Kershaw Leek, BlackWash Pocket Knife (1660BLKW); 3 Sandvik 14C28N Steel Blade, 410 Stainless Steel Handle, BlackWash Finish, SpeedSafe Assisted Open, Frame and Tip Locks, Reversible Pocketclip; 3 OZ

This little knife is so good that I just had to write my first review.I am by no means a collector, but I've owned a decent variety of knives of varying quality — straightforward classics like Mercators, a handful of daily-beater CRKTs (including another Ken Onion), and a couple high-quality Scandinavian fixed blades for camp use. I previously owned a Leek in the silver finish, and after losing it on a ride, tried to make due with some of the other knives in the stable. But for a daily carry, nothing compares to this little Kershaw, and eventually I had to get its replacement.I can't say enough about how much bang for buck you get with the Leek. It's simply the best pocketknife I've ever handled regardless of price, and if you're on the fence about the purchase, just do it.PROS- Blade Edge: This is the sharpest knife I've ever personally handled. X-Acto blade sharp. My high-end cutlery shop can't get the grind anywhere near how sharp it is straight out of the box. It's a marvel.- SpeedSafe Assisted Opening: This knife is simply a joy to use. Buttery smooth action that is extremely consistent with a super satisfying "snick." You'll find yourself playing with it out of habit.- Profile: Without sacrificing handling characteristics when open, this is the perfect slim profile for a daily carry knife. It rides perfectly in your pocket, and disappears both ergonomically and visually. I forget its there until I need it, and then when I do, it reminds me how a pocketknife should feel. Which brings me to the finish...- Finish: The black wash version is amazing. The clip disappears against dark fabric, and no one is going to know you are carrying unless you want them to. Its masculine, handsome, and I'd even say intimate. The patina on the edges feels personalized the moment you open the box, and will only be added to with use. It's simple, unadorned, and ideal for any sartorial situation outside suit pants. I'm really glad I chose this over the silver version for my second go-round.- Value: This knife is made in the USA. It's under 50 bucks. It competes with anything high-end I've held for a fraction of the price. There are surely some very well-made knives that cost several hundred dollars, but I'd rather own a few Leeks and put the remaining money into other EDC items that will serve me just as well.CONSNone, nada, zilch. Buy it already.

I say I'm on number 7 of these, but I've actually lost count. (That's not the knife's fault - retention is excellent - I just lose them at airports and security). Been carrying them for almost 20 years. Tried plenty of others at way higher price points. Ken Onion was a master, and this is his opus. Incredible form factor, opening speed (feels like a switchblade), edge and build quality. My favorite at any price, but for $80 it truly is the best EDC value out there of any category. If it seems like I'm a fan, it's because I am. Do yourself a favor and get 2.

I bought this knife to replace the exact same knife (including the finish) I had purchased over 8 years ago.My second to last day working delivering for Amazon, my knife fell out of my pocket and I lost my knife somewhere during my shift, never to be found again.I can say from owning this same knife for nearly a decade, it holds its edge well - and I’ve only had to sharpen it once (I’m a chef and hand sharpen all my knives. It also mostly gets used for breaking down boxes, so it was never really abused).That said, having a brand new one in may hand, I forgot how SHARP this was out of the box.The Speedsafe assured opening mechanism got a little sticky over the years, but I found this could be adjusted using a micro screwdriver and just slightly turning some of the screws on the frame.I also did take the knife entirely apart one time (there was nothing wrong with it when I did this), to clean the insides of the knife. Other than some stray pocket lint that had gotten inside it over the years, the knife’s internals were in great shape, and this routine maintenance (around 5 years of ownership) returned it to operating like new again.They also don’t really show you this in the booklet that comes with the knife, but you can remove the pocket clip from one side of the knife with a micro screwdriver and turn it to the other side. Having the pocket clip on the opposite side of the knife enables you to remove the knife and seamlessly press the flipper for assisted opening of the blade in one motion. If you leave the pocket clip in the factory position, you have to remove the knife from your pocket, and turn it a full 180° to reach the flipper to extend the blade.I can’t say enough about the quality of Kershaw/Ken Onion knives.I don’t ever hope to lose this one, but if I ever do I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this exact same knife a third time.

Some of the negative reviews on this knife are hilarious.-"Tried using the knife as a shovel and it broke because it's a knife and not a shovel."-"Thin long pointed profile of the blade made it break when I tried using it like a screwdriver."If you're the kind of person that likes using the proper tool for the job, this knife is incredible. It is a thin no BS efficient cutting tool that'll make short work of pretty much any job you SHOULD use a folding knife for. It's not flashy, it's doesn't have many special features, and it has a very slim design. Perfect combination for a pocket knife, in my opinion.The blade itself is thin and has nearly no curvature to the cutting edge at all, making it easy as hell to sharpen and effective at cutting. A straight blade means no wasted energy when puncturing deer hides, shaving wood, or slashing right through thick rope.Steel seems good, too. When it comes to stainless, 14C28N is about as good as it gets without emptying your wallet. Plus, with a blade this easy to re-hone, it's nearly a non-issue if it dulls just slightly faster than something 3X the price.This is a knife for people who know how to use knives. It is not a shovel. It is not a screwdriver. It is not a weapon. It is a tool, and a damn good one at that.