Böker Plus Recommendations

C

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Sep 5, 2005
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Okay, first thing's first. I can't stand Böker. Too many of their knives have been too dull. The only one that hasn't been too dull has been a Plus (yeah, I know, they're all Pluses, but what can I do?) Anyway, after watching this review by Nutnfancy, I started thinking, hey, maybe it's not just me. At first I thought it was the Magnum series, but then other Bökers turned out to be less than stellar. The last knife I got was a big honker -- a 440C slab of steel that was being discontinued (actually it was being changed from a spear point to a tanto; big deal!) I still don't know what the model is...it's a large fixed blade. Anyway, I wish they would get a bit more creative than just calling each model a "Plus!"

BokerPlus_1.jpg


BokerPlus_2.jpg


A big honker, this 440C slab of steel has toothy serrations that
make it an overall loser. It is sharp, however and sharpens easily.

The honker is actually the only one I liked, despite the serrations that makes its style look more like a cheap mall klunker. The bottom line is that I just can't get most of them cheap. The thing is, I really like that titanium-handled knife. Four-forty "C" steel, slim design. What's not to like? Well, except that it doesn't (apparently) get much sharper than a letter opener.

Does anyone have any experience on the Böker titanium? And what are your views of Böker as a knife company? I haven't heard the same criticisms of Böker as Cold Steel, and I've found Cold Steel to be a far better knife company than Böker. I always get a sharp blade with Cold Steel, and I always get better heat treat. Yeah, I hear of the occasional CS fixed blade breaking in cold weather, but the reports tend to be few and far between. I even have one of CS's earlier 420 OSS double-bladed knives that still is easy to sharpen and maintains a good edge. (I also have the AUS8A OSSs, and was astounded at the quality of both.)

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You misunderstand. The knife isn't called a PLUS.

There's a couple of sub-brands under Böker

There's Böker which is Böker Solingen. Their highest priced stuff. And best quality.

Then there's Böker PLUS...which is kind their value for money brand.

Böker Arbolito (South american) makes traditional gaucho styled stuff.

And Magnum is their 440A budget line.
 
Oh...and the quality of Böker plus and Böker Solingen is excellent, at LEAST as good as Cold Steel (in the case of the Boker Plus line) and WAY better for the Böker solingen lines.
 
As the above post mentions, Böker is split into 3 lines.

In dont have much experience with them, other than a single folder, the Boker Plus Exskelibur, which is a fantastic little thing. The thing is flawless and 440C heat-treat appears to be spot-on.

I think their Böker Solingen models, such as the Haddock and Cox, is a tad expensive. Their Plus line offers alot of bang-per-buck, and they have alot of nice designs at an affordable cost. Im not too familiar with their fixed blades.
 
My dealer examined four Boker Plus models I was interested in and found problems with all of them except one -- the Exskelibur.

I bought that sample. Workmanship and f&f are top drawer.

The only issue I've had is that the small Exskelibur, like its larger brother, requires a special tool to tighten the pivot. The larger model comes with the tool; the smaller model doesn't!

That said, Boker's USA distributor will send you the tool at no charge, if you ask. Why they don't include one in the first place is a mystery.

The Exskelibur II was good enough that I bought a second, again after inspection by the dealer. No 2 also lives up to all expectations.

Would I buy a different model from the Boker Plus line?......I regularly read about other models that look pretty interesting. But it's hard to forget that I was 1 for 4 in trying to get a problem-free sample through a Boker dealer.
 
Out of the Boker Plus line I've been very happy with my CLB Wharcom. Great little watch-pocket knife. :)
 
I have a Boker Plus Action 2 (now discontinued). The fit and finish on it are as good as any other knife I've bought and it's a nice design (Deitmar Pohl design).
 
The Boker Plus offers in general a good quality/price; but indeed it can happen that there are unfortunate imperfections. I have the impression that they (meaning, the Asian outsourced contractor) do a statistical quality check instead of checking all knives equally. That could be a wrong assumption: it is just an impression from varying reports I read.
In general I am pretty happy with mine, and some of them are attractive production versions of custom designs: the Exskeliburs were already mentioned, and another great one is the Rhino.

Going back to the observations of the OP: most of my Böker Plus had a "working edge" sharpness out of the box, not the ultimate razor feel.
 
I got a Boker Plus Trance and I like it, very smart design.
Also I dealt with Kershaw and Boker customer service and I rather not deal with Kershaw again while Boker was stellar.
 
Got one of the lil Boker Dozier fixed blades. The SKINNER model.
Not a single thing wrong with it out of the box ... cept for maybe the fine looking sheath that was a wee bit too tight.
Stopped this past week to pick up the shorter Arkansas model but it has been sold out for the time being.
For a MADE IN CHINA knife , it sure is fine.
BOKER is alright in my book.
 
I just picked up a Boker Plus Gentlemen's Scalpel for under $20 online. This is an amazing little knife, flawless F&F and even came with a leather sheath. This thing is easily my new favorite EDC and its dirt cheap.

Sure it didn't come with a mirror edge out of the box, but it was definitely usable. I don't know why you are so concerned with out of the box sharpness anyways, you are inevitably going to improve upon the factory edge anyways. Unless it came with a perfectly ground mirror polished edge, but then you would be a lot more for something that is supposed to be a budget knife.
Maybe you should try spending a bit more for a Boker Tree Brand or Arbolito if you aren't happy with any of the Chinese Plus knives.
 
Boker Plus knives are generally very good value for money. Well made, good materials, sharp They do a good HT on 440C, making it a very good steel indeed. I own a few folders as well as a couple of fixed blades, and none have disappointed.
Favorite folders are the Kalashnikov 101 (huge),
01kal101.jpg

and the Resurrection (awesome inexpensive alternative for the ZT0300)
01BO410.jpg

I also own the Schanz dagger. What a beauty!
Boker_Schanz02.jpg


Yep, Boker makes some good stuff.
 
I own several of Boker's Plus line - fixed blades Gnome, Stag Rhino, and Mosier and a mini-folder, the CLB Subcom Titan. I paid less, total, for all of the PRC-made Plus line models mentioned than I did for either my Boker Haddock, PryMate, or Titan Worker - all Solingen-made knives. Is there that much quality difference? No. The Haddock came with a wire-edge - easily remedied, as were the not hair-raising Plus knives' edges - with a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Their PRC-made 'Plus' line, for the most part, is a decent value.

One has to be careful re the Boker model. For example, an earlier post mentioned the Boker Dozier. That knife, Solingen-made and #120611, has an MSRP of $349, while their Boker Plus Dozier Anchorage Pro Skinner, PRC-made, is available in green/black Micarta as #02BO253/02BO250, either at MSRP $69.95. I've fondled the Boker Dozier locally - it is a super knife - at an appropriately super price - five times the PRC-made Plus line's price!

Interesting side note re new knife sharpness. In Boker's Solingen line, they were nearer sharp than the Plus lines. Years ago, my first two Benchmades needed external heat to cut butter - I've bought a bunch of BM's since - and all were hair raisers. In the Boker 'Tree Brand' classic slip joint lines, Solingen made carbon steel, every blade on every new knife I've bought was sharp - Case, from my huge sample of three, could take a lesson here. Bucks, Spyderco, my one CRK, a 'zaan, and my Vic SAK's, all came sharp. But - I no longer fear dullness - I bought the Sharpmaker - and know how to use it!

Stainz
 
http://www.boker.de/us/fixed-blade-knife/boker-plus/outdoor-knife/02BO253.html

This is the model I procured myself a few months back ... I am very impressed with it. Paid like 52 bucks at a brick n mortor knife store too.
I have used it and not been gentle ... resharpens nicely and so far no edge roll ,chips or problems at all.
One .................................small ................ complaint .... scales seem to imbed dirt easy ...
oh well.
 
MY THOUGHTS ON THE SCHANZ:

[video=youtube;fHbxjVE-tGI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHbxjVE-tGI&list=UUOYxzeAIufMeOBAZBetzu_Q&index=3&feature=plcp[/video]
 
I've been really pleased with all the Boker Plus knives I've had, and I like a lot of the designs in this range. Only had one Boker Magnum, it was as blunt as a biscuit and very hard to sharpen.
 
You simply cant go wrong with a Boker Plus Elegance B.O.B. knife. It is a tank. GREAT value for the money. It is 7mm thick AUS 8 steel. (thicker than 1/4").

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The Boker Plus Chinese knives can be quite decent & good value for their price levels.
They are not always the equal of the German & Argentine knives in fit & finish, but they work & the materials are typically not bottom drawer.
Denis
 
Well... the Böker Plus line is not made in China, most of their knives are made in Taiwan ;)

However - for some real users and hard worker knives they have a great quality on a small prize range. I like their knives very much. I´ve tried some of their Böker Magnum (440A)-line in the past. Definitelly not as good as the Plus. I had once got a lemon, I ordered a Böker Plus Cattlemans Knife (stockman pattern). It was hardly to open and it had some bade blade play... hard to believe.

Their AK47 Auto and Gnome are all great knives on a small prize. You really can´t go wrong with Böker Plus, imo.
 
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