Kershaw Leeks

Kershaw began its foray into the knife business sometime during 1974. The company was originally based in Portland Oregon, but most early knives were manufactured in Japan. The first US manufacturing plant was opened in 1997 & the company currently offers knives made in the U.S., Japan, & China. Pete Kershaw (an ex Gerber salesman) started the business.
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tjmurphy
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Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

I received the PINK Kershaw Leek that I purchased for my daughter and gave it to her. I took the stainless that I had originally purchased for her. The PINK one is labeled Ken Onion while the stainless is just marked Kershaw. I find that the Ken Onion PINK Leek is a lot smooher and easier to open than the standard Kershaw, my daughter thought the same thing. Both were about the same price, about $40, and if I had to purchase again I would go with the Ken Onion marked knife.

Though I hate to admit it, while playing with the stainless Leek, it bit me on the thumb, right in the middle of the pad. I'm wondering if Phil still offers his FREE obediance training for pocket knives. Used to be if you would send him a biting knife he would put it through his obediance training and if sucessful, would send it back. If untrainable, he would store it safely away in his knife roll of biting knives, keeping everyone safe. Just wondering.

Anyway, go with the Ken Onion marked knives.
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philco
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by philco »

T J I'm always there for you man. Just pack that misbehaving Leek up and send it south. I'll do my very best to rehabilitate it and get it back to you. Of course such work does not have any guarantees......... ::sneaky:: but don't give up hope till I've given it my best shot.


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tjmurphy
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

Thanks Phil - You Da Man!!
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by Cope »

tj, I really like Kershaw knives. I only have one and with my big hands it's a tiny one...the 1600 Chive. I wanted to try one out and ordered this one from El Lobo here at AAPK. I didn't realize when I was ordering it just how small the knife truly was. I don't know if it says Ken Onion or not but I'm betting it probably does. It's like you say about your daughters knife, smooth as silk and quick as lightening! I'll pick me up a bigger one in the future when my funds will allow it.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by knife7knut »

I have a couple of the Kershaw Leeks and Scallions and I find them to be nice EXCEPT FOR the one I have with the titanium nitride finish.Looks beautiful but is slipperier than STP coated metal.Almost impossible to hold in your hand;let alone operate.The Kraton(or G10 whatever the handle material is)works great.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by gino »

Murph,I have these three. I like em all.
Two regular Leeks and a Ken Onion Rainbow Leek. One of the sharpest knives straight from the box I ever bought.
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On Edge
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by On Edge »

Gino, is the Rainbow the same size as the Black Leek?

Thinkin about buyin' one …. just one.

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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by gino »

Yes its the same but its a Ken Onion Leek.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by On Edge »

It the Rainbow the ONLY "Ken Onion" marked Leek at that size?

Looking for a black Ken Onion Leek that is about 4" closed …

Thanks.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by gino »

Ken Onion Leeks come in different colors but not sure about black. ::shrug::
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

On Edge wrote:It the Rainbow the ONLY "Ken Onion" marked Leek at that size?

Looking for a black Ken Onion Leek that is about 4" closed …

Thanks.
Here ya go: http://cgi.ebay.com/KERSHAW-KEN-ONION-L ... 588b79414e
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

Gino - Do you notice a difference in the smoothness and ease of operation between the standard Leek and the Ken Onion signed Leek?
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by basser5 »

Tj...I don't believe those are marked Ken Onion, and that black one is $37 at Wal-mart !
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

The Ebay Leek is marked Ken Onion. As far as the Wal-Mart price, I'm not at all surprized. When serching for the knives for my daughter's Xmas presents, I found that the price was all over the place and ended up paying about $40 ea. When I looked for the PINK Leek for my daughter the price ranges were crazy, saw them as high as $80, and I ended up paying $33 plus shipping. The first two were simply branded Kershaw while the PINK was branded Ken Onion
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by gino »

Murph, no real difference except the color. ::shrug::
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

OK, thanks Gino ::tu::
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by 9ball »

Those/these are cool knives, I tried the black one out at "World Of Walls" before I scored one on eRip for 25 bucks. $37 is not a bad price either.
Has anyone here had one apart yet? It looks simple enough, but sometimes it does not work out that way.


I like the thickest of their Zing, but it does not have the SpeedSafe and it sure is smooth opening on this Leek.
Thinking about doing the modify thing or at least on one side to beef it up a bit. It is going to be a workin' knife.

First modern folder I have been impressed with in some time.

9ball :)
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by jerryd6818 »

The listing for the Leek I bought off eBay had a picture of a Ken Onion but the knife I received is not Ken Onion. It doesn't bother me because I didn't see the Ken Onion logo before I bought and I really like the knife. The lady who sold the knife to me said Ken Onion is no longer designing knives for Kershaw and they are taking his name off all the current production. Anyone else hear that?
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by 9ball »

jerryd6818

I did the research on the one I got on Kershaw's site and he was listed there about 3 or 4 days before Christmas 2010. To be honest; until now I never knew there was a difference other than the name.

Some place I read that he looked them over before they left the factory, I just assumed he looked them all over since he was the designer ::shrug::

9ball :)
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by jands40 »

I had a couple of Kershaw leeks, one had stainless frame/handle. One had aluminum handles and was lighter. Both had the Sandvik steel. Biggest difference was that the stainless one was a framelock and the aluminum was a linerlock. If I were looking for a leek, I think I would look for one with Sandvik steel rather than 440A steel. I sold the aluminum one not because I liked it less but because I gave the buyer a choice of the 2. I haven't used the leek but love the the design.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by justold52 »

I am a big fan of the Kershaw 1620 Rainbow.

I do want this pocket clip if any one has one for sale Please PM me.
Not the knife just the clip with Snap-On.

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oldblinddog
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by oldblinddog »

Prices on Leeks vary because they are not all the same. For instance, this one:
HPIM1160.JPG
HPIM1161.JPG
Stone washed S30V blade and black G10 handle. :mrgreen:
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

oldblinddog wrote:Prices on Leeks vary because they are not all the same. For instance, this one:
HPIM1160.JPG
HPIM1161.JPG
Stone washed S30V blade and black G10 handle. :mrgreen:
Can you expand on that. When I said that the price ranges were crazy I was referring to prices of the same model, in this case 1660Pink. Just did an ebay search and they range from $34 - $66, same? knife. I realize that the price can vary dependent on materials of construction. Just trying to learn a little something today.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by oldblinddog »

Well, that is crazy if those are prices for the same model. The $34 for the pink is pretty low. I don't see how the seller is making much on it. I guess he is hoping it gets bid up a little. $38-40 would still be a good price on that one. A good price on the 1660G10 is about $80. That difference is what I was refering to, but I see your point.
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Re: Kershaw Leeks

Post by tjmurphy »

This is the knife that I bought. It is signed? Ken Onion.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

Here are the Pinks available on eBay
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... Categories

Here's the suggest retail
http://www.kershawknives.com/productdet ... nd=kershaw
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