Took a chunk out of my Random Leek

T

tdrussell

Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Messages
215
I was slicing down through a 1/4" thick pine stick, and i guess torqued it in just the wrong spot. sadness ensued. :grumpy:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c1eADI1fmo2OtZbkaPt2_Q?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AcEg0SHrpvKMMuvIm9czIg?feat=directlink

I haven't had much luck with this knife. The serrations have proved to be very fragile and soft, and the main screw kept coming loose so i had to glue it in place. I'm planning on trying for something harder (and non-serrated) for my next knife, a ZDP or damascus shallot probably. What would happen if i sent this back to kershaw? Anyone have a suggestion for a knife that can take some abuse? Maybe i'm just overly hard on knives. :mad:
 
I feel that it should and would be covered by warranty.. They have the best Customer Service in the business...
perhaps get yourself a ZT knife.. Search for that line of knives and you can abuse them in almost any manner.. for real...
You would be more than happy about the performance...
Matt
 
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tdrussell said:
I was slicing down through a 1/4" thick pine stick, and i guess torqued it in just the wrong spot. sadness ensued. :grumpy:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c1eADI1fmo2OtZbkaPt2_Q?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AcEg0SHrpvKMMuvIm9czIg?feat=directlink

I haven't had much luck with this knife. The serrations have proved to be very fragile and soft, and the main screw kept coming loose so i had to glue it in place. I'm planning on trying for something harder (and non-serrated) for my next knife, a ZDP or damascus shallot probably. What would happen if i sent this back to kershaw? Anyone have a suggestion for a knife that can take some abuse? Maybe i'm just overly hard on knives. :mad:
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Ouch. I'm not sure I'd be using any of my Leeks as you described but I'm sure Kershaw will take care of you. Have you thought about something a little more beefy? Maybe a Blur or even a straight knife? I say this only because I consider the Leeks to be suited for to light/medium tasks. There is a great deal on S60V Blur Blems in the Exchange right now. Or...if you really want something to beat the hell out of....look at the ZT line.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. Yes, i realize now that i probably need something a little beefier than the leek. Honestly, i don't expect Kershaw to have my back, it was pretty clearly my fault and probably not anything to do with manufacturing. I have been eyeing some ZT knives, as well as the blems you mentioned. Thanks again for the input.
 
tdrussell said:
Thanks for the responses guys. Yes, i realize now that i probably need something a little beefier than the leek. Honestly, i don't expect Kershaw to have my back, it was pretty clearly my fault and probably not anything to do with manufacturing. I have been eyeing some ZT knives, as well as the blems you mentioned. Thanks again for the input.
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I didn't see that was your 2nd post. Welcome!

As trimcut123 already said...Kershaw's customer service is fantastic. I've no doubt they will take care of this. I'd definitely give them a call.

Watch the for sale area......tank-like ZTs show up pretty frequently.
 
Ouch was the first word out of my mouth too. A 1/4" piece of pine? Was this a green (live) pine branch or a dowel rod?
 
Wow. That has to be the biggest chip I've ever seen. And from cutting PINE? :eek:
Dude, you need a beefier knife. Leeks are nice, but I agree that you would probably be better served by something from the ZT line.
I wouldn't recommend ZDP steel for the type of cutting it looks like you're doing. If you want something you can really wail on, get a fixed blade. Something from Bark River or Busse may be in order. A2 or Infi for you, sir!

In a folder, you may want a Zero Tolerance, a Chris Reeve, or a Strider. A big, Golden Spyderco may be up to the challenge, and at a lower price point.

The chip in your Leek looks like steel failure to me. Maybe there was a small air bubble, an inclusion, or an extra-large carbide in there that contributed to that massive chip. The folks at Kershaw may be interested in taking a look at your knife, to see what happened to it.
 
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SPXTrader said:
Ouch was the first word out of my mouth too. A 1/4" piece of pine? Was this a green (live) pine branch or a dowel rod?
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it was green, very soft. Even so, I should have been paying more attention to staying off the serrations. :(

thanks for the welcome marrow :) i'll be keeping an eye on the exchange forum and sending my knife in! thanks for the suggestions and info everyone.

I wouldn't recommend ZDP steel for the type of cutting it looks like you're doing. If you want something you can really wail on, get a fixed blade. Something from Bark River or Busse may be in order. A2 or Infi for you, sir!

In a folder, you may want a Zero Tolerance, a Chris Reeve, or a Strider. A big, Golden Spyderco may be up to the challenge, and at a lower price point.

The chip in your Leek looks like steel failure to me. Maybe there was a small air bubble, an inclusion, or an extra-large carbide in there that contributed to that massive chip. The folks at Kershaw may be interested in taking a look at your knife, to see what happened to it.
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Thanks for the suggestions moonwilson. I love the index open system, so i'm closely eying the 0200 and 0400 ZT's. I'll send my Leek on it's merry way back to kershaw next week.

Thanks everyone!
 
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I used my rainbow leek for sawing up sticks, nothing like this happened. Ouch for sure.

You'd love both the ZT 0200/0400, they're awesome knives.
 
I would guess that a gross failure like that could be due to a flaw in the steel ... and I'm pretty sure Kershaw would want to see it in any case, and will almost certainly take care of you. Owning a Random Leek myself, I know that the blade isn't ground so thin that something like this should be expected; mine measures about .015" immediately behind the edge, which is still fairly robust.

But if you really do need something beefier, check out the Shallot or Junkyard Dog II.
 
Looks like a very clean break. The serrations likely provide a small bit of weakening to the blade at this point. I wouldn't think that it is too soft at all, if their is a heat treat issue it looks like it was too hard if anything. Please post a pic of the other side too if you can.

What steel is it, s30v? What caused the dent in the edge closer to the point?
 
Wow...never seen anything like that from whittling...and the chip itself is in a really strange shape. I'd definitely see if Kershaw will replace the blade.

KE-1597G10.jpg


I'd say to try an Offset. The JYDII is a good cheap alternative from Kershaw.

Oh, and remember, harder steel doesn't necessarily imply more chip resistant.
 
I don't think there was a flaw in the steel. There was a twisting, "torqued" effect that the OP referred to in post #1 of this thread causing breakage. It failed where there was a weakening due to metal being removed to make a serration. Just as one would expect.

As for the warranty? That's between Kershaw W&R and the O.P. If I was to guess I'd say that being this is Kershaw, He has a better than normal chance. Joe
 
iamtoast said:
Looks like a very clean break. The serrations likely provide a small bit of weakening to the blade at this point. I wouldn't think that it is too soft at all, if their is a heat treat issue it looks like it was too hard if anything. Please post a pic of the other side too if you can.

What steel is it, s30v? What caused the dent in the edge closer to the point?
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It is s30v.
 
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