Leeks 14C28N now?

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zorak

Joined
Jan 18, 2011
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Looking to get a Leek from Knifeworks, but they listing 440A blades on all of them. I thought Leeks had 14C28N now.

Unless this is old stock, isn't this probably just an oversight?

Is the black teflon coated blade a bad idea? Or does this coating hold up pretty well? This knife would see light duty EDC type stuff for the most part.
 
You're right that it's probably just an oversight in terms of updating the specs on the webpage. Leeks have had Sandvik steel (first 13C26N, now 14C28N) for 4ish years now, so it's very unlikely KW would still have some with 440A in stock at this point.

Also, the coating on black-bladed Leeks is now DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), which generally seems to be regarded as the most durable of the common black blade coatings -- certainly more durable than Teflon. I've had a DLC-coated Leek that I've used for occasional light tasks around the house for about 6 months, and the coating shows no signs of wear.
 
They're sandvik by now, or you would've heard it on here long ago.

It's not a teflon coating, it is Tugsten DLC from Ionbond coatings. It is an insanely tough coating that resists wear by having a Rockwell in the mid 80's. Often, the items you cut wear itself onto the coating and then rub off with your finger.
 
Thanks for the heads up.

Now to decide between:

- the base stainless Leek, which will probably fit the bill just fine
- the black/black model
- the Sandvik/D2 composite blade model for a little more. That composite blade is pretty cool...
 
zorak said:
Thanks for the heads up.

Now to decide between:

- the base stainless Leek, which will probably fit the bill just fine
- the black/black model
- the Sandvik/D2 composite blade model for a little more. That composite blade is pretty cool...
Click to expand...
I own the last two, as well as the version with Red/Black aluminum handles. The black/black and composite versions are my favorite out of the three; each has its own set of benefits.

With the composite, you get a more wear-resistant steel on the cutting edge (CPM-D2), so that's my preferred Leek for cutting abrasive materials like cardboard. The main thing I like about the black/black model is that the black coating on the handle provides more grip than the uncoated/polished steel on the handle of the composite blade version (as well as the regular Leek). The Sandvik steel isn't as wear-resistant as the D2, but it's great for lighter tasks because it takes an extremely fine edge and is very easy to touch up. (The CPM-D2 is no slouch in terms of taking a fine edge, though.)
 
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:thumbup:

Thanks neuron. I was wondering if the anodized handles offered more grip than the plain stainless handle found on the composite and plain models.
That's good to know. More grip is always good, but not to the point that I want the G10 Leek.

Knowing the black blade coating is durable is good to know, because I think they look hot. :)
 
knivesandguns said:
They're sandvik by now, or you would've heard it on here long ago.

It's not a teflon coating, it is Tugsten DLC from Ionbond coatings. It is an insanely tough coating that resists wear by having a Rockwell in the mid 80's. Often, the items you cut wear itself onto the coating and then rub off with your finger.
Click to expand...

I have an early production Blackout with either a TiN or DLC coating on it(I don't remember which,) and its still one of the toughest tool coatings I've seen. I'd definitely trust any DLC coating by Kershaw.
 
gomipile said:
I have an early production Blackout with either a TiN or DLC coating on it(I don't remember which,) and its still one of the toughest tool coatings I've seen. I'd definitely trust any DLC coating by Kershaw.
Click to expand...

Ditto for my 7 1/2 yr old Blackout.
 
Are all the Leeks framelocks now? I remember something about the framelocks only being on the composite blade model.
 
zorak said:
Are all the Leeks framelocks now? I remember something about the framelocks only being on the composite blade model.
Click to expand...
The stainless-handled Leeks have always been framelocks. The only ones that are liner locks are the versions with aluminum and G-10 scales.
 
OP here, a month later... I liked my first two Leeks a whole lot, but the handles are pretty slippery. So I went ahead and ordered a G-10 Leek. Love that grip!

The G-10 S30V blade did surprise me by arriving pretty dull compared all my other Kershaws.

kbt6oh.jpg
 
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