Becker MachAx - Cincinnati - Performance?

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KnifeFury

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Sep 21, 2006
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I have a Becker BK1 Brute that I always take camping with me, a fantastic knife (I also have a BK6 Patrol Machete, another great tool). I have heard of the MachAx that started it all for Becker and recently saw one for sale.

This one was a "Becker MachAx - Cincinnati" and comparing the specifications to a current Becker Knife, it seems to be a completely different animal.

Comparison below to a Brute:
Brute (Camillus Website) MachAx (Ad for item)
Steel: 0170-6C (High Carbon); 4140 chrome moly
Hardness: 58-59 RC; 55 RC
Coating: Black epoxy; None

Does anyone have any experience with this particular Becker MachAx? Without a coating, with this steel type, how is the corrosion resistance? I have seen MachAx's with a coating and wonder if those are the better buy. Thanks for the help.
 
Does this one come with the leather sheath? They are a great knife, I don't care for the profile, even tho it is a great cutting tool. I like the BK9 better, and have a BK1 on order, even tho I may not receive it.
The Camillus I think is a better version, but just my opinion.
The Cincinnati was either a, nickel-phosphate finish, or a blue type finish with a military looking sheath, both in the 4140 which I think is a spring steel.
They were also made by Reinhardt with a nylon sheath and labeled as a Kukri.
 
That is what I was wondering, is it just a collection piece or is it a real user. My Wife does not like having as many knives as I do, lying around (although technically they are all locked up in a trunk).

I love to collect knives, but more along the lines of having a large arsenal for friends & family to choose from when we go camping! I do not really own a knife, to this date, I would not use! This one does look like an interesting toy.
 
KnifeFury said:
I have heard of the MachAx that started it all for Becker and recently saw one for sale.

This one was a "Becker MachAx - Cincinnati" and comparing the specifications to a current Becker Knife, it seems to be a completely different animal.

Comparison below to a Brute:
Brute (Camillus Website) MachAx (Ad for item)
Steel: 0170-6C (High Carbon); 4140 chrome moly
Hardness: 58-59 RC; 55 RC
Coating: Black epoxy; None

Does anyone have any experience with this particular Becker MachAx? Without a coating, with this steel type, how is the corrosion resistance? I have seen MachAx's with a coating and wonder if those are the better buy. Thanks for the help.
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ASGMachaxevaluation.jpg


This is a copy of an article that appeared in the now defunct American Survival Guide. It was this article that prompted me to buy one in approx. 1990. It was, then, and still is, my favourite knife. A friend of mine bought one of the last Camillus production Machax's. This one had the coating and I don't like it as well. I have the same coating on a BK-7 and understand why a lot of people remove it. I have had no problems with corrosion, of course, I don't leave it laying around in the rain.

The other thing is that although the handles on the Machax and the BK-7 are the same shape, the Machax handle is a lot more secure in the hand and feels much better - I don't know why this is. It almost seems like two different materials.

KnifeFury: That is what I was wondering, is it just a collection piece or is it a real user.
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If this isn't a real user, there is no such thing. It is also one of the best tools I've ever used to cut out a bow stave.

If I didn't already have one, knowing what I do, I'd be bidding, but I'm also not in to collecting.

If you have any other questions about it, feel free to ask.

Doc
 
Knifefury, do realize that, by posting them publicly among Camillus freaks, you're just chumming the waters for bidding sharks. :D

Better get out your wallet if you want one of those now. :D
 
I know, but my Wife has set a limit on how much I can bid anyway (since I just bought a Chris Reeve's Green Beret 7" - absolutely beautiful knife!) and she would be :mad: if I bought another knife, especially while she still shops for Christmas presents for the boys.

And so I have given up all hope (although, I will try) and so thought to share. :)
 
KnifeFury said:
That is what I was wondering, is it just a collection piece or is it a real user. My Wife does not like having as many knives as I do, lying around (although technically they are all locked up in a trunk).

I love to collect knives, but more along the lines of having a large arsenal for friends & family to choose from when we go camping! I do not really own a knife, to this date, I would not use! This one does look like an interesting toy.
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it's both a user and a collector... but if you want a USER, i'd go with an HI khukri (lots for sale right now). they make fantastic camp knives, and 5160 differential heat treat, mostly you can't go wrong :) an 18 inch ang khola type ('king of choppers') well, yah :)

bladite
 
"Bladite", funny you should mention the 18" AK, since I used to have one! It was a tank of a knife and very impressive to hold in the hand. However, I never found myself wanting to use it as a result of the size. I typically use my S.A. Wetterling Large Hunters Axe for camping chores and bring along my Becker Brute & TOPS Armageddon for fun. The Brute has been a great knife, hence the interest in the MachAx.

Regarding the 18" AK, as I said I never used it and after reading the below thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427872

Sold it new, even though I had traded emails with Yangdu (some of her comments below).
Please use your HI Khukuri with full confidence.
The museum model had a new handle style that apparently was difficult for some of the kamis to make. The HI Forumites love HI products and are upset over any rare failure, justifyably. The truth is that HI khuks are the toughest in the world, with the longest longevity, most sold, and best record.

The devotees are many, and any blade failure, however rare, is a point of intense debate and interest to them. The AK is one of the most solid and dependable of all HI khuks.
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KnifeFury said:
"Bladite", funny you should mention the 18" AK, since I used to have one! It was a tank of a knife and very impressive to hold in the hand. However, I never found myself wanting to use it as a result of the size. I typically use my S.A. Wetterling Large Hunters Axe for camping chores and bring along my Becker Brute & TOPS Armageddon for fun. The Brute has been a great knife, hence the interest in the MachAx.

Regarding the 18" AK, as I said I never used it and after reading the below thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427872

Sold it new, even though I had traded emails with Yangdu (some of her comments below).
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mmm, it's shame you never got to test drive it. honestly, the kind of testing some of those guys to, in some cases MIGHT constitute abuse (we had a debate on that)... and WOULD constitute abuse from nearly any other maker. the results though, are knives that usually outperform general expectations.

i mean, cinder blocks, come on, that ain't fair but ... check out cliff stamps destructo posts. he's done up HI products. most of them do well; he's broken several becker products - esp the patrol machete - i was mighty worried on buying mine, but it seems to have held up. i've read many many account of the newer ones esp just ... kersploding. not single handle/tang fractures, but blade chips and bits all over - :eek: so your mileage will vary...

just read an account of someone here? who had a reinhardt khurki break while chopping frozen wood. big chips fell out. i've also bent an axe edge on hard frozen wood. managed to fix it mostly. bent another one on knots. fixed that.

blades can fail. becker used to personally guarantee his blades - free replacement if not abused and you had a good story :) the original brutes are mighty tough - i have not seen the new ones, but if the heat treat is good, there you go... i dunno what camillus has for a guarantee.

and that's the big thing with choosing your supplier... is there a guarantee? will they make it right? what's the failure rate?

and that museum model thing - a freak happenstance. yangdu made it pretty right... still, steve SHOULD have been wearing gloves and protection. he's not blaming nobody. i think that it's all good.

bladite
 
Bladite said:
check out cliff stamps destructo posts. he's done up HI products. most of them do well; he's broken several becker products - esp the patrol machete - i was mighty worried on buying mine, but it seems to have held up. i've read many many account of the newer ones esp just ... kersploding. not single handle/tang fractures, but blade chips and bits all over - :eek: so your mileage will vary...
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Was wary for the same reasons. Bought my only Patrol Machete from New Graham after some debate. Here was Tom's (at NGK) assessment of the blade:

Tom at NGK said:
By the way, I have used one of these for about 3 years to clear brush and such on my property and they are the best swinging cutting machete I have ever used, they have a real sweet spot that when you find it and get used to the swing will cut through a 4-5 inch tree like butter.
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Sounded good to me. BTW, if you look at Ethan Becker's profile here on Bladeforums, it lists his favorite knife as the Patrol Machete. I wish he'd still come around and post from time to time. Would love to pick his brain. But from what I've read here, I understand that his relationship with Camillus is at odds of late. Wondering if that's the reason for the absence. Maybe he's just busy cooking and writing books. :D

Bladite said:
just read an account of someone here? who had a reinhardt khurki break while chopping frozen wood.
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I read this recently too. Thought I was the only one who dug around in the Archives regarding old Beckers. :D I just bought a Reinhardt recently thanks to Bladite's direction. :thumbup: Don't know if I'll actually bring myself to use it though. I have plenty of other long choppers.

Bladite said:
and that museum model thing - a freak happenstance. yangdu made it pretty right... still, steve SHOULD have been wearing gloves and protection. he's not blaming nobody. i think that it's all good.
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I followed that whole thread from afar (don't post much over at the HI forum), and I'll admit it gave me pause. As a result, I've been looking exclusively for one of Sargent Khadka's AK's. I know Bura is good, but I've read nothing but positives about Sargent's work. One'll turn up sooner or later. :thumbup:
 
Guyon said:
Sounded good to me. BTW, if you look at Ethan Becker's profile here on Bladeforums, it lists his favorite knife as the Patrol Machete. I wish he'd still come around and post from time to time. Would love to pick his brain. But from what I've read here, I understand that his relationship with Camillus is at odds of late. Wondering if that's the reason for the absence. Maybe he's just busy cooking and writing books. :D
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yeah, busy guy with the new line of silicone spatulas :)
I read this recently too. Thought I was the only one who dug around in the Archives regarding old Beckers. :D I just bought a Reinhardt recently thanks to Bladite's direction. :thumbup: Don't know if I'll actually bring myself to use it though. I have plenty of other long choppers.
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heh heh, digging. i've googled just about the whole earth five times reading anything becker'ish :> yeah, i've looked long and hard for some items. also i'm cheap and am not willing to pay more than $75 frostees for most things :> that old school magnum camp is sweet. drool drool, better you than me though!

still don't own the cookbook, but want to get the OLDer ones (hah) because they actually have game recipes - including how to skin a varmit with your BOOT har!
I followed that whole thread from afar (don't post much over at the HI forum), and I'll admit it gave me pause. As a result, I've been looking exclusively for one of Sargent Khadka's AK's. I know Bura is good, but I've read nothing but positives about Sargent's work. One'll turn up sooner or later. :thumbup:
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now now, bura's stuff is heavily used. i've never heard of a failure beyond a small edge chip (fixable, replaceable), or a poor heat treat (rare, replaceable). if there were serious issues, we'd know. those museum models were kind of "one offs" and were just ... odd. several of them were tested BRUTALLY after that, and they held up. you can believe they won't be for sale soon :) the sgt makes wonderful stuff. i don't doubt for a minute it's not robust, and it's very pretty always too; haven't heard of them being used hard though. too pretty. i would love to get one of his 4 year old GRS unit and beat the bushes with it. beauty and use :}

bladite
 
Some people have had a bad experince with Botac. If you do a search, it may bring up the threads. I was going to buy from them till I read all the posts about them.
 
KnifeFury said:
I recently found another Camillus MachAx for sale on the web:
http://www.botac.com/cambktmacbk4.html

Seems like a good price, has anyone ever bought from this place before? Or is the price to high?
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well, you can TRY it. hound them every 3 business days. call them. they might even ship it. they're slow, and sometimes confused.

the reason i ended up with a patrol machete, and a good price, was that i ordered a magnum camp from them, which they said they had IN STOCK, actually looking at it, and ... they didn't. i was most annoyed.

they MIGHT. as in MAYBE be able to scrape up something if they dig REALLY hard, but chances are, not so much. try it though. the worst that happens is you cancel the order. the best, you get one of the last machax by camillus :)

bladite
 
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