Would it be worth $20 to upgrade the kershaw leek to a s30v blade?

EDDAKA

EDDAKA

Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
408
Hey guys,

I got a little kershaw leek 1660 to fool around with. the standard sandvik blade.

Would it be worth the $20? Or better yet the d2? Or leave it be?

Thanks,
-Richard.
 
No way exists to answer your question without knowing how you use the knife. Describe your use and then you can get guidance on cost/benefit of different steels.

edited to add: If you will only be "fooling around," the Sandvik steel will perform just fine.
 
Bill1170 said:
edited to add: If you will only be "fooling around," the Sandvik steel will perform just fine.
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It will be a substitue primary edc folding blade "for now."

Everything from simple box cutting and letters. To gutting fish and game.
 
EDDAKA said:
It will be a substitue primary edc folding blade "for now."

Everything from simple box cutting and letters. To gutting fish and game.
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I wouldn't use a leek to gut fish and game. Gunk gets into the AO mechanism and is hard to get out.
 
Kenix said:
I wouldn't use a leek to gut fish and game. Gunk gets into the AO mechanism and is hard to get out.
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Actually Ken Onion's SpeedSafe is really really easy to clean, I have found this out on my Blur thinking there would be springs and levers and stuff. Nope just one little bar in there that you can take out and give the whole knife a good cleaning in about 15-20 minutes. Granted I would use a fixed blade for skinning just to make it easier but a Leek would do the job very well too. And to the OP's question, i'd go for the better steel. The Sandvik is great steel but dosn't have the edge keeping qualitys that S30V and D2 have. Also I think KershawGuy has some D2 leek blems in the exchange for a great price!
 
BenLankford said:
Actually Ken Onion's SpeedSafe is really really easy to clean, I have found this out on my Blur thinking there would be springs and levers and stuff. Nope just one little bar in there that you can take out and give the whole knife a good cleaning in about 15-20 minutes. Granted I would use a fixed blade for skinning just to make it easier but a Leek would do the job very well too. And to the OP's question, i'd go for the better steel. The Sandvik is great steel but dosn't have the edge keeping qualitys that S30V and D2 have. Also I think KershawGuy has some D2 leek blems in the exchange for a great price!
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Kershaw's SpeedSafe system is simpler than most AO mechanisms but for dirty work I'd still get a fixed blade or a flow-through design manual action folder. Plus, the leek is a PITA to take apart because they loctite the pivot and the lack of belly isn't ideal for gutting/skinning.
 
I have the Kersahw Leek D2 Composite blade and it is super sharp!

I use this knife as more of a gents folder for simpler cutting such as mail, boxes, tape although the the D2 can withstand much more. As all Leeks though you have to be weary of snapping the tip off and with the D2 blade, chipping.
 
no.

the letters won't get cut open any faster. your productivity won't increase because you're using an s30v leek.

get an upgrade because you can afford to and because it will make you feel better about your purchase. it's really nothing more than that.
 
no.

the letters won't get cut open any faster. your productivity won't increase because you're using an s30v leek.

get an upgrade because you can afford to and because it will make you feel better about your purchase. it's really nothing more than that.
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Yup what he said.... I just grabbed the damascus Leek and it's a neat little knife,
 
pilote said:
no.

the letters won't get cut open any faster. your productivity won't increase because you're using an s30v leek.

get an upgrade because you can afford to and because it will make you feel better about your purchase. it's really nothing more than that.
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I disagree. S30V will hold an edge longer than a standard Leek.
 
but you get a liner lock instead of a framelock. i would get the composite leek. you get a better blade and you still retain the framelock
 
SPXTrader said:
G10 scales come with the S30V also.
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I hate the look of the G10 scales on the leek.

I like the sleek (no pun intended) look of the regular silver 660 series.

96_1.jpg
 
I think it's great to have so many choices of the same basic model.
 
Kenix said:
Kershaw's SpeedSafe system is simpler than most AO mechanisms but for dirty work I'd still get a fixed blade or a flow-through design manual action folder. Plus, the leek is a PITA to take apart because they loctite the pivot and the lack of belly isn't ideal for gutting/skinning.
Click to expand...

I find the Leek easy to take apart and use it often for gutting fish and small game. The mechanism washes out easily and takes a lot gunk before it shows a problem with functioning. I have cut up many baitfish, cleaned fish, squirrels and rabbits with no problem. Have not had the opportunity to try it on deer but a good friend of mine uses an old Kershaw Vapor in 440A on deer and has no problem with it. It is not AO but about the same blade size. And yes I think the upgrade to S30V for $20 is worth it.
 
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The sandvik is great stuff. There is a lot to say for a steel that can hold an edge and be sharpened very easily -it means your knife will always be sharp- since it does not take long to sahrpen, you can do maintenance frequently and easily.

The leek is designed IMHO to be a light use EDC knife -for that purpose, sandvik is perfect.

I have the G-10 model, and for me, the S30V is not really needed.
 
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