Kershaw

Kershaw Volt II Review

Last Updated: August 8, 2019
It has been too long since I’ve examined a nice budget EDC blade. This time around I picked up a Kershaw Volt II, and could immediately tell that I grabbed a real winner. First off, the original Volt is a true collectors piece. It’s not a particularly old design, but it’s a limited edition titanium framelock with a composite steel blade. It will to run you a few hundred dollars at least. And that’s if you can find one.

Buy the Kershaw Volt at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Kershaw went in the opposite direction with the Volt II. Here they opted for everyday affordability with nice, but inexpensive materials. The two blades do share a lot of similarities, as they are both creations from designer R.J. Martin and have generally the same shape. The major differences are that the original Volt is much larger (1.75″ longer) and costs about 15 times as much as the Volt II. For right around $20 pretty much anyone can afford the Volt II, and to be honest I think you would be foolish not to. Lets take a closer look to see what I’m talking about.

General Dimensions

The Volt II has an overall length of 7″, a 3.125″ blade and weighs 3.4 ounces. This is a nice size for EDC and should be a fairly friendly looking carry regardless of where you live.

The blade is a drop point shape, with a small swedge and nice sweeping belly. The entire blade has been bead blasted, which is familiar territory for a lot of Kershaw’s small EDC blades (like the legendary Kershaw Skyline). The tip on this knife is very good, holding a good amount of steel all the way to the very end. Kershaw finished this one off with a high hollow grind and a nice smooth edge.

Blade steel is the very high value 8Cr13MoV stainless from China. My experiences with 8Cr13MoV have been very good. For the money, I really don’t think you can beat it. It is capable of taking a very nice edge and has good rust resistance.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Volt II features full stainless steel liners with injection molded plastic scales. The plastic is actually pretty dense (Kershaw calls it Polyimide) and I am quite pleased with it. An attractive triangle pattern has been emblazoned over the scales and the liners have been lightly milled out. I’m sure some would prefer G10, but for price I am not complaining. I really like how the liners have been given the same blasted finish as the blade – looks real sharp. Rounding things out is an almost full backspacer made of the same Polyimide material as the scales.

Ergonomics on the Volt II are nice. First off, it is a smaller handle (~3.8″) so I found it slightly cramped with my larger hands. That said, I managed a full grip and liked how the thick and rounded scales felt in hand. There are two shallow choils and an integral guard to keep your fingers from slipping. A nicely jimped thumb ramp provide addition support on top. My only suggestion would be to make the handle a little longer to provide some extra room but I think for most people the ergonomics are going to work really well.

The pocket clip is a kind of funky looking Kershaw clip. Having handled a number of Kershaw knives I’m no stranger to their somewhat unconventional clips. As you can see this one is quite interesting. In practice, the clip works just fine and is not nearly as funky as some of the others I have run into. I would have liked to have seen it be a little bigger, but it’s discreet and offers a low carry. On the subject of carry, this is a chunkier folder with a thickness of about half an inch. For some, this may be a little difficult to carry. I don’t mind it but everyone is different. One last thing to note is that this tip allows for tip up or tip down carry but it is right side only.

Deployment and Lockup

The Volt II takes advantage of a nice flipper for deployment. This knife uses Kershaw’s Speedsafe assisted opening technology. This knife fires open hard with a really satisfying click. The flipper also doubles as a guard – a feature I have really come to appreciate with a lot of Kershaw designs. I’m also a big fan of the Speedsafe – Kershaw has done an excellent job with all of the assisted opening knives that I have handled. I predict that if you pick this one up you will spend way too much time playing with this one (at least I did).

Lockup is accomplished through a liner lock. This is actually a pretty thick lock bar and it locks up nice and early on my example. I noticed zero blade play and I love how the knife has come perfectly centered. A small amount of jimping on the lock bar makes this an easy one to disengage when you want to, but it still feels very secure in hand. For EDC tasks this lock will be able to handle it all.

Kershaw Volt II Review – Final Thoughts

Sometimes I get a knife in and the review just writes itself. I was impressed with the Volt II the moment it came out of the box, and I still haven’t put it down. If you want an EDC knife in the $20-25 this is a very strong option in my book. What really makes this one for me is the way it’s been put together. The fit and finish are phenomenal. The knife locks up nice and early, the blade is perfectly centered, deployment is smooth, the grinds are nice, the handle feels great – I could go on and on.

To me this is a great example of what Kershaw does best – putting together a rock solid EDC folder that everyone can afford. My only issue would be that I’d like to see an ambidextrous clip and perhaps a slightly larger handle. Aside from that the knife has exceeded my expectations in every way. I want to note that the Volt II is made in China, but the quality control is excellent. I would put the level of fit and finish above my Spyderco Tenacious and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone interested in the knife, or in need of an inexpensive folder that can take some real use.

Kershaw Volt II Pocketknife, 3.25" 8Cr13MoV Steel Drop Point Plain Edge Blade, assisted opening Folding EDC, Liner Lock System

KERSHAW VOLT II POCKETKNIFE: An updated version of the original, the Volt II is a workhorse of a pocketknife. With the same versatile blade and handle style, now with upgraded blade steel and textured handle to make it even more capable on the job.
DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from quality 8Cr13MoV stainless-steel that offers excellent edge retention, strength, and hardness. The bead-blasted blade finish provides a non-reflective, matte surface.
GLASS-FILLED NYLON HANDLE: The lightweight, black glass-filled nylon handle has textured scales and finger contours for a comfortable, secure grip during use. Includes a reversible pocketclip for right, tip-up, left, tip-down carry.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Equipped with Kershaw’s assisted one-handed opening with the built-in flipper for fast blade release. Liner lock secures blade in place to ensure safety while handling.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 3.25in. Closed Length: 3.9in. Overall Length: 7.1in. Weighing in at 3.3oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. Suitable for EDC, hunting, camping, and more.

Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Volt II at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Kershaw Needs Work Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 21, 2019
In my opinion the wharncliffe is one of the most under-appreciated blade shapes out there. Many may write the shape off as a novelty, but in my experience a wharncliffe blade can be incredibly useful for a lot of every day tasks. That’s why I wanted to make sure I eventually got down to reviewing one of my favorite production knives with a wharncliffe blade, the Kershaw Needs Work.

Buy the Kershaw Needs Work at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

At first glance this knife appears to be more at home on the set of an “Aliens” sequel than in your pocket. This is another Ken Onion design, and one of his more radical blades. I’ll admit, the look of the Needs Work had to grow on me a little, but I quickly warmed up to it. Today I really like the looks of this knife and the performance as well. I think Ken and Kershaw did a great job representing the “wharnie” here.

Purpose

To provide a little context, I would mainly classify this as a utility knife. That is, a knife that is used to cut a lot of boxes, leather, carpet, etc etc – a dedicated work knife for your shop or tool box, or to be carried while working a physical job with a lot of cutting tasks. The wharncliffe shape essentially provides a 3 inch razor blade, and the fine tip allows for unmatched precision.

I am hesitant to classify (or recommend) this as a full blown EDC knife, mainly because it doesn’t carry particularly well. However, it all boils down to what you want to use the knife for.

General Dimensions and Blade Detail

The Needs Work has a 3″ blade, a 4 1/8″ handle and weighs 3.5 ounces. This is a stout little folder designed for light and medium duty use. As you are well aware by now, the NW has a wharncliffe shaped blade. The NW’s blade is .12″ (3mm) thick – this is a thick piece of metal for a small folding knife.

From a design standpoint, Ken Onion gave this blade some of his characteristic flair. The blade includes gentle sloping curves and a nice little swedge. It’s a simple design that I really like. A hollow grind begins about half way down the blade.

The tip on this knife is exquisite, and will let you make very precise cuts. If you go through a lot of boxes, or cut stuff like carpet I highly recommend this blade shape. The angled handle only accentuates this feature. On the flip side, the fine tip means it could break – if you do a lot of thrust cuts or want a “hard use” knife I’m not sure the tip will hold up.

My Needs Work came with that gray matte finish popular on a lot of Kershaw knives (like the Skyline). You may also be able to find this knife with a black titanium nitride coated blade as well.

Kershaw went with Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel for the blade here, a steel I am very familiar with. It holds a very nice edge and sharpens easily. My only advice would be to keep an eye out for rust, I’ve noticed a couple small spots form on my Skyline.

Handle Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Needs Work has a beefy handle with glass-filled nylon scales over full stainless steel liners. The thick handle offers good grip, but makes the knife a little harder to carry. The scales have been given a really unique pattern. It’s got a kind of organic alien looking vibe to it. I am not crazy about the pattern, but it’s not really seen as a negative either. There is a full backspacer and the liners have not been milled out.

The ergonomics on the Needs Work are pretty good. I noticed a lot of people raving about the ergos, but I found the handle to be a little small for my relatively large hand. I can squeeze all 4 fingers on the grip, but realistically, this is a 3 finger knife for me. It’s still a comfortable knife but my pinky does feel a little lonely there. The thumb ramp and choil are well defined and there is adequate jimping on both. The thick handle does feel good and the textured pattern provides some response. For some reason I really like throwing the NW into a reverse grip; the handle is well suited for it.

Perhaps the biggest ergonomic feature is the angle of this handle. This allows you to take full advantage of the fine tip. The Needs Work could be a great knife to cut dry wall, carpet or similar flat materials. I found it to be very convenient when I had to trim some posterboard for the background on my little photography studio. More conventional blade shapes (and handle angles) would make you rotate your wrist further to use the tip of the blade for precision cuts. The Needs Work is a much better design for those kinds of tasks.

Sadly, the pocket clip is something of an abomination. Right off the bat, you are limited to right-side tip-down carry only. Furthermore, the large (ugly) clip rides high in the pocket, adding insult to injury. In practice, I actually found the tip down carry to be OK given the flipper and assisted open. I’d much rather see some mounting options and a little more conventional looking clip. The clip and thick handle are the two main reasons why I am hesitant to recommend this as an EDC blade.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment on the Needs Work is awesome. This is a speedsafe assisted opening knife, and the spring on this the NW shoots the blade of this knife out like a gun. This is a wicked fast deployment that makes an awesome cracking sound as the blade locks open. This is one of my favorite assisted openers; the cool blade shape and rapid deployment are too much fun.

Opening is only accomplished through the flipper – not an issue here at all.

Lockup on the Needs Work is equally impressive. The NW uses a very interesting liner lock that requires no stop pins. The tang of the blade locks into the liner at two different places. It’s hard to describe but very solid in practice. There is zero blade play in this knife, which is awesome when you consider how much force this lock is put under by the assisted opening.

Kershaw Needs Work Review – Final Thoughts

I really like this one. The unique blade, the chunky design, the lightening fast deployment and super solid lockup – these are all major plusses. Also, I found the wharncliffe blade to be uber useful. That tip allows you to do detail cuts like no other knife. I also love how the Needs Work was made in America, and can be found for right around $30. Also, the fit and finish on mine is great. Blade centering is perfect, the grinds are smooth and even – everything was well put together. This is a knife I am proud to add to my collection.

That said, I do ding the knife a little for it’s pocket clip – that’s my only real issue here, and to be honest it still carries pretty well considering. If you want a rugged utility knife, or are searching for something a little different I recommend the Needs Work.

Kershaw Work Knife with Black Injection-Molded Polyimide Handle and Sandvik 14C28N Stainless-Steel Blade

Just connect in the lightning flash drive, easily move photos, videos and other files off your iPhone or iPad and onto the flash drive, from the drive, you can also transfer these files into your Mac,PC or other devices.
Connect and play,enjoy movies or musics stored in the flash drive when you are on trip or travel, most video formats are supported: (VIDEOS: AVI, M4V, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPG, RM, RMVB, TS, WMV, FLV, 3GP; AUDIOS:FLAC, APE, AAC, AIF, M4A, MP3, WAV)
Every time you connect the flash drive in, use "Y drive" App camera to take photos/video ,which will be automatically stored into the flash drive.
Mfi Certified flash drive guarantees fast and stable data transfers,one HD movies ( approx. 1GB) only needs about 20s.
iPhone X 5 5s 6 6+ 6s 6s+ se 7 7+; iPad (iOS 8.0 or higher), Computer OS Support Mac OS X v10.6+, Windows 7/8/10

Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Needs Work at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out my review.

Kershaw Blur Review

by Dan Jackson 22 Comments

Last Updated: February 20, 2019

While I enjoy reviewing all kinds of knives, it’s the mid size edc “working man’s” knives that I especially enjoy reviewing because these mid size EDC’s are what spend the most time in my pockets and in my hands. The Kershaw Blur is such a quintessential mid size EDC knife that a full review is long overdo.

Buy the Kershaw Blur at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Also, I can’t ignore the fact that this another Ken Onion design. Ken Onion is the man behind a lot of the knives I have reviewed (such as the CRKT Ripple), and his designs are very famous for their flowing shapes. In contrast some of his other work, the Blur looks fairly pedestrian, but it is a good size knife with a very functional design which is part of the reason why I think the Blur has become so popular.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Blur has an overall length of 7.875″, a 3.375″ blade, weighs 3.9 ounces, and is made in the USA. It’s a medium to large size folding knife. I would classify this as a larger EDC knife or a tactical knife.

The Blur comes in many flavors and there is a little something for everyone with different colors, blade steels, handle inserts, and blade shapes. The “standard” Blur comes with a nice hollow ground drop point blade, but you also have the option of a tanto blade and there is even a blunt tip version for EMT and rescue applications. You also have the option of plain edge or partially serrated. Kershaw also sells this knife with a black DLC (Diamond Like Coating) on the blade – it’s an attractive option and wears really well.

In addition to that high hollow grind, there is also a slight recurve on the edge (which is more pronounced with the rescue version). The recurve is slight, which keeps this knife reasonably easy to sharpen. There is a swedge running along the top which keeps the tip of the drop point version strong.

In practice the Blur is a formidable slicer. The slight recurve and hollow grind make the knife excellent for cardboard. The tip provides a good combination of strength and piercing ability. This is designed to be a work knife, and I don’t hesitate to use it in that capacity.

As for blade steel, the base model comes with a fairly unassuming Sandvik 14NC28 steel blade (shown here). This is a good mid range steel, ideal for EDC. It takes an edge easily and holds it well. I have had no issues with rust – especially with the DLC coating. I would put 14NC28 above AUS-8 but below 154CM.

Kershaw also offers the Blur in S30V, CPM154CM, and a even a composite blade with Sandvik 14NC28 with a ZDP189 edge. I have also seen this knife in 440A, 420HC, and few others. The S30V version is especially popular, and a number of limited editions have been released over the years. There is a steel here for every taste (and every budget).

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The first thing you will notice about the handle is the sandpaper looking inserts. Kershaw calls this “Trac-Tec” and it is actually a rubberized material that provides plenty of traction without tearing up your hands. The rest of the handle is made from anodized 6061 aluminum and features a flow though (pillar construction) design. All in all this is a very strong design. The handles are very nicely finished and relatively light weight – I have no complaints.

The ergonomics of the Blur are excellent. This simple handle gets out of your way and affords a comfortable grip for small and large hands alike. There is a short run of jimping on the gently sloping thumb ramp. It provides just enough traction to index your thumb and hold it in place. The rubber trac-tec inserts aren’t my favorite feature of the knife, but I must admit they provide plenty of grip. All the corners have been rounded and the knife feels natural in hand. Perfect for getting plenty of work done.

The pocket clip is fairly well executed. Depending on your particular model, it comes with a matte black finish and rides pretty low in the pocket (not “super” low, if that is something you are looking for). It does allow for tip up or tip down carry, but it is not ambidextrous. One thing I especially like is how Kershaw doesn’t include their Trac-Tec texturing where the clip touches the handle. This makes the knife much easier to remove from the pocket (although I do find it sometimes hangs up a little.

Deployment and Lockup

Kershaw opted for ambidextrous thumbstuds here. The thumb studs are cut at an angle and dig into your thumb. One review I read said that the thumb studs looked like a “stair case” which is actually a pretty good description. Some people love these thumb studs, others hate them. I find that they work alright for my purposes. I think that these thumb studs work best with an assisted opener, but I think they are a little fiddly and not my favorite.

Being an early Ken Onion / Kershaw collaboration, this knife comes with Ken’s Speedsafe assisted opening system pre-installed. I am not the biggest fan of assisted opening knives, but the Speedsafe on the Blur is robust and the action is good. Of course, you can always take the spring out and reduce the Blur to a 100% manually opening blade if that is what you prefer. There is a small detent so the blade won’t fall out of the handle if you take away the assisted opening spring.

The Blur features a liner lock. I think the lock works well here, especially in the EDC and backup tactical roles. The liner engages early and the lock-up is strong with zero movement. The whole deployment and lockup aspects of this knife is a real plus in my book because it is very smooth. Kershaw knows how to put assisted openings and liner locks together and the Blur is an outstanding example of that knowledge.

Blade centering on my knife is pretty much perfect.

Kershaw Blur Review – Final Thoughts

The Kershaw Blur is a modern classic. Offered in a myriad of different blade steels and handle colors, there is a little something for everyone. This is one of Ken Onion’s more restrained designs for Kershaw, and the clean lines of the Blur has garnered it broad appeal, and the knife continues to sell well even years after it’s release.

In fact, the knife has developed something of a cult following among enthusiasts of high end knives. This is a humble blade, but it makes for a great beater. I respect the Blur in the same way that I respect the Cold Steel American Lawman, Buck Marksman, and Hogue EX04 (these are among my favorite folders with ~3.5″ blades). This is a tough working knife and was designed to be used.

The Blur is made in the USA, is well constructed, features quality materials, and is priced reasonably – usually between $45 and $75 depending on the trim level. This everyman’s folder gets a lot of things right, and for that reason I have included it as one of the my recommended EDC knives.

Sale

Kershaw Blur Black (1670BLK) Everyday Carry Pocketknife, 3.4 inch Stainless Steel Drop Point Blade, Cerakote Blade Finish, SpeedSafe Opening, Reversible Pocketclip; 3.9 OZ

KERSHAW BLUR BLACK POCKETKNIFE: A classic Kershaw with a do-it-all blade and dark good looks, the Blur is the perfect EDC for multi-tasking thanks to its big, slightly recurved blade. Made in the USA.
DROP POINT RECURVE PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless-steel that holds its edge and resharpens easily. A Cerakote blade coating adds protection and enhances performance.
6061-T6 ALUMINUM HANDLE: The black anodized aluminum handle is scratch and fade-resistant. Trac-Tec inserts promote a secure, comfortable grip during use. Includes reversible pocketclip for right, tip-up/down carry.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Equipped with Kershaw’s assisted opening for easy one-handed release with thumb-stud. Inset liner lock secures blade in place for ensured user safety.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 3.4in. Closed Length: 4.5in. Overall Length: 7.9in. Weighing in at 3.9oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$73.38
Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Blur at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Kershaw Junkyard Dog II Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
To the average person the pocket knife has remained virtually unchanged over the years. But as collectors and enthusiasts know, this industry is full of innovation. In fact, I argue that there has been more innovation in knife design over the past 20 years than in the previous 200 years. The Junkyard Dog II Composite (JYD II) is a great example of this, with its ultra cool composite blade. Designed by Tim Galyean, the JYD II is a fantastic blend of fantasy and function and is proudly made in the USA.

No products found.

Purpose

The JYD II is not a small knife. I’ve read reviews where people are calling it a tactical. I’m not ready to call it that, and review it from that perspective, but I can kinda see where they are coming from. I would say the JYD II is more of a heavy duty EDC/utility knife. In a pinch it could be pressed into tactical use, but I think the blade shape was meant more for daily tasks (and hard tasks at that). Your mileage may vary.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Junkyard Dog II has a 3-3/4 inch blade and a closed length of 4 7/8 inches. This puts it right around 8 11/16 inches overall with a weight of 5.2 ounces. Like I said, the JYD II is not a small knife. You probably won’t want to bust this one out in the office, but it could make for a nice EDC if your job allows it. Some might find it a little on the heavy side but I think it is well worth it when you consider how much knife you are getting.

The blade is probably the first thing you will notice (assuming you get the ultra cool composite blade version – which I totally suggest doing if you are interested in this knife). This blade is in fact made of two kinds of steel. Kershaw chose a high end steel for the edge (CPM D2 tool steel), and a tough but decidedly less expensive steel for the rest of the blade (Sandvik 14C28N). From what I’ve gathered this is to reduce cost and make for a cool looking knife. Both reasons sound great to me.

On the subject of steel, the D2 edge steel is a great choice, with the CPM version being better. CPM stands for “Crucible Partice Metalurgy” and is a special process developed by the steel’s manufacturer, Crucible Metals. What Crucible does here essentially is powder the steel (by forcing the molten metal through a high pressure nozzle) and puts it back together so the grains are ultra tight on the molecular level. This was a poor explanation, but understand that the result is a finer steel and holds a better edge. Since D2 is already great stuff, we are talking about a pretty fancy piece of steel here.

Sandvik 14C28N is less impressive than the CPM D2, but it is still a great steel on its own (used in many popular Kershaw knives, like the Skyline and Scallion) and makes for an awesome “placeholder” for the D2.

So you are probably wondering how Kershaw puts these 2 pieces of steel together, and I was very curious myself. Apparently both pieces are laser cut, and then braze welded together with copper. The end result is a single piece of steel which is subsequently finished like any other Kershaw knife. The final bond is very strong. Kershaw claims it is as strong as a single piece of steel. I’ve never heard of the metal coming apart.

Ok, so a quick word on the blade shape. Again, I am hesitant to label this a “tactical knife” (not that my labels even matter – use the knife however you like) because of the blade shape. The tip is fairly blunt, and quite sturdy. Great for tough jobs, especially with that D2, but perhaps not the best choice for a defensive tool. Also, I gotta say the blade shape and overall “flow” of the knife kind of has a Ken Onion feel to it. Tim did work with Ken Onion at Kershaw, so perhaps that is where we get this design cue. Personally, I like it.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle design and construction on the Junkyard Dog II is outstanding. We are looking at fairly typical handle construction: G10 over 410 stainless steel liners. The liners themselves are far less typical because they are some of the thickest I have seen on a liner lock knife. The addition of a FRN backspacer provides even more strength and rigidity (but makes the knife more difficult to clean). The result is a heavily built handle with a rock solid feel. Kershaw did attempt to lighten things up a bit by milling out the liners, and I think 5.2 ounces is pretty good considering how big the blade is and how thick these liners are.

The ergonomics are another outstanding aspect of this knife. The very nice (and unique!) design to the handle fits the hand comfortably and the textured G10 allows for a great grip. There is some jimping on the spine, but it is pretty “round” stuff. Probably due to the finish Kershaw puts on their blades. If jimping is your thing, you might want to modify this one, but I don’t mind it as is. Overall, I am very pleased with the handle design and ergonomics.

Now the pocket clip, well, that is probably my least favorite part of the knife. First of all, it isn’t reversible or ambidextrous, and I think it is far too big. I’m not a fan of the wide and flashy design either. The design is more a matter of taste (the look kind of “flows” with the rest of the knife) but I really hope Kershaw addresses the reversible and ambidextrous aspects of the clip. That said, this is an otherwise outstanding knife, and I would seriously consider getting the handle drilled/tapped and a custom low-rider clip made by a knifemaker like my friend STR.

Deployment and Lock

Like many Kershaw knives, the JYD II uses a flipper for deployment. I like flippers alright, but I’d love to see some thumb studs on here too – it’s what I’m used to most. That said, the flipper and the phosphor bronze bushings do a great job with deployment and the Junkyard Dog II moves very fast. Something to note is that this knife does not have the speed-safe assisted open mechanism common on a lot of Kershaw knives. I like the unassisted opening so I don’t count this against the knife. I know some people really like the assisted opening knives.

I’ve already commented on the liner lock, but just to reiterate, this is one of the more solid liner lock knives I’ve held. Kershaw did not skimp on the steel here and the liner covers almost 50% of the blade when the knife is open – very impressive. Despite this heavy liner, it is still an easy knife to close with one hand.

Kershaw Junkyard Dog II Review – Final Thoughts

One last thing to comment on is the value, and this knife has tons of it. If you go for the non-composite version the JYD II can easily be had for under $50. You will be hard pressed to find a new knife this big, strong and well made for under $50 folks, that’s just a fact (and it’s made in America too). The composite version is of course going to be more expensive at around $75, but even still that is a good deal for a very nice and unique knife with a high quality edge.

Well as you probably gathered, I really like this knife. Combine the heavy construction with a comfortable handle, a great blade and a cool innovation like the composite steel and there is not much left for me to desire. That said, the pocket clip definitely gives me some grief, but I can say that about a lot of knives on the market. All in all this is a very solid offering from Kershaw.

No products found.

Kershaw Leek Review

by Dan Jackson 20 Comments

Last Updated: December 1, 2019
The Kershaw Leek is a popular EDC knife designed by legendary custom knife maker Ken Onion. Between his designs for Zero Tolerance Knives, Kershaw, and CRKT, Ken’s work has received a lot of attention on this site. This is for good reason as he is highly regarded as a knife designer.

Buy the Kershaw Leek at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Kershaw Leek is firmly planted in the Every Day Carry (EDC) category. In fact, this is something of a gold standard for EDC. It comes in a great size and is a durable design, perfect for daily carry. Additionally, the Leek has been offered in wide variety of colors and finishes, including some limited edition versions over the years. This makes the Leek a collectable knife. For these reasons the Leek has become a favorite of both hardcore enthusiasts and casual pocketknife users.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Leek has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 3 about ounces, and is made in America. Like the vegetable it was named after, this is a sleek and slim design. This lightweight folder is aimed directly at the Every Day Carry (EDC) market.

Here is a size comparison with the Leek in between my Kershaw Skyline and Kershaw Chive:

The Kershaw Leek features a modified wharncliffe style blade. The Leek’s mostly flat edge is almost completely devoid of belly. This makes the knife well suited for tasks that involve the tip of the blade. The Leek’s blade comes to a very fine tip and it makes the knife great for piercing tasks and detail work. Stuff like scoring boxes and clipping coupons is a breeze with a wharncliffe. It’s also easy to sharpen a wharncliffe blade like this relative to a knife with a curved edge. Another advantage of the wharncliffe design is that pressure is applied uniformly to the edge. This allows you to place a good amount of leverage into a cut.

On the flip side, folks may not like the wharncliffe blade because it has no “belly” or forward curvature to the blade. Belly is especially useful when preparing food (think, rocking a kitchen knife back and forth) or skinning game without piercing the hide. And that tip, while very precises, is somewhat fragile. You don’t want to drop any knife, or pry with any knife, but the tip of the Leek is especially delicate.

Another argument against the wharncliffe is that it looks funny. It lacks the traditional elegance of something like the Loveless Drop Point Hunter. This wharncliffe blade may take some getting used to if you come from a traditional hunting knife background, but that’s part of what folks find endearing about Ken Onion’s work.

Here is another size comparison with the Spyderco Endura and the Delica 4:

The Leek is a perennial in Kershaw’s catalog. The design is at least 10 years old, and probably is closer to 20. Accordingly, Kershaw has offered the knife in a number of steels over the years. But if you are going to buy one new one today, it will most likely come in 14C28N.

14C28N is developed by Sandvik, a Swedish company that made the steel exclusively for KAI USA/Kershaw Knives. 14C28N is a high quality stainless steel and is a choice for the price. I have found that 14C28N is a practical steel. It takes a fine edge easily, holds that edge for a decent amount of work, and is easy to sharpen. It also has good stain resistance. I prefer it over 8Cr13MoV and Aus8, the Asian budget steels, as it holds an edge longer. I also like it more than D2, a semi-stainless steel that can be found at similar price point as 14C28N, because 14C28N is easier to sharpen and isn’t as prone to staining.

It’s an excellent all round steel, and is appropriate at this price point.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Leek will come in either full stainless steel with a frame lock (shown here) or aluminum scales with a liner lock. Both models feel good in the hand for a smaller knife. The solid steel handled version has a nice heft to it. Both handle types are constructed with screws rather than pins, so if you need to disassemble the knife, then it can easily done with a T6 torx bit.

Fit and finish on this handle is excellent. All the parts line up. The finish work is good with no tooling marks or anything like that. It’s simple design, but Kershaw has it dialed in.

This is a comfortable little knife that is geared towards light to medium use. I found I was able to get a 4 finger grip on the knife without much issue and my thumb found the thumb ramp easily. There is a little bit of jimping on the thumb ramp. The jimping isn’t supper aggressive, but it does grab the skin a little. Otherwise, there isn’t much of a “traction plan” on this knife, so you won’t want to skin a deer with it or take it into the shower, but for a small knife I liked the ergos.

The pocket clip of the Kershaw Leek is pretty good. Ken Onion is known for designing some pretty “out there” pocket clips, but the clip on the Leek is relatively normal looking. It is long, and offers good spring retention. It is reversible for tip up or tip down carry, but it is not ambidextrous.

The clip rides pretty low if you mount it tip down, but for tip up carry a good half inch of the handle sticks out. That said, this is a small and light knife, it still carries well and is unlikely to draw much attention. Here is a shot of the Leek in the pocket:

Deployment and Lockup

The Leek is an assisted opening knife, which means you start opening it manually, but then a spring kicks in to flip the blade open the rest of the way. Ken Onion designed the assisted opening system, which Kershaw calls the “SpeedSafe” deployment system. This assisted open technology is robust, and is used on a lot of Kershaw and Zero Tolerance knives. The Leek deploys quickly with a slight amount of pressure on the thumb studs or flipper. The knife opens with a satisfying “snap”, even after thousands of flips. Having owned a number of SpeedSafe knives over the years I can vouch for it’s reliability. It’s a good assisted opening mechanism.

There is a second optional safety lock to keep the knife from opening accidentally. Out of the box, this secondary safety is loose, and will invariably move around when you don’t want it to. Thankfully, this safety can be tightened down, or even removed completely if you decide not to use it.

Additionally, for those that don’t care for the SpeedSafe, it’s possible take the spring out and use this as a non-assisted opening knife. There is a ball bearing detent inside on the lockbar, so the knife still functions de-assisted. But primarily the Leek was designed as an assisted opening knife.

The blade on my knife locks open with a stainless steel frame lock. The lock is solid, and without blade play in any direction. It should be more than adequate for the typical EDC chores you will put this knife up to, like breaking down boxes and opening mail. My Leek has seen substantial use over the years, and the lock still engages early, and securely without blade play. When it’s time to release the lock there is no stick.

The Leek was designed to be a “1 hand” knife, which means you can open and close this knife with one hand. I’m left handed and found it easy to both open and close this knife with one hand. For a small EDC knife this is handy, and it’s almost a requirement for my EDC knives.

Here is a parting size comparison with another EDC classic, the Benchmade Mini Griptilian:

Kershaw Leek Review – Final Thoughts

The Kershaw Leek has most of what I look for in a small EDC knife. It’s light, slim, sharp, and fast. I like the solid lockup and quality blade steel. The pocket clip is secure, and the knife feels good in the hand. The fact that this Kershaw is made in the USA certainly does not hurt either. I think the quality is better on Kershaw’s USA made knives than their imported blades.

The biggest potential issues with the Leek are that there is not much texture on the handle, and the tip is thin and can break if you are not careful with the knife. It’s a little “fiddly” and is more of a light duty knife. It will accomplish most typical urban or suburban EDC chores, but if you have harder use in mind I’d look elsewhere. Also, the secondary lock is annoying unless you tighten it down or remove it.

However, for a little EDC blade I think these are minor issues. You just have to keep your intended use in mind. The sleek design makes this something of a gentleman’s folder, and I could see this knife doing just as well in an office as it would in a more demanding environment.

Perhaps the greatest test is the test of time. I originally wrote this review back in 2011. Back then, there were a lot less knife manufacturers and knives to choose from. As I update this review in late 2019, the Leek is still relevant. Kershaw still makes it, and it still sells well. My review sample has held up well over the years. It’s a high quality knife and is designed to last. And at well under $50, the Leek is an affordable USA made option. I’d say it has aged well and passes with flying colors.

Personally, I prefer the Kershaw Skyline over the Leek, but if you like the design then I think you will be pleased with the build quality and practicality of the Leek. Much like the Skyline, this is a modern classic for good reason. Recommended.

Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife, 3" 14C28N Stainless Steel Drop Point Blade, Spring Assisted Knife, Folding EDC

KERSHAW LEEK POCKET KNIFE: The Kershaw Leek might just be your new favorite EDC. Not too big, not too small, the 3-inch blade and slim design make it capable of fulfilling a wide range of cutting tasks. Made in the USA.
DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel, the blade resharpens easily and holds its edge. The bead-blasted finish provides a clean, matte look.
410 STAINLESS STEEL HANDLE: The corrosion-resistant, stainless-steel handle is contoured for a comfortable grip while in use. Silver, bead-blasted finish. Includes reversible pocketclip for right, tip-up/down carry.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Equipped with Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening for easy one-handed release with flipper. Frame lock secures blade open while in use and Tip-lock slider keeps blade locked closed when folded.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 3in. Closed Length: 4in. Overall Length: 7in. Weighing in at 3oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$69.00
Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Leek at Amazon.com or BladeHQ.Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Kershaw Skyline Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: March 19, 2019

The Skyline is often regarded as a reference point. A knife we compare other knives to. It’s also a damn good Every Day Carry (EDC) knife. Back when I originally reviewed the Skyline in 2010, it was among the first reviews to be published on the site. It was a great knife then. Today, it is just as relevant and excellent of a knife.

Buy the Kershaw Skyline at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

This is an in-house design from Kershaw, meaning it wasn’t designed by a popular custom knife maker, and I doubt that when they originally created the knife they expected to have such a run away success on their hands. The Kershaw Skyline is an American-made, high-value, lightweight, EDC knife with all the features you would expect from a modern folding knife that is widely available and accessible at almost any budget.

General Dimensions and Blade Steel

The Skyline has an overall length of 7.375″, a 3.125″ long blade, weighs 2.3 ounces, and is made in the USA. In addition to being long and light, the knife is slim, measuring an inch across when closed and 3/8″ wide. The Skyline is ideal for EDC.

The Skyline sports a long spearpoint blade shape with a plain edge and a hollow saber grind. This is a very practical blade shape that is good for piercing and slicing. It is surprising how much blade you get considering the weight. The full size blade and handle lend a lot of versatility to a little 2.3 ounce knife.

The blade, liner, and pocket clip are all made of Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel. This is a hearty Swedish steel that holds an edge well and is easy to sharpen. My Skyline came sharp out of the box and is easy to maintain. The blade and the clip has a beadblasted finish. This isn’t my favorite finish, because it is more susceptible to rust than a stonewash or satin finish, but it works here (especially at the price).

Given the tremendous popularity of the Skyline, Kershaw has released this knife in a number of different handle colors and blade steels (including carbon fiber covers, a damascus blade, etc). So the knife can also have a collectible element to it if you want to go that route.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of this knife is made of lightly textured G10. The G10 is lightweight, feels nice and provides decent grip. The liner lock has received some jimping which works well however the spine of the knife has no jimping at all, which means your thumb has no real grip on the top of the knife when in use. This can be a problem, especially if you were to do some stabbing or thrust type cuts or were working with something like slimy foods, and is one of my few complaints with this knife.

The Skyline has a a pocket clip that allows for tip up or tip down carry. I found the clip to be very tight and I had to bend it with a plastic spatula before I got the desired pocket retention – an easy adjustment. One problem I do have with the clip is that it is not ambidextrous. Being left handed, this is something of a concern, and I would prefer if they drilled and tapped the handles for 4 way carry. They may have opted not to do that because there is only 1 liner.

The pocket clip rides fairly low in the pocket, there is about an inch of knife sticking up when the clip is mounted for tip up carry. I would prefer a lower riding clip, but the knife is still pretty discrete.

Deployment and Lock

The Skyline uses a flipper to open the blade. This was back before flippers were cool. Consequently, it does not have the dialed in, rocket the blade out action that we have come to expect on modern flippers. You need to pre-load the flipper tab or use your wrist to ensure fast opening, but it certainly gets the job done. There are thumb studs, but they are primarily blade stops. You can use the thumb stud if you are right handed to roll the blade open, but the flipper is the preferred way of opening the knife. Inside there are phosphor bronze washers, a feature typically found on higher end knives – especially when this knife originally came out.

The Skyline uses a liner lock to lock the blade open. This knife has only one steel liner (on the side of the lock) which greatly reduces the weight and thickness of the knife. I think this was a wise decision by Kershaw although some might prefer a beefier knife. In that case, I would simply suggest buying a bigger knife. The lock itself performs admirably. I like liner locks in general and this knife has a good one. Blade centering on my knife is perfect.

Here is a size comparison with the Skyline and another top shelf EDC blade, the Benchmade Mini Griptilian:

Kershaw Skyline Review – Final Thoughts

This is an amazing knife that has stood the test of time. The build quality is extremely high. Everything feels nice, the knife is well put together, and the materials are all of high quality. The Skyline is thin, lightweight and unassuming, which makes it an ideal choice for EDC. I often forget that I have it in my pocket. For around $40, you can use it guilt free.

In a perfect world, the Skyline would come with a 4 way pocket clip to ensure maximum versatility, and the detent strength would be improved to ensure better flipping action. Beyond that it is tough to find fault with the Skyline.

There is a reason why the Skyline remains so popular among knife enthusiasts for years and years: it is an excellent knife.

Kershaw Skyline (1760), Lightweight Pocketknife, Manual Open 3.1” High-Performance Sandvik 14C28N Stainless Steel Blade, Stonewashed Finish, Textured G-10 Handle, Reversible Pocket Clip, 2.5 OZ

3.1” blade made of high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel, offers excellent strength, corrosion and wear resistance
Lightweight G-10 handle scales offer a secure grip with texture and a deep index-finger contour
The drop-point blade offers good balance and a strong, hard tip. The rugged Stonewash finish is capable of hiding scratches and fingerprints
The perfect EDC for cutting tasks such as opening difficult packages, breaking down boxes, removing zip-ties, cleaning small game, aggressive animal defense, slicing fruit, and stripping small wire
An excellent gift idea for any hunter, hiker, hobbyist, carpenter, angler, backpacker or any knife enthusiast in need of a highly reliable, American made pocket folder

Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Skyline at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.