Question for Fellow Kershaw Leek Owners!

JediKnight86

JediKnight86

Joined
Jul 9, 2003
Messages
1,702
I just got a Random Leek from CK&T. I'm asking all leek owners since the Random is essentially the same knife. I've noticed two things I don't like about it and I'm wondering if it's a common issue. Firstly, the blade is not at all centered when closed. I'm going to find a torx wrench and try adjusting the pivot screw. I know this will affect more than one thing. Another issue that may be solved by this adjustment is the lock. It barely (and i mean barely) engages the tang. If you open it manually without snapping the blade in place it doesn't engage at all. However, it does pass the spine whack test when properly opened. Kershaw customer service said it's set like that bc it will move furhter under the tang over time.

Also, this TiNO3 coating on and around the clip looks distored (kinda hard to describe) but its fine and even everywhere else. I'm not too familiar with Kershaw knives. Otherwise the knife is pretty nice, not sure it's worth the $100 retail (but it is an exclusive). Anyone had any similar issues? Any other quality issues? Maybe these things are normal? :confused:
 
My Leek also locks up far to the left. It is secure, though.

As for blade centering, while my Leek is pretty well centered, I have an older Chive whose blade is a tiny bit "crooked" while closed. It never caused me any trouble.
 
Yeah, it's S30V thankfully.

I tried ajusting the pivot screw, but it doesn't seem to do anything, it just spins. Maybe Kershaw doesn't want people messing with it, but I was able to adjust the pivot screw on my black chive...
 
My RL is not centered when closed, but I've never cared. About 1/2 of the lock bar contacts the tang. No coating problems. Love the knife. I covered it with ant-skid tape to add some grip, works great. Snappy, good ergos & blafde shape & steel. Awesome!
 
I have 2 leeks and on one the lock bar barely contacts the tang and the other one it's wedged in their pretty good. Both lock up just fine. If I wanted I can mash the lock bar and it will lock up very tight but it's hard to unlock. I would do that if I were going to use the knife hard but I don't really use my leeks very hard.

The blades on both are not centered the same either. Doesn't seem to affect performance. I actually asked the local knife shop about it and they said something along the lines of it was made that way to counteract the lock bar but since the blade would have to be off to the other side to "counteract" the lock bar I took the statement as a pile of BS simular to other statements made by the same person.
 
i have 2 Leeks. they were both perfectly centered when closed. i tried to open one and clean it thoroughly, and then close it back up. while it went back together fine, the blade now touches one of the sides, and no matter what i've tried, i cannot get the blade centered again, period. sucks.

abe m.
 
I two Rainbow Leeks and both have off-centered blades.

The locks are okay but they do travel far across the tang.

BTW, the pivot screws on both knives are adjustable, and I have disassembled both knives several times.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
JediKnight86 said:
Another issue that may be solved by this adjustment is the lock. It barely (and i mean barely) engages the tang. If you open it manually without snapping the blade in place it doesn't engage at all. However, it does pass the spine whack test when properly opened. Kershaw customer service said it's set like that bc it will move furhter under the tang over time.
Click to expand...

IMHO I would find that UNacceptable -
do you think it's reasonable to be "careful" until the knife has broken in so that the lock engages properly?
- sounds like a bunch of whoo-ha to me......

Leeks_Vapor_Lck_S.jpg


The 3 Leeks I have (plain, rainbow and Black "boron" Tungsten DLC) all engage to about 1/3 the blade tang - and are reliable.

Please see these reviews:

Kershaw/Ken Onion LEEK (pics)

Kershaw Rainbow Leek - a pictorial review

Black "boron" Leek

Personally I would return the knife for an exchange -
and if the replacement is not any better - a refund.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
 
About the adjustable pivot...

I took off the clip to reveal the backside of the screw. There is an odd looking metal disc covering it (or that is what it screws into). That disc just spins when I try to adjust the screw.

I'm considering sending it back. CK&T said if I included a not describing the problem they would do their best to replace it with one that didn't have these problems. I'm just afraid I won't get it for awhile. I'll be out of town this weekend and from tuesday until the following week. Because of the holiday I doubt it will be in my mailbox when I return... What to do... :confused:

It seems that after opening and closing about 50 times the lock moved further under the tang a very tiny bit. Now when you slowly open the blade without snapping, the lock engages a very tiny bit (which is better than not at all). So, if that problem will fix it self more over the next few days it may be fine. And since you all say the blade not being centered when closed is a common finding, if I send it back they may not have one that is centered.

Crap like this makes me glad I have a Sebenza. Why can't Kershaw have tighter tolerances?
 
Probably just loctited and that is causing the pivot to turn. Boil it in water for about 5 minutes and then really put pressure, with your finger, on the black disc and try to loosen it. If that doesn't work then take a screwdriver and PAD the tip, cloth; thin leather; pasteboard, insert it in between the handles and slightly twist it to put some pressure on the pivot and it should come right off.
 
If you're not happy with it send it back for another one or send it into Kershaw and they'd probably replace it if they felt it was out of spec. I got my Random Leek the day they first became available and it's fine. The lock engages the same as the other leeks pictured above. Even my Sebenza's lock only comes across part way like that.
 
" If you open it manually without snapping the blade in place it doesn't engage at all."

What do you mean when you say "open it manually without snapping the blade".

As far as I know, there are two ways of opening the blade, push on the flipper or push on the thumbstud and then the blade opens and snaps into place. If you push on the thumbstud, you need to get your thumb out of the way ASAP so that it doesn't drag on the blade and stop it from opening fully. Is this what's happening?
 
No, I mean open it with two hands, cancel out the spring action, open slowly and move the blade into full opened position. as if the blade were to hit something halfway and stop and you have to open it the rest of the way.
 
JediKnight86 said:
No, I mean open it with two hands, cancel out the spring action, open slowly and move the blade into full opened position. as if the blade were to hit something halfway and stop and you have to open it the rest of the way.
Click to expand...

I knew exactly what you meant - a very similar action is to unlock the blade from the fully open position start to close it - and change your mind and decide to open to lock it again.

Even with the softest/gentlest opening all three of my Leeks will lock up properly with an authorative click.

So any knife that doesn't - and I do realize one can break knives in to work better - but at $100 why should you, when all mine at considerably less than $100 worked just fine first time out of the box, without any break-in period (and two are coated) .....

So when will you consider your Random Leek "safe", and are you sure you won't need to use it for some unexpected task where you can't pay as much attention even if you knew it might not be as safe as almost anyone else's?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
 
I also own a Random Leek, and I have had no problems. The black color tends to look darker in some spots, but it's usually because of a smudeg or finger print. Mine closes dead-center. The lock up on mine (and virtually every fram-lock I've seen) engages just enough. I think this is done to ensure positive lock-up as it wears down. Remember, the act of holding the handle helps keep the lock in place. If you are still dissappointed, send it to Kershaw and have them look at it. They are great to deal with!
 
A quick way to tighten the pivot is to open the blade - put pressure on the cutting edge (as though cutting something) - I would use a cutting board for this- then using a T6 Torx driver you will be able to tighten the pivot.

This problem is due to the coating on the knife - we have to aluminum oxide blast the handles before coating - due to this and the fact that we press fit the pivots into the back handle on the standard leek sometimes the aluminum oxide "cuts" into the pivot hole - enlarging the hole (.00002"). This in combination with a pivot nut on the low end of the tolerance can result in the above.

I apologize for the hastle - we try to make the best product possible at an affordable price - I would be happy to fix your knife personally please call me or e-mail and we will take care of you.

Sincerely,

Craig Green.
Factory Manager
Kershaw Knives.
craig@kershawknives.com
1-800-325-2891
 
Well, my tale is all good. After reading all the Leek woes I thought I'd better look my Rainbow Leek over for defects I may have missed. I did and found none.
I bought my Leek on April 2, 2003 at my local dealer, Bladerunner Knives, for $75 and change. It is an EDC and gets swapped with my Severtech when I get to work and is thrown into my toolbox. I carry it in my pocket with coins and keys occasionally and the finish has held up with no finish damage at all on the handle. The blade has hairline scratches that can be seen under a good light source. The clip has quite noticable scratches.. The tip is centered within about 5% by my trained eye.The lock engages between 60 and 70% of the blade. It snaps readily. I do keep it cleaned at work every few months by hosing it with WD-40 and blowing with compressed air. I have also waxed it once , maybe twice with Ren' Wax like all my knives. Most of my knives are customs.
Four of my friends bought Leeks or Chives based on my experience and I believe they all are still happy with them. I'd have heard otherwise. Needless to say I'd reccommend one, the Rainbow especially. And so I ramble.....
Stay sharp Amigos :cool:
 
Craig Green- Thanks for the advice and welcome aboard. It is always good to hear from the guys who make the knives we like. I have a Rainbow leek that is fun to play with. It feels too slippery to operate quickly so I don't carry it.
 
I have several leeks and the blades are off center on all of them. The lock seems to be secure and solid as seen in the pic.

Leek.bmp
 
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