Becker vs. Ontario

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svbk556

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Aug 19, 2011
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Dear givers of informed opinion:

Im looking for a quality fixed blade travel knife(s). i.e knives I can place in my luggage and not spend months weeping if they get stolen or lost. My handmade's do not fit into this category. Becker and Ontario seem likely candidates. Ontario defined by the Ranger or Randal series. Any thoughts or preferences.

Thanks
 
Both of these brands will serve you well. I have both...both are great. Given what you seem to want...a very good knife that won't break your heart or your bank account if lost...that's the ticket. I believe that with a few criteria excepted, most of the offerings of these two companies will do everything that $600 mid-tech or that $1,200 custome will do. This will, as a rule, IMHO, be more true of Becker...everything they have is rock solid. Almost everything Ontario has (and let's face it they have an enormous line of products) is rock solid.

If you wanted to be sure you were rock solid on the first at-bat, go with Becker. The Ontario RAT-1 folder is about the best $40 knife money can buy. Think of the Spyderco Military or even a Sebenza...well sort of anyway:rolleyes:...in terms of knock-about functionality on a budget.
 
I have the OKC ranger falcon. Its a heavy, thick, prybar with an edge, almost everything I don't like in a knife, yet I love that little thing. I'll give it two thumbs up, but you have to take that with a grain of salt. 9 out of 10 times my simple Mora clipper is a "better" knife. Which leads me to the thought that a under $15 knife like many moras would likely be perfect for luggage. Cheap, light, and way tougher than you think.
 
Oh yes. Since the OP specified Ontario vs Becker. But now that Pandora's box is open. I'd say, as a general rule, when in doubt, buy 5 Moras for the price of anything equally as good, toss two or three in your luggage and leave two at home.

There is probably a Mora I don't have but other than the Robust (which is new) I don't know what it would be. Best knives in the world for the price yoy pay. They have limits...they're not sharp prybars, they're not tactical, they're not un-breakable (but I don't think many of them break), but the steel is top notch and if they don't come scary sharp...if they aren't the sharpest factory edge on any mass-produced knife...5 minutes on the 30 degree Sharpmaker will make them so.
 
Becker. BK-16 if you want something that can do a lot but isn't too big or heavy.

IMG_8507.jpg


It's the one in the middle :) The production version will be FFG though, with textured black powder coating.
 
Thats a hard one! I like the SY 511 but for the others probably a bk 16,17. That pic up top helped me see the handle size which was a concern for me.
 
Thanks gentlemen - Your knowledge and feedback is very much appreciated! It also confirms my observation that Becker/Ontario/Esse all deliver a quality product at reasonable price. I've maintained the fixed blade stance of go custom or go home for many years, but with the TSA idiots pawing through my luggage on every trip an alternate solution has to be considered.
 
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