BK2 vs Ranger Afghan vs ESEE5......

T

thomascrook

Joined
Apr 2, 2011
Messages
14
Hi to all out there - would really appreciate some advice, opinions, crits on the above mentioned medium-sized-big-boys.

I am leaning towards the Becker, for reasons of price alone. Here in Europe I can get it, transport included for about 160 US$ (ABSOLUTELY CRAZY; YEAH?!)
The other two more expensive still: Ranger Afghan 225 US$ and finally ESEE-5 for 230 US$

Does the 5160 as opposed to BK2´s 1095 CroVan make that much difference? 75 bucks worth?
What experience on the knife handle ergonomics and long term use? (I´ve seen a vid somewhere with a guy pulling tire inner tube rubber over the BK grip)
I want something for camping/hiking that can take some nasty treatment, but no crowbar stuff. I have a Fallkniven A1, and love it - just too expensive to go whacking branches and firewood.
Of course if money was no object and I snapped out of my daydream we could talk Busse, but not this time.

Thanks and regards to all the KNIFE-FUNDIS
J
 
Isn't there anything comparable you can get in your country for about the same price? All three of those knives are really nice, but i cant imagine paying the prices you listed for them. I would imagine that there has to be a local custom maker that can hook you up right for $200.

Also is it naive of me to think that it would be cheaper to get it from the u.s and shipped snail mail?
 
"but no crowbar stuff" ???

All of the ones you mentioned are 1/4" thick blades, which, according to many, IS a crowbar, but not to me. They are all excellent knives. You can't go wrong with any of them. You can get the Ranger RD in differnt thicknesses. The Ranger RD-6 "BUSH" series is 3/16" thick, while the Ranger RD-6 "READY DEPLOYMENT" series is 1/4" thick. The ESEE 6 i think is also 3/16" thick. Keep us posted on what you get please.
 
The BK2, with it's original grip, is a bargain from a place more known for it's books - AMAZON, etc - for $64 shipped stateside. Contact them re international shipping. Here it is sporting the aftermarket Micarta grips, not worth the cost, in my opinion, shown with my RC5. Same metal/thickness - similar shape/grind. The Becker splits wood more easily with it's slick finish vs the pebbled ESEE finish. The BK2 was essentially new here - it shows more use now.

003.jpg


The RC5 is almost too pretty to use!

Stainz
 
I actually think that the best part about the BK2 is the handle, I haven't had any issues whatsoever with the standard BK2 handle. I've used mine for extended periods of time and still find it very comfortable. Some people for some reason find the handle slippery, which is why that video you saw had a "ranger band" on there to help out.

Also, the BK2 should be a bit better "slicer" than the ESEE 5 even though they are the same thickness. The BK2 has a higher grind is all, and to many people they find the handle to be more comfortably shaped, but that is a personal thing.

I can also say that the 1095CV it has is pretty nice steel. I don't personally have experience with the 5160 of the Ranger, but I hear that they compare pretty well.

Good luck man :).
 
i have both the ESEE5 and the BK2. and both are excellent blades, so don't sweat it too much, you'll like either of them. pick the one that speaks to you, and you'll be happy. no experience with the ranger rd-6, sorry.

for me personally, the ergonomics/comfort of the BK2's handle is significantly better. it's more comfortable in hand for me. more rounded/contoured, less edges to dig into my palms/fingers with extended use. i do like the ESEE a lot, nothing bad to say there, but i really love how the BK2 feels in hand. one of my favorite handles for ANY knife, regardless of price (and i've got a couple of those Busse's you mentioned)

and to make you spend a little more -- i'll have a different opinion than Stainz, get the micarta handles for the BK2 ($40USD extra). they are fantastic, makes it a whole new knife. i man-crush LOVE the bk2 with the micarta handles. highly reccomend getting them. more grip when wet than the grivory. those handles do make the price point almost identical to the ESEE5 though....

if you have any friends in the US, use them, you can save a couple bucks. $65-70USD knife here (Tomar's Kabars - dealer here on BF), plus $30USD to ship international with tracking. plus the micarta handles. get the micarta handles :)

here's mine with the coating stripped, acid-etched, with forced patina, and replaced the nuts/bolts with stainless. LOVE this knife.
BKMOD2.jpg
 
I have had all three knives. IMO, the Becker is the one to get. The ESEE is made well, but the thicker edge and grind are better for cutting you out of an aircraft. The BK2 just cuts wood much better.
You would think the Afghan's full flat grind would make it an even better cutting tool, but mine isn't. The handle scales were blocky, and needed to be sanded just to be flush with the tang. The edge wasn't that straight or sharp when I got it. I've convexed the edge, and it doesn't get that sharp or keep it's edge very well. Their 5160 is just too soft, IMO, it's better for hard prying, breaching kind of stuff, not camping or bushcraft.
The stock BK2 is what I would get. Then make yourself some handle scales, if you want, and have a leather guy in Portugal make you a sheath, if you feel you want to upgrade.

Seems like you have a great knife already. Have you considered getting a less expensive short machete? The Ontario 12" Cutlass machete is about $25 in the US, and once you convex the edge and work on the handle scales, you'll have an excellent chopper/draw knife/hard use tool. Ka-Bar's Cutlass machete is also very affordable, and great for chopping.

PS. I forgot to say that Justin still makes the Ranger line. His handmade versions are much nicer, I hear.
 
thomascrook said:
Becker [...] for about 160 US$
The other two more expensive still: Ranger Afghan 225 US$ and finally ESEE-5 for 230 US$

I have a Fallkniven A1, and love it - just too expensive to go whacking branches and firewood.
Click to expand...

Wait a sec, how MUCH did your fällkniven cost you then. You might get another above mentioned sharpened crowbars and still feel remorse to use them - They ARE expensive as well.
Also, you had a look at the condor rodan/varan yet? Also quite the beater for 25-60$ on amazon.
9e5526fd75111042.jpg
 
+1 on the condor! I have the condor kumunga and it is a great value. I shaped the grip on mine to mimic the shape of my Becker grips with a dremel tool. I also made it a clip point because it wasn't "stabby" enough. I have chopped and split lots of wood with it and have never had an issue. For the money they can't be beat.
 
Thanks to all the guys for replies - plenty of food for thought!

I had never heard of Condor before today - I like the look of the Boker Vox and the fact that it it is D2, but still quite pricey (200+$ in Europe) HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? Made in Solingen, I think, unless outsourced to Far East, but twice the price in the States.

My sister lives in San Diego- maybe can convince her to "accumulate" a few good knives for me and try the so-called snail mail to Europe. I have no idea what shipping costs, but perhaps a package with 3 or 4 items together works out cheaper. As for customs on this side - no escape - They´ll nail me 23€ minimum. Still cheaper
Thanks again
J
 
Damn, GENTEMANNDVM, those altered scales look good on the Becker - maybe I can try some DIY as well. How did you get that finish on the blade?
Back in my army days we would say that blade has "houding" = attitude
Thanks for the advice
J
 
Yeah I just got back from sploring out in my sticks the d2 on the boker is super nice crazy that it's 200 dollars for you
 
tc,
sorry didn't see your post for a couple days.
clich is the master of the gunblue/bleach etch. here's the thread i used to teach me:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...er-etch-how-to-NEW-TECHNIQUE-AND-PICS-POST-25

my thread is here, but it's pretty much just before/after pics, not really a helpful thread like his:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-bleach-thread-helped-bring-my-BK2-s-SexyBack


totally easy to do, looks awesome when you're done. you'll find lots of different etch patterns all over the becker subforum if you look around over there.

re: that shipping cost - i've sold knives overseas, totally worth it to do the USPS express mail international shipping - trackable number, insurable, etc. about $32-$36USD usually.
i think some of the USPS priority mail international pre-sized boxes might also be trackable. make sure you get tracking. sucks to lose a package.
 
I have a Ontario set, and a Becker set, my O.K.C set is the Ranger Afghan, Ranger RD 9, and I have a Ontario Ranger T.F.I., for my neck knife I went with a BK-14, which I have two, one with Black slab's one in Orange slab's, my other two Ranger's are Orange G-10th handle's, my Becker's are BK-2, BK-14, BK-5, BK-15, and the neck knife I mentioned, for chopping, and batoning, the 5160 is GREAT. my Afghan came very sharp, and is a very nice camp knife knife, I like my Becker's, but for alot of wood processing, I don't think the 5160 can be beat, it's a tough steel, used for it's toughness.
 
thomascrook, quite a few good US based knife dealers ship internationally. If they can send knives down to the third world hell hole I live in, I'm sure they can get them to you in Portugal. You'll get a much better price than what you quoted.

Having them sent to your sister is a good idea, too. I sometimes do that with friends and family in the US, then they either bring me the knives when they come to visit or mail them to me.
 
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