New or Old, Cami vs Kabar

Which generation of Becker do you choose

  • I would buy the newer kabar made BK&T

    Votes: 2 12.5%

  • I would buy the older Camillus made BK&T

    Votes: 3 18.8%

  • I have no preference, and would buy what is currently available.

    Votes: 11 68.8%
  • Total voters
    16
Cobalt

Cobalt

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 23, 1998
Messages
17,262
I am a long time Becker owner going back to the 90's. I have owed countless Beckers in the past and currently own several. Missed out on one release(BK20) and regret selling my old BK2 and Brute.

This got me thinking about a general question. If you had a chance to own either the old or the new, at the same price, all else being equal, which would you choose. The old Camillus version or the new kabar version.

I wonder sometimes if my choices of older stuff is more nostalgic than anything else, as I tend to prefer older of everything. Wondering how everyone else thinks.

And just to throw in some old Becker porn here is my old Brute
2EwakBM.jpg
 
I'm sure some metallurgist expert can tell us what is the better steel and who did the better forging/processing/manufacturing for the steels. For Big Blade heavy use, I think the 1095 CROVAN is tougher?

My last Becker was the S35VN BK72 I put Clear Resin with Green Glow Stone Dogwood Fire Fly Handles in a BK22 sheath. EVERY ONE in my family wants it. It worked fine this beer deer season.
 
Here's a bit about the steel, from the database, if you're interested:

1) Cold Steel Carbon V was first produced in the Alcas Factory (Cutco and KA-BAR) Mid 1980s, Carbon V was originally 1095CV/0170-06/50100B.
2) Cold Steel moved to Ontario 1990s. Carbon V started out as 1095CV/0170-06/50100B
While at Ontario, Dan Maragni removed the small amount of nickel from the formula.
3) Cold Steel moved to Camillus approx. 1995. Carbon V stayed 0170-06 minus the nickel.
How do I know all of this?...I have worked at all 3 factories.

Basically the last Carbon V is still 0170-06. Nickel, in addition to the added toughness also decreases the austenite to martensite transformation temp. It is added to counter balanced the chrome which raises the transformation temp.
Best Regards,Paul Tsujimoto,Sr Eng,Prod Dev and Qual,KA-BAR Knives
 
I like the original ßK&T ßecker ßrute, unpainted stainless, I put ßurlap micarta scales, its not used, just waved around and looked at lovingly along with the ßlackjack mamba 9 inch... I have 5 ßK&T Reinhardt kukri placed everywhere to open coconuts And clear light brush. The newer knives camilus & ka-bar are painted, and have most of their tang cut out... I like the tang solid
 
The Warrior said:
Here's a bit about the steel, from the database, if you're interested:

1) Cold Steel Carbon V was first produced in the Alcas Factory (Cutco and KA-BAR) Mid 1980s, Carbon V was originally 1095CV/0170-06/50100B.
2) Cold Steel moved to Ontario 1990s. Carbon V started out as 1095CV/0170-06/50100B
While at Ontario, Dan Maragni removed the small amount of nickel from the formula.
3) Cold Steel moved to Camillus approx. 1995. Carbon V stayed 0170-06 minus the nickel.
How do I know all of this?...I have worked at all 3 factories.

Basically the last Carbon V is still 0170-06. Nickel, in addition to the added toughness also decreases the austenite to martensite transformation temp. It is added to counter balanced the chrome which raises the transformation temp.
Best Regards,Paul Tsujimoto,Sr Eng,Prod Dev and Qual,KA-BAR Knives
Click to expand...

That's how I understood it. Basically all the same steel, new vs old. So that's a wash. Thanks for posting that.

I have directly compared my BK9 to me ESEE Junglas, and not only does my BK9 hold an edge much longer, but I can put a finer edge on it. Having said that, the Junglas is Rc'd to a lower level to give it higher toughness. And they both perform better than my RTAK. We had a campsite out past Bailey colorado on an Elk hunt. I ended up delimbing a large fallen tree for firewood and for a makeshift bench. The tree was long and about 2ft in diameter. After chopping off all the limbs, we decided to chop the tree in half. to make into an L shaped campfire bench. Luckily, I had outfitted all my buddies with my large blades, because none of them ever think of bringing anything larger than a skinning knife. We did a lot of work with my knives. Two of them were my junglas and the BK9, plus my old original battlemistress and a small HI Khukuri. Long story short, the BK9 held it's edge much better than the junglas and the khuk. There is more to the chopping story, but to long to tell here.
 
I think it might be the crovan added stuff to the BK 9. Heat treat on the Jungy thingy only gets you so far I think. But the non skeletal handle is a plus.
Me I got 3 BK9s so I don't need a Junglassy one.
 
Comparing some of what I have the Becker’s from Camillus are machined a little smoother. I have no preference.
 
Older, out of production knives are cool - particularly Beckers.

That being said, while I have never had to use KaBar's warranty, it's knice to know it's there.

When I use a Becker knife I not only enjoy the benefits of a performing tool that is comfortable and reliable, but a connection to Ethan - and gentleman and outdoorsman of the very first order. The Camillus era Beckers provide that component of the experience as well (some may say better?) than KaBar the iterations but, when doing some things that, just between us, perhaps a knife isn't supposed to do, KaBar's reputationf or standing behind its products is comforting.
 
IMO it's going to be the hardness/toughness balance and geometry differences that will really show up in "testing" vs. modest differences in carbide-based abrasion resistance with these particular alloys.
 
There were some breaks associated with the roll stamping; so newer generation Kabar wins in that regard...but, I started with Camillus Beckers; and that means something.
 
I "grew up" on the Camillus era Beckers. I still get the jitters and nostalgic whenever I see one of the old green boxes they came in or use the BK1 just for old times' sake.
 
TazerFloyd said:
I "grew up" on the Camillus era Beckers. I still get the jitters and nostalgic whenever I see one of the old green boxes they came in or use the BK1 just for old times' sake.
Click to expand...

Same here. I love seeing the camillus name on one, but I know there really isn't much of a difference at all and even the stamping is likely not as big a deal as claimed.
 
I like them both equally - but do prefer the roll-stamped Beckers over the current laser-etched versions - solely for esthetic reasons of course. Same when talking firearms.

It's part of what interested me in firearms in the first place. Examining the artistry, attention to detail, and markings on a pre-war Smith & Wesson.

I definitely understand and appreciate the strength associated with the laser-etched Beckers though, and for that reason, have passed up some bea-u-ti-ful roll stamped BK-4's - seeing how I already have a fully-functional laser-etcher version:

 
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