Big surprise tonight...

LeeBower

LeeBower

Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
2,276
I had wanted a Becker for a while when I found a new in the box 9 for a good price and jumped on it. I got it a couple months ago and have not had a chance to do anything other than take it out of the sheath every now and then and make my wife nervous. Today was opening season for Dove so I grabbed the 9 on my way out to meet my dad, brothers, and uncle at the family ranch. We had a great time, but didn't get a single bird. I cut down some small cedar bushes and snapped a quick pic.

91507044.jpg


One of my brothers told me to chop a piece off a small limb that had fallen on the ground. I started chopping on it, but on the 4th chop I saw this.

chopc.jpg


I looked at the blade in horror.

cropup.jpg


I have owned and used knives for over 35 years now, I am far from perfect, but I can't see how this little bit totally destroyed my new knife... worst part is I will have to listen to all the comments from my family every year on opening day of dove season. I was going to get a 2 next, now not sure if I should or get another 9 first. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Was I asking too much of the knife? I know my trail master has been through loads of similar wood and never had a problem, but I just love the way the 9 feels in my hand. It is just so much nicer/beefy-er than the trail master. I am just mainly shocked that this small branch did so much damage.
67514837.jpg
 
Yeah that seems unusual to say the least. I think Kabar will take care of you, but I'm sure others will comment.
 
Damn, that sucks. Not speaking for KA-BAR here, but they will probably take care of that for you.
 
I really like this knife and want to replace it, just really want a 2 also...and a 14 and a 15. Any suggestions for filing a warranty claim? That would be great then I could still get a 2 next.
I am about to sack out, but will check it out in the morning, thanks.
 
Call them in the morning. Contact info is probably on their website.
 
Ka Bar and Becker stand behind what they make, I'm sure you'll be taken cared of. Did the BK9 come to you by way of the amazon river?
 
cOLD said:
I really like this knife and want to replace it, just really want a 2 also...and a 14 and a 15. Any suggestions for filing a warranty claim? That would be great then I could still get a 2 next.
I am about to sack out, but will check it out in the morning, thanks.
Click to expand...

I had a problem with a fat bob folder from Ka-bar I emailed them during normal business hours and it was within the hour they had replied saying to send it to them and they would take care of it. Their customer service was very nice and fast. I would just send them an email. I am pretty sure I found the address on their website.
 
I had a slight issue with my BK2 when I first got it, and Kabar took care of that ASAP. I was very impressed.

I saw something like this happen to a Heavy Bowie, and I know that Kabar made everything right there, so I'm pretty confident that they should take care of you here as well. It looks pretty obvious to me that this is a case of a poor HT slipping through.

Just don't let it turn you off to the BK9 (or beckers), because things like this happen (rarely). My BK9 has been through a ton and never had an issue.

*crosses fingers*
 
My guess it that's a lemon.

I've put my BK9 through some weird hard stuff and it just looked at me funny as if I wasn't being tough enough on it.
 
As others have said, Kabar will take care of you. I put my FFG BK16 through worse than that yesterday and it took it like a champ. You got yourself a lemon there. Either that or that wasn't a tree but some really strange wrought iron.
 
send Kabar an email with the pictures and your contact info -- they will most likely want the knife back so they can do some QC testing on the remains.
I'm guessing that you twisted slightly as you were chopping in and the grain in the fork looks "braided" which would put a LOT of oddly competing lateral stresses on the edge.
should not have broken like that, but...

best of luck!
 
First off, welcome to the forum! You certainly did this right with photo evidence and without calling the whole company into question.

I'm sure Ka-Bar will take care of that. Get in contact with their customer service today and see how awesome they are! I've done a whole lot more work that that with my BK9 and haven't seen a hint of anything that would lead me to think that would happen to my blade. My best guess would be that either something went wrong in the heat treat (doubtful, but it can happen) or there was some sort of inclusion in the metal that made it weak there no matter what Ka-Bar did. This is certainly the exception to the rule and not the standard, but I can see why you would be frustrated.

Oh, and get the BK2. Holy crap, I held out forever on that one and now that I have one, I see the error of my ways. I think it weighs almost as much as the BK9. It's an absolute beast of a knife and if you could break it, I'd be surprised.
 
Thanks for the replies, I sent an email. We'll see what happens, either way can't wait for a new 9.
 
Wow! I've seen lots of RTAK-II's chipped out like that... I'm pretty sure that's the first BK9 I've seen like that, though.

Don't feel bad, man... I say congratulations! You killed the King! :D Earns you an extra man point in my book.

As has been said, I'm quite confident that KA-BAR will replace it for you. Doesn't look like abuse or anything. I'm sure they'll want it back for analysis... would be nice to get it back and try to make something usable out of it.. almost like a straight BK4 design with a massive recurve!!
 
Yikes man! Looks and sounds like a blown heat treat. Happens rarely, but it does happen. Ka-bar will almost certainly make it right for you. I wouldn't be surprised to see Uncle Ethan himself pop in and tell you what to do, but I'd bet they'll have you send it in, and they'll replace it for you. The 9 is my very favorite one, and it's a tough knife. Should have eaten that log for breakfast. Let us know how it all turns out, and welcome!
 
Uncle Malice said:
...would be nice to get it back and try to make something usable out of it.. almost like a straight BK4 design with a massive recurve!!
Click to expand...

lol, first thing I thought was how am I going to reshape this guy into something awesome... I wonder if it would be possible without weakening it further or destroying the heat treat. I am assuming if they do warranty it, they would keep the broken blade. If they don't I will certainly try to get it back.
 
Sounds like the heat treat is the problem on that blade... Which means that you'd be likely to waste your time reshaping it, because it's not an appropriately heat treated blade anyways. Probably better just to see about making something interesting yourself via stock removal :) Just don't blame me when the hobby takes over full force, and you find yourself buying newer and better tools constantly...
 
Ouch! Man, you will be taken care of. Not sure what happened, heat treat maybe? Keep us posted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top