Why AO?

[kamagong]

I was at a friend's house last night for his weekly poker tournament. It took some time for the game to start, and while I was waiting I noticed a friend had a knife clipped to his pocket. I asked to see it and when he handed it over I discovered it was a Kershaw Leek. This was the first time I've ever seen a Leek and when I went to open it I noticed that there was a bar towards the butt of the knife that was keeping it closed. I assume it is some sort of safety device.

I'm a little confused though. I know that the Leek has the assisted opening feature. The safety device on it is probably there to prevent accidental opening in the pocket. But why put AO on the knife in the first place if you have to add that extra safety feature. By the time my friend moves the bar over so he can open his knife I already have my Millie in my hand open and ready to use. Is the AO there just for the gadget factor, or is there a practical reason for it?

 

[Chuck289]

I feel the safety latch is there just to give people an extra sense of safety. Or maybe if you were going to throw the knife in a bag that was going to be tossed around a lot or something it would be good to engage the safety latch. But other than that you can leave the safety disengaged for normal every day carry and not have to worry about it opening.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

I had a leek, and the first thing I did was remove that bar. I never had it open accidentally.
AO isn't necessarily faster than anything else, just as switchblades aren't- just something fun to play around with in this wide wonderful world of knives.

If the idea is to have your knife out fast for a self defense scenario, nothing is faster than a fixed blade.

 

[inspira]

you can easily take the bar out, or use the screw to lock it in the open position.
The idea is - as a safety - for the knife to not open in your pocket.

Same with a firearm. You can argue that one without a safety makes the process simpler and faster, so why put them there? So the user has the option for extra safety. The Leek's safety can be engaged or disengaged by the user. Its an option.

 

[Stephan]

I looked at the lock as a good feature for this knife. I can't tell you how many times someone tried to open it and had trouble. Makes you feel good to know that if a kid or somebody who should not be messing with it got a hold of it wouldn't be ale to use it with out the knowing of the lock or how to use it. As far as the slow down of the opening, I feel that it just takes some practice to do it right, for me, I can open it just as fast as if it were closed. It is all in the postitioning of you index and ring fingures and with a little thought you will have no trouble at all, and after you obtain that skill, you will feel a little bond with your leek that won't go away. I suggest that you not removed the lock bar . .if you don't like it just leave it unlocked . .it should not slide into lock unless it is loose . . at least mine never dose.

I love my leek as is and trust me when I say that I can deploy my leek as fast as you could yours . .just as long as it is in my right pocket and I use my right hand lol working on the left.

Check this out to see my kershaws.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400249