BK2 limitations?

D

DangerZone98

Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Messages
3,556
Greetings Becker folks. I’ve never owned a Becker before, but I am curious about the BK2. Would it fit the role of a general purpose blade for house chores? E.g. opening packages, cutting binding, breaking open coconuts. Essentially looking for the ultimate 5” blade.

Also, what would you say are its functional limitations? I’ve heard the thicker blade makes it less slicy than thinner knives. Is it easy to get the blade sharp? As for the weight, I don’t mind heft in a knife. Basically, in your real-world usage, where did you feel the knife struggled a bit? I think learning about the limitations would help me use the knife more efficiently if I go for it.

Thank you for your time folks. I visited a few times before, and this looks like an awesome community. Greetings from a Cold Steel dude.
 
Hi Danger,

The BK-2 is far too thick to be considered general purpose. Sure, it will open packages. It weighs a pound. No knife needs to weigh a pound for anything you do inside a house. Makes it hard to cut THROUGH things - unless you want to split them like firewood. If you're making kindling in front of your woodstove, it's a reasonable choice. What's your coconut technique? I'd be terrified to use a BK-2 to open one, but am no expert coconut-opener!

The BK-10 is similar dimensions (plus a few minor differences) but 25% thinner. That's the right direction.

But Indoor use? I'd pick a BK-16 or BK-62 if you want a 5" blade.

On the other hand, if you want a brutish thing that can be called a knife, the BK-2 is your tool. Just be clear with yourself what you want it for and why. (Let's be clear, I have one and that's why!)

Yes, it's easy to get sharp, but then it becomes a wedge, geometrically. All the Kabar-made Beckers take excellent edges.
 
my contribution isn't first hand, so take it with a grain of salt...I was really stoked about a BK2 until I handled my BK7, and in my mind I couldn't get a grasp on the comparative dimensions of the BK2 from a normal, or even quite engaged pattern of use. Bulletproof, omg yes it is a tank, but while I'd still like to own one at some point...maybe just to have for kicks, I'll take my BK10, BK9, BK7, or a number of other blades ahead of the BK2.
It is I am sure, fine quality, and solid as a brick outhouse, but for daily house use....probably not an optimum go to.

Again, grain of salt...I never owned or used one. Just speaking from my use of other full size Beckers
 
You might also want to look in to a sheeps foot style blade or similar. Which will then give you that nice package opening point.

Household tasks never gets the same love from knife companies as outdoor.
 
daizee said:
Hi Danger,

The BK-2 is far too thick to be considered general purpose. Sure, it will open packages. It weighs a pound. No knife needs to weigh a pound for anything you do inside a house. Makes it hard to cut THROUGH things - unless you want to split them like firewood. If you're making kindling in front of your woodstove, it's a reasonable choice. What's your coconut technique? I'd be terrified to use a BK-2 to open one, but am no expert coconut-opener!

The BK-10 is similar dimensions (plus a few minor differences) but 25% thinner. That's the right direction.

But Indoor use? I'd pick a BK-16 or BK-62 if you want a 5" blade.

On the other hand, if you want a brutish thing that can be called a knife, the BK-2 is your tool. Just be clear with yourself what you want it for and why. (Let's be clear, I have one and that's why!)

Yes, it's easy to get sharp, but then it becomes a wedge, geometrically. All the Kabar-made Beckers take excellent edges.
Click to expand...
What he said. :thumbsup:
 
There's always the Becker Necker (BK-11), though I didn't mention it at first because if you were starting with the idea of a BK-2, a BK-11 would seem silly. Super practical little EDC, tho.
 
I just came from my little sister's house, I was helping her and my brother in law move a new fridge into the house. He lost his right leg below the knee a few years back, so I was glad to help. But as it turned out, the pocket door leading into the kitchen was blocking our progress. Well, they put their thoughts together and decided against the pocket door. And THAT is where a BK2 would come in handy in the house. You know, prying door case molding off, splitting door jamb lumber with nails in it. I wish I had thought of that when I was at it earlier. :rolleyes: However, the BK3 is also an excellent choice, and may in fact exceed the BK2 at demolition.
--
A flat bar would be ideal, but I was stuck with my miniature flat bars on short notice. They were enough though, the fridge is installed. ;)
 
Last edited:
daizee said:
Hi Danger,

The BK-2 is far too thick to be considered general purpose. Sure, it will open packages. It weighs a pound. No knife needs to weigh a pound for anything you do inside a house. Makes it hard to cut THROUGH things - unless you want to split them like firewood. If you're making kindling in front of your woodstove, it's a reasonable choice. What's your coconut technique? I'd be terrified to use a BK-2 to open one, but am no expert coconut-opener!

The BK-10 is similar dimensions (plus a few minor differences) but 25% thinner. That's the right direction.

But Indoor use? I'd pick a BK-16 or BK-62 if you want a 5" blade.

On the other hand, if you want a brutish thing that can be called a knife, the BK-2 is your tool. Just be clear with yourself what you want it for and why. (Let's be clear, I have one and that's why!)

Yes, it's easy to get sharp, but then it becomes a wedge, geometrically. All the Kabar-made Beckers take excellent edges.
Click to expand...
If I’m being 100% honest, it’s the “brutish” aspect that got my attention. Lmao. Made me go, “Wow, that thing’s a unit.”

Thanks for the suggestion. My local knife shop has the BK-16 as well, so I’ll consider that too.
 
Check out the BK7 while you are there. Yes, it is longer, but also thinner than the BK2. It makes a great camp or kitchen knife, although you may want to strip it if you plan on food prep.

n2s
 
Last edited:
not2sharp said:
Heck out the BK7 while you are there. Yes, it is longer, but also thinner than the BK2. It makes a great camp or kitchen knife, although you may want to strip it if you plan on food prep.

n2s
Click to expand...
Out of stock in my area unfortunately, but that’s a fine looking blade too.
 
It is a brute of a knife, no doubt. I never had a problem cutting anything with one. Somewhere I have photos of toothpicks I made feather sticks out of. I've made a few spoon blanks with one, etc. I have more BK2's than any other Becker I own, 3. That said, it's my least used knife. Mostly I bought them for my BOB's. It's rather clunky compared to the other line up. Besides my BK9, which I use a lot at the cabin for wood processing, my go to has been the BK62 Kephart. Great for multiple uses. Love the thing. That, and my custom BK11.
 
All of the above is good advice; much of this depends on how many knives you want to carry and how many Becker knives you wil have with you at once.

I really like the BK-2. It's all everyone said and more. It's a tank and there's not much it cannot do - but the question is do well. Can it field dress and skin a deer? Of course, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Can it remove carpentry trip, a door jamb and a door? The whole wall?? Of course, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

Becker knives provide great value, are durable, comfortable for longer use sessions and are quite well thought out for functionality. That being said, my two favorite Beckers are the BK-15 and BK-5; neither of which are my first choice Becker for processing firewood. The Becker Necker is ridiculously handy and punches very much past its weight and although it could process firewood with time, patience and skill, the BK-2 or BK-9 ("Can't not have a 9") can more than make up for any lacking in time, patience or skill.

I think you get the point; sooo ...

A BK-2 coupled with a slicey folder or a Tweener (BK-15, 16, 17 or 18 ... 18 sure is sexy) is a good kit; as is a BK-2 with an 11, 14 or 24.

The middle-of-the-road Beckers (BK7, 10) are wonderful knives, but compromises compared to the extremes of the range. Can you do just about everything with a 7 or a 10? Of course, but what fun would that be?

For around the house/kitchen, around the camp, hiking in the woods the Tweeners are great. While I truly like trailing points, hence my affection for the BK-15 and 18, the truth of the matter is that the "Sweet 16" is sweet for a reason. I heard Ethan himself once say, "If there's dirt under my feet, I've got a BK-16 on my belt." In short, the 16 is a dandy knife for all manner of knife tasks. Truth be told, you could do everything one normally does inside the house with a Tweener or a Necker, but what fun would that be.

Get the 2 because it's a beast and very cool.
Get the 9 because, well, "you can't not have a 9."
Get a Tweener because they are just so darned handy, dandy and useful.
Get a Necker because once you have one, you'll wonder how you've gone through life without one.
Get a 7 and/or a 10 because they flirt with both ends of the range without marrying either.

After accumulating the foregoing, get duplicates/back-ups - then start collecting! Welcome to the madness.

Happy Hunting.
 
If I wanted a general purpose Becker I would get a 16 or a 62. If I wanted a one pound knife that was very functional I would get a BK9. The BK9 is better at being a knife and better at being a chopper and weighs about the same. I have never understood what you would need BK2 for? Cutting yourself out of a plane after a crash? Being stuck in an elevator? I don’t know. Mine spent all its time sitting in the wood shed not getting used. A 16 and a 9 together is all one would need besides maybe a smaller folder.
 
Drop bear said:
You might also want to look in to a sheeps foot style blade or similar. Which will then give you that nice package opening point.

Household tasks never gets the same love from knife companies as outdoor.
Click to expand...

So I have been hunting around for a bit of a tank, sheeps foot option. And haven't found that much.

There are hacking knives which i am not sure about the handle or the sheath. But they do look very interesting. And there is a schrade cleaver that looks OK.

*Not a paid dealer*
https://www.smkw.com/schrade-cleaver-fixed-blade
None of these knives I have used because I mostly use a folding sheeps foot for around the house.

But I am hoping the concept should work. And give you a bit of chopping, batoning and prying as well.

Becker does have the tac tool. But I think the lack of point at the front will make life difficult.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I usually recommend the 62.... It has the history, cool factor, old school charm, and still Not delicate do everything knife.

Best of the bunch.
 
bearfacedkiller said:
If I wanted a general purpose Becker I would get a 16 or a 62. If I wanted a one pound knife that was very functional I would get a BK9. The BK9 is better at being a knife and better at being a chopper and weighs about the same. I have never understood what you would need BK2 for? Cutting yourself out of a plane after a crash? Being stuck in an elevator? I don’t know. Mine spent all its time sitting in the wood shed not getting used. A 16 and a 9 together is all one would need besides maybe a smaller folder.
Click to expand...

I have this need for a batoning knife pretty much to turn processed firewood in to kindling because i don't want to buy two bags of wood.

For when I go motorcycle camping. So space issues.

I would prefer a hammer on the back a spatula on the front and a tent peg hook somewhere.

But my conditions are pretty unique.

But I think that sort of knife would wind up doing some pretty cool things. And it would hive me a bash tool to repair the motorcycle a bit if I bend the handle bars or something.

So the tank knives I think kind of get this bad rap because I don't think they are generally very good bushcraft/camping knives.

But I think if we were treating them as construction tools or wrecking bars they become a bit more worth while.

So if I was building a shelter out of corrugated iron. Then Mabye these chunkier tools come in to their own a bit.
 
Id like to see the expression on a house guest when someone busts out a bk2 to open a package. If its an amazon box you could just drop it on the tape and itll probably come apart.

For coconuts, ive only seen stout machetes used and i have done it with a parang. So based on that, id say a bk7 or 9 would be a good option. And the bk7 would probably be a better general purpose tool. Ive never used one but people seem to like them a lot.
 
I think you will find the 10 plenty indestructible and just as compact as the 2 for packing on the bike. If you break a 10 batonning you are more of a man than me.

The 2 is a beast and it has the giggle factor when you hold it. If you want it just because you want it then that is a valid reason. :)
 
Really helpful inputs from everyone, thanks folks. Awesome community you have here. Plenty of tempting choices in the Becker line I see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top