ARRGH! BK5 is awsome but the sheath is pathetic, I'm mailing it back to Ethan!

[rigid650]

btw, how much did Bussseee sell those for? because i have a funny response for ya

originally, not a clue, these pics were from a for sale post in 2011 here on the forum, some guy got $20 each for all 3 within 18 minutes of posting

they seem to be sought after...

 

[Bladite]

originally, not a clue, these pics were from a for sale post in 2011 here on the forum, some guy got $20 each for all 3 within 18 minutes of posting

they seem to be sought after...

amusing. also made in mexico, eh?

oh, and one of the rivets on one of those is WAY off. talk about quality :>

to also chime in there with Ethan - if you want something made in America, the first step is to find someone that CAN make it, has the capacity to make it (ie: available roundtuits), and many other factors, price being one of the LEAST of issues sometimes.

want an american made axe? not many factories can do that. sheaths? darn few of those guys around too, not for factory level output. not saying there aren't any, but getting the project going? good luck.

made in america is awesome, but if you can't get a maker to step up, well, you find someone that will.

 

[TwinStick]

Late to the party, i know. Hey, everyone has their opinion, i know. Some people just have a more difficult time expressing what they really mean----or not. The OP is just looking at the glass as half empty, instead of half full.

I think the Becker sheaths are brilliant !!! Why, you ask. Because sheaths are like your taste in (fill in the blank), everyone likes something different. What is awesome for me, may suck for you. It may be color, looks, quality, execution, functionality, whatever. You could always modify it to your liking---or not. Anyways, i think they are brilliant because by being an inexpensive sheath, it allows you to buy the knife cheaper & have more money for a custom sheath. A custom sheath can make even a junky old knife carry MUCH better. IMHO, ANY KNIFE, that you really like, should have a custom sheath anyways. Different knives have different uses & need to be carried different ways. It is not unheard of for some to have 2 or 3 or more custom sheaths for the same knife. I am even looking at getting a lefty sheath & i am right handed. (Handy when carrying a pistol on my right hip) Options are goooood IMO.

 

[Nsvens89]

All I have to say is Ethan you are one cool dude. :thumbup: :thumbup: You make amazing knives that I am proud to own.

 

[DeadFall27]

All I have to say is Ethan you are one cool dude. :thumbup: :thumbup: You make amazing knives that I am proud to own.

Couldn't have said it better myself right now! Ironic to say the least as since I am currently in my 'crazy writer mode' at the moment

 

[EseeDownUnder]

I've purchased a BK2 and BK10 LE, the BK2 having the better sheath of the two. The 10 didn't have the best sheath BUT I didn't buy a sheath I bought firstly a knife, in this price range if the sheath is great that's a bonus. I think Kabar's marketing strategy was sell a great knife that the working man can afford & ship it in a sheath to protect the blade until it arrives at its new owner.
The tweeners are more specifically their sheaths are proof that complaints haven't fallen on deaf ears.

I'm in Aus, what I spend on shipping is more than you paid for the BK5.

 

[bullet4x4]

Thin skinned bunch here !!

 

[Bladite]

Thin skinned bunch here !!

good 8th post

 

[bullet4x4]

good 8th post

Thanks

 

[collecter]

Ethan thanks for reading my post. I trust that you know I mean no disrespect to you. My message was heard thanks to all the attention it received.

You wrote that people don't buy the knife for the sheath. I disagree. I claim that people don't know any better.

Descriptions usually focus on the knife and rarely cover the sheath. Normally the only description of the sheath is the material it's made from.

If people understood the performance and quality of the sheath it would
impact their decision. They are fooled by the lack of description. This is
especially true for today's on-line buying experience.


I don't want the sheath that came with my knife. I will mail it to anyone that wants it as soon as I find a replacement. Just send me your mailing address. Ethan it's yours if you want it but I suspect you wouldn't choose it for your knife.

We all know that a knife and a sheath form a system. One isn't complete without the other.

I'm capable of making my own sheaths and knives but sometimes I just want a good quality brand name production knife with a sheath all from one source. And my hope is that the sheath and knife match.

Is that too much to ask for?

Regarding the cost of the sheath. I know it doesn't cost any more to design/fabicate the insert to be formed to the blade than it does to make it like it is now. Perhaps it's shared with several other knives that kabar offers but that's of no concern to me. I bought the BK5 with a BK5 sheath, or at least that's what I expected!

All the best,

 

[C_Tanner]

Deleted post and moved to seperate thread for less confusion...

 

[momouppa]

the sheaths aren't good and in Australia it is impossible to get a custom made sheath that doesn't cost less than shipping from the US Even though I don't like the sheath for my 7 I realise that it is why the becker line is so good it is because you can make a mass produced knife your own for little cost.

 

[Ethan Becker]

Hey Collector.....

Actuallly it does cost more......There are savings to be had in having sheath.commonality between several knife models.....I actually designed about five Tweeners to fit in the same sheath.....There was a recurve, a tanto a small tactul.........Recurves are out of fashion right now, the general consensus was that the tanto would not sell well and the small tactul was a club.......( there was a combat kitchen knife too but it required a seperate sheath and I would not have bought one)..........Unfortunately not all my ideas are as clever as they appear at the time of conception........

I am sorry that you remain unhappy but I am unsure how to make you a happy person about this.........When thinking about the current market place other than custom sheathmakers say Spec Ops or Eagle pouch style sheaths are also designed to fit more than one style of knife and are NOT custom molded to each individual knife and they are NOT cheap...

I would love to be able to offer Custom quality Kydex, leather,or a custom fit pouch to you and have the price remain equal........But I just do not know how........I am open to ideas and would welcome yours as to how to achieve this....

All Best......

Ethan

 

[LECTER]

Hey Collector!

How about you send me the sheath and I'll send you Ethan?

 

[BaldingEagle]

I look at it this way................If you buy a new deer rifle, you could shoot it with iron sights. Most likely you have to buy some glass to mount on it. Chances are, good glass will cost as much, or more than the rifle. Pretty much the same when buying a good knife.

Just one mans opinion
Cheers
Balding

 

[dericdesmond]

btw, how much did Bussseee sell those for? because i have a funny response for ya

Man you mention busse more then I do and I actually like them. (I search the term regularly and it often leads me to your posts)

You can score a large sheath similar to those for a 10 inch blade for $20 form the scrapyard site. I think when busse offered them they were included with the knife :thumbup:

 

[C_Tanner]

This is becoming like that kid in Shrek 4 saying "Do the Roar!"

(thanks youtube...you never fail me!)

[video=youtube;gWbaDmzCu8g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWbaDmzCu8g[/video]

 

[Bladite]

Hey Collector!

How about you send me the sheath and I'll send you Ethan?

I got first dibs but Ethan said he'd take it and put one of his expensive customs into it.

the Spec ops sheath fits the BK5 (and BK3 and with tweaks the BK7) just fine. REALLLLLY fine. it's just going to cost $$. there ain't no knife maker going to sell a sheath like that without double the price of the offering, which means for most people: no sale. marketing says: sell the to best common market.

Man you mention busse more then I do and I actually like them. (I search the term regularly and it often leads me to your posts)

You can score a large sheath similar to those for a 10 inch blade for $20 form the scrapyard site. I think when busse offered them they were included with the knife :thumbup:

i deliberately misspell it... so someone searching on the proper spelling doesn't have to see them i like them. i intend to own a few too but they are the prime example of a few tropes, so it's mentioned a lot "big thick massive expensive", but sheath usually doesn't come up.

 

[LECTER]

the Spec ops sheath fits the BK5 (and BK3 and with tweaks the BK7) just fine. REALLLLLY fine. it's just going to cost $$.

It also fits the 2 very well! I have one.

 

[Bladite]

It also fits the 2 very well! I have one.

that's the shorty isn't it? yeah, i have one. works okay!

the other 3 fit the standard (long). somewhat universal sheath that.

there are many bitter complaints about the 9 not fitting.

where's the specops sheath for the BK13? geez. step up!