KershawLeek Composite Blade Folding Pocketknife, 3" D2 Steel and 14C28N Stainless Steel Blade, Assisted Opening Folding EDC

The Kershaw Leek knife has been around for quite a while, in different configurations. This particular one comes with a composite blade, with M2 steel on the bottom. From what I have learned, M2 steel retains it's sharpness very well.This particular knife arrived razor sharp, and opens and closes very smoothly! This is a fantastic everyday carry knife, not too bulky to carry around, and with a large enough blade to handle most mid level jobs. This is NOT the right knife for heavy work, such as whittling wood or cutting through very thick items.One minor problem I found was that the two different metals that make up the blade look identical when the knife arrives from Kershaw, thereby minimizing the unique feature of this particular Leek blade, the composite blade.What I read to do from several sources in reviews about this knife was to submerge the blade in white vinegar for from 30-45 minutes, then remove it, dry it off, and rinse with water. After that, use some oil on the blade to prevent rusting.None of the reviews with this suggestion had a photo, so I've posted a photo of what my blade now looks like after using this technique. It looks MUCH nicer, as the two halves of the blade are much more noticeable!If you're looking for a great pocket knife, pick up either this version of the Leek, or one of the other versions. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

About 14 years ago, a retired police officer came into a business establishment that I managed and set off the metal detector. I told him that he could come in but we would need to hold on to his knife. He told my people “no problem” and when I looked at it I asked him where he got it because it was nice. He then said, I’ll be back next week and I’ll bring you one just like it. Well, I still am not giving up the search for that knife. I’ve had it in my pockets for 14 years but since I actually use it I needed to find a replacement. I got a silver one exactly like the original except it has the two different metals. Mine did not have serrations nor do I like them because you can’t sharpen them on a stone. It was ok sharp out of the box, slices through paper with ease but not what I’d call scary sharp. The one I lost I completely redid the geometry of the edge and brought down the angles to be very keen. Anyway, something that I did not get with the knife gifted to me 14 years ago was a box and “manual”. I just read over the thing and here are two BIG takeaways you probably don’t know about 1) Free Life-time Blade Sharpening. This is a big one. I’ve never used the service so I can not speak to turn around time, how much metal is removed, etc. But, there you go. It’s free for life. 2) Blade replacement is $10. That’s right, if you completely beat the knife from three inches of life it’s $10 to hit the restart button. I never knew that. The blade itself is a solid 4. The free life time service is what makes the overall rating a solid 5 stars. I’ve owned the very top shelf expensive (deny how much you actually paid for) knives and I’m not going to sit here and tell you out of the box this is a screamer, you will need to strop if you care that much. Not a big deal. And as for metals, they work fine enough in my line of work for EDC. I don’t need anything that opens up and screens “don’t mess with me I’m a wanna be Navy SEAL” or a knife that is too heavy since I need the space for other stuff. Also, 3” is for the most part compliant everywhere you go. You won’t find me using any of my $300 pocket queens as EDC either no matter how well they are build as they’re just “too pretty” (probably going to offload a few in the new year). Functionally, the torsion bar is just great. There were several times when I dissassembled the original Leek that I had to clean and oil and I never had an issue with “play”. There’s no play in this brand new Leek that I just bought, either. I did drop it in some vinegar (I do have the proper acids for etching Damascus but didn’t feel like messing with it due to time restratints during the holidays) for about 5 hours. Got some uneven burn out but looks kind of cool. Makes it feel less new and like it’s been with me for awhile and I like that. You can always reverse this btw. Strop with diamond polish if you don’t like it and just buff it out to haze or mirror finish. The only con I’d warn about is having a steel handle can be slippery depending on how or what you are working with. It is not a factor for me because I use other knives in the field for slippery stuff. All in all, it’s great to have it back in my pocket. HOWEVER, I still hope I find the one I lost. Wishing everyone Good Luck on their search or purchase for a pocket knife.Photo Update - Added on 12/18: It has been a few days, now and my review has not posted. However, I wanted to add a photo showing what the knife looks like now that I’ve given it the vinegar treatment and stropped it to a mirror razor edge that would pass most of the harshest critics around. I still hope to find the original that I carried for 14 years and have a feeling that it will turn up on the floor board somewhere. That knife is definitely dinged up from being a true work horse and I’d feel better about using it instead of this one. I sat on a log today for 2 hours hand stropping the new Leek with the composite blade and gave it a lot of thought. So, I just got done explaining to my 70 year old dad how this knife works like those “stiletto knives” but with no springs. He opened it and closed it and thought it was neat. I told him that I was thinking about this knife for a while to replace one that I had for over a decade but I haven’t given up lookin for it and really wanted him to have the new one. Told him it’s not a Christmas present either, just wanted him to have a good one that will last a long time. Will give it a few more days. If I find the original one, Ill post side by side photos to update the review with. - Argus

I have too many knives for my own good, Spyderco, Gerber, and of course Kershaw, including a few different Leeks. These are simply the absolute best EDC carry knife money can buy for a few reasons.This particular one, with the D2 edge and 14C28 stainless spine is unreal. It came factory sharpened to an edge that is able to use for shaving. Dry. Cleanly. And after enough use on cardboard, plastic, even cutting copper wire here and there, a little time on a diamond stone, and this thing is surgically sharp again. Not exaggerating, you can get an edge on this that is surgically sharp, like a scalpel, and it will stay that way with little more than a leather strop once in a while for a good long time.It is slender as it gets, for a full 3 inch knife, fits perfect in the pocket, and with the clip, is quick and easy to grab when you need it, and can be opened and closed, completely one handed, and put back in the pocket. Some people seem to feel the smooth stainless handle gets too slick, but after years carrying these, I find it perfect to anytime I need a knife, I can reach grab open, cut and put it back all with one hand. Just an easy to use tool. And even after a hard day packing and unpacking boxes, covered in glue from the tape...a little brake cleaner on a rag, and instantly, back to completely clean.On top of that is Kershaw's warranty. Lifetime, and they mean it. Yes, they will sell you a $10 replacement blade...but the one time I called about it, they simply sent me a new knife, no questions asked. Free sharpening for life? Seriously, send it back, and they will sharpen it and send it back. Of course, you are without it while they do that, and if you are like me, you sharpen your own knives anyway.And, for me, while Kershaw does offer offshore made knives, these are not, they are made in the USA. Proves that when we want to, we Yanks can still build the best on the planet. To me, that is important.And then there is the price. I have alot of more expensive knives, but this is the one I turn to, and wind up replacing every time I misplace one. Nothing else I have found, at any price, seems to be near as good for a simple, EDC knife. And with the price, you don't need to have a stroke over replacing it. Personally...when I misplace one, I get a slightly different version each time, so when I find the one I misplaced, it's at least slightly different.Every Leek I own, or have owned has been an outstanding, utilitarian tool that just does it's job, and I suspect, eventually my kids will inherit these and work them, and if I could be here to see it, I suspect my great-great grandkids will be able to still be using the ones I bought.