BK7 durability concern

thank God for gore-tex!! it is my freind . the snow melt made the creeks swell and the trails a mudfest. i usually never use a walking stick when out in the woods but because of the conditions [the dozen creek crossings ] i made one real quik with the becker. there was a brief bush wack and all in all the tape held up fine while being used as a small machete even when wet . i dont have a machete yet and i think im gonna get the becker when i get one .
 
If you go for a Machete use Jerry's modification's: http://hossom.com/sharp/ ;
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nice pics !! it looks like im going to need one this summer . there is a trail im planning to do thats no longer being maintained by the forest service . the word is that they want it to be more remote and less accessable to the public . it was pretty well grown over 2 years ago and i can only imagine what its like now .i think the forest service just got tired of maintaining it and washed thier hands of it . a few of my buddies say theyre getting machetes also. the becker one looks good as well as its spec sheet but im open for suggestions or opinions. the machete will most likely be the primary tool for this excursion and must be able to cut fire wood as well . thanks for the pics and all the advice.
 
Guys,

I constantly wonder at folks...

Somebody early on...in this thread...and I hear it repeated over and over agin in the industry..."Knives ain't prybars!"

But then I see industry ads...like this one fomr BK&T...

CMBK7 Becker Knife & Tool Combat/Utility Knife
In an effort to bring an affordable, high performance, combat/utility knife to our troops, Ethan Becker consulted with fellow tactical trainers, and also, veteran and active duty infantrymen around the country. They all said that troops need multipurpose knife that is capable of cutting, light chopping, prying, and hammering....all in a lightweight package. The operators also said that the sheath has to be easy to use in conjunction with web gear, and durable. After much prototyping and testing, we bring you the newest offering from BK&T, a knife designed with today's high speed soldier b[and a Grunt's budget] in mind...The BK&T COMBAT/UTILITY 7. This knife takes the spirit of the age old Camillus 7" combat/utility knife to the next level "

I see words like "HIGH PERFORMANCE" and "Prying" in the same paragraph?

So if a guy buys a knife ...based on this AD...then it should damn well "PRY".

NO snapped tips...no broken blades. If it does...then the ad should be changed..or the knife should get a "do over" in the design department.

I DO not aspire to the idea that "for the price it performs great" that is a cop out. If you claim "HIGH PERFORMANCE" it better "PERFORM" at high levels as compared to the rest of the industry...not at high levels as compared to other knives in this price range.

This knife will be in the hands of ...as the AD states .."our troops" who wil damn well be using these to pry....and chop and whatever a knife might be used for...without concerns about longevity in the field.

Ok..so I prolly heated things up...

But I am tired of the hype.

By all account these are good quality knives...but the ADS should read more accurately...

Shane
 
i used to wonder about the ads but not any more . im not very "tactical" i guess . my becker 7 has held up fine through all sorts of [normal] abuse and has served me well . id like to hear from cliff stamp on this one . dont get me wrong , id really like to have a busse but i cant really afford one right now . the becker line fits qiet nicely though . ya didnt ruffle my tail feathers but well see how the others cotton to it. PEACE LOVE AND CHICKEN GREASE!!!! and happy freakin new year.
 
Yea, right, everything beeing advertised needs to be right.--- lol--
Sorry, but anyone who believes in advertisements, and then goes out and pries the s...it out of a 3/16 knife and breaks it should not complain.
There is something called common sense and experience.
You want a knife that cuts ? So forget the sharpened prybar. Or the other way round. Whatever. Every knife can be used for prying, but only up to its limitations. People abusing knifes and having no common sense or not the right feeling were the limitations of a knife are(whatever Brand it is), are the only reason why Manufacturers use thicker bladestock nowadays.
You just can`t expect a knife like a BK7 to pry like a busse with twice the Blade thickness.
Can a Bk7 be used to pry? Sure , up to its limitations.
High performance does not neccesarily mean that it performs in every aspect like a champ, or is a winner compared with a product that costs 3 times the money.
But actually the overall performance of a BK7 is, compared with other knives in the same pricerange, very good and even better than many knives that cost twice as much.
Every tool needs to be used with brains and common sense of what its limitations are- otherwise you break it.


Just because knives are so versatile , does not mean they are do it all tools.
And advertisements are not worth a used baby diaper.
 
"light chopping, prying, and hammering"

The operative word here is light - and this knife will perform exactly as advertised.

Knives aren't pry bars. If you're not sure of the difference - just check out your local hardware store.
The Marines got by just fine with the 5/32" thick Camillus and Ontario standard issue knives of WWII. Maybe the boys back then were a little smarter than we are and understood the limits of the tool they were using.

I'm sure these will pry on par with most similarly sized MS bowies - and I think we can all accept that these are high performance knives.

Prying ability - if a performance feature of a knife - should be second to its cutting ability. A distant second.

We know that there are some heavily overbuilt "knives" that are literally sharpened prybars. The Camillus Becker Companion was one of these. A classic shape and size, discontinued because there is a limited market for tools like these. I purchased a number of sharpened prybars a long time ago when I thought what really defined a knife was how much theoretical (or real) abuse it could take. The Companion is still available. And if you are considering the purchase of a Becker knife and prying is a high priority for you, I would look into one of these. The BK9 is plenty stout if you need a really big knife.
I believe however you would find that the BK7 is an effective and tough knife that would perform any task you could reasonably expect to perform with a knife.
Becker knives do perform at high levels compared to other similar knives in any price range.

They don't perform as sharpened prybars. If this defines high performance for you - the high performance Companion is your knife. Or, I know for a fact that Busse offers some high performance knives that are nearly an 1/8" thick just behind the edge. They will even chop concrete!
 
i wonder if becker will put anything out that can compete with the busse /swamp rat duribility . besides the brute anyway
 
Guys,
The ad text does not read..."light prying"...it says "light chopping" then it says prying...not light prying...or limited prying...if this is a "light duty knife" then and because this ad is bent toward the military man...and combat operations...well it really doesn't matter...

Do I think a blade 3/16th's of an inch thick would be a good prybar...not really...

Do I beleive prying is a measure of High performance? If the maunfacturer makes a performance claim...it should be specific...or it should be ommitted...

Camillus could say "high cutting performance"...or they could make a claim like..."will outperfrom anything in its price range"

But they don't...

Now Mike in NY says there is no need to believe in advertising...

Maybe that is how things are in NY...but here in WYO they are a bit different...

I am sorry if this was a bit preachy...or if I was a bit abrupt...

Last, by reputation Mr Becker is a top hand...and he also is known for doing the homework behind his blades...there is no disrespect intended...

But honestly...it would be good to know how many folks who bought this knife believing it would do all the things they said it would...and then have it fail in the field...

....and I would suppose that most companies have their share of broken blades and failures along the way...

but bottom line...don't say it will if it won't.

Shane
 
That copy reads accurately - either you fail to comprehend what you have read or you are intent on denigrating the knife.
You are not being abrupt - you're just flat out wrong.

"But honestly...it would be good to know how many folks who bought this knife believing it would do all the things they said it would...and then have it fail in the field..."

Wrong again. Reported failures here have been slim.
 
Sorry dude...

I have not denigrated the knife whatosever.

Just the way it is advertised.

Wrong about what? Just wondered how many folks were actually disappointed with it...

Reported failures here...does that mean everybody who has ever purchased one reports back to BF?

You guys really wanna pick a fight....

Shane
 
dont worry shane , no offense taken hear . i havent had any problems out of my becker yet and i dont think i ever will as i never intend to use it in a cliff stamp sort of way. you should see what cliff did with a becker 7 . it stood up pretty well , alot better than alot of other more expensive blades . i dont really care what manufactures claim thier knives can do . im the user and i know what my knives will get used for . i just try to be sensible when purchasing a knife regardless of what the manufacture says i always look at the grind , tang , design , and mettalurgical content of the steel. and last but not least i want a good warranty. at least the advertising isnt as bad as DARK-OPS. i havent taken any offense to anything you have said ,shane . but well see how the other forumites cotton to it.
 
Durabilty is relative to the tool’s use. A Blade Is Used for Cutting! In Extrimis you’ll use any thing to get the job done. In the Military a Grunt is limited to what he carry’s so he’ll abuse and use everything..How many Blade maker’s tell you how to test a Blade? :) http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Testing.htm
 
Thanks to Akabu for his instructions earlier in this thread on making a sliding stop for handle lanyard loops. Many thanks for the great tip Akabu.... I owe ya one.

This prevents branches from grabbing hold of a permanent loop hanging off the end of your knife handle and snatching the knife out of the sheath, inevitably at the worst moment as you wiggle your way through tangled brush.

Below is a composite picture of my construction of the Akabu Loop.

Akabu-loop.jpg


1. The components -- an Okuden Sharp Thing II knife, length of 550 paracord, and a 3/16" inside diameter neoprene washer. Note that the knife came from Brian with a full coating of Kalguard, but I've removed it from the bevel grind while running various sharpening and patina tests on the knife.

2. Rather than using the Lark's Head Hitch (aka Cow Hitch) shown in the machete pictured above to "fix" the lanyard to the handle, I simply took an extra turn through the lanyard hole at the end of the tang.

3. Rubber washer slid over the two ends of the paracord.

4. Overhand knots tied in the ends of the paracord to keep the rubber washer from sliding off in use.

5. "In use" configuration with the rubber washer slid to the ends of the paracord forming a loop for wrapping around your hand.

6. "In use" configuration with the rubber washer slid against the tang of the knife for sheath carry to avoid snagging on branches.

And here's a picture with its kydex pants on, ready for the trail. :)

Akabu-loop-sheath.jpg
 
RokJok; I am humbled by your Picture’s to my word’s. You have done justice to your signature Oscar Wilde’s “....pass it on”, which I did not note till I saw it today. Just one foot note the “Cow hitch” was done for a reason, if you wish to remove the Lanyard it word be easier to do so especially with numb hand’s ,also from my years in Asia the Red Color distract’/a tract’s the eye. Which is a good Thing:eek: , I would like with your permission to post the pictures and description and give you credit... Regard's and respect Akabu.
 
RokJok said:
Thanks to Akabu for his instructions earlier in this thread on making a sliding stop for handle lanyard loops.
Click to expand...

Nice post, you can also use a sliding single loop.

shane justice said:
Do I think a blade 3/16th's of an inch thick would be a good prybar...not really...
Click to expand...

It is pretty solid for its length, you don't need the strength of 1/4" stock with shorter blades as you can't get the torque you can with longer blades. Based on what I have done with the blade I don't feel the description is incorrect, nor do I feel the "light" qualifier needs to apply to prying. A Mora 2000 is a light prybar.

As for comparisons noted in the above, the stock Busse uses is 1/4" usually so this is only 30% thicker, not twice as thick.

-Cliff
 
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