All About Pocket Knives

EBay tracking shows mine was shipped on the 16th. As of now it shows it’s been to 4 towns, all in California, and is still in California!

Ken

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 12:40 am I really went over the one I got with a fine-tooth comb and compared it to my other Leeks. I found some minor differences but nothing that would suggest it is a knock-off clone. If it is a clone, it's a very well made copy that is every bit as good as the genuine article.
Here are my observations:
The assisted opening is not as crisp and the frame-lock is a bit harder to release.
The pocket clip is a tad longer, has a deeper upswept curve with a more pointed tip and sits at a slightly different angle on the frame (closer to the back spacer pins)
P9210001_1.JPG


The edge of the frame is not rounded...it's almost a 90 degree corner
P9210002_1.JPGP9210006.JPG


The bevel on the downward sweep of the blade spine is slightly different
P9210007.JPG


The 1660 pattern number is smaller print
P9210008.JPG


Other than these few differences, though, it looks like a genuine Kershaw Leek to me.
P9210009.JPG

I’m no expert on these by any means. But are you satisfied they’re genuine?

I must say that in impressed with mine so far.

I got this one for $20/accepted offer/free shipping from another seller..I went back later to buy more and he was sold out also... good deal, this ones a gift...

Colonel26 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 3:42 am But are you satisfied they’re genuine?

I must say that in impressed with mine so far.

Honestly, I really can't be 100% certain whether it's genuine or a knock-off. I'm no expert on Leeks either, but I have owned quite a few and even though the one I got is very very close in most respects, the minor differences just seem a bit "off" to me...not quite up to the same Kershaw standard for the Leeks I have owned.

After further consideration, I'm leaning more towards knock-offs based on the differences noted above. Also, the low price on the aliexpress links that TFL posted strongly suggests Chinese clones: they cost only $18.00 with a 20% discount for purchases of 12 or more (approx $173.00 for 12 knives = $14.42 per knife) which are then sold for between $20 - $30 each = $240 - $360), which would explain how someone could sell them on eBay for $20 each and still turn a profit. Although after paying eBay + PayPal fees and shipping, that wouldn't leave very much in the seller's pocket.

Either way, genuine or clone, for $20 it's still a decent knife...no question about that.

My suggestion is to look carefully at the box and any paper that came in the box. Sometimes the copies will show differences there that are a little easier to see than on the knife itself. Slightly off color, or printing that isn't quite as sharp, or very minor details in the logo missing, etc, etc.

A good knife is a good knife, I don't like the guys that steal designs and I REALLY don't like the guys that try to sell cr@ppy fakes as originals, but I have also bought a couple of fakes just to see what they look like. For example, I bought a couple of Spyderco knives from different sellers on DHgate. One of them was quite good, and one was obviously junk. Rolling the dice is part of the game...

TwoFlowersLuggage wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:16 pm The Kershaw Leek is a great knife. The Ken Onion/Kershaw assisted opening system is the next best thing to an automatic. A couple of bits of info that might be useful:

Kershaw factory blems are marked with 4 "X" on the blade, like this: https://kershawguy.com/wp-content/uploa ... scaled.jpg

Several years ago, Ken Onion, the designer of the Kershaw Leek, Shallot & Chive left Kershaw and went to CRKT. Since then, Kershaw has continued to sell the Ken Onion knives. The Leek, in particular, has been released in a wild array of different colors, steels and handles.

Someone mentioned clones - Well, you can find the "Kershaw Leek" on aliexpress, DHgate and the other Chinese sites. Are these clones? I don't know.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3305368 ... hweb201603_

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000917 ... hweb201603_

Good info Twoflowers.. thank you!

I should have known the price was too good. I sincerely apologize to anyone that I may have led astray.

Here's the box it came in.

TwoFlowersLuggage wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:00 pm My suggestion is to look carefully at the box

Excellent suggestion, TFL...that never even occurred to me.
(jerryd beat me to the punch while I was typing)
Here's the box mine came in...
Well, well, well...what a surprise. There it is right on the box...not a knock-off clone but a genuine Chinese made Leek!
Wow, what a disappointment...I thought the Leek was still made in USA and the American flag on the blade was meant to indicate that. Apparently not.
Looks like I've just bought my last Leek, and probably my last (new) Kershaw.

Shucks! I looked over everything but the box.

I'm thinking about the only thing made in the USA anymore is baby's.

samb1955 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:08 pm I'm thinking about the only thing made in the USA anymore is baby's.

A lot of those are made else where and they come here to have them.

The Kershaw website still shows the Leek as made in the USA, and so does the lowest priced Leek at Knife Center.

https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/leek.html
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS1660 ... el-handles

Mine came in today’s mail. I can say it certainly looks and feels a lot more like a $20 knife than a $85 knife (price on the Kershaw link in TFL’s post).

The mechanism is a little stiff out of the box. It had some oil on the blade. I wiped it off and put a couple drops of Quick Release oil in the joint. I’ve been fiddling with it for about an hour and it’s still hanging up a little on opening - once you force it past the initial catch/hang, it flips open nicely. The frame lock doesn’t catch on the blade tang (Doesn’t lock the blade open) about 5% of the time. The lock button is a little “gritty”, not smooth like I’d expect of a $85 knife, but not surprising on a $20 knife.

Wondering what Kershaw will say if I send it to them? I wouldn’t bet on it being an authentic Kershaw.

Ken

It stinks about them being made in China. But fortunately, mine fires and locks like it should.

And out of the box, mine acted just like Ken's. Took quite a bit of fiddling with it to get it to fire "almost" like I'm accustomed to.

I'm half-tempted to return it for a refund since the seller did misrepresent it as being made in USA in the "Item specifics" area of the listing (of course, he also stated the color as "silver" as well as four different blade types!)

Item specifics
Condition:
New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item (including handmade items). See the seller's ... Read more
Brand:
Kershaw
Original/Reproduction: Original Type: Pocketknife
Lock Type: Frame Color:
Silver
Dexterity: Ambidextrous Opening Mechanism: Assisted
Number of Blades: 1 Model:
Leek
Product Line: Military Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Blade Material: Carbon Steel Blade Type: Clip Point, Drop Point, Hawkbill, Wharncliffe
Blade Edge: Plain Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Blade Range: 2.76 - 4in.

I guess this just goes to prove (once again) the old adage that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.