Another Becker Hater?

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jius said:
People are free to like or hate the BK2 as they wish, but what gets me is always the complaints and whinging about one blade not doing it all. I mean come on, if you are such a great Scout leader the first thing you instill into young cub scouts is the motto BE PREPARED. I was taught to prepare with thought and careful planning. Plus never rely on one knife, always have a back-up. A BK2 with a good lockable SAK gives me a secondary for small tasks. Likewise a little Mora could be a back-up to a BK2, BK4, BK9, etc. If you were being chased by Zombies or aliens, or some Washington State, Small Town PD into the woods, yeah you might only have one knife. But in a pre-planned camp out, why the hell only take one knife?. BK2 is freakin great knife, but no letter opener or fine precision for removing a spell/splinter. You would not take a sledgehammer to crack a nut or use an axe to peel the potatoes (unless pushed). The whole article just seems to say to me - these Scouts need to harken to a better Leader who follows the Motto.
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IMO it's because that's exactly what a lot of folks around here and in other reviews describe it as. Obviously it's not possible, but if you see a lot of reviews that say it's THE do it all knife, you're going to expect that out of it.
 
pre-planned campouts usually involve at least 4 knives for me: a folder in the pocket, small fixed for the harder-use work the folder isn't cut out to do, a medium-sized fixed blade for when the small knife isn't big enough, and a big chopper for the really dirty work.

If I'm testing out new knives, though, I often have more than just the 4. I figure it's better to have too many knives and not use them all, than not enough knives and be wanting for one you don't have with you.
 
Bladite said:
right tool, for the right job

want to chop? get an axe, or a hatchet, or a khukri

want to split? get a damned splitting axe, avoid fir and xmas trees... or a maul and wedge. or hydraulics :D

want to make feather sticks? mora!

want to prep food and make a million feather thin slices? beriner mandoline. or a good chef knife

want to skin an animal? well, more options...

want to open packages? get some EMT shears ;)

etc :D
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Right! I mean, who the hell needs a knife when you can have a whole toolbox full of the "right" tools?
 
Noswad0208 said:
IMO it's because that's exactly what a lot of folks around here and in other reviews describe it as. Obviously it's not possible, but if you see a lot of reviews that say it's THE do it all knife, you're going to expect that out of it.
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I think it's all down to a few factors 1) Naïvity in believing in a one knife for all tasks and execute them perfectly. 2) People think a one knife will be the be-all-and-end-all for all their apocalypse needs 3) Marketed/reviewed as a 'one knife for all' by reviewers/sales people, because of the amount of those people covered in no.1 and No.2.

Is it a great knife? - hell yes. Will it do a range of tasks other knives perhaps cannot? - yes and no (depends on the user). Can it cut up a vehicle? - yes, Can you use it for an emergency open heart surgery during a nuclear holocaust? - unlikely. Is it a one stop shop? - No.

It really is all down to the user and how and what tools they use. I've been in bush with Mayans/Aztecs who use a machete in the most skilled of ways, but also with North Europeans who much prefer axes and easy access neck knives. Each to their own ways with no one way being better than another, far better to learn skills, so if you are in a zombie outbreak the nearest knife you can grab will be your most effective, rather than just read peoples opinions and put all your faith into them. If we all followed an infamous ex-blade forum members opinions or techniques, or that of some other "experts" we may as well throw the knife away and become Zombies.
 
Yeah, this guy is not what I would call a hater. It just sounds like he had a learning experience, and now has different preferences than he had initially.

His experience is similar to mine actually. I got mine expecting similar things, and had somewhat similar experiences. I found out through experimentation I'm a fan of at least two blades on an outing. The bk2 of mine most just sits around now, as I carry my Mora and Bk9 on most trips. I've found that I have no need for .25in of blade stock in a knife that size.

Does that make me a Becker hater?

Also, id like to point out that he could have battoned the wood in smaller sections, rather than just down the middle. Also, using a baton for cross grain cutting makes it a lot more effective as well.

But yeah, if I was doing it over again id have purchased the bk10 or bk16 first. Does that mean I didn't learn stuff from the bk2? Nope, I've enjoyed the ride, and what I've learned.
 
I thought it was a fair review. The 2 is not for everyone. I do think many expect miracles from knives. The 2 is good at most things. It is not excellent at woodcarving, for example. But, it is well designed, reliable(strong + quality materials)and easy to maintain.
 
jius said:
I think it's all down to a few factors 1) Naïvity in believing in a one knife for all tasks and execute them perfectly. 2) People think a one knife will be the be-all-and-end-all for all their apocalypse needs 3) Marketed/reviewed as a 'one knife for all' by reviewers/sales people, because of the amount of those people covered in no.1 and No.2.

Is it a great knife? - hell yes. Will it do a range of tasks other knives perhaps cannot? - yes and no (depends on the user). Can it cut up a vehicle? - yes, Can you use it for an emergency open heart surgery during a nuclear holocaust? - unlikely. Is it a one stop shop? - No.

It really is all down to the user and how and what tools they use. I've been in bush with Mayans/Aztecs who use a machete in the most skilled of ways, but also with North Europeans who much prefer axes and easy access neck knives. Each to their own ways with no one way being better than another, far better to learn skills, so if you are in a zombie outbreak the nearest knife you can grab will be your most effective, rather than just read peoples opinions and put all your faith into them. If we all followed an infamous ex-blade forum members opinions or techniques, or that of some other "experts" we may as well throw the knife away and become Zombies.
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Exactly. He expected more of the knife than he should have, but by no means does that make him a "Becker hater." The 2 isn't my cup of tea, the 16 is alright, but I like my 15 better, the 7 is alright, but I don't want one. I'm not a hater because I don't care as much for them as others. Heck, I like the knives I just mentioned, they just don't suit me. Am I a Becker hater? No, I just have different tastes.
 
I still say for me personally it's a toss up? If you said I could carry just one knife? I'd flip a quarter and heads I'd go with the Bk2 tails Bk9 I'd feel equally prepared to handle anything Mother Nature or mother.........'s could throw at me. Period! Well done on both Mr. Becker well done.
 
I read the article just now. I wasn't as vicious as I'd expected. As far as the complaints he has, they're commonplace for those that aren't big BK2 fans. I would give him a BK9 and a BK14 or just a BK16. I believe those would fill the hole he has in his heart. The handle bolts can be easily remedied with nylock nuts. Sheaths, eh nobody is ever happy with those. The innertube on the handle is a common practice or he could upgrade to micarta. My only real issue with his experience is the weight thing. If a pound of steel is too much for him just over a weekend/week period, I'm going to guess he isn't sporting a weight lifting scout badge.
 
I've read/heard a lot of people with those same complaints. To me, it just tells me these people don't really have a hole lot of experience, or knife skill at all. Seems like every newbie to the "survivalist" lifestyle starts out with a
.25" thick blade, and doesn't know what to think when they use it for the first time, and it doesn't shave like a razor. It kills me when people call the 2 a chopper. It would need another 3" minimum to be in that class. It's just too short. I would tell this guy to actually spend some time USING the knife instead of walking around with it.
 
I think part of the problem is that he decided to use a knife he'd never used before in front of of a bunch of kids and because he didn't properly evaluate what he'd likely have to use it for, he ended up embarrassing himself in front of them. In the final analysis, he chose the wrong tool for what he was trying to accomplish. That wasn't the tool's fault. But it was easier for him to clean the egg off the knife than it was to clean it off his face. So the knife ended up taking the blame.
 
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CM_Rick said:
It kills me when people call the 2 a chopper. It would need another 3" minimum to be in that class. It's just too short.
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A BK-2, 8" long! I'd buy one in a heartbeat even with the current U.S.-Canadian exchange rate.

Doc
 
The BK-2 CAN chop and it CAN slice . . . it's just not ideal at either. What it is ideal at doing is performing those functions in a compact package which can also double as a prybar and a breaching tool. I always considered the BK-2 to be purpose-built for use in environments that put life and limb at risk. Are there better choices for use in environments that don't? I think so. That's why I sold mine.
 
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I am surprised at the reaction to this guy's article on a forum for knife enthusiasts. Everything he said made a lot of sense. That BK2 is just not well suited to the kind of camping environment he was in, and dare i say it, any of us would be in. I would love it to be the case that a plain, cheap, functional and very lightweight knife like a Mora or Rat2 wasn't the best knife for camping or survival scenarios, but unfortunately, they are the right type of knife for those applications.
 
Well perhaps part of the reaction was a desire to help the guy save face. But yeah, it's pretty clear he chose the wrong tool. Having said that, I don't think I'd have taken a Mora or a Rat2 into an environment where I knew I was going to have do some chopping and batoning. There are plenty of other choices besides the knives you mentioned and a BK-2 that would perform beautifully in that kind of environment, however, not the least of which is a BK-7.
 
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This is the best laugh all week. Cause its true!...Cheers.
upnorth said:
It's just a friggin knife. You like/want it or you don't. Some of these guys (link) go on like they're having an intense emotional relationship with an inanimate object.
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Well i agree with you to an extent, except that my point is there is no such environment where you need to do chopping and batoning. Those tasks are simply invented by people who would like to have a need to carry a large insuitable knife everywhere they go, for a task that they will never need to complete.

Sure a BK may look good, but as the article demonstrates, looks count for very little when you actually need to a knife to function as a survival tool in an outdoor environment, particularly a trekking or a survival environment, where things like weight and dexterity may actually make a significant difference to your survival. Thats why the trekking community have gravitated toward the Mora knife. I am not a Mora fan, but reluctantly have to acknowledge this type of knife is what you should be carrying in those situations. So does the author of the article.

There may be a place for something like a BK 2 in a vehicle borne outdoor environment, or a military situation, where weight doesn't matter as much and the knife may have to be used for non-typical functions as an entry tool etc.


bld522 said:
Well perhaps part of the reaction was a desire to help the guy save face. But yeah, it's pretty clear he chose the wrong tool. Having said that, I don't think I'd have taken a Mora or a Rat2 into an environment where I knew I was going to have do some chopping and batoning. There are plenty of other choices besides the knives you mentioned and a BK-2 that would perform beautifully in that kind of environment, however, not the least of which is a BK-7.
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The saber grind and especially the full tang are really what adds a lot of weight... 16 ounces for a 5.25" blade(!)... The handle looks completely oversized to its blade, and most of the weight is in the handle, where it does no good for chopping... It doesn't really make much sense...

To put it in perspective, the pre-dot Lile "Mission" I have has a 2 inch wide per 10" long blade, is also from 1/4" stock, and weights 16.9 ounces...

On a per weight basis I think it gives a little more... Just a little...

Gaston
 
Camillus said:
Well i agree with you to an extent, except that my point is there is no such environment where you need to do chopping and batoning. Those tasks are simply invented by people who would like to have a need to carry a large insuitable knife everywhere they go, for a task that they will never need to complete.

Sure a BK may look good, but as the article demonstrates, looks count for very little when you actually need to a knife to function as a survival tool in an outdoor environment, particularly a trekking or a survival environment, where things like weight and dexterity may actually make a significant difference to your survival. Thats why the trekking community have gravitated toward the Mora knife. I am not a Mora fan, but reluctantly have to acknowledge this type of knife is what you should be carrying in those situations. So does the author of the article.

There may be a place for something like a BK 2 in a vehicle borne outdoor environment, or a military situation, where weight doesn't matter as much and the knife may have to be used for non-typical functions as an entry tool etc.
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Agree to disagree (to an extent).

I think saying that there is not an environment where chopping or batoning makes sense is a bit too broad, but I will say that it doesn't make sense in all cases at all. I think that the fact that the Leuku and khukri existed "historically" (let alone any other chopping implements like goloks, parangs, etc) should indicate that large "survival knives" haven't just been invented to make people feel tougher or something like that. Larger blades make a whole bunch of sense for certain types of use, but yes, if you're doing distance hiking, I see very little reason to bring something like a BK2 over a Mora (and I am a fan of Moras).

But I too find that the BK2 might be a good "truck" knife, as while it is capable of many things, it is not (as you say) especially great at many either. But for some roles that versatility can be useful.

Gaston444 said:
The saber grind and especially the full tang are really what adds a lot of weight... 16 ounces for a 5.25" blade(!)... The handle looks completely oversized to its blade, and most of the weight is in the handle, where it does no good for chopping... It doesn't really make much sense...

To put it in perspective, the pre-dot Lile "Mission" I have has a 2 inch wide per 10" long blade, is also from 1/4" stock, and weights 16.9 ounces...

On a per weight basis I think it gives a little more... Just a little...

Gaston
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The tang is skeletonized to bring the weight bias more forward, and to lose a bit of weight. Now, I don't have mine with me (I'm at work at the moment), but I don't recall it being handle heavy (speaking of the balance point), perhaps someone could confirm. If I recall correctly, some of the older versions were 100% solid tangs, which would likely do what you describe.

I've always thought it felt like they shrunk down a larger knife to make the BK2. Its like a big knife in the blade length of a midsized knife.

But yeah, no idea why anyone would ever want to use it to chop (or at least call it a "chopper"). And with a 5in blade, its not even great at limbing, which I think is traditionally one of the strong points of a larger knife. Holding it in a rearward grip makes it chop better than most any other knife in its size class, but thats somewhat like saying it has the best towing capacity of any midsize car... if you're wanting to tow (chop), you should be looking at something different to begin with.
 
The author of that article does seem to place blame and dissapointment on the knife, but I think his experience is understandable since he hadn't handled the knife before. I've spent enough time on the internet where I know which sources and reviewers have a like mind to myself and how much faith I can put into a review, but I do own a few knives that I thought I'd absolutely love, but I found once I actually got to hold it and use it, it wasn't what I was hoping for based on what I had heard about it.
 
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