It’s a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.
If you’re unfamiliar with CPM’s new MagnaCut steel, it’s one of the newest and most exciting blade steels released in the past few years. It stands out from the pack for not focusing exclusively on high hardness like some premium steels. Instead, it focuses on being all-around good blade steel for just about every blade shape, type, and profile while having maximum sharpness and stain resistance compared to traditional stainless steel. And steel like that can take old classics and give them a new life, just as Kershaw has done by featuring CPM MagnaCut on their venerable Leek folding knife this year.
For more than a decade, the made-in-the-USA Kershaw Leek has remained one of the best EDC knives you can buy, and it’s seen a lot of variations and improvements that have only made it better over the years. This new rendition of the blade features the premium CPM MagnaCut stainless steel in its original hollow-ground Wharncliffe blade shape designed initially by custom knifemaker Ken Onion all those years ago. The organic shape of the 3” blade is enhanced by the superior cutting power of the MagnaCut steel, making it all the better in this modern iteration.
Accenting the stonewashed blade is the dual-tone red and black aluminum handle, which conceals a secure liner-lock, and the SpeedSafe flipper-assisted opening has made this knife one of the easiest and fastest to add to your everyday carry. There’s also a tiny thumbstud that allows for a more considered, but still quick, opening. The right-handed pocket clip accommodates either tip-up or tip-down carry, and you can secure the blade closed in your pockets with the discreet tip lock built into the handle.
What we like: The venerable Kershaw Leek gets new life by adding super-premium CPM MagnaCut steel in this new variation. Whether you have a collection of Leeks or want to make this the first one, it’s an excellent knife to carry.
What to watch out for: The dual-tone red and black aluminum handle isn’t for everyone and may be too loud or flashy for your style. Also, unlike some of the more modern Leeks that have come out over the years, this MagnaCut Leek does not have a frame lock, and if you liked the Reverse Leek’s reverse tanto blade shape, that does not feature in this knife.
Final verdict: The Kershaw Leek MagnaCut is likely the definitive version of the venerable and top-rated Leek folding knife. Its close adherence to the original knife adds a touch of nostalgia, and we hope that the new premium MagnaCut steel features in more Kershaw knives, both new and old, in the future.
