REASONS TO BUY
Smooth assisted open
Slim and comfortable to carry
Full-metal construction
REASONS TO AVOID
Slender handle for less secure grip
Thin blade is fragile
Kershaw Leek Review
A super slim, quick-opening knife with a friendly appearance, this is an ideal everyday carry
Sleek and well-built, the Kershaw Leek is a pocket knife you'll carry every day and own for life.
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 20, 2026
Contributions From: Jediah Porter
RELATED: The Best Pocket Knives of 2026
Our Verdict
The Kershaw Leek has been one of the most popular knives on the market for years, and for very good reasons. It's a sleek pocket knife that's so slim and lightweight it practically disappears in your pocket. More importantly, it's understated, which makes it a friendly, everyday carry (EDC) knife that blends into any setting – it's so beautifully designed that it's liable to garner more compliments than questionable glances. You'll want to consider a sturdier knife for heavier-duty work associated with home improvement or auto repair, but for the working office professional, the Leek is perfect for handling daily tasks.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Kershaw Leek | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  The Friendly Everyday Carry |  Best Overall Pocket Knife |  Best Knife Under $100 | Best Knife Under $50 | Affordable Enough to Lose |
| Price | $125 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $140 List Check Price at Amazon | $97 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $50 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $30 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A super slim, quick-opening knife with a friendly appearance, this is an ideal everyday carry | Appropriate for all settings and situations, there's no job this smart pocket knife can't do | This is the perfect knife for the hard-working, blue-collar professional | If you want a full-sized pocket knife, few offer the value of this affordable option | A playful pocket knife that outperforms its affordable price point |
| Rating Categories | Kershaw Leek | Kershaw Bel Air | Spyderco Tenacious | Civivi Praxis Flipper | Gerber Zilch |
| Blade Quality (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Carrying Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Grip (20%) | |||||
| Sharpening & Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Kershaw Leek | Kershaw Bel Air | Spyderco Tenacious | Civivi Praxis Flipper | Gerber Zilch |
| Blade Length (Measured) | 2.9 in | 3.1 in | 3.4 in | 3.7 in | 3.1 in |
| Length Closed (Measured) | 4.0 in | 4.2 in | 4.4 in | 4.7 in | 4.2 in |
| Length Open (Measured) | 7.0 in | 7.3 in | 7.7 in | 8.4 in | 7.3 in |
| Closed Blade Lock? | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Assisted Opening? | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Blade Style | Drop point, plain edge | Reverse Tanto, plain edge | Full flat grind, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge |
| Blade Material | Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel | CPM MagnaCut stainless steel | 8Cr13MoV stainless steel | 9Cr18MoV stainless steel | 7Cr17MoV stainless steel |
| Blade Thickness (Measured) | 2.3 mm | 2.1 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.0 mm | 2.54 mm |
| Opening Style | Flipper (assisted), ambidextrous thumb stud | Ambidextrous thumb stud | Ambidextrous thumb hole | Flipper (manual) | Ambidextrous thumb stud, nail nick |
| Lock Type | Frame lock | Crossbar lock (DuraLock) | Liner lock | Liner lock | Liner lock |
| Handle Material | Stainless steel | Anodized aluminum | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) |
| Carry Style | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole |
| Weight (Measured) | 3.0 oz | 3.0 oz | 4.0 oz | 4.4 oz | 2.2 oz |
| Closed Thickness w/o Pocket Clip (Measured) | 0.3 in | 0.4 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in |
| Other Features Or Functions | None | Lanyard hole, deep carry pocket clip | Lanyard hole, 4 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole, deep carry, 2 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Its lightning-fast, assisted opening and thin profile make the Kershaw Leek one of the best everyday carry (EDC) knives on the market. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Local Laws & Regulations
Note that some local laws include restrictions on assisted opening models. Make sure to review your state's laws before making a final purchase decision.
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.
The nearly flat cutting edge and thin blade are great for precision cuts. Credit: Kyle Hameister
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.
After spraying the Leek with salt water and letting it sit for 24 hours, the cleaned-up blade showed a few blemishes, but no signs of corrosion.
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.
The closed-blade lock can accidentally partially engage in your pocket, which is frustrating, especially when you expect to pull it out and flick it open. Credit: Kyle Hameister
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.
The Leek is thin enough to easily carry in a 5th pocket. But because it sits so far above the edge, it tends to dig into your hip while sitting. Credit: Kyle Hameister
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.
Even though it has a small forefinger guard, the handle is so thin that it can feel a bit unsafe if you try to press too hard. Credit: Kyle Hameister
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.
The flipper assist is easy enough to maintain, but it eventually failed on this 15-year-old model (in black). Credit: Kyle Hameister
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.
The Kershaw Leek is so convenient you'll want it around for all random household tasks. Credit: Kyle Hameister
What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?
Although this blade is undoubtedly a great value considering its durability, the Leek is not an inexpensive pocket knife. The CRKT Drifter or the even more affordable Gerber Zilch are both great alternatives for relatively compact pocket knives. For those tradespeople who are looking for a more utilitarian, full-sized knife, the Civivi Praxis Flipper is a great option. If you don't mind spending this much on a high-quality knife – one you'll likely own for years – the Kershaw Bel Air is our favorite pocket knife on the market.
—Kyle Hameister & Jediah Porter
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