[Shytheed Dumas]

I have at least 3 people on my Christmas list that I would like to buy a spring assist knife for this year, and I will be looking to spend in the $30 - $40 range for each - hopefully as as sale price. In all cases it would be an all purpose, daily carry, and/or hunting knife. I'm looking for something that will keep a good edge (well, good for the $$), and not fall apart. If nothing else, at least recommend a good brand or two in that range, and I'll see what I can find out there.

[seniordep2010]

How about the Kershaw Leek? It might be just over what you want to spend but I'm sure you can find it at a good price on the web. My Wal-Mart has them for about $45. I'll hunt around for you real quick and try to find you a site with a good price.

[seniordep2010]

Here's a Kershaw Leek for $39.95
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KS1660

Kershaw Scallion $33.95
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KS1620P

Kershaw Chive $26.95
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KS1600

[chibiker]

http://www.sportco.com/ProductCart/pc/Kershaw-Knives-c522.htm

Sportco has some of the lowest prices I've found, especially on Kershaws. The Whirlwind, Blackout, Chive, Scallion, Leek, Junkyard Dog, Needs Work, are all assisted openers and within your budget. I own several Kershaws and have always regarded them as one of the best values out there.

[Shytheed Dumas]

Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the tips.

[seniordep2010]

Glad we could help! Don't forget to tell us what you get. ;)

[conw]

Junkyard dog series are not AO.

The leeks are a big hit with the non-knife-knut crowd as they have a high level of initial sharpness and look great, carry great and are light.

[seniordep2010]

I've heard the Leeks have a thin blade, is this true?

[Diocoles]

Oooh, thin blade not good. Too easy to bend or break it.
Nice solid workmanship is always the best.
Check them out good.
:eek:

[Limeyfellow]

I've heard the Leeks have a thin blade, is this true?

It not that particularly thing. The spine is around 2 mm thick, the average thickness of the blade part is about 1mm before finally going to an edge. The very tip of it is a bit thinner, but generally fine if you not doing anything you shouldn't be doing like using it as a ply blade. For light duty edc work it a fine blade design.

[Black Toe Knives]

The Kershaws mention. I been around all three for last four years. Your are not going to break the blades easily. They stay very sharp. My wife and I abuse our Kershaw knives daily. She works in restaurant, the Kershaw scallion is her cut everything open knife. I am a full time knifemaker I use my Kershaw scraping glue, cleaning holes or anything you shouldn't use a knife on. It was my EDC for three years. In a factory I would pry off 3'' plastic cap. I would push it into side of the cap and pull it off like a handle. I did it dozen times a day, never once worried about it. It would be called in service 100's of times a day to cut wrap off four 55 gallon barrel. It always for three years would slice like butter.

Because I wanted a bigger knife. I retired my Scallion for Kershaw EnerG 2 which is not AO. But it is just as fast and is one handed open.

This is a no brainer for me. Only pocket knife we carry.

[7X57chilmau]

The Leeks could suffer a tip breakage if dropped and it landed wrong, but would likely only loose a small amount of blade.... In an SD situation, that'd be unlikely to actually matter.

Like Jim, I don't worry about my Leek. I'm certain the blade won't bend (HT's rather better than that), and I'm not worried about a major blade failure - I'd haveta be doing something really Stoopid.

J

[Shytheed Dumas]

I'm between the Leek and Scallion and it comes down to one quick question; Is the Leek larger enough to be a pain for daily carry, or the Scallion small enough to be a pain for daily use? I suspect they're close enough in size that neither matter, but it's worth asking.

Based on all the great reviews, I should have had a Kershaw years ago! I'm going to add one more to the order for myself. ;)

[seniordep2010]

I do not own the leek, but I have seen it at the store and what not. It's a good size for EDC and it's going to ride nice, the scallion is a bit smaller, but it's personal preference. What I like to do is read all the stats on the knives I'm looking at, with size and all that good stuff, then paste their pics side by side in paint and look at them. Then knowing how big they are and seeing them side by side I'll make my decision. :cool:

[7X57chilmau]

The Leek is still quite a small knife, only a 3" blade. It's quite light, very slim and carries easily - verging on forgettably...

J

[conw]

Actually the blade thickness (or thinness really) of the leek is probably why it is so popular. As others have mentioned, it is not a liability. And for all the talk of stropping compounds, blade angles, and steels, the thickness of a blade and stock are a hugely overlooked factor in subjective sharpness for you, the end user.

[MRPAPA]

Well I won`t try to tell you to buy any name brand. I will tell you to try to find a knife with a nice 440 stainless blade and a handle with stainless construction. Those wally world knives aren`t much better than any other knife that you can find. Here are a few links:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Spring-Assisted-Opening-Auto-Pocket-Knife-Rainbow_W0QQitemZ360212097857QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item53de506b41
http://cgi.ebay.com/Spring-Assist-Auto-Opening-Pocket-Knife-Pakkawood-NEW_W0QQitemZ190343280289QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c5157f6a1
http://cgi.ebay.com/Spring-Assist-Auto-Opening-Pocket-Knife-Pakkawood-NEW_W0QQitemZ190351144351QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c51cff59f

These knives and many more are made with the exact same materials and design as those so called ,"Name Brands" Just buy one and see for yourself.

[Dee]

Here is one that I just picked up from Lowes http://sogknives.com/store/FSA-98.html for $40.00 seems like a great deel, I have only had it a day but really like it so far.

[ArfinGreebly]

I own and carry a number of assisted openers and one-handed non-assisted knives.

I have the Kershaw Leek and Scallion.

The Leek blade is very pointy, and its appearance might hint at this idea of being "dainty" but from actually using mine, the only real hazard is to your own hands when you fail to appreciate just how freakin' sharp that darned point is. I've stuck myself a couple of times. What fun. Never done any damage to the blade. (For people who like the size and basic shape of the Leek but worry about the thin blade, there's always the Vapor, a non-assisted cousin to the Leek.)

The Scallion is shorter and not quite as pointy. Last place I worked, our chief electronics engineer had one, and used it to open everything he received in the department. For him it was just a tool, and it got no special treatment. He routinely beat on his Scallion during the same period I was using the Leek for the same kind of stuff.

I can say with some confidence that either knife will serve well as a daily user.

However, if your daily routine includes cutting up food, the extra length of the Leek is a good thing. It's a better knife for apples and bell peppers.

If the daily grind is all about boxes and packaging, either one is fine.


Now, if the idea of a "thin blade" worries you . . .

I also use a Buck 290 "Rush" in my EDC rotation. Its blade is shorter than the Leek but longer than the Scallion (Leek = 3", Scallion = 2.25", Rush = 2.5"), it's as pointy as the Leek, as handy as the Scallion, and more robust than either of those.

The assisted action on the Rush is smooth and snappy, the point is seriously pointy, and its edge is for-real sharp.


From time to time, I also carry a Buck 297 Sirus, one of the big bothers to the Rush (the other being the 295 Tempest). The Sirus is heavier and chunkier and built to take punishment, but I haven't seen one priced within the range specified.

[Texas Gun Person]

I really like my Kershaw Scallion. Not too big, but big enough to do what I want it to.

[JTW Jr.]

if you dont mind the Snap On logo...Leek for $32.95
Red
http://www.knifeworks.com/kershawaoleeksnap-onred4closedframelock-2.aspx

Blue:
http://www.knifeworks.com/kershawaoleeksnap-onred4closedframelock.aspx
stainless handle:
http://www.knifeworks.com/kershawleekplainedgecomeswithfreekydexnecksheath.aspx

or also Cyclone
http://www.knifeworks.com/kershawcyclonegrayaluminumhandleplainedgespeedassisted.aspx

[hso]

Not to come off too negative, but the Leek and Chive are not going to meet the "and/or hunting" part of the OP's knife requirement. The blade shapes are not suitable for hunting knives.

Both will make fine EDCs if you're working in an office/store setting. I've carried both at times and liked their flat lightweight pocketablility.

How important is the hunting use?

[JTW Jr.]

In all cases it would be an all purpose, daily carry, and/or hunting knife.

I agree HSO , though I think the OP would be hard pressed to find an assisted knife that will meet all the requirements. Losing the assist part , the options really open up.

[Gerry McGinnis]

Losing the assist but losing nothing to functionality, the Kershaw OD-1 designed by Lee Williams will do what you want for the price you want, and they are available at most Walmarts. The Overdrive mechanism is about the coolest thing I have ever seen... you can not not open it. the knife can be 170 degrees open and not locked up, press on the flipper and it will go all the way to 180 degrees and lock, no detent pressure required.

Gerry

[ArfinGreebly]

Ah, well then . . .

There's a gal what works for one of the local sporting good shops (Tri-State) who went deer hunting last year and wound up having to field dress a deer with her Rush. Said she was worried at first, having left her larger knife behind, but it did the job.

Personally, I don't think I'd recommend that blade shape for hunting, but she managed it just fine.

I have to confess that none of my assisted openers is really well suited to hunting. Even the Sirus, while very robust and big enough, has a blade that could be used for that, but probably not as a first choice.

I have some one-handers (unassisted) that I'd take hunting, but most of my for-hunting folding knives are two-handed (Buck, Case, Schrade, EKA, etc.).

[skwab]

Just to muddy the water a bit more, I'd like to add the kershaw Needs Work with the G-10 handle to the list. This has been a great knife - I've bought three of them - two for me and one as a gift - it's an assisted opener, is lightweight but very sturdy - a tad over your price range at 44 bucks at the kershaw store but I think it's worth it.

http://www.thekershawstore.com/v/vspfiles/photos/K1820G10-2.jpg

[hmphargh]

Some knives in the CRKT M16 EDC line might work for you. There are tons of different variations, blade shapes, plain edge, combo edge, titanium/zytel/aluminum scales, etc. that affect the price, but you should be able to get one for anywhere between $25 and $150. I have one of these (http://www.agrussell.com/crkt-carson-m16-z-edc-spear-point-plain-edge/p/CLhhhM1601Z/) that I've been carrying since my mini-griptilian is off at Benchmade and it is a sturdy little inexpensive knife.

[FenderTK421]

Wow, Sportco has the 1550/Blackout for $33. I don't recognize the 3 Kershaw's heavily mentioned previously in this post. I have zero experience w/ them. However; I have carried the Kershaw 1550 (listed as a Blackout) for at least 6 yeas on a daily basis. (regular edge) Mine is as battered as it gets.. I have literally used it for everything. I can not recommend it highly enough. It would make a fantastic gift for anyone; it is absolutely useful and tastefully lacks that new 'tackycool' look the other knives mentioned are so blatantly sporting. Whatever you decide, if you give Kershaw's, you will be making 3 people very happy.

[Shytheed Dumas]

I'll be making four people happy, because I ordered one for myself, too. :) I ended up going with the Leek after seeing near perfect reviews everywhere I looked. Kershaw knives look to be one of the best kept best values around.

I had a S&W M&P assist opening knife that I paid $10 more than the Leek for and would never have given it a 4 or 5 star review. The top button broke off, leaving just the thumb studs for opening, it was just okay in holding an edge and it was pretty thick and heavy. I am really looking forward to my new Kershaw!

[Nuke8401]

Gerber "Fast Draw" 39.00 at Cabelas. I've been using one for about a year from field dressing deer to general use it’s a great knife for the money IMHO.

Gerber has many assist opening knives at reasonable prices.

Waiting for Gerber bashing.

[Shytheed Dumas]

Got my Kershaw Leeks from UPS yesterday, and I want to thank all of you for a GREAT suggestion! This knife reeks of quality, and is pointier/sharper than anything I've handled; in fact I have a bandaid on a finger already after showing it off to my wife. :) The only downside was that I ordered 4 plain blades, but three came serrated... I'm going to go ahead and give them as-is way since I don't feel like handling an exchange at Christmas time, but the plain edge is my preference and they may like it just the way they get it.