Are the tweeners really more than a BK2?

[CCMI]

Beckers are value knives, but they're not free

Except for all the giveaways and contests

 

[wildmanh]

The smaller knife should cost less to make if they are making equal quantities. Tolerances are most likely comperable and they are milled by machines.

The BK2 is their best selling Becker knife therefore they can sell more of them at lower prices. The more you make of anything the lower the unit cost is. It's that simple.

Same for the sheaths except the BK2 sheath only fits the BK2 but all 3 tweeners share the same sheath. I think they still sell more BK2's than all tweeners combined.

The standard production Tweeners have been out for a few weeks (Mid April) where as the BK2 has been out for many years. It's no surprise that the BK2 sells better. Give the tweeners a few years and then see which one sells better. As the saying goes, only time will tell.

 

[Moosez45]

The standard production Tweeners have been out for a few weeks (Mid April) where as the BK2 has been out for many years. It's no surprise that the BK2 sells better. Give the tweeners a few years and then see which one sells better. As the saying goes, only time will tell.

It will be the BK2. Hands down. Most knife for the money on the planet. Its been around 30yrs, and not much has changed in it.

Did Ethan invent the 1/4" thick knife? Hell now, but it was the one that made thick knives popular. Or at least in that configuration, because it can cut. And cut well, the tall blade allow for a thinner edge, and still be tough as hell.


We'll look at the 3/4 Kabar American Legends, the actually cost more to make, and all of the smaller blades cost more to make. That's straight from the engineers and design techs at Kabar. It doesn't seem like is would, but real world, it does.

Less material, but more processes involved in making them. Labor hours make up the largest percentage of creating the knife, not the material. Say you got a super hyper badass steel, well, it takes longer to grind, eats up more bits/belts, and time to get it turned into a knife.

Even with common steel such as 1095CV, on smaller blades, there is just more time in making them.


Moose

 

[wildmanh]

Moose, thank you for your insight about the BK2 and popularity.

I've learned from personal experience that even if a product is smaller and is has less material, It can still cost the same or more to make then the same item thats bigger. Time IE Labor costs can and most often do go up. There is a saying "It's harder to make a machine to do small things then it is to make a machine do big things".

 

[collecter]

smaller blades cost more to make. That's straight from the engineers and design techs at Kabar.
Moose

From a manufacturing standpoint the "slightly" smaller tweener costs less to make if you are making equal quantities.

BK2 msrp is $112.06, BK16 msrp is $107.49. What does that tell you?

When the tech told you "smaller" I think you are mistsking it for "a lot smaller".

There's a lot of BS in this industry but I'm in engineering and manufacturing so what do I know?

 

[CShepherd]

In the case of the tweeners compared to the BK2 there are several contributing factors to the cost. With the tweeners (at least the 15 and 17) they have a more complicated bevel and shape to the blade compared to the BK2. You also get two sets of handles, and the sheath is definitely more expensive than the BK2.

Get one, you won't regret it.

Charlie

 

[collecter]

The BS will continue even if we don't agree so carry on.

To the op, whats the price difference, like $6? Did you buy on yet?