The KS1660USAEGL uses 14C28N stainless steel, developed by Sandvik specifically for knife blades. It offers strong corrosion resistance, takes and holds a very fine edge, and resharpens easily — making it one of the best-performing steels at the Leek's price point. It significantly outperforms the 420HC and 8Cr13MoV found on similarly priced folders from other brands.

Yes. The KS1660USAEGL designation includes the "USA" flag — this version of the Leek is manufactured in the United States. Kershaw produces a portion of their Leek lineup domestically, and the USA-made variants use the same SpeedSafe mechanism and blade geometry as the standard import models, with domestic manufacturing and quality control.

SpeedSafe is an assisted-opening mechanism, not an automatic. The blade requires manual initiation — pressing the thumb stud or flipper tab — before the torsion bar assists completion of the opening stroke. This distinguishes it legally from switchblades and automatics, which open by spring or button alone. However, knife laws vary by state, county, and city. If you carry in jurisdictions with assisted-opening restrictions, verify your local laws before carry. Knifeworks cannot provide legal advice.

The Kershaw Leek KS1660USAEGL has a 3.00-inch blade and an overall open length of 6.97 inches. Closed length is 4.00 inches. At 2.60 oz, it is one of the lightest slim-carry folders in its class. The thin 0.090-inch blade stock behind the edge makes it an exceptional slicer for everyday utility tasks.

The KS1660USAEGL handle is olive drab (OD green) G10 — a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate that is extremely durable, impervious to moisture and temperature changes, and provides positive grip texture without being abrasive in the pocket. G10 at this price point is uncommon; it gives the Leek a handle that feels more upscale than most sub-$100 folders.

The Kershaw Leek uses a Liner Lock — a stainless steel liner inside the handle that cams behind the blade tang when the knife opens, holding the blade securely in the open position. The Liner Lock on the Leek engages positively and requires deliberate thumb pressure to disengage, making it reliable for utility work while remaining simple to operate one-handed.

Yes. The KS1660USAEGL includes a reversible tip-up pocket clip that can be repositioned for left-hand carry. The clip is factory-mounted tip-up on the right side. Reversing it requires a small screwdriver to move the clip to the opposite handle scale. Tip-up carry keeps the knife high in the pocket for fast access with either hand.

The Kershaw Leek KS1660USAEGL is covered by Kershaw's lifetime warranty: Kershaw guarantees this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner. Warranty service is handled directly by Kershaw. Contact Kershaw at kershawknives.com for warranty claims or service. Knifeworks is an authorized Kershaw dealer — every knife is sourced through official channels and eligible for full manufacturer warranty coverage.