Kevtan,
Thanks for the recommendation. Yes, it will help, and would have saved me some $ if I had held off another day.
I've used it since my last post and am very impressed with the blade design. It is as close as I've found to my lost Dalton Serpant, my previously favorite EDC. I love the big belly, and the hollow grind that thins out the blade to a very practical dimension. It slashes very deep through venison and yet the clip point allows it to have a degree of stabbing capability. For a roughly 3 and 1/2" blade, it could serve as a good defensive tool as much as a utility.
This is my first 440V and so far it performs very well. If I remember correctly, a while back, knife review expert Cliff Stamp refered to it a being one of the "toothiest" Stainless steels made. In my far more limited experiences I have to agree. So far, I've used it for light tasks of cutting paper, coupons, cardboard to heavy (credit card stock) plastic and hard wood. NIB, it came as shaving sharp as a Norelco. A woman, (or male cyclist, whatever the case might be), might trade in her epilator for this edge. After a couple weeks of moderate daily use, its blade has degraded to where it would leave some nasty nics and "gotcha"s, but is still very usable for any standard task. It now occasionally tears the newspaper when drawing or pushing through the full length of the blade when it gets to one point, while holding the paper free hand w/the opposite hand. So far, no complaints. For those who wish to know more, I simply haven't used it long enough to use scientific methodology or to go into any more depth about its performance quality.
I haven't tried sharpening it yet. The only thing that I have that *might* be appropriate is a ceramic V rod set up like the Sharpmaker. I've been wanting to dull it a little more and take some pics before trying to sharpen it. I will definately invest in some medium grit diamond rods once I can find them, or they come out from the aforementioned retailer.
I like th idea of the spring assist, however, it didn't seem to be very reliable when using the force of the special appendage, but no problem with the reversable stud. I wish that Kershaw would come out with a stronger spring. I plan to take it apart and polish it, and it hasn't had time to break in, but even loosening the pivot and lubing it didn't bring it where I was satisfied. I work with wild animals that have plenty of unpredictable blades in their mouths, so reliability might be more important in my profession than for some who use it only for typical daily chores. I'll guess that a stronger spring and good polish/ action job will do the trick. If Kershaw can't send me a better spring, I'll modify the existing one.
The thumb is reversable and is placed in the optimum position for my average sized hands. (BTW, my span is 9" FWIW). It functions in a secondary role as a handle to obtain a possitive purchase as the knife is withdrawn from the right pocket or waist band. Most of the knives in my collection that have a clip offer the heads of the clip screws as a place to grasp. However, the 3 tiny torx screw heads on the Boa are about as flush as they make them. This makes the thumb stud a welcome design. Probably only God and Ken Onion know if this was intentional in the original design, but either way.......it works.
For those who prefer tip up carry, like I do, this really isn't so difficult to gain a quick grip once you get the hang of rolling it back into the palm of your hand. Like anything else, there are benefits and drawbacks to each design. Overall, I find it to be well balanced and practical.
The Boa has a plastic slide safety approximately 3/4" from the pivot on the spine. The use of it makes me shift my grip and slows down deployment of the serpantine blade. Maybe this will change with practice; nevertheless, I will be up front about my opinion of safeties when it comes to folders. I don't like them. Therefore I haven't used mine enough to make any objective judgement calls one way or the other. As opinionated and personally biased as I am against safeties, you should probably take it for what its worth. I can only speculate as to why the boa has or needs a safety. So far, it has stayed closed in my pocket. On a positive note, it is probably seen by some as adding to "gadgit factor". If I were to go jogging or bicycling with it, I'd be tempted to use it. Since my experience with this safety is limited to say the least, I will refrane from any further statements about it.
The thumb stud and serrations will definitely need dehorned. I notice this most when reaching into my pocket. Secondly, I've noticed that the serations on the liner lock may take care of my concern over fingerprinting with the evasive records that we will be getting at work. With wet hands, this really removes the thumb print
. In all fairness this is a minor issue with a simple remedy. I don't expect Kershaw to give it a custom Onion finish with a production knife.
One of the things that truly impressed me was the continuation of the recurve to the safety knotch. I appreciate a blade that makes as much use as possible out of its full length. This has been handy for skinning out a Brown Noser last night for my WV Monkies
[Hear no evil
, see no evil
, speak no evil :barf: ).
The grip design was ergonomic as an OSHA keyboard. Couldn't tell from the pics, but once in my hand the profile is, as we say in the gun world.....melted. I need to shop around to find a torx head small enough for the grips (#10 I'd guess), but they add to the asthetics of the overall design. I chose the politically correct colored version, even though the pics of the color combination made me respond like that last monkey. Have to admit though, its growing on me and my tastes are changing. Although I'm not very androgenous, and it didn't make any feminine side come out in me, I kind of like it now. I even went so far as to show it to the guys and gals at work. One guy at work, Chuck, who thinks we need more weapons laws since the 9-11 tragedy looked at it and wined, "But WHY such a BIG knife?!" As if I didn't have any right carrying such a scary device of evil and mayhem.
Reply, "To save your sorry butt if the bad guys come to get you
." I was hoping that such cheery colorful scales would not scare sensitive types. Doesn't matter. When I schedule it as a big priority, I plan to make some awesome scales out of some of the most beautiful deep curley hard maple. This knife IMHO is a fine candidate for such a project. After a good polish job, which I hear is next to impossible with 440V, it might just look like a custom Onion, but one that I can afford. Should be a challenge, but one that I'm looking forward too. An Onion every day carry heavily customized and heavily used.
Best regards,
Frank
PS: Since others might want a general review of this knife before purchase, I plan to start a new thread of this post for ease of search. Please excuse the redundance.
