Reviews > Knives > Folding > Kershaw Rainbow Leek > Arron Robinson > Initial Report

Initial Report - Kershaw Rainbow Leek knife

Reviewer Info:

Name: Arron Robinson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 9.5" (1.77 m)
Weight: 230 lb (104.3 kg)
Email address: mouserar-at-gmail-dot-com
City, State, Country: Dallas, Georgia, USA
Date: 17 November 2005

Product information:

Reviewer Info | Product Description | Manufacturer's Website
Field Information | Test Plan | Initial Impressions

Product Description:[back to top] 

The Kershaw Rainbow Leek is a folding knife designed by Ken Onion. The knife was delivered in a small UPS box which contained the retail box. Inside of the retail box was the knife, a wool lined soft case and detailed instructions and warnings.

The knife itself is a beautifully designed lock blade. The handle consists of two steel plates about 1/8 in (3 mm) which have been coated with titanium dioxide and hit with an electrical current, which causes color variations in the surface finish. The handle also includes a sliding locking mechanism as well as a clip, which can be repositioned on the knife (more on this later) and a hole to accept a cord or lanyard. The blade itself is a drop-point shape with a single edge. The blade has also been finished in the manner of the handle, lending it a rainbow look.

One of my concerns with this style of knife is the fact that when worn with the clip in a pocket (which the folks at Kershaw recommend) the knife is drawn with the mechanism first, effectively putting the knife in your hand upside down. In looking over the instructions, I noticed that there was a section on reversing the clip, which would put the slide lock and the lanyard hole  sticking slightly out of the pocket and allowing the draw to put the knife in a usable position.

After a long and frustrating search, I was able to find the correct tool (#6 Torx) and reverse the clip. This is the first knife I have had that would allow for this adjustment, and it has made a world of difference.

One thing that I have noticed is a slight tendency for the locking bar to slide into the locked position while the knife is in use. My main concern with this is that it may slide into the unlocked position when in my pocket, paving the way for a nasty cut. I do not think that this will happen, but will watch for it.

Manufacturer's Website:[back to top]

The Kershaw website is a Flash driven site which provides good information both on their product line as well as care and handling of their products. in looking at the website, I was able to get a pretty good idea of the capabilities of the product, as well as basic care and usage..

Field Information:[back to top]

• A number of 2-3 day trips into the Dahlonega Uplands in North Georgia. Temperatures will range from 40 F (4 C) to 95 F (35 C) and will most likely include some rain. During this trip I will need a knife for cooking as well as basic pioneering projects. I tend to carve wood on these trips and this will be hard on the blade.
• A 3 day trip to Jekyll Island to Kayak. We will take out a group of sea kayaks for the weekend and give them a run for their money. This trip will involve cooking, but will also expose the knife to salt water. I will have the opportunity to test the knife to see if it corrodes from this contact.
• 3 or 4 weekend shake-down trips along the southern terminus of the AT in preparation for a 70 mile (113 km) section hike. Small fast stops for meals will be required on these trips as I will need to get used to covering ground. Weather will get steadily colder throughout the test period, starting around 90 F (32 C) and dipping to around 35 F (2 C) by end of testing. On these trips it would normally be rare for me to take a single-use item like this knife, but I see that there is a possibility to prove myself wrong. I am starting to see little use for a multi-tool and these trips could prove that theory.

Test Plan:[back to top]

1. Blade: What is the hardness of the blade like? I will probably occasionally need to use the blade to pry small things a bit. Will the blade bend? Will the steel hold an edge well, or need constant maintenance? Will the knife hold a sharp point?
2. Handle Construction: The only visible connection between the handle halves is 3 screws. Is there more holding the halves together? The strongest point of contact between the handle halves is the main "hinge" screw of the knife where the blade pivots. I do not foresee a problem with this. Does the handle have grip to it or does it slip? The finish is smooth, but not particularly slippery. There is a small hole in the handle. What type of material could be used to create a lanyard?
3. Opening/Locking Mechanism: Many sites are carrying this knife. Many claim that this is the fastest legal opening mechanism available. I often need to be able to use a knife one handed, and I wonder if this mechanism is that easy to use? In fact, the Kershaw documentation recommends that this blade only be opened one handed, due to the quick movement of the blade. Will it operate smoothly after continued use? Will it open unexpectedly?
4. Finish: The finish on this knife is beautiful. Will it wear off easily? Does it add a texture to the blade? Nope. How about the handle? How does sharpening the knife affect the finish? Does it change if the knife is exposed to heat?

Initial Impressions:[back to top]

The Kershaw Rainbow Leek knife is a beautiful knife which has a simple design. It appears to be well made and will be a fun tool to test in the coming months.

Thanks to Backpackgeartest.org and Kershaw for the opportunity to share my experiences!

Reviews > Knives > Folding > Kershaw Rainbow Leek > Arron Robinson > Initial Report