BK9 slightly bent right out of the box. pictures inside. what to do? negligible?

W

watzr

Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
3
Hey guys :)

i just started out with my first becker knife and i chose it to be "the king", the bk9.
I purchased the knife through amazon germany (thats where i live, duh :P).

So fast forward to today: i eagerly waited for the mail and then i finally got it. my very own bk9.
As one could expect i start examining the knife and to my horror i discover that the knife is slightly bent around the point where the handle goes into the blade.

here are some pictures:
http://imgur.com/a/fk1SY
the first picture shows the knife laying flat on its side with one side fixed, so you can see the other side "stand up" for about 1mm.
second picture shows the knife on its other side, building a slight "bridge".

now im kind of unsure what to do.
is that bend negligible? does it say something about a heat treating gone wrong? can i expect the knife to work fine or am i at risk of it bending further or even snapping while working with it?

id be really glad if you guys could offer some insight as what you are thinking about this.

thanks a lot and sorry for my rusty english.
cheers :)
 
spazcsmc said:
U need better pics than that. Can't tell anything
Click to expand...

Yep & Amazon is really good about sending you another and sending you a shipping label free of charge to send that one back if you aren't satisfied. You should get an email from them within a couple days of delivery.
 
what is that, 10-20thou out over ~15"?
can you tell when the scales are on and you hold it in your hand?
 
I'd use that bad boy. If it breaks, I'm sure Ka-bar or Amazon will take care of you. Doesn't look like an issue to me. I expect Amazon would probably replace it if you want though.
 
its about 1mm over the whole 15 inches. thats ~39 thou if im not mistaken.

i noticed it with the handles on as i looked over the blade from behind. then took off the handles to lay it on a straight surface.

its not really bothering me cosmetically. im just afraid that the blade has imperfections in heat treating and could break or malfunction.
thats why im looking to get some insight of you more experienced guys.
 
IMO, something like that probably won't break it, but you should be covered even if it does break. Use it, and if it breaks, contact Ka-bar.
 
Looks bent to me.
I doubt you'd notice anything perfomance-wise though.
I'd send it back to Amazon and have them ship you a new one.
Like Abrasion said, they have very good customer service.
 
watzr said:
its about 1mm over the whole 15 inches. thats ~39 thou if im not mistaken.

i noticed it with the handles on as i looked over the blade from behind. then took off the handles to lay it on a straight surface.

its not really bothering me cosmetically. im just afraid that the blade has imperfections in heat treating and could break or malfunction.
thats why im looking to get some insight of you more experienced guys.
Click to expand...

Oh, that's more than it looks like in the pictures.

Regardless, most steels warp a little bit during heat-treatment, so that's not an indication of structural issues. It takes time (which is money) to straighten them to perfection. Good heat-treating techniques will minimize warping, but it's a constant battle. There is probably a tolerance spec for straightness on these knives, and that one is probably right on the edge (so to speak).

If it just feels bent all the time to you, RMA it with Amazon. Should be no cost to you, just a little waiting. A significantly off-center blade will strike in the wrong place when chopping.
 
Considering the money you spent on purchasing that blade, I would definitely return it. It would bug me every time I used it.
 
thank you guys very much for your input.

i will return it today. already got the return order and it should be here on saturday. lets hope for an arrow straight blade then :P

thanks again :)
 
Dang, now I gotta check mine! I'd just try bending it back, but in ur situation, you did the right thing...easy enough.
Report back with ur new one!
 
One of my favorite features of 1095 Cro-Van is its ability to bend. This is particularly ideal in our military blades, as a slightly bent blade is better than a broken blade in the field. Super steels are great; I love D2, but you are more likely to have a break when you get into some of the higher hrc steels. There shouldn't be a problem with durability, but if there is the knife has KA-BAR's lifetime warranty. I think you are doing it right if you are not happy with it by sending it back where you purchased it. If you have any issues in the future please don't hesitate to contact us.
 
Good on Ka-Bar!

BTW, bending it back IS possible. That's basically how blades are straightened.
HOWEVER: It's best done with the blade is at its highest tempering temperature. It will be a bit softer and much more forgiving. WAY less chance of a snap!

I'd strip the whole blade and throw it in the oven at 400F for about 30 minutes. Then straighten by bending it slightly past where you want it to be and holding it there while it cools a bit, then release. I suggest gloves. Thick gloves.
 
daizee said:
Good on Ka-Bar!

BTW, bending it back IS possible. That's basically how blades are straightened.
HOWEVER: It's best done with the blade is at its highest tempering temperature. It will be a bit softer and much more forgiving. WAY less chance of a snap!

I'd strip the whole blade and throw it in the oven at 400F for about 30 minutes. Then straighten by bending it slightly past where you want it to be and holding it there while it cools a bit, then release. I suggest gloves. Thick gloves.
Click to expand...

And, you can throw a pizza in at the same time. Mmmmmm, pizza and beckers. It's what's for dinner
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top