carry at this writing. I'd put a lock stabalizer type clip on it for both modes of carry and or install one on it similar to the Strider knives to prevent this from occurring for those that prefer no clip at all if it were my own handmade or I worked with Ken or Kershaw on it. It may be a non issue though. The lock seems plenty stout and I may just be searching too hard trying to find some fault here with an otherwise perfect knife that I am hard pressed to really find fault with.
Overall I like this knife a whole lot. For a knife mechanic its pretty boring though. Nothing to fix or make better really.
Seriously. Once again Kershaw has outdone themselves and come through with a stunning piece of knife craftsmanship with this one. The fit and finish of everything is top rate. The blade is as perfectly ground as I have seen in any knife. It has a needle point every bit as nice as the Yojimbo from Spyderco with near equal penetration ability and yes it bites. I drew blood with it already to prove it. I've whittled with it today and run it through the paces and cut open some bags of dog food, cat litter to change out the cat box supply and after cleaning it off used it to stab some hot dogs to stuff pills in to feed my dog. That long slender point worked great for that and for picking out some splinters I had in my hand from some rough sawn cedar I was working with in the shop today.
In short this is a small classy modern folder that I think anyone would love to own. The steel is second to none and the finish and fit of the parts screams big $$ signs so if you find it for a good deal I'd say jump on it because I suspect these will be hard to find. I know I gave up on the hopes I'd see one for something in my shop. I understand why now though after owning it.
I've got two of these Leeks now. I have left out the second one quite a bit and unfairly so because it too has great merit and deserves to be talked about. I also have the G10 S30V tumbled blade model that I have not carried just yet. It too is flawless though, much the same in everyway as this one except its a liner lock and sports super grippy G10 scales and the different blade steel and finish which by the way are very nice. The stone washed or rock tumbled blade finish reminds me of the top notch Sebenza finish and really sits well with me.
I love these grippy G10 handles though. Some of the best I've seen to date from any manufacturer. I'll tell you something else I like. Its thicker by a little bit than the Ti frame lock and I like the added thickness. Its still thin but it fits the hand better IMO. Not being a big liner lock fan sways me toward the frame lock but in truth I have tested both locks briefly. Both meet up, do not defeat under extreme pressure on the spine with gloved hands, and stand up to spine taps quite well. I'm quite impressed with both and unlike other knives I buy that come and go I think these are for sure keepers which I've found is often the case when I buy any Kershaw. I've grown to trust Kershaw as a company and also have learned from the feedback I recieve from those using them that they simply hold up and work for folks. Of course Kershaw customer service is second to none and helps a lot in that dept. if need be. I know they have always gone above and beyond for me when I did need them the few times it came up.
I rarely use the thumb studs on these models or my Scallion, or Chive from Kershaw. I love this little flipper deal and find that to be very attractive to use although I have ground one off in the past that I now regret doing to my first Scallion. Getting the knife out and open is really a joy with these assisted opening knives. I've forgotten how much fun these things were. Maybe I can stop biting my nails by sitting around playing with these for a while instead now. LOL
As I get to know these better I'll add more. I don't think anyone can really argue with what Kershaw is offering here with these Leek knives though. They are both wonderful EDC folders IMO.
STR
I look at this one as the knife mechanic that I am and say what could I do to really improve it's user value for an owner to help make it better for EDC? Granted that is an odd way to look at a knife I guess, especially for a knife collector since most of them have disdain for what us pimpers and mechanics do to knives. But the truth is collectors are a very minor fraction of the knife population. Users on the other hand are the majority and user friendliness is what I look at first and foremost in a knife. I'm pretty well known for my bare bones no nonsense utility oriented knives and work. Its my primary focus for a folder.
This knife is there as is. It is sleek and beautiful to behold and yet utility oriented combining both in a super package. Its got my favorite blade shape, being the straight edge Wharncliff style. Its designed by one of the premier masters in knife making Mr. Ken Onion and is a spectacular piece of modern day knife making history.
It came shaving sharp, the blade is absolutely flawless, in grind and profile with each side identical and the finish on the titanium slab handle has a slight texture to it giving it a better grip than other bare metal knives I have. The assisted opening feature is just the icing on the cake with this piece. What more could a guy want? How bout made in the USA? Well, guess what? It is. Being that it was ZDP189 I automatically just assumed it was a Japanese knife. Wrong. Its stamped Made in the USA right on the blade. Great feature there IMO.
Ok lets look at what more one could want further. If I must find fault to write about its here. I prefer tip up carry. It rides a bit high in the pocket for me there. Low rider? Well, maybe, but the lanyard would have to go because a low rider will block its usefulness, and may interfere with the lock mechanism for the blade to keep it from accidentally opening in the pocket. A low rider pocket clip could make finding the lock release button more difficult also. As a result of the position of the lanyard and lock button a low rider would prevent it from riding as deep as it could if they were not there. Further, the low rider would have little effect in that mode of carry since it would not add very much depth to the way it rides on the pocket. By my ruler it would only make it ride approximately 1/4" to a max 3/8" deeper than it currently rides in tip up carry mode. In tip down carry a low rider would be better but then the clip would overhang off one end, and under hang on the other mount position. In short a low rider is not really something to look at although it could be done for one side or the other only but it would not flip well to both mounting positions but be one way specific basically.
I'll grant you the above is an STR view of how I look at the knife and a lot of guys are not going to really think that way so take that with a grain of salt.
What about the rest of the knife? Ok, the clip acts nicely as a lock stabalizer in tip up carry mode. It does nothing to aid the lock from overextending or rebending out in tip down mode though and I nearly over tweaked it causing it to rebend the first time I went to close it by being caught off guard with that fact when it stuck a bit and I had to push it to disengage it. They come from the factory set for tip down carry at this writing. I'd put a lock stabalizer type clip on it for both modes of carry and or install one on it similar to the Strider knives to prevent this from occurring for those that prefer no clip at all if it were my own handmade or I worked with Ken or Kershaw on it. It may be a non issue though. The lock seems plenty stout and I may just be searching too hard trying to find some fault here with an otherwise perfect knife that I am hard pressed to really find fault with.
Overall I like this knife a whole lot. For a knife mechanic its pretty boring though. Nothing to fix or make better really.
Seriously. Once again Kershaw has outdone themselves and come through with a stunning piece of knife craftsmanship with this one. The fit and finish of everything is top rate. The blade is as perfectly ground as I have seen in any knife. It has a needle point every bit as nice as the Yojimbo from Spyderco with near equal penetration ability and yes it bites. I drew blood with it already to prove it. I've whittled with it today and run it through the paces and cut open some bags of dog food, cat litter to change out the cat box supply and after cleaning it off used it to stab some hot dogs to stuff pills in to feed my dog. That long slender point worked great for that and for picking out some splinters I had in my hand from some rough sawn cedar I was working with in the shop today.
In short this is a small classy modern folder that I think anyone would love to own. The steel is second to none and the finish and fit of the parts screams big $$ signs so if you find it for a good deal I'd say jump on it because I suspect these will be hard to find. I know I gave up on the hopes I'd see one for something in my shop. I understand why now though after owning it.
I've got two of these Leeks now. I have left out the second one quite a bit and unfairly so because it too has great merit and deserves to be talked about. I also have the G10 S30V tumbled blade model that I have not carried just yet. It too is flawless though, much the same in everyway as this one except its a liner lock and sports super grippy G10 scales and the different blade steel and finish which by the way are very nice. The stone washed or rock tumbled blade finish reminds me of the top notch Sebenza finish and really sits well with me.
I love these grippy G10 handles though. Some of the best I've seen to date from any manufacturer. I'll tell you something else I like. Its thicker by a little bit than the Ti frame lock and I like the added thickness. Its still thin but it fits the hand better IMO. Not being a big liner lock fan sways me toward the frame lock but in truth I have tested both locks briefly. Both meet up, do not defeat under extreme pressure on the spine with gloved hands, and stand up to spine taps quite well. I'm quite impressed with both and unlike other knives I buy that come and go I think these are for sure keepers which I've found is often the case when I buy any Kershaw. I've grown to trust Kershaw as a company and also have learned from the feedback I recieve from those using them that they simply hold up and work for folks. Of course Kershaw customer service is second to none and helps a lot in that dept. if need be. I know they have always gone above and beyond for me when I did need them the few times it came up.
I rarely use the thumb studs on these models or my Scallion, or Chive from Kershaw. I love this little flipper deal and find that to be very attractive to use although I have ground one off in the past that I now regret doing to my first Scallion. Getting the knife out and open is really a joy with these assisted opening knives. I've forgotten how much fun these things were. Maybe I can stop biting my nails by sitting around playing with these for a while instead now. LOL
As I get to know these better I'll add more. I don't think anyone can really argue with what Kershaw is offering here with these Leek knives though. They are both wonderful EDC folders IMO.
STR
