Need advice on new ZDP leek....

trakker45

trakker45

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Feb 23, 2006
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I just received my new ZDP leek in the mail and was dying to try it out. I released the safety, pushed lightly on the thumb stud and ... nothing happened. I carefully manipulated the knife with both hands, pushed the stud, and the blade opened about half-way.

I have found that using the "index-open" feature does work- the blade flips open and locks up securely. But the thumb stud is still very stubborn- although the blade does open with more "snap" after manipulating the index-open feature several times.

Question: should I send it back to Kershaw and have them work on the thumb stud issue, or will this problem resolve itself over time? Right now, I am fairly annoyed and am leaning towards sending it back to let Kershaw deal with it. Am I overreacting here?
 
Uh, as far as I know you're not supposed to use the studs. You're supposed to use the FLIPPER. It's call that for a reason. :)
 
Try push stud using thumb nail, otherwize your thumb just slow it down.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
WadeF said:
Uh, as far as I know you're not supposed to use the studs. You're supposed to use the FLIPPER. It's call that for a reason. :)
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I have never heard that, but I am not well-versed in these knives. That said, I re-checked the manual, and it clearly says you can open the blade using the thumb stud.

Mine will not open one-handed with the thumb stud, period. Takes two hands that way. I think I am going to send it back and see what Kershaw says about it. Thanks for the replies.
 
I've got a G10 S30V leek, and I don't even bother trying to use the thumb studs. They are situated too close to the handle to really be effective. They can be used, but your finger tends to have a nasty tendency to follow the movement behind the blade with the result being that when the assist engages your finger is often riding the edge of the blade "ouch"... Just stick with the flipper, it keeps your fingers out of the way of the blade, and is much easier to use..

As Bun-Bun would say "snick"...
 
Racerx2oo3 said:
They are situated too close to the handle to really be effective.
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This is what I concluded as well. The studs are way too close to the handle. Okay, maybe I won't send it back. I guess I had unrealistic expectations.
 
I had the same problem with my Leek (not ZDP). After loosing pivot a little and oiling I can open knife both ways - with thumb and flipper.
 
WadeF said:
Uh, as far as I know you're not supposed to use the studs. You're supposed to use the FLIPPER. It's call that for a reason. :)
Click to expand...

I've never opened mine any other way - using the flipper, that is.
 
KFLEISIG said:
The thumb studs are just a blade stop, use the flipper.
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Does this hold true for all of the Kershaw Ken Onion knives? I was going to buy my wife a Chive for Christmas, but if she has to use her fingernail to open the blade, I won't do it.

If the Chive is out, can someone recommend a small, quality assisted-opener that will open using a thumb stud? Thanks.
 
trakker45 said:
Does this hold true for all of the Kershaw Ken Onion knives? I was going to buy my wife a Chive for Christmas, but if she has to use her fingernail to open the blade, I won't do it.

If the Chive is out, can someone recommend a small, quality assisted-opener that will open using a thumb stud? Thanks.
Click to expand...

She won't have to use her fingernail, because it has a flipper.
 
its it not enough that the flipper actually looks like a trigger on the back of the knife? :)

if i may?
is there a reason why you need to have thumbstuds ?
IMO assisted openers can be somewhat hazardous in the thumbstud opening if your not careful.
your thumb can end up sliding right down the cutting edge when the knife snaps open.
 
Using the thumbstuds on this knife is just plain awkward. On the other hand, the trigger works great, so why fight with the stud?
 
drano said:
its it not enough that the flipper actually looks like a trigger on the back of the knife? :)

if i may?
is there a reason why you need to have thumbstuds ?
IMO assisted openers can be somewhat hazardous in the thumbstud opening if your not careful.
your thumb can end up sliding right down the cutting edge when the knife snaps open.
Click to expand...

The Thumbstuds act as the blade stop on the Leeks, Scallions and Chives. Without the studs, the blade would sort of over-extend.
 
KO Kershaws didn't have flippers at first (Random Task, Avalanche, Blackout, Whirlwind) On something like the RT, the stud was meant to open the knife, and to only open the knife, it wasn't the blade stop. Of course, without a flipper, the hazard of slicing your finger open was ever present, the knives even had little sleeves over the edge near the base so people wouldn't slice themselves open when first trying them out of the box. The studs on the Leek and others are now intended primarily as blade stops, and the flipper is the safer method of opening. But studs on 95% of folders are meant for opening, so wanting to be able to use them is not at all unreasonable.
 
I used to be in the same boat as all of you. The thumbstud is awkward and pointless. Always use the trigger.

But after a few hours playing with it unconsiously while watching a movie, I have gotten used to it. I still use the trigger as my primary opening method, but once in a while i will flick it open with my thumb.

The trick is to hold it as far away from your thumb as possible with your pinky, and give it a sharp flick outward away from the blade with the fleshy part of your thumb. (trimmed fingernails)

This is coming from somone who has fairly large hands :)
 
nygiantsfan3342 said:
The Thumbstuds act as the blade stop on the Leeks, Scallions and Chives. Without the studs, the blade would sort of over-extend.
Click to expand...

o, sorry i diddnt mean it that way.
all of that was meant for Tracker and why he was so deadset on opening the onions by the thumbstud.



to me at least, its kind of obvious that the studs were not really meant to be used as thumbstuds. they are way too small and set too close to the slabs.

when i brought my first leek home i took a gander at the directions in the box and was suprised that it was suggested that you could use the studs to open the knife. i highly doubted that Mr. Onion wrote the directions himself.
 
I'm not sure what the problem is. My G-10 Leek opens as easily with the thumbstuds as with the flipper. OK, the flipper is more fun. :)

What you have to do is, don't push away from the handle. Push forward to the front of the knife. This is how you should be using all thumbstuds.
 
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