BK&T 7 - handles?

spyken

spyken

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I'm considering getting the BK&T 7 for camping, adventure, SD (last option). However, I have reservations about the thickness of the handles.

Just how thick are the handles? Is it really like holding a door knob (someone used that as a reference:) )? What are the specs?

I don't have large hands (I wear S/M size gloves for mtbking) so I don't want a knife which is not secure in the grip. Where can I get replacement scales in black G10? How much are they?

If the G10 grips are pricey, would the CUDA CQB black-ops 5 inch blade be a good alternative? It's the same carbon steel, same sheath but sports a slimmer looking linen micarta scales.

Is the CQB black ops a better knife in terms of cutting efficiency (they both seem to have the same thickness?)?

Thanks - I'm hoping that those with smaller hands who have handled/used the BK&T can share their experience...

Spyken
 
Hello,
I have the bkt Cambanion. It has a 5 1/4 inch blade. I think the handles are the same on both knives. Mine was hair cutting sharp out of the box. I am a small frame guy also. I have no problems with holding on to my knife. I think you would be happy with a bkt knife. I know I am.

You might look into other camilus knives and possiblly Kabar knives. Those have a 5 to 7 inch blade with a smaller handle.

Good luck
Jay
 
The guy who used to make the G10 handles doesn't make them anymore. Sorry, forgot his name. A search will bring it up. They cost about $50, I believe, which is a price at which you could order yourself a sheet of 1/4" G10 and make your own handles. I'm considering doing this myself, so I can get perfect fitting handles made of grippy textured G10.

I'm still deciding between the BK/7 and BK/9 though. I thought about the CUDA CQB for a while, but then convinced myself that I don't need *another* special ops ninja death high speed knife. :p
 
C'mon, you can never have enough tactical special ops ninja death high-speed knives.
 
Bill Siegle was the guy who made the replacement G10 handles.

I have relatively small hands as well, but I never had any trouble with the C/U 7. They were a little on the slippery side, though. It's a great knife at a great price. The only reason I sold mine was because I had it for almost a year and I never had an opportunity to use it.

edited for typos
 
A good way to fix the slippage and make it look good is to take that real thin nylon-braided cord like the stuff used for tying weights on duck decoys. Loosen the handles a bit and slip a piece under the slab. Single wrap it, then tighten when done.
 
I have the BK/7. To make the handle less slippery,
I wrapped some black hockey (?) (cloth-like) tape
around it. Seems to work just as I intended, and
it's a *great* knife.
 
All of the handle slabs on all of the Camillus/Becker BK knives are the SAME thickness...It's just that the STEEL is thicker on the BK-2 Campanion and BK-9 Combat Bowie (among others) than it is on the BK-7 Combat/Utility. The BK-7 fits my had just alittle "better" than on the BK-2 Campanion (since the total thickness of the grip is alittle smaller), but neither one feels bad at-all.

As far as the slipperyness goes, I really don't find it to be much of a problem with any of MY 5 BK's, but (you) might want to look into having it bead-blasted to improve the "grip" if you feel that the knife might go flying out of your hand.
 
thanks for the replies! - there aren't any BKT that I can actually hold here to make sure that my hands have positive grip, but can anyone post actual measurements of the handles? for eg. vertical / horizontal thickness etc.

AlphalphaPB, I get your ninja aversion, but don't they both have the same steel, heat-treat and sharpness as well? the only thing is that the CQB is a tad bit short for any camp work, being only 5 inches.
 
It's just my assumption from spearpoint blade shape that the CQB would be lighter at the tip, and thus less suitable for chopping. I've heard that the CQB is balanced right on the index finger cutout, but I haven't come across corresponding information for the BK/7. Perhaps someone can help us out by seeing where the balance point is on their BK/7 (and BK/9, if possible)?

Argh, now that the CQB has been brought up, I really want it again. It looks sooooooo sweet...
 
A while ago, I bought a BK-7 and I found the handles too bib and way too smooth. The knife wasn't worth my making new scales, so I took the old ones off and used various drill bits in my drill press to dimple the surface with hundreds of little craters. Kind of like Simmonich's "Gunner Grip". The handles are still a little too big, but now they are non-slip and feel much better. Ugly as sin, but better.
 
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