George Hill
Staff Alumnus
I've worn Benchmade AFCKs and Mini AFCKs on my pocket for a few years... before that were Spyderco Endura's and Police with an occasional Native thrown in.
You get the impression that I like the round hole in the blade for fast one handed opening.
A few months ago Spectre sent me something new. It's been my carry knife ever since. It's a Kershaw production Boa of Ken Onion's design. Partialy serated blade forged of CPM440V, blackened with a titanium nitride type of coating. This coating is very tough and to this date remains free of any and all mars to the finish despite some rather hard use. My old M2 bladed Mini AFCK's coating was pretty much torn up after just a couple of weeks. Benchamade should take note. It still might be protecting the blade from corrosion, but it looks like crap with all the scratches. This titanium coating is Da Bomb, at least so far. The best thing about the blade isn't the coating or the steel... but the blade's geometry. It has a recurve geometry that not only keeps the cutting edge on target, but allows the blade's belly to cut deep. I made some slash cuts on an old foam pad and the cuts were easily twice as deep as the cuts from the Mini AFCK with about the same blade length. This shape, combined with the steel and coating... it makes for a killer knife blade.
One thing about the blade, it had a thumb stud to allow one hand opening. I found that this stud was just in the way. It would snag my jeans and prevent any fast blade presentations. I'll come back to this in a moment. The blade has held it's edge longer than other knives and the only thing that can compair is the M2 steel that Benchmade uses in some of it's knives. After all the hard use I've given it, only just yesterday did I have it resharpened. The fellow that resharpened it for me sells a lot of knives, but said that it was this was the first one he had to resharpen.
The black scales are made of aluminum. They have a dimpled surface that is to create a none slip surface... It would have been better to try something else... maybe just drill the scales all the way through, because the surface could be a little more non-slip. Thankfull because of the grips shape, slipage isn't an issue. The handle is shaped very well and allows a solid grip in any position.
Overall this knife has a very solid and secure feel. For a folder, the only liner lock knives I know of that feel this solid and rugged are the offerings from Emerson. The AFCKs feel almost DELICATE in compairison.
The coolest thing about this knife is the Speed Safe opening mechanism. It's similar to an automatic knife, but not so legally. You have to manipulate the blade to facilitate opening. Once you start it opening by about 3/16th of an inch, the torsion bar mechanism takes over and the blade snaps open and locked. For the nervous types, you have a safety switch. Yes, a pocket knife with a safety. Now, about that thumb stud. It was always snagging my pocket. This was most annoying. So I removed it. The knife has something that I call a "Trigger". It's a little section of the blade that protrudes through the handle when the blade is closed and allows you to give it a quick flick to open the knife. Knife experts probably have a real name for it, but I like calling it a Trigger.
This is one SERIOUS knife. It's been a true work horse for the tasks I've put it through... from chopping branches for building fires, slicing off hoses under the hood of my small Jeep collection, severing drive belts within the same... it's done all that with grace. The only hint that the knife is used is the pocket clip, where some of the finish has worn off. Obviously not the same finish that is on the blade. Yesterday, while getting this Boa resharpened, I wore my M2 Mini AFCK which is about the same size. I had the feeling that I was under knifed. As if I wasnt' packing as much knife as I had been. The M2 Mini AFCK is a wonderful knife... sleek, scary sharp, reliable, and all around a great knife. However the Boa trumps it.
This Boa has become a permant replacement to my M2 Mini AFCK. If you have a knife shop in your area, next time your around it, stop in and check the Boa out for your self. Bring some cash with you... you wont want to hand it back.
You get the impression that I like the round hole in the blade for fast one handed opening.
A few months ago Spectre sent me something new. It's been my carry knife ever since. It's a Kershaw production Boa of Ken Onion's design. Partialy serated blade forged of CPM440V, blackened with a titanium nitride type of coating. This coating is very tough and to this date remains free of any and all mars to the finish despite some rather hard use. My old M2 bladed Mini AFCK's coating was pretty much torn up after just a couple of weeks. Benchamade should take note. It still might be protecting the blade from corrosion, but it looks like crap with all the scratches. This titanium coating is Da Bomb, at least so far. The best thing about the blade isn't the coating or the steel... but the blade's geometry. It has a recurve geometry that not only keeps the cutting edge on target, but allows the blade's belly to cut deep. I made some slash cuts on an old foam pad and the cuts were easily twice as deep as the cuts from the Mini AFCK with about the same blade length. This shape, combined with the steel and coating... it makes for a killer knife blade.
One thing about the blade, it had a thumb stud to allow one hand opening. I found that this stud was just in the way. It would snag my jeans and prevent any fast blade presentations. I'll come back to this in a moment. The blade has held it's edge longer than other knives and the only thing that can compair is the M2 steel that Benchmade uses in some of it's knives. After all the hard use I've given it, only just yesterday did I have it resharpened. The fellow that resharpened it for me sells a lot of knives, but said that it was this was the first one he had to resharpen.
The black scales are made of aluminum. They have a dimpled surface that is to create a none slip surface... It would have been better to try something else... maybe just drill the scales all the way through, because the surface could be a little more non-slip. Thankfull because of the grips shape, slipage isn't an issue. The handle is shaped very well and allows a solid grip in any position.
Overall this knife has a very solid and secure feel. For a folder, the only liner lock knives I know of that feel this solid and rugged are the offerings from Emerson. The AFCKs feel almost DELICATE in compairison.
The coolest thing about this knife is the Speed Safe opening mechanism. It's similar to an automatic knife, but not so legally. You have to manipulate the blade to facilitate opening. Once you start it opening by about 3/16th of an inch, the torsion bar mechanism takes over and the blade snaps open and locked. For the nervous types, you have a safety switch. Yes, a pocket knife with a safety. Now, about that thumb stud. It was always snagging my pocket. This was most annoying. So I removed it. The knife has something that I call a "Trigger". It's a little section of the blade that protrudes through the handle when the blade is closed and allows you to give it a quick flick to open the knife. Knife experts probably have a real name for it, but I like calling it a Trigger.
This is one SERIOUS knife. It's been a true work horse for the tasks I've put it through... from chopping branches for building fires, slicing off hoses under the hood of my small Jeep collection, severing drive belts within the same... it's done all that with grace. The only hint that the knife is used is the pocket clip, where some of the finish has worn off. Obviously not the same finish that is on the blade. Yesterday, while getting this Boa resharpened, I wore my M2 Mini AFCK which is about the same size. I had the feeling that I was under knifed. As if I wasnt' packing as much knife as I had been. The M2 Mini AFCK is a wonderful knife... sleek, scary sharp, reliable, and all around a great knife. However the Boa trumps it.
This Boa has become a permant replacement to my M2 Mini AFCK. If you have a knife shop in your area, next time your around it, stop in and check the Boa out for your self. Bring some cash with you... you wont want to hand it back.