Another camp out, BK7 wins again!

Y

YellowSwiss

Joined
Sep 28, 2015
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Well, I went out on another camping trip (sorry, no pics since I went technology free), with the intention to put my BK16 through its paces. I love that knife, but ended up switching back to the BK7 rather quickly. Now, before anyone gets angry, I am not knocking the BK16 at all. No, these excursions are a quest to find the closest thing I can to "the one" knife I want to take along.

The BK16 does an awesome job at every task...and I am glad to have her, but the BK7 just feels right. Heck, even delicate work seems easy despite its size. I have to say I was a bit surprised. I really expected the BK16 to be my go to.

With all that said, the BK16, with an axe and a saw, would be sufficient to rebuild society in my opinion...I just went looking for a knife to fill a role that the BK7 handles with aplomb.
 
Woo!
I just got my first BK-7, and I like the new high-grind version a LOT.
Great choice!
 
YellowSwiss said:
With all that said, the BK16, with an axe and a saw, would be sufficient to rebuild society in my opinion...I just went looking for a knife to fill a role that the BK7 handles with aplomb.
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I know there isn't a knife that can do everything well, a perfect knife for every situation, but I really think there can be a perfect knife for an individual despite the knife not being able to do it all well. Sounds like you found yours :thumb up:

I like the combination of tools to rebuild society :D

Great use of "aplomb".
 
daizee said:
Woo!
I just got my first BK-7, and I like the new high-grind version a LOT.
Great choice!
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware of the new high grind version. Does it have a new designation, or exactly how do I spot one?
 
52100 said:
I wasn't aware of the new high grind version. Does it have a new designation, or exactly how do I spot one?
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well.... no new designation.
The ones I've seen have the new coating, laser etch, and the top of the grind is right at the etched logo, rather than down in the middle of the handle bolt, if that makes sense. It makes for a much more efficient cutting blade. It should be a smidge lighter too.
 
OK thanks for the explanation. I've got both stamped and etched 7's so I'll have to go compare them. I guess I got distracted by the etching and bed liner finish, and didn't notice the new grind.
 
daizee said:
well.... no new designation.
The ones I've seen have the new coating, laser etch, and the top of the grind is right at the etched logo, rather than down in the middle of the handle bolt, if that makes sense. It makes for a much more efficient cutting blade. It should be a smidge lighter too.
Click to expand...

There was always some manufacturing variation, but never by design. My BK-7 grind starts almost 1/8" higher on one side. In theory, they should all be the same.
 
YellowSwiss said:
Well, I went out on another camping trip (sorry, no pics since I went technology free), with the intention to put my BK16 through its paces. I love that knife, but ended up switching back to the BK7 rather quickly. Now, before anyone gets angry, I am not knocking the BK16 at all. No, these excursions are a quest to find the closest thing I can to "the one" knife I want to take along.

The BK16 does an awesome job at every task...and I am glad to have her, but the BK7 just feels right. Heck, even delicate work seems easy despite its size. I have to say I was a bit surprised. I really expected the BK16 to be my go to.

With all that said, the BK16, with an axe and a saw, would be sufficient to rebuild society in my opinion...I just went looking for a knife to fill a role that the BK7 handles with aplomb.
Click to expand...

Yep, BK-7 is the best Becker knife.
 
I couldn't agree more

e3998570c4f97468460b77c278a04fb7.jpg
This is my normal carry in the woods

51b90c6a642c3974c20801027e87a238.jpg
If it's only the one knife, this is the setup I go to
 
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bghorn said:
There was always some manufacturing variation, but never by design. My BK-7 grind starts almost 1/8" higher on one side. In theory, they should all be the same.
Click to expand...

That makes more sense. I can see the justification for switching to the laser etch and even the bedliner coating, but that shouldn't have a bearing on the geometry of blade. I've got enough BK7's to represent a pretty solid sampling in both quantity and range of production. Someday I should dig 'em all out and compare them side by side. I've never done that, and each one individually looks just like a BK7 should.
 
Beckers are ground by hand, so there is always going to be some variation in the grinds. Some are a bit more extreme than others, but unless they really messed up it shouldn't hurt the usability of the blade. :thumbup:
 
I didn't realize Beckers were ground by hand..................they're very consistent (comparatively), so I assumed they were at least held in a jig of some sort.

In very related news, I can tell that Tooj is working his magic over at OKC, because I had a nicely ground SP10 arrive today, and the build date was Aug 15. Two previous attempts (with much earlier build dates) looked a lot more free-handed in the swedge area.
 
The higher grind gives the 7 roughly the same blade geometry as the 9, but without the extra weight for chopping. Note that the 9's blade is taller. I think this is a great trade-off. I wish my 10's grind was the same as my new 7's, but since the 10 is my TEOTWAWKI knife, maybe a bit stouter isn't a bad thing. (without going full-on BK-2, which is too much for me)
 
I don't have one yet, but thanks to this thread and others... the BK7 has been whispering a seductive song in my ear.
 
Don't fight it.................not allowing the 7's greatness in your life is just lost time and opportunity. ;)
 
I have a BK9 and a BK2, I just can't see myself giving a BK7 the use it deserves in the field. My BK5 is languishing as it is, barely used and waiting for the right time for it to be taken on a trip, a BK7 just couldn't beat out the BK9 I have for my all-day carry, and my BK2 is the ultimate backup emergency knife for when I don't have my BK9.
 
Honestly, if you never left the house with your BK7 you'd still love the thing. I spent a month at work last year writing reports (yes that month SUCKED) and kept a 7 on my desk to hold and "relax" a little between typing. Surprisingly therapeutic. In my pre-child days I watched TV while holding potentially dangerous tools also, but now the "surprise attacks" from a very active 4yr old boy prevents that.

Anyway, the BK9 is the undisputed king, not doubt, and the BK2 does create a certain peace of mind knowing that it'd be hard to break even if you were trying to. But if you owned a 7, you'd be looking for a niche to employ it because it's just so well balanced and generally freakin' awesome.
 
52100 said:
Surprisingly therapeutic. In my pre-child days I watched TV while holding potentially dangerous tools also,
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This is me lol! If my girlfriend walks in and I've got a half-dozen blades on the coffee table she doesn't even blink anymore :D
 
KingMC said:
I have a BK9 and a BK2, I just can't see myself giving a BK7 the use it deserves in the field. My BK5 is languishing as it is, barely used and waiting for the right time for it to be taken on a trip, a BK7 just couldn't beat out the BK9 I have for my all-day carry, and my BK2 is the ultimate backup emergency knife for when I don't have my BK9.
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I was the same way till I got the 7 now the 9 stays home or if it comes its not used, the 7 has taken its place
 
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