Kershaw Boa...........not bad.

ARtsig1

ARtsig1

Banned
Joined
Jul 20, 2000
Messages
3,692
I have been so caught up in custom folders lately I have not really looked at much production stuff. I picked up a Kershaw Boa today from NKDI here in Forest City. I usually buy my production stuff from these folks. I got the 1580MCST version, which means that it has the multi-color handles and has a partial serrated blade. The blade steel is CPM440V. My first thoughts were that the colors were a bit subdued and I liked that just fine. The next thing I noticed was that the knife had just a little bit of heft to it, again just fine. Next I opened the blade and it was almost like opening an auto. The speed-safe works well in this knife and it is FAST. Overall the fit and finish is top notch. The blade is perfectly centered when closed and when opened the liner lock rest just to the left of the blade tang and has a little "stick" to it so it doesn't release at an inoppurtune time! The little sliding lock works well, but I would be afraid as it got older it might engage or disengage on it's own. Time will tell. I really like the fact that this knife has an aluminum back spacer that is anodized in the same color scheme as the handles, a nice touch. Did notice that copper washers are being used on the pivot. With the blade open there is no movement up or down or side to side. This blade is tight! The flipper turns into a nice little finger guard that is nicely grooved. The blade also has excellent grinds with everything being nice and even. The deep recurve has quite a striking effect on the look of the blade. The handle fits my hand almost like it was designed for my hand, I like that. The handles are dimpled all over and the texture has a good feel to it in the hand.

I can't really see any drawbacks to this knife. I really like what I have seen and felt so far! Any other Boa owners out there with the same, or different feelings?
 
artsig1--I'm with you all the way. I bought one sight-unseen and I was startled with the fit and finish and overall quality. Kershaw did a great job with this Ken Onion design.

Ken Onion's custom is called the Midtech and as you might expect it is rather pricey.:eek:

Good luck with the Boa.:)
 
I ordered one for my wife and I was amazed at how awesome it was when I opened it. I really wanted to keep it for myself!

The fit & finish is top notch and it works flawlessly. No blade play after a year of use, the speed safe is still going strong... nothing to coplain about! Also it never seems to go dull! I liked all the things you guys mentioned and I also like how the grind on the blade flats is horizontal, and on the bevels it goes vertical - that's a nice touch.
 
There are two things I do not like about the Boa:
1) The blade on mine is not centered when closed. It scrapes on one liner. Sounds like this is not a common problem.
2) The second point is that carrying it with the pocket clip put holes in two new pair of Dockers. I think it is from the sharpness of the flipper or from the sharp edges of the slabs. Now I only carry it in a sheath.
 
Kershaw does very well, love the Torsion assisted knives they have, I had a black handled Boa for a while but me liking the wharncliffish type blades more, didn't take long to move it, but it is cool! and like you say the blade shape has a nice recurve to it.

The one I had was black blade plain edge, very sharp knife...
Good find there, sometimes we overlook some more of the so called mundane production knives and they are top notch workmanship.

From Kershaw right now I carry everyday a small two bladed Double Cross, excellent knife! :)

G2
 
I had the opportunity to play with a Boa last spring. I was blown away by it, to say the least. As much as I love my Benchmade 710, I sort of wish I'd gotten the Boa instead. It's like the Camillus EDC's big brother, and assisted opening to boot!!!
 
:cool: cool :cool: Looks like several people like this little knife, and so do I. Jayharley, with the blade open apply pressure with your hand against the flat of the blade and push it towards the liner it is scraping, not away. Sometimes you may have to put the blade flat on a table top and apply the pressure, always TOWARD the liner it is scraping. Have been doing this fo 10 to 12 years with off centered liner locks and it works almost every time. Sometimes the blade tang just does not get seated correctly and the extra push fully seats it. At least that is what I figure. Try it and tell us what happens.

Fit and finish are pretty outstanding. I was thinking of giving it to my wife to carry, but I don't think she could fully appreciate it!:eek: ;) :)
 
I love my Boa--just don't let that CPM 440V blade get dull 'cause it'll take forever to get sharp again (I learned my lesson the hard way).
 
Yep, my Boa ate a pair or two of jeans before I realized the flipper was so abrasive.

I went over it with a sharpmaker stone and it's MUCH better now.

1aos.jpg
 
I've always admired that rig you have Michael. The G2 sheath is totally awesome and I like the way you have it set up to carry. Explain in a little more detail about what you did with the flipper.
Thanks!
 
from a fellow forumite, a black plain edge like G2 described, and I'm pretty excited about getting it too!

But, from what you guys are saying about its pants eating appetite, it sounds like I may need to let you play with it Gary, while you make me a sheath...lol

Mel

p.s. That sheath kicks butt buddy! I saw one of yours for a large Sebenza on Wray Harrison at the BAKCA show, and was just blown away by the quality of your work!
 
artsig1: I followed your advice about centering the blade. Your advice combined with adjusting the pivot screw did make an improvment. Almost exactly centered now. Thank you!

By the way, I too had Gary Graley make a sheath for my Boa about a year ago. It is exactly like the one that Michael_Aos has, but in black. Very nicely made and works like a charm.
 
I carried a Boa as my EDC for a looong time before a custom finally displaced. It is still one of my favorites. My only gripe was that I really prefer tip-up carry, so I had my gunsmith move the clip for me. As a pleasant side-effect, that also eliminated the wear on my pockets from the flipper.

--Bob Q
 
It's one of my favorites. The multi-colored handle makes it much more sheeple friendly. I'm always afraid when someone tries to open it that they'll use the thunbstud, which I think could be quite dangerous if you're not aware of the speedsafe feature. I really like it though, and if lost, it would be replaced ASAP!
 
Art,
I did the same as Michael on my Boa's flipper and the back of the blade. I took one of my Sharpmaker's ceramic rods and just kind of buffed off the sharp edges. Kind of "de-horning" it. I also removed the thumb stud, didn't need it ;)

All around, an excellent knife!

Joe
 
Hey guys, me too!!

As I'm sure you are aware I'm basically a custom knife collector but for carry I had been dragging on my hip for about a year the MC Boa without serrations. Never do cut a heck of alot but it is a fun knife.

Got into a Surefire flashlight and had no pouch for it and did not like it in my trousers pocket too much. Ok when I had multi pocket pants on but o/w a pita.

The night before the CKG show a few weeks ago, TNK owner Neil Ostroff was selling off some product and I was able to obtain for a great price a Microtech Greg Lightfoot LCC which had its own pouch (side or vertical carry) so I have taken the Boa off and put the Surefire E2e into the pouch and now carry both the LCC and the surefire nicely pouched and can have the Boa near the TV remotes and drive my wife crazy opening and closing it.

Had a bit of fun at BAKCA as a couple of collectors were discussing the Boa and opening and closing one of Ken's customs and I opened the KKO Boa and it deployed much faster than the custom and that brought a few "wow!!!s"

The KKO Boa is a real nice knife and along with the LCC show the strong influence custom makers are having on the production quality of non-handmade knives. Both knives are great for collectors or users to have.
 
Murray, I really enjoyed your "photo tour" of the BAKCA Show. It was very nice of you to take the time and trouble to post everything!:D :cool: :)
 
the boa was one of my first semi high end production knives, i really like the shape the design everything, the only i don't like is the clip position plus the flipper ( i like the flipper in general) but the clip plus flipper makes it hard to carry and draw from your pocket.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top