Small Pocket Knives Reviews: Kershaw Ken Onion Leek 1660 Series

Despite that I love Swiss Army Knives I can't help to be impressed with the Kershaw Ken Onion Leek Folding Knives: outstanding design, quality materials, an excellent finish, and a limited lifetime warranty make these small pocket knives one of the best to carry around.

Kershaw Leek folding knives are slim and light with a good size to carry in your pocket. Perhaps, they are a little big to use on your keychain, but small enough to not look as a weapon. The thing that impressed me the most is the excellent finish, which emphasizes the smart appearance and tasteful design of the knife. The Leek fits great in your hand, better than any Swiss Army Knife that I have used, and open smoothly with only one hand. This is a welcome safety measure, think that in an emergency a hand can be occupied, holding something, or injured. Another interesting thing of the knife is that it locks securely when it's closed.

The blade is only 3in long made of 440A stainless steel. A top-quality steel that guarantees a razor-sharp edge for a long time, but at the same time is not too hard for sharpening.

The Leek series include an assisted opening device, which allows the knife to be opened with one push in the thumb stud or Index-Open system. They call it Speed safe because the spring actually locks the blade when it's closed.

In the Leek 1660 the thumb stud allows an ambidextrous opening, but because the stud is a little small you must practice a couple of times until you get used to it.

Once the blade is deployed it is locked into position by the Frame lock preventing that the blade folds back accidentally into the handle.

Besides, the Leek Series include a Pocket clip, not for using in your belt, but to clip the knife with the handle inside your pocket and the pocket clip outside of your pants. This pocket clip could be removed easily of the knife if you have no regard for your clothes.

The overall answer to this question is: no! I can't find a single fault in any of these knives. Of course, it is always the matter of personal preferences. I prefer that my pocket knives have other useful tools besides the blade, like scissors or screwdrivers. But, if I were searching for a folding knife and not for a multi-tool, you would not have to work hard to convince me to buy one of these knives.

Another thing worth mention here is that the blade tip is thin. So, it could break if you use the knife for things that it is not designed for, like throwing it to a target for example. So, next time that you fancy being Jim Bowie, use other knife or you will have to send your Leek to Kershaw asking for a replacement :=)

Actually, the major complaint that I can think of is that they are so beautiful that you have to think twice before using them for fear of scratching them, even when you know that they can take a lot of abuse without damage!

With respect to the price, they are certainly not cheap, but not too expensive considering the quality involved in the Kershaw knives.

If you are searching for a good folding knife, and not for a multi-tool, that has a cool design, with a quality craftsmanship and materials to carry always with you. Then the Kershaw Ken Onion Leek is worth looking at, considering the price. Kudos to Kershaw and Ken Onion from a Victorinox fan.

To see more of my favorite knives visit: Best Pocket Knives for Camping and Everyday Use
I also have a page about the best backpacking stoves