Help me choose a pocket knife
- Thread starter barman
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I'd go with the Leek for a few reasons:
Speedsafe
Limited lifetime warranty
Ken is no longer working with Kershaw
Very nice knives for the price
Speedsafe
Limited lifetime warranty
Ken is no longer working with Kershaw
Very nice knives for the price
I used to have the exact Kershaw you mentioned, I loved it. Unfortunately I lost it....
I loved it, the assisted open was great, awesome balance and fit nicely in my pocket.
I loved it, the assisted open was great, awesome balance and fit nicely in my pocket.
Have you considered something from Laguiole or Boker or Buck? SOG's have no character in my book and Kershaw, like Gerber's are trendy.
Of course, I don't know what you want your pocket knife for. For me it's essential equipment; used regularly for things like cleaning my nails or digging dirt out of those little nooks in on my cars console or cutting twine, rope, the seal on a bottle of wine. I like to whittle. I use it for splitting a popsicle in half for my son and I (the proper way to eat one). It takes off price tags and those stupid holographic authenticity tags off ballcaps. It makes the end of a stick pointy for roasting marshmallows. May turn a plastic pop bottle into a funnel. It's taken a small locket of my wife's hair before I go on a trip and trimmed my nose hairs in a pinch.
I suppose I'm rambling here... me, I would go with a good old Buck... unless you have some very special use in mind.
Of course, I don't know what you want your pocket knife for. For me it's essential equipment; used regularly for things like cleaning my nails or digging dirt out of those little nooks in on my cars console or cutting twine, rope, the seal on a bottle of wine. I like to whittle. I use it for splitting a popsicle in half for my son and I (the proper way to eat one). It takes off price tags and those stupid holographic authenticity tags off ballcaps. It makes the end of a stick pointy for roasting marshmallows. May turn a plastic pop bottle into a funnel. It's taken a small locket of my wife's hair before I go on a trip and trimmed my nose hairs in a pinch.
I suppose I'm rambling here... me, I would go with a good old Buck... unless you have some very special use in mind.
I like the SOG because of its character. I carry a Swiss Army SD (pic below) for most of the reasons muskokabrian has listed. And a SOG Flash II when I go hiking.
Alacrity,
I realize that my comment might have seemed offensive and for that I apologize, but I wasn't implying SOG's are not great knives. They are certainly very good quality. Character... well... does a TAG watch have character? Sure... but does it have character on a guy who's wrist has never been taken below 10 feet of water?
I guess my feeling is that a lot of knives are designed for a purpose that they are not ever going to be used for. I don't climb. I don't dive and I keep specialized gear for rapids. Keeping a diver knife, an approach knife or a river runner in my pocket when I'm about town would be a little silly, in my opinion. It would be like walking around the city in ski boots.
I have swiss army knife but I find it a little bulky and redundant. It does a lot of things but none of them well. I have a couple of single or double blade pocket knives of the brands I listed which do a good job of everything I ask of them though, including trimming nose hairs, but you'll only catch me doing that once I get past the rock cut on HWY 11, north of Orillia...
I realize that my comment might have seemed offensive and for that I apologize, but I wasn't implying SOG's are not great knives. They are certainly very good quality. Character... well... does a TAG watch have character? Sure... but does it have character on a guy who's wrist has never been taken below 10 feet of water?
I guess my feeling is that a lot of knives are designed for a purpose that they are not ever going to be used for. I don't climb. I don't dive and I keep specialized gear for rapids. Keeping a diver knife, an approach knife or a river runner in my pocket when I'm about town would be a little silly, in my opinion. It would be like walking around the city in ski boots.
I have swiss army knife but I find it a little bulky and redundant. It does a lot of things but none of them well. I have a couple of single or double blade pocket knives of the brands I listed which do a good job of everything I ask of them though, including trimming nose hairs, but you'll only catch me doing that once I get past the rock cut on HWY 11, north of Orillia...
I highly recommend the Kershaw. Amazing value and rock solid construction. Bought my dad one for Christmas and he had it on him for two years before he lost it. Bought him a replacement this Christmas.
Between the two - the Kershaw Leek - great bang for the buck; feels good in the hand & pocket.
I own a SOG Twitch II and I think it is a great knife. One of the biggest things I like about the SOG is the point of the blade, I like a more rounded point for my EDC. The Twitch II to starts bringing in the considerration of weight. You may consider, the nutnfancy reviews on youtube. Have you looked at the Flash by SOG, they are light weight and of good quality, all have safety locks. All though the Flash is hard to work but more practical than the Leek IMO becaude of needing the other hand. I like to be able to operate my knife with one hand. I have a big problem with living to close to Smokey Mountain Knife Works and have looked at these knifes for some time, but that does not make me right these are just my observations. If this was going to be my one and only EDC I would consider the Flash. If it is a second carry knike for a particular event then it is a matter of choice. I would prefer the leek if I were dealing with small game because of the pointed tip, but that's just me. I am sure glad found traditional wet shaving, the knike drawer got full.
Option C , Spyderco Native , better steel, great ergos and blade profile and currently is at the top of my knife wishlist. Of the two you actually listed I'd definitely go Kershaw, I own 4 currently and have had a few more than that and have never been anything less than totally satisfied with them.
The Kershaw knives are great, I love mine. But for a true pocket knife I carry a Case medium stockman. The Case goes everywhere and with everything but the Kershaw does get noticed by some when I am in a suit or dress slacks.
I know it's a subsidiary of Kai. But in which country are the Kershaw Leeks made?
By the way - Kershaw Leek Black is currently on sale in Walmart for $35.00 with free shipping to your local store: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11047937
Also, I was browsing cabelas.com since they have some good deals on clearance and noticed this nice Buck Pilot for just $12.45. I know it is not on your list, but I think it is a great deal: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0075178&type=pod&forcedId=cat21404&cmCat=cat21404_feature1
Lastly, I recommend checking if it is legal or illegal to posses and carry these kind of assisted switch knifes here: http://www.assistedknife.com/index.cfm/fa/pages.main/pageID/7
Also, I was browsing cabelas.com since they have some good deals on clearance and noticed this nice Buck Pilot for just $12.45. I know it is not on your list, but I think it is a great deal: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0075178&type=pod&forcedId=cat21404&cmCat=cat21404_feature1
Lastly, I recommend checking if it is legal or illegal to posses and carry these kind of assisted switch knifes here: http://www.assistedknife.com/index.cfm/fa/pages.main/pageID/7
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I have several Kershaw's and like them a lot. They seem to hold an edge, I like the assisted opening feature as well. I had to cut a horse free from being tied to a trailer once and had a serrated Kershaw and cut a lead line with one swipe - I was impressed.
Start over. What do you want from a knife and how much do you want to spend?
Good points.
Personally, I'd keep it cheap. Sooner or later you will lose it, or feel it in your pocket as you are reaching for your boarding pass just in front of airport security.
That's a big fear of mine. I've heard some airports have a setup near security with prepaid packages and envelopes so you can mail your stuff back to yourself. It's expensive but much better than losing a valuable. Anyone know of airports that have this setup?
I always carry a swiss army knife. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't.
Good luck,
mrscottishman
Good luck,
mrscottishman
