Becker BK2 actually usefulness

E

engle's-wilder

Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
82
OK, so I just received the Becker BK2 Campanion a few weeks ago. Let me say that it is an impressive piece of steel to say the least. I have used it for batonning already and man, that thing works well!. The point is nearly indestructible (even for abusers like me). However, as I've been using it, I've been wondering, boy if this was all I had, it would get annoying for finer work. Any thoughts on that and what else the BK2 could be used for besides batonning...... besides maybe a pry-bar as well :D

the thing is indestructible, but how practical is it, really? For it's weight, wouldn't a hatchet and small knife be a better combo, instead of one knife trying to do it all? Just wondering what others opinions are (not inciting anything I hope).
 
I've only had my 2 for a couple of weeks now, but I can see why it's popular. Can't believe it took me this long to get one. Not saying it's the do all knife, but it can do a little of everything. Small enuf for fine work and big enuf for the heavy stuff.
 
For me it's the confidence that the BK-2 inspires, by which I mean I feel that whatever I do with it, it's robust enough to cope. And even though it's a thick bit of steel, it's still small enough to manipulate effectively for a variety of tasks.

That's not to say that other tools, or a combination of other tools wouldn't be just as effective - and obviously some tools are better at things like finer work (and I carry a BK-11 for smaller stuff). But I'm very happy with the BK-2, and like the workhorse nature of it.

Hope that helps.

Dave
 
you can make fuzz sticks and carve spoons and make figure-4s... practice. choke up on it, learn to love it... find a moose. skin it! then run from the enraged moose! yeah! not OUR Moosez45, some other m00ses, sharpen an interplaque t00thbrush and go for it. darn things bite sisters.
 
There are better knives for finer work (BK-11 for instance) but it can do small fiddly things if you ask it nicely...

20101128_spoons_01.jpg


Those would look better if they weren't the first two spoons I've ever attempted.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
I'll admit that I'd prefer a small hatchet and scandi combo now that I own a good set of them, but I still admire the BK-2's insane level of versatility. Oh and the BK-2 is no slouch when it comes to finer tasks... I've used mine to chop out a section of 4" cherry wood, baton it in half then carve the spoon below with it (link to review +more pics). What other single knife or tool can you claim to do that with?

It's all about getting proficient with what you have on hand - how useful a tool proves to be is always dependent on your experience and the skills you develop with it.

P1000836.jpg
 
Ya know...
I think it would save y'all a lot of grief if you'd just ask Ethan & Tooj to make a BK&T spoon that could ride along on your BK2 sheath.

That would free up lots of time to carve other kitchen utensils that are much harder to pack with you, such as a hand-powered blender or a nice large whisk.

Hmm... February Challenge?

-Daizee
 
daizee said:
Ya know...
I think it would save y'all a lot of grief if you'd just ask Ethan & Tooj to make a BK&T spoon that could ride along on your BK2 sheath.

That would free up lots of time to carve other kitchen utensils that are much harder to pack with you, such as a hand-powered blender or a nice large whisk.

Hmm... February Challenge?

-Daizee
Click to expand...

+1

I want that spoon.
 
There is no perfect knife...period, thats just the way it is.
Now the Becker line up is pretty darn close though.
Can you whittle cogs and gears for a clock..maybe not, but I bet someone could....as you use any tool, you get better with it.
You just received this one, give it time. You will get better with it, and like some have stated, while it might not carve like a mora, its better at other stuff, and can still do it all.

Pretty safe bet in a survival knife, IMO.
 
Hey Engles-Wilder....

It really is all about getting to know the tool....I did a bow drill and fire board using a 14 inch Patrol Machete (BK6) just to prove a point to myself(it was just a wee bit nerve racking to the people close to my work space--- as it was crowded)........Please note that the edge on all BK&T knives comes as far back as possible to make whittling
easy and the BK2 blade is short enough to make point work possible with some control.....You really can do it all with a Campanion (BK2).......I really like having a Necker or Eskabar to back up a BK2 0r BK10 and a SAK Rucksack to back them up but, I don't worry about it.....

Have fun.....

All Best....

ethan
 
Ethan Becker said:
Hey Engles-Wilder....
It really is all about getting to know the tool....I did a bow drill and fire board using a 14 inch Patrol Machete (BK6) just to prove a point to myself
Click to expand...

+1

I spent the first 8 years of my life in a rural part of the Philippines and have visited there a number of times since. You would not believe the sort of work people are capable of doing with their bolos - just comes from a lifetime of experience and that's what it all boils down to: getting to know the tool :thumbup:
 
I beat mine up. The latest was helping tear down my show room by ripping through slat board. Prior to that I was laying down some stones for a shed to sit on and I was slashing the bags with it. It is scratched now, it ain't pretty but it certainly can take a beating and keep on going.
 
daizee said:
Ya know...
I think it would save y'all a lot of grief if you'd just ask Ethan & Tooj to make a BK&T spoon that could ride along on your BK2 sheath.

That would free up lots of time to carve other kitchen utensils that are much harder to pack with you, such as a hand-powered blender or a nice large whisk.

Hmm... February Challenge?

-Daizee
Click to expand...

Bloody heck - that's brilliant!

---

Beckerhead #42
 
Whats not to like.
Its a great knife.
Stong enough and small enough.
 
Ah kilt a grizzle bar with it while hackin out logs for my cabin, than carved me up a fiddle bafore sun down. Don't believe me wall than........ ah........... OK !
:D But it's a sweet knife and I know that one will not be enough for me. I shaved a patch of hair off my thigh last night after a fresh sharpening.
 
shaving, prying out teeth (not mine of course), any camping/survival task you could think of really. Anything you can think of that involves wood, and punishing bad people.
 
I have carried a Camillus BK-2 in the field for the last 8 years. Let me start out by saying that I am a hunter.
I have carried in it during canoe trips into the Quetico and BWCA for a week or so at a time. There I sliced slab bacon and split kindling with it. I carried it on a horseback trout fishing trip in the Bighorns of Wyoming where I cleaned brook and rainbow trout with it. On a antelope hunting trip to South Dakota, I skinned, disjointed, and quartered 3 antelope without sharpening. The first inch or so of blade at the tip wasn't so sharp after that because of cutting through muddy antelope hide and hair. But the edge came back quickly.
I've skinned and breasted wild turkeys and grouse with it, field dressed and skinned a score or so of deer, and numbers of rabbits and squirrels. The drop point zips open the belly without touching the paunch. The deep belly does a great job of skinning without puncturing the hide.
Once I even used it to skin and fillet a 40 lb. sturgeon.
During bow season, I trim shooting lanes from my tree stand with it. For lopping small branches, it's quicker and quieter than a saw.
It's been on countless weekend camping trips, splitting more kindling, slicing food, whittling sticks for sandwich roasting or to make a crane to suspend cooking pots over the fire. The back of the blade works great for dispatching carp during spring carp shooting.
I've never carved a spoon with, but I've never had to.
The point is, I've found the knife exceptionally useful. I've never had a task that it couldn't perform satisfactorily. Would a different knife performed any one of those tasks better? Probably. But in 8 years I haven't found another one that will do them all as well.
 
Buckstopper said:
I have carried a Camillus BK-2 in the field for the last 8 years. Let me start out by saying that I am a hunter.
I have carried in it during canoe trips into the Quetico and BWCA for a week or so at a time. There I sliced slab bacon and split kindling with it. I carried it on a horseback trout fishing trip in the Bighorns of Wyoming where I cleaned brook and rainbow trout with it. On a antelope hunting trip to South Dakota, I skinned, disjointed, and quartered 3 antelope without sharpening. The first inch or so of blade at the tip wasn't so sharp after that because of cutting through muddy antelope hide and hair. But the edge came back quickly.
I've skinned and breasted wild turkeys and grouse with it, field dressed and skinned a score or so of deer, and numbers of rabbits and squirrels. The drop point zips open the belly without touching the paunch. The deep belly does a great job of skinning without puncturing the hide.
Once I even used it to skin and fillet a 40 lb. sturgeon.
During bow season, I trim shooting lanes from my tree stand with it. For lopping small branches, it's quicker and quieter than a saw.
It's been on countless weekend camping trips, splitting more kindling, slicing food, whittling sticks for sandwich roasting or to make a crane to suspend cooking pots over the fire. The back of the blade works great for dispatching carp during spring carp shooting.
I've never carved a spoon with, but I've never had to.
The point is, I've found the knife exceptionally useful. I've never had a task that it couldn't perform satisfactorily. Would a different knife performed any one of those tasks better? Probably. But in 8 years I haven't found another one that will do them all as well.
Click to expand...

Next, be sure and add poet after hunter when you type that.

Moose
 
Buckstopper said:
I have carried a Camillus BK-2 in the field for the last 8 years. Let me start out by saying that I am a hunter.
I have carried in it during canoe trips into the Quetico and BWCA for a week or so at a time. There I sliced slab bacon and split kindling with it. I carried it on a horseback trout fishing trip in the Bighorns of Wyoming where I cleaned brook and rainbow trout with it. On a antelope hunting trip to South Dakota, I skinned, disjointed, and quartered 3 antelope without sharpening. The first inch or so of blade at the tip wasn't so sharp after that because of cutting through muddy antelope hide and hair. But the edge came back quickly.
I've skinned and breasted wild turkeys and grouse with it, field dressed and skinned a score or so of deer, and numbers of rabbits and squirrels. The drop point zips open the belly without touching the paunch. The deep belly does a great job of skinning without puncturing the hide.
Once I even used it to skin and fillet a 40 lb. sturgeon.
During bow season, I trim shooting lanes from my tree stand with it. For lopping small branches, it's quicker and quieter than a saw.
It's been on countless weekend camping trips, splitting more kindling, slicing food, whittling sticks for sandwich roasting or to make a crane to suspend cooking pots over the fire. The back of the blade works great for dispatching carp during spring carp shooting.
I've never carved a spoon with, but I've never had to.
The point is, I've found the knife exceptionally useful. I've never had a task that it couldn't perform satisfactorily. Would a different knife performed any one of those tasks better? Probably. But in 8 years I haven't found another one that will do them all as well.
Click to expand...

ah, very nice :)

the Bucks Stop here... for skinning...
 
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