Kershaw 1660 Ken Onion Leek Folding Knife Review

Kershaw 1660 Leek is one of the famous knife designs made by Kenneth Onion for Kershaw. Kershaw knives have allied themselves with many independent and custom knife makers to design and manufacture knives. Kenneth Onion aka Ken Onion has designed a lot of models and came up with splendid features to be incorporated in pocket knives.

The SpeedSafe assisted opening technology was designed and perfected by Ken Onion, currently, most of the Kershaw premium knives have SpeedSafe technology. The Leek series from Kershaw is very famous among knife enthusiasts, adventurers, and professionals. Out of the other models from Kershaw, this Leek 1660 stands apart for numerous reasons.

This small and compact knife is loved by all for its simple and elegant design. The materials used in the knife are completely of great and durable quality, including the screws. The knife weighs only 3ounce making it the best and lightest pocketknife to have.

Most of the Kershaw products have their blade and handle coated with the same material, which makes the knife visually appealing. The Kershaw 1660 Leek out of all, looks sexy and is as powerful as a beast, no wonder this knife was a best seller and took its place in Kershaw’s hall of fame.

Kershaw 1605CKTST Knife Specs

The Blade

Kershaw 1660 Leek has its blade made out of Sandvik 14C28N. Known for its hardness and high corrosion resistance, 14C28N also has a splendid edge performance. Sandvik steels are usually a mixture of one or more elements.

The blade is very strong, having greater edge stability. Re-sharpening the edge is easy with common tools. The blade is coated with bead-blast, giving the blade a silver-ish color and smooth edge. Unlike the Kershaw 1605CKTST, this pocket knife is made entirely out of steel.

The Kershaw 1660 Leek has the sharpest blade ever, reviewed by many users. And indeed the edge is too sharp, cutting through all kinds of mediums and things. The 3-inch blade may restrict the cutting of a few things of a bigger size. But all in all, the blade is more than enough for general purposes and makes Kershaw 1660 an ultimate EDC.

The deployment of the blade is strikingly fast because of its size and the SpeedSafe technology. The flipper in the top of the handle or the thumb stud can be pulled or pushed respectively to get the blade into action. SpeedSafe ensures safety and easiness while doing it.

The Handle

Kershaw uses Stainless steel in most of the models to provide stronger and long-lasting functionality. That being said Kershaw 1600’s handle is completely made of 410 Stainless Steel, making the knife overall durable. The knife can withstand a whole lot of pressure on it. Making it a subtle choice as EDC. The surface of the handle is smooth and likely to have less grip overall.

However, the jimping provided at both sides at the end of the blade and the thumb stud come in handy. But it won’t be sufficient enough when used in a wet environment. The knife comes with a standard pocket clip that can be reversed according to the needs with the help of the extra holes given in the handle. The clip has “Kershaw” engraved in it, giving the pocket knife a brand look.

The Locking Mechanism

For holding the blade in its right place without making any fuss, and to be strong enough to withstand pressure, Kershaw uses frame lock, something which can be found in most of the Kershaw models.

This is a simple work in which a part of the handle places itself behind the blade when it’s open, locking the blade from closing. This frame lock is enough to hold the blade straight, even while working with some toughest materials. The strength of the lock depends on the handle material. Since 410 Stainless steel is hard, this lock will prove to be fail-proof.

Pros & Cons

Final Verdict

With a limited-time warranty on the product and lifetime free sharpening, it is so much Kershaw offers for a splendid pocketknife. This attractive knife is also sought by women who love stylish design. The knife is USA-made, with promising quality and assurance. No matter how many pocket knives you have in your collection, there will always be enough space for Kershaw 1660. This compact knife will always be our best pick.