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Best Generation?

O

orangish ducktape

Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
904
Hey guys,

I have been searching around on eBay a bunch recently,
I have found a lot of camillus and blackjack versions of the beckers.
Out of the blackjack, camillus and kabar variants,
which generation would be considered the "best"?
Should I just get a Kabar or should I pay a little more and get an original?

-orangish ducktape
 
I only own Ka-Bar, but a lot of people here say that they have superior steel and HT, not to mention fit and finish.
 
I'm not sure about superior steel, but the Ka-Bar HT on 1095 is the best.
For a user, get a Ka-Bar. For a collection piece, go Cami for a cheaper one, and Blackjack for a more expensive one.
 
Mine so far are mostly Camillus versions with my new BK-11 being a KaBar.

I have a good bit of experience with both Camillus and KaBar.

I have no complaints with my Camillus Beckers. They're plenty tough and sharp.

But I'll give the nod to KaBar because their particular treatment of 1095, one of my favorite steels, has a more 'bitey' edge, and the edge retention is a bit better than Camillus. Sure enough once I hand convexed the edge on my BK-11, the result was scary. I'd expect nothing less from KaBar.

I not long ago got to check out some of the new KaBar Beckers and certainly the fit and finish was VERY good. In the final days of Camillus, their shop folks got really sloppy on the grinding and some of those knives looked they were ground by trained circus monkeys. Serviceable yes, but they looked awful.
 
Kabar is the best. They lasted generations unlike the others, Ethan is happy with Kabar, unlike the others. For collectablility bcuz they will never be produced again, sure camillus, blackjack, effingham are great ways to say you own a piece if Becker history, but If you wanna support the Becker brand, buy new and buy Kabar.
 
clich said:
Kabar is the best. They lasted generations unlike the others, Ethan is happy with Kabar, unlike the others. For collectablility bcuz they will never be produced again, sure camillus, blackjack, effingham are great ways to say you own a piece if Becker history, but If you wanna support the Becker brand, buy new and buy Kabar.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Support the current brand so we can continue to buy becker!
 
i have a personal fondness for certain Blackjack and earlier variations. that's me.

if you buy anything not KaBar, you will pay a lot, and get no warranty. however, you will have something timely and interesting. they will work well as knives.

some of them, well, were hideous. i leave you to figure that out.

however, KaBar is doing a darn skippy job of making some of the best ever models, and MORE OF THEM, in good steel, with great heat treat, available now for what amounts to not a lot of money at all... and they have supprot, and a warranty, and US :)

unless you stripped it, and then you're out in the cold :D

so, there you go...
 
I don't see how losing the coating would void the warranty. With extended use that coating will start to wear off anyway. The only reason my 10+ year old BK-5 still has most of the coating is it's mostly been used for butchering.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I don't see how losing the coating would void the warranty. With extended use that coating will start to wear off anyway. The only reason my 10+ year old BK-5 still has most of the coating is it's mostly been used for butchering.
Click to expand...

sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
 
Flexxx said:
I thought you were going to Shot, did you get banned from last years problem you caused?
Click to expand...

didn't go last year... so no banning.

didn't go this year, due to expenses and apparently keltec pulled out, so it would be one less cool thing to do for me :)
 
Well, unless you are speaking of the Ka-Bar 2, there's only one generation.
The new gen Ka-Bars have not come out yet.
 
thatotherguy said:
Well, unless you are speaking of the Ka-Bar 2, there's only one generation.
The new gen Ka-Bars have not come out yet.
Click to expand...

1st gen KaBar BK2 - Solid Handle, rounded pommel

2nd gen KaBar BK2 - Skeletonized handle, exposed hammer pommel, new sheath.

I think thats the only differences


EDIT: From the blade database....

o KaBar Era First Generation
oo Shape: drop point
oo Edge Angle: 20 degrees
oo Grind: flat
oo Steel: 1095 CroVan
oo Rc hardness: 56-58
oo Blade length: 5.25 inches
oo Overall length: 10.5 inches
oo Blade thickness: 0.25 inches (0.2540 measure sample)
oo Knife Weight: 14.6 ounces
oo Handle: Grivory-GV-6H
oo Sheath: Black nylon with liner
oo Origins: knife made in USA, sheath made in China
oo MSRP: US$

Similar to the first generation, except the handles are now skeletonized, and there's a pommel hammer/striker, this drops the weight about a tiny bit (1.26 oz (toooj)) and move the balance a wee bit forward:

o KaBar Era Second Generation
oo Shape: drop point
oo Edge Angle: 20 degrees
oo Grind: flat
oo Steel: 1095 CroVan
oo Rc hardness: 56-58
oo Blade length: 5.25 inches
oo Overall length: 10.5 inches
oo Blade thickness: 0.25 inches (0.2540 measure sample)
oo Knife Weight: 13.34 ounces (1.26 ounces LIGHTER than the first generation)
oo Handle: Grivory-GV-6H
oo Sheath: Black nylon with liner
oo Origins: knife made in USA, sheath made in China
oo MSRP: US$101.64
 
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