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Kershaw Leek
The Kershaw Leek has been one of the best-selling pocket knives in America for over two decades. Designed by Ken Onion—the custom knifemaker who invented SpeedSafe assisted opening and was inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame—the Leek established the template for what a slim, fast-deploying EDC folder should be. The vegetable name? That's an Onion signature. His Kershaw designs include the Leek, Chive, Scallion, and Shallot.
At 3 ounces with a 3-inch blade and 0.09-inch blade thickness, the Leek disappears in a pocket but delivers serious cutting performance. The frame lock keeps the profile impossibly thin while the SpeedSafe torsion bar provides fast, authoritative deployment via thumb stud or flipper. This is gentleman's folder territory—a knife equally at home in dress pants or jeans.
Kershaw Leek Steel Options
The standard 1660 Leek runs Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel, a Swedish alloy developed specifically for Kershaw. It delivers strong edge retention with excellent corrosion resistance and resharpens easily—exactly what an everyday knife needs. For users who want more, CPM-MagnaCut variants push edge retention and toughness significantly higher. Damascus models feature 416-layer Alabama Damascus with a distinctive pattern, while the Composite Blade combines 14C28N and D2 steels to optimize different blade zones.
SpeedSafe Assisted Opening & Tip-Lock
Ken Onion's SpeedSafe system uses a torsion bar that requires manual pressure before assistance engages. This keeps the Leek legal in jurisdictions that restrict automatic knives while delivering the fast, snappy action users expect. The Tip-Lock slider prevents accidental deployment in the pocket—a feature some users appreciate and others remove entirely. Both thumb studs and the spine flipper provide ambidextrous deployment options.
Why Collectors Keep Buying Leeks
Kershaw has released dozens of Leek variants over the years: carbon fiber handles, rainbow titanium oxide coatings, blackwash finishes, custom shop collaborations, and limited colorways. The slim profile and proven design make it an ideal platform for experimentation, and many enthusiasts own multiple Leeks for different purposes or aesthetics.
Kershaw Leek Specifications
Blade Length: 3" (76mm) | Overall Length: 7" (178mm) | Closed Length: 4" (102mm) | Blade Thickness: 0.09" (2.29mm) | Weight: 3 oz (85g) | Lock: Frame Lock | Opening: SpeedSafe Assisted | Designer: Ken Onion | Made in USA
Every Leek includes Kershaw's limited lifetime warranty and free lifetime sharpening service. Manufactured at Kershaw's Oregon facility.