Okay, which one?

C

Claudiasboris

Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
143
Hi all,

I've liked the looks of Beckers for a good few years, but never got around to getting one, but I think that now is the time, thanks to Moose and Guyon for the Becker porn!

My only problem is, well, which one first? My original plan was a BK-2 because it gets great reviews and may be more useful for British bushcraft. Then I thought about the 7 and the 9, if I can sneak it in before 2011 I'll miss the tax increase over here and I figured that I should get a more expensive Becker (spending less tax; US knives are a lot more expensive over here). Which led me to consider the Tactool.

BK-2, BK-7, BK-9 or BK-3? Help!

BTW: I have a few knives: ESEE, Swamprat, Cold Steel, etc, so the type of knife is too important. Although I don't have anything like a Tactool...

Oh yeah - I do know that I'm gonna have to get all of them eventually!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Claudiasboris
 
I think you should stick with your first instinct--get the BK2. It is a fantastic knife--I've had mine for almost a year now, and still love it. I wish it had gotten a little more use over the summer, but oh well--winter camping!
 
The BK-2, man. All the steel, half the size.

-Daizee
 
The BK2 is my favorite, everyone knows that around here:confused::D

Its one of Ethan's oldest design, and in 30yrs, the only change that has been made, is a tang extension. Best knife ever. Good bushcrafter, great harduse knife, and it is the essential Becker knife.

BUT,

The BK7 is the most versitile and utilitarian knife on the market for the price. One of the best all around woods/combat knives out there. I call it "The Becker Little Black Dress". It goes anywhere and does anything. Perfect first knife.

The BK3 TacTool is an area specific knife, IMO. Its big, its heavy, and it takes abuse that would shatter other knives to pieces. To date, no other knife out there comes close to its bulletproof design. But, the chisel grind and weight, make it a less than ideal wood worker. Think of it more as an entry tool with LE and Military applications in mind. That said, the damn thing can split wood like nothing I have ever used, short of an axe.

The BK9 is a badass, hardcore, big woods chopper that can make fuzzy sticks on a whim. No one going into the woods with a BK9 will ever feel underknifed, no way. Mine rides in my pack everyday, in case of an emergency. It balances well for a large knife and can take down a 2" sycamore tree in one swipe. A must have for a Beckerhead, mainly, because to quote a Mr. Ethan Becker "there are other things to chop with, but, I like knives". I have to agree.

SO, without further adue, Moosez First Becker Knife recommendation is,











THE BK2 CAMPANION

Yeah, big suprise there.:D

Moose
 
moosez took his crazy pill today you'll have to excuse him:D

seriously though, if you're gonna beat the tax man, I say sell some of your other knives:cool: and buy all Beckers:eek:

or just listen to moose:) you'll be fine..
 
I love my TacTool, but like Moose says, it is a very specific area knife, and no where near as versatile as my BK2.
 
Thanks for all the answers guys.

I thought that there'd be quite a bit of love for the BK2, but not that it'd be unanimous! That's impressive and difficult to argue against. BUT, I have ESEE 4, RatManDu, HowlingRat, Wade & Butcher Boone, Spyderco Bushcraft and a Bushman. Is a BK2 too similar to these? That's why I was considering one of the bigger Beckers. Having said that I've got a kukri, machetes, Chopweiler, etc, but nothing at all like a Tactool.

Decisions, decisions...

Moosez - did I read correctly that the BK2 is 30 years old? I didn't think that they'd been around that long.

Claudiasboris
 
Claudiasboris,
So far in the Becker line I have the Bk 2, 5, 11 and 14. I also have custom Bowies,
old Marbles knives, autos, hawks, machetes and some other misc. knives. I think the
Bk2 is a real good all around knife and I would go with that one first. I agree with you
that we would get them all in the end.
 
The Campanion has been around a long time. I have some of the early versions.

In light of what you own, I'd say you've got your bases covered. Go with what floats your boat the most.
 
Claudiasboris said:
Thanks for all the answers guys.

I thought that there'd be quite a bit of love for the BK2, but not that it'd be unanimous! That's impressive and difficult to argue against. BUT, I have ESEE 4, RatManDu, HowlingRat, Wade & Butcher Boone, Spyderco Bushcraft and a Bushman. Is a BK2 too similar to these? That's why I was considering one of the bigger Beckers. Having said that I've got a kukri, machetes, Chopweiler, etc, but nothing at all like a Tactool.

Decisions, decisions...

Moosez - did I read correctly that the BK2 is 30 years old? I didn't think that they'd been around that long.

Claudiasboris
Click to expand...

The BK2 is a different creature all together. Nothing like what you listed. This knife is full .250" thick or 6.35mm. The best part is the balance, it just kinda floats in the hand, with a slight forward weight. It chops outside of its length class, but because of the flat grind, and the height, it can do many, many fine chores. Some crazy nut make a figure 4 deadfall out of toothpicks with one. Guy was a wilderness genius, handsome, charismatic, the envy of all who knew him. Wish he was still around.

Anyhoo, BKT has been around since 1985, but, Ethan has been around longer (sorry E). The Machax was born out of a need to outfit his friends during Vietnam, and the BK2 was born of the British Survival knife, the MOD1

images


Ethan has said, on camera, that he bought one, in the hope of finding a good survival knife, and he knew there was one in there somewhere. So, he modded the MOD1, into what you see today as the BK2. The handle is definetly Becker, no doubt, but the blade design, length, thickness, geometry, and so forth, all came from what Ethan took OUT of the MOD1. Ethan says he made it in '85 or '86 (I'm on the phone with him now), so that puts us at really close to 30yrs old, just a little shy of it.

So, 26 or 27 years. Enjoy your purchase no matter what you choose.

Moose
 
Claudiasboris said:
Hi all,

I've liked the looks of Beckers for a good few years, but never got around to getting one, but I think that now is the time, thanks to Moose and Guyon for the Becker porn!

My only problem is, well, which one first? My original plan was a BK-2 because it gets great reviews and may be more useful for British bushcraft. Then I thought about the 7 and the 9, if I can sneak it in before 2011 I'll miss the tax increase over here and I figured that I should get a more expensive Becker (spending less tax; US knives are a lot more expensive over here). Which led me to consider the Tactool.

BK-2, BK-7, BK-9 or BK-3? Help!

BTW: I have a few knives: ESEE, Swamprat, Cold Steel, etc, so the type of knife is too important. Although I don't have anything like a Tactool...

Oh yeah - I do know that I'm gonna have to get all of them eventually!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Claudiasboris
Click to expand...

Having the BK7 and BK2, and having had the BK9 so far the BK2 is my all around favorite.

I do plan on getting a BK11 and BK 14 soon though and I am really looking forward to a couple of the tweeners.
 
i'd say hold out and buy the Machax in a year or so ;)

okay, no? well... buy the most expensive one's sooner than later... the BK02 is going to be hard to beat though.


Bladite
 
go ahead and get the BK3 to fill in that niche - with a side order of BK14 (Eskabar) to cover all the little things the Tactool doesn't do so well.
 
1066vik said:
go ahead and get the BK3 to fill in that niche - with a side order of BK14 (Eskabar) to cover all the little things the Tactool doesn't do so well.
Click to expand...

Good call, that is a good match, that BK14 is truly a great knife.

Or, a BK9/Remora combo, is a worldwide blade balance of epic proportions.

Moose
 
When I had only my Becker Necker I asked nearly the same question. The BK-9 got the most votes, I think so of course I went with my heart and bought the BK-2. AFAIK the only knife out there that's really similar to it is the ESEE 5 and I didn't see that in your list.

Don't think you could go wrong with any of those on your list (unless you expect the BK-3 to be something it's not). For me personally, I'd prioritize those kinves:

BK-2
BK-9
BK-7
BK-2 (I really like this one)
BK-3

---

Beckerhead #42
 
moosez45 said:
Good call, that is a good match, that BK14 is truly a great knife.

Or, a BK9/Remora combo, is a worldwide blade balance of epic proportions.

Moose
Click to expand...

BK-7 and the BK-13 are a good match too...as are the BK-2 and BK-13 :)
 
Claudiasboris said:
Hi all,

I've liked the looks of Beckers for a good few years, but never got around to getting one, but I think that now is the time.....

My only problem is, well, which one first? My original plan was a BK-2 because it gets great reviews and may be more useful for British bushcraft.
BK-2, BK-7, BK-9 or BK-3? Help!
......
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Claudiasboris
Click to expand...


Hi Claudiasboris. I recognise your name from Bushcraft UK, where I usually hang out.

Hi also to all Becker Forum people. This is my first post, and I found my way over here when looking for fellow Becker fans - I haven't found any as yet over my side of the pond!

I have 2 Beckers, and I rate them both very highly. My first, and one I would highly recommend is the BK-2. I was interested to read that the design was inspired by the old British MOD Survival Knife, because it was looking for that very knife or one similar that led me to the BK-2 in the first place.

Anyway, I well remember getting it out the box for the first time and thinking
"whoa, this is a beast!". But it's a beast that sits so comfortably in the hand though, making you almost forget what a big piece of steel it is - especially when you compare it with the sorts of knives you generally see in a British bushcraft moot (get-together). And of course it is quite small compared with other Beckers in the range - I'll have to work my way up! I reckon the BK-2would be a good place to start :)rolleyes:) for others too.

My other Becker is the BK-11, or Becker necker, which is a perfect accompaniment to the bigger BK-2 in my opinion. I was inspired to get it after seeing Pict's Youtube video on his neck knife survival kit (this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BwUydd2JKo). Although Pict, who is a member on here too I believe, doesn't use a Becker in the video, I've found the BK-11 works very well for me set up along similar lines.

Best wishes to all from England.

Dave
 
Last edited:
Dark Horse Dave said:
Hi Claudiasboris. I recognise your name from Bushcraft UK, where I usually hang out.

Hi also to all Becker Forum people. This is my first post, and I found my way over here when looking for fellow Becker fans - I haven't found any as yet over my side of the pond!

I have 2 Beckers, and I rate them both very highly. My first, and one I would highly recommend is the BK-2. I was interested to read that the design was inspired by the old British MOD Survival Knife, because it was looking for that very knife or one similar that led me to the BK-2 in the first place.

Anyway, I well remember getting it out the box for the first time and thinking
"whoa, this is a beast!". But it's a beast that sits so comfortably in the hand though, making you almost forget what a bit piece of steel it is - especially when you compare it with the sorts of knives you generally see in a British bushcraft moot (get-together). And of course it is quite small compared with other Beckers in the range - I'll have to work my way up! I reckon the BK-2would be a good place to start :)rolleyes:) for others too.

My other Becker is the BK-11, or Becker necker, which is a perfect accompanyment to the bigger BK-2 in my opinion. I was inspired to get after seeing Pict's Youtube video on his neck knife survival kit (this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BwUydd2JKo). Although Pict, who is a memebr on here too I believe, doesn't use a Becker in the video, I've found the BK-11 works very well for me set up along similar lines.

Best wishes to all from England.

Dave
Click to expand...

WELCOME TO THE BECKER FORUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, glad to have you fella's here.

Great first post, and feel free to hang around some, we gots lots to offer, good people, contests, and other stuff.

Moose
 
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