Kershaw Boa...

TheKnifeDude

TheKnifeDude

Joined
Jan 13, 2005
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282
Recently I tried out the Kershaw Boa at a knife shop. I really liked it and I am intent on purchasing it online. I just wanted to get the general opinion on the S60V steel they use on it. I cant find any hardness reading anywhere. Also how it compares to Benchmade's 154CM which I really like, and S30V. Any help appreciated...

-TheKnifeDude
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S30V is superior. In my opinion, S60V surpasses 154cm, although I know there are people who will disagree with me. But overall, I just don't like the BOA that much.
 
In practical terms, it's a good bit harder to sharpen than 154 CM and a noticibly harder than S30V

You can't go wrong - Even Kershaws enty level stuff is very good for the price.

Their warranty is second to none.
 
I have a Boa, its a nice knife. The 440v/s60v is no joke to sharpen, but holds a good edge. Mine is well made, has good ergos, and the fit and finish is very good. The assisted opening function isn't quite Camillus "Robo" snappy, but works well. My biggest gripes are about the mixed blessing of the recurved 440v blade, and blade centering when closed. The blade cuts very well, and holds an edge for a decently long time, but is a serious pain to resharpen. When the blade is closed, it basically rests on the liner opposite the locking side.The only other complaint I can muster is that I'd prefer a framelock. The Boa is a nice knife, but for similar money (~120 @newgraham) you could have any of the high end spydercos (excluding the Ti ATR), most of the top end benchmades, or an Al Mar Sere 2000. Boa's not bad, but others available for similar cash are great.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'm going to start an other thread about another knife I've been looking at....
 
I never have problems with sharppening any steel with Sharpmaker. Really to make it shaving sharp you need just simple follow instructions. If you need to reprofile edge - it is hard even with 420HC.

I really like to know what sharpening technic do you use that it is hard to sharpen Boa, even "serious pain". I have no problem with this and with Avalanche eather (same CPM S60V or 440V). On my opinion sharpening now is not a issue - with Sharpmaker on the market.

Boa and Avalanche is now only way to get CPM S60V which are betraid by knife industry, but was prima just few years ago. According to CPM Data Sheets this steel it is 8 times more wear resistant then current supersteel CPM S30V, bit more brittle but it is not an issue for small knives like Boa and Avalanche.

I am not sure that it is fair to compare this with "high end" Spydi. It has this very good steel (more then 2% of Carbon - no other steel has it), it has TiNi coating, metal handle, flipper, original assisted opening system (licenzed by other manufacturers) etc. I think it is significantly underpriced - and I got mine for $98.

I can not agree with this statement - "Boa's not bad, but others available for similar cash are great". Have a look at Avalanche also.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Look how beautifull it is:

kershawBoa-08.jpg


kershawBoa-07.jpg


And fishfood friendly:

kershawBoa-E.jpg


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Two more pics:

kershawBoa-06.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.

kershawBoa-05.jpg


And this is Avalanche:



Kershav-Avalanche-07.jpg
 
The Boa is one of my favorites knives of all time. Functionally and ergonomically it doesn't get much better than this. The S60V holds an edge extremely well and that recurve reallly cuts.

nozh2002: Great knife porn! :D
 
Great pictures. The Avalanche is a terrific knife. The first one I got totally amazed me with the level of craftsmanship that went into it. Boa's are good also.
 
I always really liked the Boa design, and have wanted to get one for some time but never did for one reason or another. I doubt you would have any problems with it, and Kershaw has a great rep for customer service.

Sure you might be able to get many "better: Spyderco's, Benchmades, or the SERE for the same money. My question to you is do any of them feature an assisted opening knife? The Boa is a really good package oevrall, assisted opener, good quality steel, well designed knife, and a useful blade shape. I think it competes quit well with any other knife in the price range.

On the sharpening issue, well sharpening any knife that has gotten really dull with the Sharpmaker is a PITA. The stones that come with it just aren't very aggressive and don't remove steel quickly. Using the diamon stones would help tough, or some sandpaper clamped over the stones. Other than that the Sharpmaker is a great system that gives really good results when used regularly for maintanence.
 
Well let me defend my statements in a few ways.

A: I own a Boa, it's a beautiful knife with a durable coating and an excellent edge-retaining steel.

B: Compared to other knife steels I've experienced ie S30v, D2, 154CM, INFI, 52100, etc, 440v is by far the most time consuming to sharpen. Yes it can be sharpened on a sharpmaker but it takes me more time and effort to do so. I don't know about you guys, but I don't particularly enjoy sharpening, it's more of a chore with the Boa than with other knives. Whats more, my Boa was dropped (not by me) onto padded carpet of all things, from a height of maybe 3 feet, and this put a sizable chip in the edge. Reprofiling 440v, especially a recurved blade on the sides of a waterstone isn't easy or fun.

C: The assisted opening was a nice novelty at first but now I've come to prefer knives without it. I don't feel like the assisted opener is a particular advantage over a non-assisted opening folder, in terms of opening ease, opening speed, or of dubious legality.

I'll try to rephrase this so as not to step on as many toes, but my sentiment still stands: The Kershaw Boa is, in my experience, a very nice well made knife. However, with as many very high quality folders available for the same amount of money, I would recommend others to a given person before the Boa.
 
I own a Boa, and love th recurve. Unlike most speed-safe knives, it has a useful safety that it is wise to engage.

S60V is a great steel, and I would buy more Kershaws if they would use more of it. Way better than BM 154-CM (and that steel is just fine). Sharpening on a sharpmaker is no problem.
 
On my experiense, with Sharpmaker it is always same 20 or 40 strokes each rods, sometimes you need diamond rods, but differense is not very noticable from steel to steel (I don't have only INFI from your list). I agreed with waterstones it may be painfull or impossible, but I use them only on Shirogamy or Aogamy japanese steel - everithing else does not need more then standard Sharpmaker procedure.

Reprofiling is different story.

On my opinion Kershaw Boa and Avalanche gives more for the buck then other manufacturers - in terms of craftmanship, steel, handle materials, features. Disign is up to the personal preferences, but, personaly, I like this design very much.

To be honest Buck Strider line and Alaskan Guide is also underpriced I think.

About knives bein droped, I hear all kind of scary stories about all manufacturers, like Spyderco etc...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
The Boa is one of those knives that when I first got it in the mail I was very impressed. The speed safe machanism opened the blade with authority and it had a solid lockup. I never got a chance to try and sharpen the blade but from what little I used it, it was plenty sharp and held and edge very well. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this knife to anyone, it is one of Kershaw's finest.
 
My BOA was my first quality folder, a present from my then-boyfriend.
It has been in my purse or jeans pocket ever since.
Suffice to say, I like it.
I see here that some discuss the possible legal issues of the assisted opening method.
Has anyone experience/knowledge about this.
Especially as relating to Texas?
 
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