Leek makes a great manual...

reholli

reholli

Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
1,131
I decided to disassemble (Please...no disassemble Johnny5!) one of my Kershaws for the first time to get the experience after acquiring the proper-size torx drivers.

I picked a G10 Leek with S30V that had somewhat sluggish SpeedSafe because I figured it could use the maintenance. Even though this knife was supposedly new, upon disassembly it was obvious that it was not. There's no way this knife came this way from Kershaw's factory! The seller either had screwed it up or acquired it from someone else who had, because all the screws were loose, more grease had been forced into more internal places than you would think possible, and the SpeedSafe torsion bar had managed to wear away part of the frame on the SpeedSafe side right above the area the pivot shaft passes through.

Anyway, I cleaned it all up, lubed it appropriately, and decided to leave the torsion bar out as I just couldn't get it to function properly with the unnatural wear that was present.

After slapping it back together, it is a perfect manual opener using either the flipper or thumbstuds with just a tiny bit of wrist action. The best part, what makes a Leek so perfect for this (and probably the Scallion and Chive, also), is that the tip lock on these models keeps them perfectly closed until you release it, important because there's no detent to keep the blade closed.

So, I got to see how one's put together, and now have a great manual to boot...

;):)

Ray
 
The SpeedSafe system is elegant in its simplicity and function. I think everyone should disassemble one of them at some point to truly appreciate just how amazing the system is.

I have wanted a manual Leek since the beginning, but the lack of a detent is what stopped me. Using the safety as you are works great, but I hate having to disengage a safety a the bottom of the knife and then reposition it in my hand to open. Just too many steps. However, I'm glad it worked for you. I'm thinking of ways to add some kind of detent system to one of my Leeks and see if that works.
 
redsst said:
The SpeedSafe system is elegant in its simplicity and function. I think everyone should disassemble one of them at some point to truly appreciate just how amazing the system is.

I have wanted a manual Leek since the beginning, but the lack of a detent is what stopped me. Using the safety as you are works great, but I hate having to disengage a safety a the bottom of the knife and then reposition it in my hand to open. Just too many steps. However, I'm glad it worked for you. I'm thinking of ways to add some kind of detent system to one of my Leeks and see if that works.
Click to expand...

Could you use a small magnet to hold the blade in the closed position?
 
How did you get the blade apart?

I tried to take mine apart (like i do with every new gadget I get), but could not get the blade off. The screw just spun in place.

Also, I used some 1000 grit sandpaper and polished the sides of the clip. It looks a little better that way.


M.
 
If you have G10 Scales, I'd suggest heating up the screw with a soldering iron to free up the Loctite first, then attempt to seperate the screw from the pivot.

On metal scaled leeks, the head of the pivot can't spin when turning the screw, but nonmetal scales allow the pivot to spin when you try to remove the screw. Maybe someone else will chime in with a better explanation. Good Luck.
 
mikemock said:
How did you get the blade apart?

I tried to take mine apart (like i do with every new gadget I get), but could not get the blade off. The screw just spun in place.

Also, I used some 1000 grit sandpaper and polished the sides of the clip. It looks a little better that way.


M.
Click to expand...

On mine, the pivot screw was already loose along with the frame screws, and came out with no problem. However, the pivot on mine doesn't spin because the head is hex-shaped and in a recess...as long as the hex head is held down flush in it's hole, you can remove the pivot screw. This isn't visible without the clip removed.

Perhaps the pivot head on yours isn't hex shaped if the pivot spins. The date on my 1660G10 is Jan 08 and perhaps the pivot is different. I don't know because it's the first one I've disassembled.
 
My 1660 is also Jan 08.

The pivot is completely round. That is way the screw just spins.

I don't know how they would have tightened this at the factory.

M.
 
One thing you can do is take the pocket clip off, place a piece of rubber
(like from an old bicycle tire) against the back then slightly tighten the
clip back on top of the rubber piece. Then try taking the screw out.
 
svrider3 said:
One thing you can do is take the pocket clip off, place a piece of rubber
(like from an old bicycle tire) against the back then slightly tighten the
clip back on top of the rubber piece. Then try taking the screw out.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great idea, sv!:)
 
Brutus013 said:
Could you use a small magnet to hold the blade in the closed position?
Click to expand...

A magnet is a good idea. I think the problem would be finding one strong enough to hold the blade close, yet thin enough to fit between the blade and handle.
 
There is a detente ball, and you should see the track it leaves in the metal. Get a small diamond coated ball for a dremel, about 1mm diameter, and "drill" a small recess at the end of the worn arc. The detente ball will sit in it and keep it closed. I did it with a Chive and it worked perfectly.

Be slow and careful and it should work awesome.
 
RLR said:
There is a detente ball, and you should see the track it leaves in the metal. Get a small diamond coated ball for a dremel, about 1mm diameter, and "drill" a small recess at the end of the worn arc. The detente ball will sit in it and keep it closed. I did it with a Chive and it worked perfectly.

Be slow and careful and it should work awesome.
Click to expand...

Long-term, I think I'll want to do this...need to pick up the proper Dremel bit.

Short-term, the tip-lock works because I'm not a quick-draw artist with my folders anyway...;)

Ray :)
 
Understood, but I would think the blade rattles a bit in there, and that would drive me nuts! It's a super easy, and super satisfying mod.
 
reholli said:
I'm not a quick-draw artist with my folders anyway...;)

Ray :)
Click to expand...

When you can pull the knife from the pocket, open it, toss it into the
air, grab the pebble from my hand, then put it back, catch the knife on
the way down, close it and put it back in pocket, only then will you be
a master. ;)

You have much training left Grasshopper. :D

If you actually try this and impale your hand, don't call me cryin' cause I'll just tell ya....."Suck it up you big wuss". :D
 
mikemock said:
How did you get the blade apart?

I tried to take mine apart (like i do with every new gadget I get), but could not get the blade off. The screw just spun in place.
Click to expand...

You need to remove the screws from the body (dont do it all the way, leave enough to hold that plastic spacer in place.) to remove the pivot screw from what I remember.
 
svrider3 said:
When you can pull the knife from the pocket, open it, toss it into the
air, grab the pebble from my hand, then put it back, catch the knife on
the way down, close it and put it back in pocket, only then will you be
a master. ;)

You have much training left Grasshopper. :D

If you actually try this and impale your hand, don't call me cryin' cause I'll just tell ya....."Suck it up you big wuss". :D
Click to expand...

I don't think I'll ever reach that level of proficiency...I'm just too old...:(;)

If I do hurt myself, though, I'll just call the Waaaaambulance...:D

Ray :)
 
redsst said:
A magnet is a good idea. I think the problem would be finding one strong enough to hold the blade close, yet thin enough to fit between the blade and handle.
Click to expand...

Those neodymium magnets are amazingly strong. I don't know if even they would work at those sizes, though. The leek IS rather small...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top