New Kershaw Leeks: Adjust Opening Tension?

S

srmd22

Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
112
Howdy,
I recently bought a couple of folders, based on advice in this forum and elsewhere. Amongst them are a couple of Leeks, which I really dig, especially the nifty assisted opening mechanism. Probably won't carry them to much, since I am not sure of the legality of it, but they are fun to have around.

However, I have torn up my thumb pretty good practicing with the thumb studs on these things. They are, as you all know, the little volcano-style design, with very little space between them and the frame to get purchase for opening. But, the problem, I think, is that the knive comes a bit on the overtightened side from the factory. There is a little star or torq screw on the pivot, which I suspect is for adjusting, but it is so tiny that even my smallest torq or star nuts don't fit!

Is this screw truly for adjustment? Have other Leek owners found they needed to loosen this for pragmatic use of the thumbstuds?

BTW, the other mechanism for opening, the little protrusion on the spine side of the knife, is much easier to use and works great (although I'd still like it a bit looser, if possible).
 
I use a T8 on my leek's pivot.

Where do you live? AO's are not illegal in most parts of the USA. Some cities do have restrictions on blade lengths though.

Also I never use the thumbstud on the Leek, I just use the flipper.
 
I don't own any AO's but I've handled quite a few and the problem you have opening may be due to the mechanism not the pivot tension. The spring not only opens the knife but provides a bias towards closure. As a result it takes a bit more force to get things started than a complete manual would.
 
Oh, glad to hear about the legality-- I live in MA, outside of Boston. I don't really know the rules about blade length either, being knew to the knife collecting world. I'll have to get around to checking that out (unless someone else knows/posts).

I guess I'll just stick with the flipper until I can find a T8. My smallest is a T10, I think.

Thanks!
 
While you're at it, get a T6 bit as well. These two bits will allow you to perform maintenance on most of your knives.

The studs on the Leek are there mostly as blade stops. It was definitely designed as a flipper.
 
If you reverse the clip (T6) warm up the screw with a hairdryer or touch something hot to the screw (soldering iron is great), as mine seem to have blue loctite applied.

Bob
 
srmd22 said:
Oh, glad to hear about the legality-- I live in MA, outside of Boston. I don't really know the rules about blade length either, being knew to the knife collecting world. I'll have to get around to checking that out (unless someone else knows/posts).

I guess I'll just stick with the flipper until I can find a T8. My smallest is a T10, I think.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I just lived in Boston for a couple months, the legal length limit is 2.5" which is the reason i bought my poliwog.

I would recommend just using the flipper. On my Zing the thumbstuds were horrible so i just used the flipper the whole time.
 
Yah, I guess I will just stick with the flipper then. Still would like to loosen it up, just a smidge.
 
I don't know what big box home improvement stores are in your area but if you have a Home Depot or a Lowes, check them for a set of mini torx. Comes with a driver and the different bits go inside. All of $6 to $8, and it will set you up for those torx screws.
 
Well, after a few days of futzing around with the leeks, they are opening for me with the thumb studs. BTW, I don't know why I want to use the thumb studs, because the flipper is awesome, but I figure it is their, and it should work.

Well it does. I think it is a combo of practicing with the thing, and the mechanism loosening up or breaking in a bit.

Anyway, there it is.
 
IMHO, Kershaws almost always come very tight from the factory, but they tend to loosen up with use. I got an S30V Blur a while back, and the first time I tried to open it I thought I was going to tear a hole in my thumb (no flipper on the Blur). But after a day of opening and closing it a 100 times or so, it smoothed right up and is no problem now.
 
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