- Joined
- Nov 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,642
Let me start by saying I love this knife, there are pics floating around of mine, a Camillus version, that is beat to hell and still kicking.
From 99 to 2001 this was my one knife, more so than any other, literally, I had a studio apartment in Reno, NV and this was my steak knife, chef knife, camp knife and fall back self defense tool. So to say I am familiar with it is an understatement.
I gave it to my little brother when I thought it was to be replaced by something better, that something turned over the years to many things.
The Other Things, I thought would do better...
-Himalayan Imports AK Bowies, too fat, too heavy.
-Busse Basic 11-Nice knife, came close, ultimately though, stupid expensive, everytime I picked it up my first thought drifted to how much money I spent on it. That's not cool.
-RTAKs 1 and 2, both felt weird, handles didn't do anything for me, hot spots, etc. then the day the RTAK II went to the Sierra Nevada's for a week long trip and left me with a hybrid sickle/cleaver after hitting knots in a piece of wood.
-Kershaw Outcast I just got this one, like the looks, but in the hand, it's weird, everything I didn't and don't like about the KAI Shun Chef's knife in a tactical black package. Have to admit though, the blade is damned sexy.
-Cold Steel Gurkha, great knife, just awesome at chopping, and if I could only have one knife in a zombie apocalypse, this it would be, too heavy though, kitchen/camp prep is a joke with it.
-Scrapyard Dogfather LE, this was it, really it, this was the knife to replace the BK9, this had it all, ergos, balance, looks, c'mon it's a beast. Then the secondary market hit it and suddenly it's a Busse Jr. for no good reason it got expensive, a collectors item and that weighed on me because I collect some knives, but users get beaten, regularly. Then a funny thing happened I traded it, and never missed it.
Finally, I got to thinking about my ten year old BK9, it was cooped up in a closet in Covina, California, doing time in suburbia watching a 18 year old kid play PS3 games.
...So I went to visit my old friend.
When I went to the closet I was mad. The BK9 was there, rust had bitten the spots worn by blood and sweat. This was unacceptable, I told my brother the BK9 was going back up in the hills with me, (I traded him and Xbox game for it back) he could care less.
So I took the knife home, took off it's boots and went to work, stripping the rust and painting the undercarriage, then sealing it with clear coat nail polish. The blade was already convexed by hand some 8 years ago and still working sharp, so it was steel wool to the rust then a patina on the non black portion with mustard/vinegar/lemon juice overnight.
Now it's back, not in the rotation but back nonetheless, and a new BK9 from KaBar is coming, knock on wood.
So, ultimately a replacement was found, a new BK9, because changing for change sake is fun, but like the friends you make when you are 9, somethings are just better with time.
BK9 and friends...
From 99 to 2001 this was my one knife, more so than any other, literally, I had a studio apartment in Reno, NV and this was my steak knife, chef knife, camp knife and fall back self defense tool. So to say I am familiar with it is an understatement.
I gave it to my little brother when I thought it was to be replaced by something better, that something turned over the years to many things.
The Other Things, I thought would do better...
-Himalayan Imports AK Bowies, too fat, too heavy.
-Busse Basic 11-Nice knife, came close, ultimately though, stupid expensive, everytime I picked it up my first thought drifted to how much money I spent on it. That's not cool.
-RTAKs 1 and 2, both felt weird, handles didn't do anything for me, hot spots, etc. then the day the RTAK II went to the Sierra Nevada's for a week long trip and left me with a hybrid sickle/cleaver after hitting knots in a piece of wood.
-Kershaw Outcast I just got this one, like the looks, but in the hand, it's weird, everything I didn't and don't like about the KAI Shun Chef's knife in a tactical black package. Have to admit though, the blade is damned sexy.
-Cold Steel Gurkha, great knife, just awesome at chopping, and if I could only have one knife in a zombie apocalypse, this it would be, too heavy though, kitchen/camp prep is a joke with it.
-Scrapyard Dogfather LE, this was it, really it, this was the knife to replace the BK9, this had it all, ergos, balance, looks, c'mon it's a beast. Then the secondary market hit it and suddenly it's a Busse Jr. for no good reason it got expensive, a collectors item and that weighed on me because I collect some knives, but users get beaten, regularly. Then a funny thing happened I traded it, and never missed it.
Finally, I got to thinking about my ten year old BK9, it was cooped up in a closet in Covina, California, doing time in suburbia watching a 18 year old kid play PS3 games.
...So I went to visit my old friend.
When I went to the closet I was mad. The BK9 was there, rust had bitten the spots worn by blood and sweat. This was unacceptable, I told my brother the BK9 was going back up in the hills with me, (I traded him and Xbox game for it back) he could care less.
So I took the knife home, took off it's boots and went to work, stripping the rust and painting the undercarriage, then sealing it with clear coat nail polish. The blade was already convexed by hand some 8 years ago and still working sharp, so it was steel wool to the rust then a patina on the non black portion with mustard/vinegar/lemon juice overnight.
Now it's back, not in the rotation but back nonetheless, and a new BK9 from KaBar is coming, knock on wood.
So, ultimately a replacement was found, a new BK9, because changing for change sake is fun, but like the friends you make when you are 9, somethings are just better with time.
BK9 and friends...
costly mistake but definitely not as costly as yours though. good stuff.
D), I'm rough on them all and expect them to take it. If they can't I'll get something else that can.