Info on a Kershaw boa?

5

5370H55V

Joined
Mar 1, 2008
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Does anyone have any info or reviews on the kershaw boas? There isnt much information about them, especially the cpm440v version. Since it was discontinued, what I'd really like to find out would be the years it was made in, since the blade on mine lacks a date stamp. Also, people's thoughts on the knife would be welcome, need to know if its as tough as it looks. ;)
 
5370H55V said:
Does anyone have any info or reviews on the kershaw boas? There isnt much information about them, especially the cpm440v version. Since it was discontinued, what I'd really like to find out would be the years it was made in, since the blade on mine lacks a date stamp. Also, people's thoughts on the knife would be welcome, need to know if its as tough as it looks. ;)
Click to expand...

ummmm... if you have one, shouldn't you be telling us how tough it is?
 
I've had mine for about 8 yrs. The blade is marked "1580 S60V" and
does not carry a date stamp. The blade is rather heavy and
the assist is somewhat slow compared to a Camillus Heat or SOG
Flash. I confess to not carrying it much but have always felt it
was underrated compared to some of Ken Onion's later efforts with
Kershaw. Fit and finish is excellent with the only issue being a slightly
off-center blade when closed. It has never been sharpened and still
pops hair effortlessly.
 
One of my buddies has one in S30V. He has beaten the snot out of it and it still works like a KO knife. The recurve just eats up everything, and the handles are very comfortable. It's about as tough as Kershaw gets, including the JYD II CB
 
i have one of cpm-440v ones and think it's a very good knife. had to modify it a little. i took the thumbstud off and removed the safety. i carry it tip-up in my right pocket so it doesn't open on its own, took the thumbstud so i wouldn't use the stud to open the boa. it seems when i use the stud i end up running the serrations across my thumb. :o
 
I have a few of them. 440V, S60V and S30V. They were first made in 1999 I believe. Kershaw won the IWA “International Knife Award” with the Boa in 2000. The black handled DLC blade is what most people have seen, but they made a limited run of the Boa in a multicolored handle with a satin finished blade. They came in tip up/down, up/down right or left, and I have one that is tip up/down right, and down left. They're really interesting knives.

I've said the Boa is the toughest non-ZT knife Kershaw makes. I think its tougher all around than the ZT0350. As for the date, the early ones weren't stamped, but there is a date on most of them. Look in the non-clip side, its right up against the handle, and you have to position the blade in the right place to see it.

Have fun with your Boa. Its tough, and can take most anything you throw at it.

KershawBoa1580MC3.jpg


KershawBoa1580MC1.jpg


KershawBoa1580MC2.jpg
 
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Thanks SPXTrader, your post was very helpful. Your boa certainly looks much nicer than my plain old black one! :D However, now I have a another question; you said that some boas don't have a date stamp, but how about the MADE IN USA logo? Mine appears to have neither of those, and the clip is only drilled for right side tip-down carry. Can you tell me when kershaw changed from that to changeable positions?

Here's a photo of it showing the lack of a date stamp and logo:
DSC00213-1.jpg
 
I have 2 of them in my desk. That's the same as one of them. Its tip down right only, has Kershaw Ken Onion USA on the other side of the blade, and is etched in a copper/gold color. Date is 12 00.

The other one is tip up/down right, up left, has 1580 S30V, KAI Patented, Made in the USA on one siide of the blade, and Kershaw Ken Onion USA on the other. This one has a silver color etch, and the BOD is May 06.

I hope this helps!
 
5370H55V said:
Thanks SPXTrader, your post was very helpful. Your boa certainly looks much nicer than my plain old black one! :D However, now I have a another question; you said that some boas don't have a date stamp, but how about the MADE IN USA logo? Mine appears to have neither of those, and the clip is only drilled for right side tip-down carry. Can you tell me when kershaw changed from that to changeable positions?

Here's a photo of it showing the lack of a date stamp and logo:
DSC00213-1.jpg
Click to expand...

I'll bet the date stamp is on there, you have to slowly close the blade as cbwx mentioned. I'm guessing it is a 2000 model and will have the date stamp listed numerically, such as "12 00".

As mentioned above, the other side of the blade should have Kershaw Ken Onion USA etched on it. Check the clip. On some of them, the patent numbers and Made in the USA was on the clip.
 
cbwx34 said:
On mine, the date is only visible when the blade is about 1/3 open.
Click to expand...

I'll be damned if you aren't right about the date. Barely visible
with the blade partially open, mine says "03 MAR". Guess I've
only had it 7 years....
 
SPXTrader said:
I'll bet the date stamp is on there, you have to slowly close the blade as cbwx mentioned. I'm guessing it is a 2000 model and will have the date stamp listed numerically, such as "12 00".

As mentioned above, the other side of the blade should have Kershaw Ken Onion USA etched on it. Check the clip. On some of them, the patent numbers and Made in the USA was on the clip.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see the date stamp now, it was so faint I didnt notice it before. I was expecting a silver etching like on the logo. Mine says "10 01". The clip, however, doesnt have any other markings besides Kershaw.
 
I love the BOA!! I have 4 currently in my hands including one multi-colored and just got two more last night on the way. All are labeled CPM 440V except the serrated one that I got last night is S60V which is the same I know. Hopefully I can pick up another in the next couple days too as I am starting to collect them. I have paid $150, $100, $100, $85(multi colored), $70, and $63 (serrated). Overall my average is ~ $95 which isn't too bad.

As far as a date goes I have looked at all stages of opening/closing under a bright light finally found it n my EDC. It is a LIGHT silver and says MAR02 and I have owned and carried it every day since 2005.

I have noticed that I have a few different versions though as some have the holes in the handle that ae 4 different sizes while some have only 3 different sizes like they changed their mind about having to change out drill bits and just made the last 2 the same size. Some have "Made In USA" under the Patent line on the blade and some don't. Also, only one of mine has a reversible clip the other 3 that I have currently don't.


My EDC been abused but nothing more than a knife should be able to do and it has held up great!! I will continue to buy the CPM440V/S60V knives when I see them as I like that steel and will probably get an S30V example when I see one reasonable.
 
Welcome to the forums! Nice collection, and at $85, you got a steal of a price on the MC. Great tough knives that don't get a lot of attention for some reason.

Oh well, that's OK. More out there for me to find!
 
Thanks I have lurked alot. I got the MC at a gun show in Kearney. I hadn't seen one and just had to have it as I like it. Now to hunt for more. I wonder how many were made??
 
The 1580MC was made from late 2001 to 2003, 394 pieces made. The 1580MCST, 2002 only, 311 pieces total.

And the S30V that is currently in production may be phased out this year.
 
I picked up a 1580MC on fleBay a year or so ago.

Said it was "lightly used" and "edge could use a little touch up"

Well, the knife is in impeccable shape. The edge looked like it had been used a bit, but it sharpened up very nice.

Solid knife, and is most certainly the ugliest knife that I own. Sure is cool though.
 
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Thanks for the background on the MC I didn't realize they were that rare. I just checked and mine is labeled 12 00. It looks like I will have to pick up another one in S30V then.

I sure hope they aren't going to cheapen it up and go with 440A or something like that. I don't mind paying for quality steel.
 
Jlficken said:
Thanks for the background on the MC I didn't realize they were that rare. I just checked and mine is labeled 12 00. It looks like I will have to pick up another one in S30V then.

I sure hope they aren't going to cheapen it up and go with 440A or something like that. I don't mind paying for quality steel.
Click to expand...

They're discontinued. The current ones have S30V. Better pick some up before they're gone.
 
Used one individual Boa for 4 or 5 years daily - everyday.It worked when I worked - was used to cut ,pry ,chop and hammer stuff.At the end of that time the edge did have numerious chips out of it - the finish was worse than rough and I'd probably still be using it everyday - except the torsion bar finally broke after - ? probably something between 6 and 10 thousand open/close cycles ? Returned it to Kershaw to have the bar replaced - to my total amazement - they replaced the whole knife!
I'd still be daily using one -except I found out the City of Milwaukee has a 3" limit - a ordinace I've been violating thru ignorance for decades .
I agree -a extremly tough and probably vastly under rated Ken Onion design.
 
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