Becker BK21 vs Condor K-Tact

A

ARBY20

Joined
Oct 15, 2022
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I'm thinking of picking up another kukri style knife/machete, because I still don't have enough......;)

I have narrowed my search down to a Ka-Bar Becker BK21 or a Condor K-Tact Kukri.

I like that the BK21 is more "machete" like, but I also like the extra weight and more "traditional" kukri profile the K-Tact has. My only real concern with the K-Tact is how the pommel is held on, I believe it's epoxied? Perhaps someone who owns one could correct me?

Anyway, I would appreciate everyone's thoughts and opinions on which way I should go.
 
Are you a "kukri guy"?

I realized I'm not so much.... I Love Big blades, I love to chop and whack stuff!
Kukri's hit a little different. You have to focus, and pay attention More.


I have the Becker BK 21. It's very well built.
At the time it felt way more forward weighted than I'm used to.
I should probably dig it out again, and try it more?

If you like that style. I'm confident you will be happy with the Becker.
It's the one I'd definitely recommend.

The only thing I can mildly complain about is that it's a little tricky getting it back in it's sheath. The clasps/straps get in the way, and I feel like I'm going to either cut them, or myself trying to slip the knife in.
You will probably want an aftermarket kydex one.
 
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The pommel on the Condor is welded. Strength should not be a concern. I prefer the Becker, fwiw.....
 
I’ve used a lot of different types of Kukri in my life but the BK21 is my favorite. The heavier style Kukri surely do make fantastic choppers but the BK21 IMHO performs better over more tasks. It can replace a short machete if needed or chop firewood. With proper technique it even carves well. Hank Reinhardt knew what he was doing with Kukri and his experience lead to the BK21 :)
 
The Cold Steel Gurkha is a great khukuri, if you don't have one. It closely followed the British issue Mk. II of ~1917 to about 1945, though, unfortunately, lacks the handle curve. It handles very well IMHO, and a I've had a lot of khuks. The Becker looks nice, though I prefer a little more belly. The Condor never interested me, for some reason.
 
ARBY20 said:
I'm thinking of picking up another kukri style knife/machete, because I still don't have enough......;)

I have narrowed my search down to a Ka-Bar Becker BK21 or a Condor K-Tact Kukri.

I like that the BK21 is more "machete" like, but I also like the extra weight and more "traditional" kukri profile the K-Tact has. My only real concern with the K-Tact is how the pommel is held on, I believe it's epoxied? Perhaps someone who owns one could correct me?

Anyway, I would appreciate everyone's thoughts and opinions on which way I should go.
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Dm me about your options if you like and Welcome to BladeForums and you should get a gold membership. It doesn't cost much, and you have way more options and there is a lot of good info and more knives for sale. Have a great time here there are a lot of members with a lot of experience and knowledge here as well. 👍
 
justjed said:
The pommel on the Condor is welded. Strength should not be a concern. I prefer the Becker, fwiw.....
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If it's welded I would have no hesitations with it, epoxied on the other hand 😬 I could just see it letting loose as soon as I go to hammer with it.

I'm curious what makes you prefer the Becker over the Condor? I would imagine Ka-Bar's quality control is better?
 
jdk1 said:
The Cold Steel Gurkha is a great khukuri, if you don't have one. It closely followed the British issue Mk. II of ~1917 to about 1945, though, unfortunately, lacks the handle curve. It handles very well IMHO, and a I've had a lot of khuks. The Becker looks nice, though I prefer a little more belly. The Condor never interested me, for some reason.
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Would you rate the 3-V version over the stainless? I just couldn't see a stainless steel blade that big fairing well long term, maybe I'm wrong though?
 
ARBY20 said:
I'm curious what makes you prefer the Becker over the Condor? I would imagine Ka-Bar's quality control is better?
Click to expand...
The fact that it's a Hank Reinhardt design. The man knew kukris! This one is more of a martial design, thinner, lighter, and faster, versus a traditional working kukri. Light weight and speed versus mass and brute strength.
And Ethan Becker's handle design, while not terribly attractive, is quite ergonomic, and has proven itself over the decades. The BK21 is just a good design, well executed.
 
justjed said:
The fact that it's a Hank Reinhardt design. The man knew kukris! This one is more of a martial design, thinner, lighter, and faster, versus a traditional working kukri. Light weight and speed versus mass and brute strength.
And Ethan Becker's handle design, while not terribly attractive, is quite ergonomic, and has proven itself over the decades. The BK21 is just a good design, well executed.
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Haha, I am definitely leaning more and more towards the BK21.

I do really like Ethan Becker's handle design, although I wish Ka-Bar would provide the micarta scales out of the box.

How do you rate the BK21 for more heavy duty tasks like batoning?
 
ARBY20 said:
Would you rate the 3-V version over the stainless? I just couldn't see a stainless steel blade that big fairing well long term, maybe I'm wrong though?
Click to expand...
I have the SK-5 version. If I had to guess, I'd recommend 3v, since I can't say how the stainless will work, especially the cheap 4034 Cold Steel is using now. My best advice is to watch a few forum exchanges and wait for an SK-5 or even Carbon V version to pop up.
 
Well, based on everyone's advice I pulled the trigger and ordered a BK21 and a set of micarta scales. Now I just have to wait for it to arrive.

I will definitely make myself a decent leather sheath for it though, the nylon one it comes with looks terrible. When it arrives and I've finished the sheath I will probably post some knife porn 😆

Thanks for the advice everyone! 👍
 
Good choice! I agree with you on the sheath. Functional, not pretty. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
 
I feel like Ka-Bar is doing this a lot, they produce a top quality knife but sell it with a sub standard quality sheath. I'm sure most folks would willingly pay a few extra dollars for a decent leather or kydex sheath?

Oh well, at least it gives me a good reason to justify buying more leather and leatherwork tools/gadgets!
 
ARBY20 said:
How do you rate the BK21 for more heavy duty tasks like batoning?
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I would imagine the BK21 would handle a baton just fine. It is a survival kukri, after all, whether that's in the backwoods, or the front doorway of your house.
It's light for a kukri, heavy for a short machete, and doesn't have a terribly acute forward drop to the blade. Light to medium brush, woody plants, and vines
are easy work with less chance of an over-swing. Also, the micarta gives a more tactile, controlled, confident grip. And, while I think it's a little bit short for a
fighting kukri, it does have very good balance. If it came with a DECENT leather sheath, it'd be damn near perfect.
 
ARBY20 said:
Haha, I am definitely leaning more and more towards the BK21.

I do really like Ethan Becker's handle design, although I wish Ka-Bar would provide the micarta scales out of the box.

How do you rate the BK21 for more heavy duty tasks like batoning?
Click to expand...
I think it has the same/similar grind angles as the BK9.
which excels as knife work and battoning.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Are you a "kukri guy"?

I realized I'm not so much.... I Love Big blades, I love to chop and whack stuff!
Kukri's hit a little different. You have to focus, and pay attention More.


I have the Becker BK 21. It's very well built.
At the time it felt way more forward weighted than I'm used to.
I should probably dig it out again, and try it more?

If you like that style. I'm confident you will be happy with the Becker.
It's the one I'd definitely recommend.

The only thing I can mildly complain about is that it's a little tricky getting it back in it's sheath. The clasps/straps get in the way, and I feel like I'm going to either cut them, or myself trying to slip the knife in.
You will probably want an aftermarket kydex
ARBY20 said:
I'm thinking of picking up another kukri style knife/machete, because I still don't have enough......;)

I have narrowed my search down to a Ka-Bar Becker BK21 or a Condor K-Tact Kukri.

I like that the BK21 is more "machete" like, but I also like the extra weight and more "traditional" kukri profile the K-Tact has. My only real concern with the K-Tact is how the pommel is held on, I believe it's epoxied? Perhaps someone who owns one could correct me?

Anyway, I would appreciate everyone's thoughts and opinions on which way I should go.
Click to expand...

The Condor K-Tact is not a machete, but a modern take-off of machetes that originated overseas. The Becker 21 could be used as a machete, but the Becker- Rhinehardt BK 21 is a more slender blade, vis-a-vis blade thickness, than similar blades of same size one would find in Asia. It is also far more supple and light, than its Asian counterparts. The K-Tact is concealable. If you were a professional athlete, and big or tall, maybe the Becker- Rhinehardt could be concealed. Both are well made, in every respect. For my Becker 21, I went with the Micarta scales, also from Ka-Bar. The grips that come with the Condor, I’m not aware of how they might be changed. As is, they work wonderfully. Both superb blades. Both companies provide superb products for the price. If you decide you must have a machete, Condor makes very good ones. If you need to apply force for close-in social difficulties, the Condor K-Tact is more than adequate, and is of a better designed product, than most other “tactical” Kukris. I purchased an additional original sheath from Ka-Bar, as well as a Kydex sheath from Amazon, for the Becker- Rhinehardt BK 21. The sheath for the Condor K-Tact is Kydex, and needs no modifications, and is as good as it gets, for a OEM supplied sheath. Again, both blades are superb.
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Hope this sheds more light…
 
Thanks again for all the input everyone 👍

I went with the BK21 and ordered some OEM micarta scales, just waiting for it to arrive now! Can't wait to put it to work!
 
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