Opinions on a couple Kershaws

Kestrel64

Kestrel64

Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
256
I once had a Ken Onion rainbow leek...I loved the knife, but regretably, I lost it. I am thinking of replacing it...but I also have looked at a Kershaw Blur...all black, and one wicked assisted opening mechanism. The Blur is around $55, the Leek around $70....any opinions out there? I really like both of them, and I only buy about a knife a month.
 
I have never had or handled a leek, but i do have a Blur. The blur is my favorite low cost knife because it fills my hand up, it has a nice recurve blade which cuts quite nice, and it fires fast and strong as any speedsafe knife. The only problem i have had with the blur was the blade, since it is 440A it loses its edge fairly quickly. If you dont mind sharpening, i would say get the blur.


Knucks
 
I have a good friend that is selling a few models of Kershaw knives on Ebay. He hooks me up whenever he gets a different model in. I have a few Leeks and a couple different Blurs along with several other assisted Kershaws. The sandpaper like stuff they put on the grip on the Blur liked to eat the nylon on my wallet when they share a pocket. It didn't seem to bother the material on my pants for some reason. The blades don't hold an edge very well but they sharpen back up easily. I do like the Blur very well. I would suggest that you look around for one with an S30V blade. I have been seeing those on Ebay lately. I have been trying to talk myself out of getting one of those since I already have 2 Blurs. I like the framelock Leeks very well but I have to loosen up the safety lock on it so that I can knock that off when I pick up the knife. For me, it took a little time to get used to opening it up one handed.
 
The S30V-G10 is a Great knife! I think the polished handle version is the better of the two.I like the Leek's compact size and blade shape.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
The Leek also comes in S30V now with G-10 handle slabs.
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I would suggest looking into the G-10 leek as well, I have handled one and I was very happy with it. Next on my list for sure:thumbup:
 
I would go with a Leek. They are great knives. I don't know where you get a Leek for $70 but that's nuts (unless you mean the one with S30V). A regular leek can be had for $40 or less at Wal-Mart.
 
I'm talking about the rainbow leek...have seen it for as low as $65, but they dont have that one at Wally world...not with the good steel.
 
I don't believe the Rainbow leek comes in S30V. The S30V Leek is a new knife with G-10 scales (part K1660G10). The $55 Blur has to only have the 440A blade steel (again, unless you are getting ripped off). The S30V Blur is about $78 dollars and is also a new knife. Which ever one you get, spend the extra and go for the S30V steel. 440A can get a good edge but it won't hold up very long. S30V is great knife steel.

The knives are designed for different purposes. If you use your knife a lot around the house or at work, I would recommend the Leek. Better blade shape and handle for that type of use then the Blur. Leek can still be used for self defense also, of course. So can a pencil, for that matter.

If your main reason is for self defense and learning for use a knife in that way, then the Blur in S30V is hard to beat. With the upgrade to the better steel, Kershaw has created one of the nicest tactical knives on the market. I'm not big on liner locks but this one I even own because of the quality, the features (good grip, comfortable to use, thumb studs grooved and turned to an angle, assisted opening, legal to carry concealled in my state), and type of blade steel used.

Just think about your needs. Both are nice knives with the addition of the S30V steel. Good luck
 
Thanks everyone...I think I will be going for another Leek...I loved my first one...somewhere a lucky person has found it and I hope they like it as much as I did...lol.
 
I have both as just got the Blur a couple of days ago, and the wife liked it so well I had to order another as she kept mine:mad: :D She was so impressed with the action, and how it felt in the hand she said buy another for yourself:cool:
I like the Leek S30V as well with the polished G-10 scales, and keep it by my chair to open mail, boxes, and other small cutting which replaced my regular Leek I have used for 3-4 years. I liked the first Leek but with the 440-A blade I had to sharpen it almost every day as it dulled so quickly. With the S30V is holding an excellent edge.
Can't go wrong with either or both:D

Larry
 
Kestrel64 said:
I once had a Ken Onion rainbow leek...I loved the knife, but regretably, I lost it. I am thinking of replacing it...but I also have looked at a Kershaw Blur...all black, and one wicked assisted opening mechanism. The Blur is around $55, the Leek around $70....any opinions out there? I really like both of them, and I only buy about a knife a month.
Click to expand...

Hava a look at Cyclone:

Kershaw-Cyclon-010.jpg


Very nice knife with very good steel plus good price.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
Hava a look at Cyclone:

Very nice knife with very good steel plus good price.

Thanks, Vassili.
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A nice looking knife, for sure, but the steel sucks. According to the Kershaw steel chart, even the lowly workhorse 440A has a higher hardness rating than Sandvik 13C26 (only 54-56). It's just about the same as 420. Personally, I wouldn't buy anything made of it. Too bad they don't make that model in S30V also.

Regards.
 
i think those sandvic ratings(54-56) were posted wrong at kershaw-could have sworn i saw that someplace here recently-

might want to take a look at the ngk specials page-they have the kershaw saphire for a nasty low price-ti handle-aus-8 blade
 
I've got a Kershaw Storm II in 13C26. It is one of the better steels around and it is not at 54-56 in the Storm.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I've got a Kershaw Storm II in 13C26. It is one of the better steels around and it is not at 54-56 in the Storm.
Click to expand...

This was asked to Thomas W and he replied "13C26 was 57/59. After a reprofile, I said at least 59. STR confirmed that his was 60+ (he tested with known hardened files) I just knew my arm was hurting from my reproflie.;)
 
bladeprince said:
A nice looking knife, for sure, but the steel sucks. According to the Kershaw steel chart, even the lowly workhorse 440A has a higher hardnes rating than Sandvik 13C26 (only 54-56). It's just about the same as 420. Personally, I wouldn't buy anything made of it. Too bad they don't make that model in S30V also.

Regards.
Click to expand...

On my opinion Sandvic 12C27 and 13C26 is the best with C content lower then 1%.

Sandvic is far from 420 and from 440A. 12C27 was choose for KaBar NextGeneration was designed by group of independent experts for KaBar and this experts were very upset about it - should be some comment around if you'll search.

Another hint - Mike Steart choose it as an stainless steel for Bark River. He uses A2 and Sandvic 12C27.

Even by composition

C=0.65 Mn=0.65 Si=0.4 Cr=13.0

it is far from 420:

C=0.15 Cr=12-14 Mn=1 P=0.04 Si=1 S=0.03

even from 420HC

C=0.4-0.5 Cr=12-14 Mn=0.8 Mo=0.6 P=0.05 Si=1 S=0.02 V=0.18

So on my opinion this model line of Kershaw with this Swedish steels (and by nature this iron from Sandvic ore deposit does not has any S or P in it - such a gift for Swedish metalurgists), one of the best in terms of price-performance and also can compete with "prenium" steels easy. And edge of course is much more delicate then overpumped with vanadium carbides steels.

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. It is also known for special KT-crbides it form because of well balanced composition, however I am not comfortable to talk about it - not enough knowledge. Just know thet it has some special microstructure...

P.P.S. I am tryingto buy all knives Kershaw made out of Sandvic - Storm II, Spec Speed Bump and Cyclone. BTW have a look at Speed Bump also.
 
nozh2002, I agree. This seems to be a great "budget" steel. Thanks to kershaw for putting it in some knives!:thumbup:

Also, I would like a mini-Cyclone.
 
Don't mind being wrong. Won't be the last time. But I was just going by Kershaw's own chart. Think I'll send them an email and see what their response will be.
 
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