Kershaw Leek Review

Blade Quality

The Leek has a specialized stainless steel (14C28N) blade, which was crowned the "best budget knife steel" by expert metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas – this stainless steel blade is tough, holds an edge fairly well, and demonstrates above average corrosion resistance. Our qualification of the Leek as a 'light duty' knife has more to do with the blade being exceptionally thin, with a delicate tip, rather than the steel itself.

The cutting edge is nearly flat, a striking look compared with the common 'drop point' knife shape (a deep sweeping curve down from the tip to the cutting edge). This flatter shape is normally chosen to improve tip strength and increase cutting pressure, but considering the size of the knife and the thinness of the blade, the flat shape on the Leek is more about aesthetics than anything.

Despite the toughness of the stainless steel, the blade on the Leek is infamous for chipping the cutting edge or rolling the tip, which has happened to several of the knives our lead tester has owned over the years. Luckily, chipping can often be fixed with some intensive resharpening, and for issues you can't fix yourself, Kershaw offers inexpensive blade replacements for out-of-warranty claims.

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Ease of Use

We love the assisted-open action on the Leek – whether you use the thumb stud or the finger flipper along the back, the blade snaps open with just a flick. Thanks to the slim handle, it's easy to pull out of a pocket and flick open, making the Leek one of the most convenient knives we've ever used.

It's also one of the few knives that has a closed blade lock. We appreciate the abundance of caution here, but we don't think there's a practical risk of it opening in a pocket. Annoyingly, the lock tends to partially engage in your pocket, entirely defeating the advantage of having a quick-deploying knife.

Carrying Comfort

Measuring just a fraction of an inch thick and with a fully flat handle, it's sometimes difficult to notice that you're even carrying the Leek. The slick, stainless steel body has a bead-blasted finish that slides effortlessly in and out of your pocket. It's so thin that it easily shares a pocket with a wallet, and the edges are rounded enough that you don't have to worry about knicking your knuckles when you reach into your pocket. (The stainless steel, however, will scratch up over time if it's battling for space with your keys.)

The clip is wide enough to hold onto a pocket edge securely, but it's a bit disappointing that it's not a 'deep-carry' clip – the top of the knife sits above the edge of your pocket by almost a full inch. Thankfully, the clean, nonaggressive style is friendly-looking enough not to elicit uncomfortable looks in white-collar settings. Altogether, the Leek is one of the best everyday carry (EDC) knives on the market.

Grip

Stainless steel makes for a good, but not great, grip, and it is noticeably worse when wet. We'd call the Leek a 'mid-sized' knife – an average-sized hand will likely only fit three fingers around the handle. It's also so thin that it's not particularly easy to grip tightly.

Since portability and ergonomics are often at odds, and portability was prioritized when designing the Leek, it falls squarely in the category of a 'light-duty' knife. Even though we wouldn't use it to pry nails or staples out of boards, it's more than capable enough to handle simple tasks like camping meal prep or opening packages.

Sharpening & Cleaning

The steel alloy (14C28N) for the blade strikes a good compromise between holding an edge and being workable enough to sharpen. Some straight edges like this one can be a little more challenging to sharpen, because they don't have the 'sweep' that follows the natural pull of a blade through a sharpener. Fortunately, we had no issues – in about 10 minutes, the Leek was looking as good as new.

Cleaning the Leek to keep it clear of dust and grit is critical, as is occasional oiling to keep the assisted opening action reliable. The handle is open enough to wash out, but also thin enough that you may want a small brush to get to the center.

Should You Buy the Kershaw Leek?

The Leek strikes a fantastic balance between appearances and practicality. It's perfect as an elegant gift for you or the office professional in your life – non-threatening, and slim enough to carry every day. Perhaps the only crowd we wouldn't recommend this knife to are tradespeople, who will likely want a heavier-duty blade. But for most common tasks, the Leek can't be beat.

What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?