KershawLeek Black EDC Pocketknife, 3" Sandvik 14C28N Steel Blade, Assisted Opening Folding Knife

No big surprises at first glance. But as I handled the knife, the allure, the wide appreciation and reasons for its huge popularity started to become apparent.From the first moment I put my index finer on the flipper and pushed. I realized almost immediately when it wouldn't budge, that it has the same safety lock as my old 2002 model Kershaw Chive, which is still going strong BTW. I usually am not a fan of blade locks on knives, even assisted ones. But the two Kershaws (Chive and the Leek), are both so damned sharp with very fine/sharp tips and are so easy to deploy, that in the case of these two, I can agree if not with the need, at least the option. I will continue to use the locks, as they won't be my "go to" defensive knives. And the lock can save the nasty little red line that appears seemingly out of nowhere when these two blades snap out. The blade is long since locked before the blood has time to appear. Did I say wicked tip?!?!?I practiced so much and for so many years with the Chive that even after years of not carrying it, the muscle memory is still intact. I knew in a milisecond how to release the lock on the Leek. I like that the lock is small, unobtrusive and stays put in whichever position the user chooses. You can easily choose to never use it. But it was so easy and quick with the Chive that I wouldn't see it as hampering usefulness on a decidedly light, thin "Gentleman's knife". And even as old as the Chive is, the lock still stays put.The next thing I noticed, different from my old Chive, and better, was the DLC on the blade and the black anodizing on the SS handles. It has a soft, yet slightly grippy texture, instead of being almost slick like the SS handles on the regular models. The sides and the jimping seem more effective because of the coating/finish. It seems like more of a difference than such a thin coating could make. I know that "feeling and opinion" are subjective, but I think most would agree this version gives a better feel of purchase and control.Next, the thing is it's small, thin and light, but somehow still allows me a full fingered grip. Since it is on the verge of being too small for me I think you big handed guys might not get the same grip with your larger hands & fingers, but I know you'll still be able to appreciate the different feel between the coated, vs the plain. The thiness and lightness almost makes me want to put this in the left front pocket as EDC where I now carry the Byrd Cara Cara 2. It would mean a slightly heavier knife and a loss of 0.5" of reach, but the Leek is just plain nice to handle, hold, grip and deploy. And the tip is nothing short of scary!Well, for now this is the flavor of the day as many new acquisitions are, but I can tell that the quality and craftsmanship with this one will cause it to be a favorite for a long time to come. And though I like to remove the pocket clip from a lot of my folders, this may be one that will keep its clip. It is so slim and it also covers the frame lock. Thumb or finger pressure on the cut out part of the frame lock on folders causes added resistance which can slow the deployment of the blade and sometimes keep it from locking up in the open position. We'll see after a while of handling it.Some may think why go for a 3" blade when I can have a 3 1/2" or more. Well, I agree to a point, but I have observed after handling many knives, that the shorter the blade, the faster the deployment. So, like different bits turn different screws, different blades excel at different jobs. And while I used to always lean toward the bigger blade, since I've satisfied that itch I am now free to enjoy the plus side of smaller blades. I am attaching a comparison shot of blades with Leek and the Cara Cara 2. You'll love the Leek. It's just a great piece of work. Once you flick it, it's hard to put it down.I have yet to actually "cut" anything with this beauty, but as need presents itself I will try and remember to crop in and update this review. For the time being, I say everyone is right about the Leek. And this new black DLC version in 14C28N? What's not to like?Update: I had not planned on updating so quickly. Unfortunately I have to keep it real if I am to help reviews do what they are meant to do. And that is to deliver truth to the next person who might be planning to buy this or any other knife. Unfortunately just before the 30 day time frame had passed, the torsion bar broke in my Leek.To be fair it had become my desk toy as do all other new additions and I had deployed the knife probably thousands of times. But still, I was disappointed that it broke this soon. I have other knives that I have flicked at least as much without breaking the torsion bar. And to Amazon's credit, as always they were quick to send a printable return label and UPS has already picked up the return knife from my home.I should be getting the replacement that Amazon has already ordered, within the next 3-4 days. Hopefully the next one will last longer, as I do like the Leek design, blade and operation. I like everything about it except the short lived torsion bar. Will update again when I've had time to assess the replacement.Update: I received the replacement. Seemed to take a little longer than usual. Maybe they were waiting to make sure they received the defective knife before shipping? I don't know. Anyway, the replacement knife is great. Got a very sharp edge on it. Just a little bit uneven on the grind from one side to the other, but not enough to send back over. If and when it ever goes back for a factory sharpening they'll take care of the slight difference I'm sure. AS of now it's back in the top spot for ADD flicking. We'll see how long the torsion bar lasts this time. Overall very nice, sharp and pointy. I love the DLC blade finish and the black anodizing on the handle/scales. Bottom line; Amazon stood behind the product and the sale. The pictures show right and left of the grind on the new replacement knife. As you can see, very little difference. Sharp as a razor and not enough to worry about. I'll stick with 5 stars, since there isn't a 4.9 star.

I purchased this as EDC. I knew I didn't need a rugged or tactical knife. I open a lot of boxes, mailers, straps, etc. This little knife perfectly suits my needs. The black finish looks cool but don't expect it to remain in perfect condition for very long. Especially on the blade, the finish will be messed up within a couple days of moderate use. I'm not too bothered by it. I've read a lot of reviews saying the blade comes "shaving sharp" right out of the box. Mine was pretty dull and struggled to cut through a hanging piece of paper. Fortunately, the blade is easy to sharpen and holds a decent edge. The blade lock was loose and useless when it arrived. It would easily toggle one way or the other while being carried. The screw for the lock is adjustable and could be tightened all the way down if you're not wanting to use it. I've been carrying it for a few days now without using the lock and haven't had any problems or accidental opens. The flipper takes more pressure than I anticipated to flip the blade open, so I'm not too worried about it opening in my pocket. It's surprisingly thin and light. It isn't noticeable in the pocket, yet feels sturdy and well made in the hand. The spring assist works great. Super easy to open and close with one hand whether you prefer the thumb stud or the flipper. I was on the fence with this knife or the Benchmade Mini Griptillian. The Leek is about half the price, looks better in my opinion, and is a great EDC for someone needing a well built, light duty knife. Sure, the Benchmade blade is better steel, but for my purposes I doubt I will ever notice. 5 stars, though I would probably get the plain steel finish if given the chance again as this DLC finish will not last long.

Oooh Boy this is a neat little flipper. It is *very* compact with an overall length of 7" (4" handle, 3" blade) when opened and has an extremely thin profile. Barely even notice it when I'm carrying. I have about 7 different knives now, most with different types of steel and brand, and I gotta say, this blade came the sharpest right out of the box out of all my stuff. Sandvik 14C28N steel is American made, so that's always a nice little plus (if you're American).The SpeedSafe technology is quick and snappy when used with the flipper. DON'T USE THE THUMB STUDS TO OPEN! They are not there to open it with, they are used to catch the blade on the handle when deployed. I tried to use the studs as the opener and very nearly sliced my thumb open. If you want a thumb stud assisted opener get the Blur. The handle is too small on the Leek to get a good purchase on when using your thumb to open it. I have average sized hands and lost my grip on the handle when the spring kicked in, and my thumb was forced into a position right below the blade.Another big thing about this knife ----- it comes out of the box in the TIP DOWN position. I don't like tip-down carry, so obviously that was a problem for me. It doesn't tell you what screwdriver bit to use so I had a bit of trial and error testing, but it worked using the T6 star bit if you want to switch it from tip-down to tip-up. Right hand carry only.The frame lock is sturdy, no blade play, blade is razor sharp right out of the box, and if you like sleek and sexy knives, do yourself a favor and buy the Leek.