Pocket knives · owner-verdict comparison

Civivi Baklash vs Kershaw Leek: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 27 Civivi Baklash owners recommend it, vs 83% of 184 for the Kershaw Leek.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Civivi Baklash

78%of 27 owners recommend

78% recommend · 22% neutral · 0% don't

Owners praise

Exceptional value at its price point, with owners calling out $22-$40 price tags as a steal for the quality
Owners keep rebuying it, some own two or three, and call it a favorite Civivi or an all-time favorite knife
Thin, slicey blade grind that cuts noticeably better than thicker rivals while staying light and slim for EDC

Owners complain about

Fine tip can snap or chip under harder use, though Civivi ships a replacement blade cheaply

Full owner report →

Kershaw Leek

83%of 184 owners recommend

83% recommend · 6% neutral · 11% don't

Owners praise

Thin, light, and disappears in the pocket
Razor sharp and holds a good edge
Outstanding value for the price

Owners complain about

Thin tip chips or snaps off easily
Assisted opening / torsion bar wears out or safety fails
Slippery and easy to lose; weak pocket clip

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Civivi Baklash if

✓EDC users who want a thin, slicey blade for everyday cutting tasks
✓Budget-conscious buyers wanting Civivi fit and finish under $40
✓Collectors who like swapping scale materials like G10, Micarta, and brass
✓Anyone who wants a smooth flipper action with a real, usable finger choil

Skip it if

Buyers wanting a hard-use blade, since the thin grind gives a weaker tip than tougher alternatives
Anyone sensitive to weight, since some owners find it heavier than expected for its size

Get the Kershaw Leek if

✓Office and dress-clothes carriers wanting a thin, discreet knife
✓EDC users prioritizing lightweight one-hand assisted opening
✓Budget buyers after a sharp, USA-made everyday cutter
✓Light tasks: mail, packages, food, splinters

Skip it if

Heavy-duty users who pry or torque (fragile tip snaps)
Those needing a secure clip (slips out of pockets for some)

What Civivi Baklash owners think

Owners talk about the Baklash like a knife they keep coming back to, several have bought two or three over the years and call it their favorite Civivi or even their favorite knife period. The appeal centers on a thin, slicey blade grind paired with smooth, snappy action and a finger choil that earns its keep, wrapped in fit and finish people expect to pay much more for. Price comes up constantly, with owners naming $22 to $40 tags as a steal and calling it one of the best budget blades around. A few isolated notes mention a snapped and reground tip after hard use, or a rival's thicker blade holding up better to abuse, but those comments are scattered rather than a shared complaint.

What Civivi Baklash owners say

“I just bought a second Baklash. I’ve been using my current one for three years now, have snapped and reground the tip multiple times. My favourite knife of all time”
— Sammy1FISHY on Reddit

“the finger choil is actually functional; the ergos are very nice”
— Sanklo on Reddit

What Kershaw Leek owners say

“ill take the leek all day. The safety is an awesome touch, the spring assist is quick and never opens in my pocket by accident whereas the blur did a few times and i quite enjoy the slightly smaller size of it”
— @Beamer-Fonz on YouTube

“The safety slider was actually what sold it for me.”
— @bmljenny on YouTube

“the torsion bar in a assisted knife will wear out after awhile and it won’t have enough force to fully flip open and lock in place, that’s what happened to my Kershaw leek.”
— boglimaniac on Reddit

Civivi Baklash vs Kershaw Leek: frequently asked questions

Is the Civivi Baklash or the Kershaw Leek better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 27 Civivi Baklash owners recommend it, vs 83% of 184 for the Kershaw Leek.

Who should get the Civivi Baklash?

Owners point the Civivi Baklash at eDC users who want a thin, slicey blade for everyday cutting tasks, and budget-conscious buyers wanting Civivi fit and finish under $40.

Who should get the Kershaw Leek?

Owners point the Kershaw Leek at office and dress-clothes carriers wanting a thin, discreet knife, and eDC users prioritizing lightweight one-hand assisted opening.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Civivi Baklash is fine tip can snap or chip under harder use, though Civivi ships a replacement blade cheaply. For the Kershaw Leek, it's thin tip chips or snaps off easily.