Looking for long term/hard use Leek review

F

fishtale

Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
337
I love the Leek. I got a standard ss/440a this year and it's been great. The design is excellent for my needs. However, I was wondering if there are any long term users who can report?
 
I don't know that my usage would qualify as hard but I have had my bottom of the line 1660 Leek for about 15 months now. Mine has worked in the garden, garage and kitchen and sees almost daily duty. It has held up as well as any of my other knives ever have. It gets touched up regularily on my SharpMaker and then stropped and has done everything I have ever asked of it.

John
 
I have had my Leek since they first came out. The Kershaw/Ken Onion logo is about worn off the handle. It went from being my main EDC to my left hand backup. I still find myself reaching for it instead of right hand main EDC. The 440A holds up well. I touch it up every time after use, as I do with all my knives. This only requires a few strokes on a ceramic rod. If my knives are not shaving sharp, they do not leave the house. I use it frequently for food prep and when dining out. I also use it for fishing. Just had it out today in the Gulf while wade fishing/crab netting. I have submersed it for hundreds of hours in salt water while fishing. With proper cleaning and care it has never failed me. I keep it sharp, tight and oiled and it just keeps on going with no problems.
 
Thanks for the replys.

Great user report on salt water usage. I often fish with my Leatherman PST and fresh water dunks often cause surface rust if not WD-40'd asap.

I have been concerned about tip breakage but so far, so good.
 
I've had my Leek w G10 handle and S30V for about 6-7 months now. I use it daily in a warehouse environment. Open cardboard boxes, remove staples, cut plastic banding strap on pallets and cut all types of plastics. It seems very well built and durable. Lock up is solid and has not changed since day one. The S30V blade has excellent edge retention.
 
I've had my leek for a long time now and it has gotten a LOT of use...It started falling apart...the quick action opening was much slower, and the screws were backing out and falling out...I had to LOC-Tite them back in. Then I had to play around with each screw to get the tension just right, so that the AO would work properly...But, once I tuned it back up and the screws aren't moving anymore, she's back in business...Oh, and still sharp as ever...shaving hair! But, I think it's time I started looking for another Kershaw...... Blur or Mini-Cyclone
 
I consider myself a "lite" knife user -
but my Leeks (plaural) do qualify for long term usage -

My first Leek was the plain all steel 1660 -

Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK (pics)

which I got in Feb/2003, and that was my at home EDC until -

Black "boron" Leek

in May/2004 - EDC'd at home
until the recent switch to the Kershaw JunkYard Dog (March/2007)

Both the Leeks have held up fine, and still work fine -
I have not had any problems with any of my Kershaw Leeks
and I have had 5 of them -

Kershaw Rainbow Leek

polished G10 S30V Leek

G-10 S30V Leek (matte version)

--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
in a hard use folder for a very reasonable price look at Cold Steel Recon1. The older model has Zytel scale handle (which I have and have used tons for 6 years with no failure) the lock on the zytel handle will hold 150lbs without failure and the newer model with g-10 scales will hold 200 pounds without failure.

The knives will take lateral stress as well (use to pry stuff in an emergency) I have seen a car lock forced by putting the point of the knife in the lock and pushing and twisting till the lock tumblers snapped. no damage to the knife. I have also seen a car door actually cut open and pried back like a sardine can with no damage to the knife. I have had Buck folders and CRKT fold on me and cut me with much lighter use than I use with my Recon1 (the knives were about the same price too but now they sit in a drawer). just a suggestion
 
My older brother had to have surgery on the right hand thumb tendon because his Buck cross lock folded and severed 98 percent of the tendon. Mine cut me all the time from folding up when using it, but luckily I never did serious harm to my self.
 
coop1957 said:
I've had my Leek w G10 handle and S30V for about 6-7 months now. I use it daily in a warehouse environment. Open cardboard boxes, remove staples, cut plastic banding strap on pallets and cut all types of plastics. It seems very well built and durable. Lock up is solid and has not changed since day one. The S30V blade has excellent edge retention.
Click to expand...

You used it to remove staples?!?!?!:eek:
How dare you!!!

Do you have any pictures of your knife after 6 months of use?

Bigfattyt said:
My older brother had to have surgery on the right hand thumb tendon because his Buck cross lock folded and severed 98 percent of the tendon. Mine cut me all the time from folding up when using it, but luckily I never did serious harm to my self.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by folding up?
 
bought a used leek on ebay for 22 bucks. date stamped jan 06. when i got it i cleaned it up and found that one of the handle slabs had a hole in the pivot area that creeped into the torsion bar cutout. the ball detent also had a flat spot worn in it. i sent it back to kershaw
 
reptilezs said:
bought a used leek on ebay for 22 bucks. date stamped jan 06. when i got it i cleaned it up and found that one of the handle slabs had a hole in the pivot area that creeped into the torsion bar cutout. the ball detent also had a flat spot worn in it. i sent it back to kershaw
Click to expand...

And then what? Did you get a new one? Did they fix the one you sent in? What happened?
 
hi updating my post in this thread. got the leek back today and they replaced it. turn around time was a lightning fast 7 days with sunday and 4th of july included.
 
I'm very impressed by Kershaw's responsivness. I love doing business with a company like that!
 
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