Kershaw knife- what to get?

[zarbat007]

I've seen tons of threads about Kershaw knives.

I happened to see them in a Snap-on truck today and now I'm itching to get one. From what I've read, I want a spring assisted knife. The Leek and Blur seem to be the most popular.

So, which model and color is the most sough after/popular? I'd like to order it new from the Snap-on truck, so something current.

I was thinking something with a black handle. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[RedF]

I carry a Blur 1670BLK. Nice med-large folder, quite sturdy. It really opens with some snap, whereas the Leek didn't (especially when dirty/gritty). The recurve blade is kind of a pain to sharpen, but not that bad once you know how. It's been a great companion, I feel naked without it.

That being said, I'd go for the Blur 1670S30V next time. Same knife but better steel.

 

[mrvm]

FYi: If your going for Kershaw, which I have a few, Amazon has 10 off 50 promo going on. And the SV30 is great but a step down from that is ok too

 

[Mustang1167]

I like the kershaw shallot. I also have the leek which is too small for my hand, and a blur which is not my favorite either. So far the shallot is my EDC.

 

[zarbat007]

Thanks for reply guys. I had the impression the Leek was the most popular.
It looks simple and sleek.

From google:

 

[tweedlestan]

The Leek has an EXTREMELY fragile blade tip.

 

[Danguitarman]

I carried the blur for about a year, I guess. I really liked it, but after being opened so many times, the liner lock sorta wore away at the base of the blade, giving it up and down blade play of about a 1/16" or so. Take it as you will, but it bothered me enough to pitch it in the gun safe and forget about it. It holds a great edge, however, and the assisted opening is bad ***.

 

[KamiCrit]

The Leek has an EXTREMELY fragile blade tip.

Break it, sharpen it, call it a tanto tip.

 

[saltfuture]

Leek is 'in my opinion' the most perfect EDC pocket knife. Very light, Very fast, Vey sharp, Very ergonomic. Not great for prying or chiseling, but outstanding for actual knife tasks such as cutting and slicing.

 

[techenthusiast]

I just got a KER1660BRSO

its a snap-on branded kershaw leek.

it's a discontinued model so i think that's why it was cheaper than the other Leek models... i paid $45 for it.

it seems really light weight and the assisted opening is impressive.. it's extremely sharp.

i haven't used it on anything yet though so i can't tell you how well it holds up.

 

[RivennHewn]

Love my Blackout with a partially serrated blade.

 

[GarageWrench]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002V7JOUM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I carry this every day.

 

[bluesurf]

Benchmade.....get one that's made in the USA. I'm on my second one in 15 years, and the second is only because the first one was confiscated.

 

[baggedcobra]

I've been using a Kershaw Cryo for almost a year now. Great everyday carry knife.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have 6 or 7 Leeks. I love them.

 

[TJx]

Knockout and Piston are well worth a look.
They are more of a traditional design then the curvy **** they have put out in the past.
I've owned several Kershaw's and these 2 are the only ones I have now.

 

[exmaxima1]

The Leek has an EXTREMELY fragile blade tip.

No question about that! Too fragile for EDC in my opinion. I bought one and ended up giving it to my son.

I have other Kershaws (as well as the up-market Zero Tolerance) and prefer their flippers the most. USA models are well made, and the Sandvick steel gets razor sharp and holds edge as well as any in that price range---no need for S30V which is hard to sharpen and chips very easily.

Just saw the sale on Amazon and ordered a Knockout for $47! Perfect size, great blade shape for EDC, deep pocket clip (in stealthy BLACK), slick flipper one-hand opening, and Made in USA...

 

[exmaxima1]

Benchmade.....get one that's made in the USA. I'm on my second one in 15 years, and the second is only because the first one was confiscated.

Benchmade are nice (I have a few), but Kershaw offers more bang for the buck. When you can get a USA-made knife with great materials (NOT PLASTIC) for under $50 how can you go wrong?? You need to spend $100 to get a comparable Benchmade.

 

[Sheriff Roscoe]

I have a Scallion and while the recurved blade shape looks cool, it's tougher to sharpen.

The Leek is a nice knife. The Cryo is made overseas which I didn't want...that's just me.

The Blur is very nice but larger.

It really depends on what size you want to carry. The larger knives are cool but keep in mind carrying them everyday can be a chore for some.

 

[Tripp2012]

Another vote for the leek.

 

[truckinduc]

I've carried a 1620 scallion for two years now. Assisted opening still works great even though it gets packed full of crud. The pocket clip has some side to side play in it, from a 4 wheeler crash I assume. I've never once had it open by itself in my pocket even without using the lock feature. I broke the tip the other day (being stupid) and re ground it to. Overall I'm happy with it and its held up well considering how rough I am.

 

[n8n]

I dunno, I have a Scallion and never carry it unless I'm going somewhere where I can't carry a >2.5" blade. I don't like the orientation of the clip and the assist to me is useless. If I'm in a situation where I can't deploy my Benchmade Griptilian fast enough to accomplish the task at hand, I've made some poor life choices, and the lack of spring assist (in my mind anyway) makes it less threatening sounding when you open it up, so it is perceived as more "tool" than "weapon."

What I meant by I didn't like the clip orientation is that after trying a few different knives I've found that I prefer to carry in my right pocket, tip up, with the spine of the blade sitting against the seam of my pants/jeans. that way if the knife starts to open in my pocket it won't deploy all the way and cut the **** out of me if I sit down or reach my hand in there. I was explaining this to a friend not too long ago and drew my Grip out of my pocket to demonstrate, here the blade fell open as I pulled it out (I have it well broken in and the pivot set a little loose for easy opening) and it was real hard not to say "see, I told you so" as I showed it to him. Had that happened with an assisted Kershaw in the same pocket, I would have had a problem on my hands. Now the Scallion does have a lock, but what's the point of a lock on an assisted blade? makes no sense. You assist it so you can open it a few fractions of a second faster but you have to fumble with a lock first. No thanks...

Yes, I know, you can get Kershaws with the Snap-On logo, and I'd love to have one just because I do like Snap-On, but honestly, Snap-On doesn't make knives, Kershaw, Benchmade, Emerson, et. al. do.

 

[transittech]

Have a couple Leeks. Nice knives, they're US, thin and cheap.

IIRC, free sharpening too. I've heard they will fix or replace your knife if you send it in for sharpening and there is other stuff wrong. Maybe that is just for us local folks who walk it in??

 

[drummingpariah]

Knife choice totally depends on how you intend to use it. Pocket knives attached to my hip tend to end up getting used as ad-hoc pry bars, screw drivers, rust-pokers, etc ... so I have a small stack of Kershaw Vapor II knives. Certainly not the sharpest or longest-lasting blade steel out there, but I haven't found much that will take more abuse. I think I paid $5/each on a Woot sale awhile back, and haven't questioned that decision once.

 

[n8n]

actually if you are a righty and are looking for cheap 'n' cheerful, the Kershaw Crown is good as well. $12 and free shipping, might as well buy two just in case one is bad (as happened to me, it's Chinese and QC not so bueno) still a deal at $24. I like the feel of micarta so I do like that knife, although it's not as sturdy as a Grip it's not meant to be.

 

[dynamike]

+1 for the Knockout (model 1870). Been carrying 1 for a year now. The biggest, yet thinnest knife I can carry in my pocket. Nice light weight too.

 

[exmaxima1]

+1 for the Knockout (model 1870). Been carrying 1 for a year now. The biggest, yet thinnest knife I can carry in my pocket. Nice light weight too.

Try a Spyderco Stretch sometime. Same size blade, but lighter/thinner and better steel. The ZDP-189 version stays sharp 5 times as long as anything else I own.

 

[gtlaw]

I love leeks but I hate to admit the chinese made chill is my favorite non assisted flipper made by kershaw

 

[yjWrangler]

I carry a Scallion everyday at work and it works well for me, no complaints

 

[ike]

i prefer the blur to the leek. i got a skyline a few years ago as my first kershaw. then i got a leek, then a blur. i have some spyderco and benchmades around the house that i pick up and open every now and then. as soon as i do, i put them back down and it reminds me that i'll never buy another folding knife that is not an assisted opener.

 

[Chris_L]

Blur /thread

They even have it in FDE/tan now which is the best color ever.

 

[nicksnothereman]

actually if you are a righty and are looking for cheap 'n' cheerful, the Kershaw Crown is good as well. $12 and free shipping, might as well buy two just in case one is bad (as happened to me, it's Chinese and QC not so bueno) still a deal at $24. I like the feel of micarta so I do like that knife, although it's not as sturdy as a Grip it's not meant to be.

Well...you can get a sanrenmu for around that (if you're buying a chinese knife anyway). They have some decently made knives (and make some of the other branded knives from china).

Crown is a bit thin at the tip. Vapor is decent but doesn't stay sharp. Best of the (chinese) bunch (that I know about) is the select fire but it's clunky as hell.

US kershaws I don't own. Personally, looking at them...I'd go with a buck if possible. I've owned us made bucks, like the steel on those. Or get an old stock gerber for under 20 (lst).

There are a bunch in the 30 dollar range and you'll probably get your money's worth with any of them. I wouldn't buy them from the snap on dude though, they ain't gonna warranty these.

 

[3rdbuttondown]

Bought a Blur on auction, found out the handle was embeded with anti-slip grit. Half a dozen times in and out of the pocket and I retired it because it was destorying my jeans.

My vote would be blackout or whirlwind - same handle, different blade.

Cheap enough not to break the bank if lost or damaged.

 

[bluesurf]

Benchmade are nice (I have a few), but Kershaw offers more bang for the buck. When you can get a USA-made knife with great materials (NOT PLASTIC) for under $50 how can you go wrong?? You need to spend $100 to get a comparable Benchmade.

It's always good to hear different opinions, thanks. Kershaw's certainly appear to be a good basic USA knife at a reasonably affordable price point, but the fact that their edges and points don't stand up to time is a warning bell for me. I've beat the heck out of two Benchmade knives over the last decade +, and neither has ever chipped or let me down.

 

[tweedlestan]

Well...you can get a sanrenmu for around that (if you're buying a chinese knife anyway). They have some decently made knives (and make some of the other branded knives from china).

Sanrenmu, Ganzo, Enlan. All good knives.

 

[sloppy]

Another leek vote..

 

[malibulvr]

I have a mini cyclone that I edc. Love this knife, made in USA and for 50 bucks you can't beat it. They discontinued it but they can still be found.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

A big frickin Benchmade Adamas on my side for my big paws-next to Gerber Freehand, and a little Gerber EAB in the back pocket. (And a poly spike in my boot.) .....oh yea, Kershaw who? Never heard of her.

 

[Jure]

just buy a buck 110...

 

[exmaxima1]

. Kershaw's certainly appear to be a good basic USA knife at a reasonably affordable price point, but the fact that their edges and points don't stand up to time is a warning bell for me. I've beat the heck out of two Benchmade knives over the last decade +, and neither has ever chipped or let me down.

My Benchmade "Bone Collector" has a D2 steel blade and it won't hold an edge. It may be a bad heat treat, but my Kershaw Zing holds a keen edge for far longer.