Broken BK-9 Blade

F

FalconerPhoto

Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
49
I broke my beloved BK-9's blade last weekend. I used it to baton 2 bundles of grocery store firewood. I used one piece to place wood on and used another as a baton. There were a few knots but none took any extra effort to get through. I also used my BK-14 to make kindling. I did nothing like you see people doing to these knives in videos. I'm also not trying to start a debate. Other than my extreme disappointment at seeing the damage to my knife as I just took it out of it's sheath today I have no axe to grind. I am a fan of Ethan Becker and his knives. I do have a few questions though. Will KaBar warranty it even though I do not have the receipt or box? And will the fact I stripped the coating off void the warranty? I'd post a photo but it's asking for a URL and won't let me paste it.
 
You need to contact Kabar. Don't assume they wont warranty just because you stripped it.

If you email me the pictures at milehighk5 at gmail.com I will post them here for you.


Here are the pictures of falconers 9.

photo1_zpsab23f38d.jpg


BK-9_zps6aed37b9.jpg


photo3_zpsb9c6e92c.jpg
 
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That Sucks man. Any time a blade is broken it is a sad moment.

I'm sure they will want to look at it and will most likely take care of ya if it was the heat treat or something. Not sure about the coating being stripped but I don't see how it would make a difference.

Ka-bar is usually really good at taking care of stuff like this.

Others will chime in soon who know way more about this than I do... so just hold tight. lol

Also, you can post your pictures from an account like photo bucket.
 
Falconer, I'm yetirage on Instagram, I just got your comment, do you want me to post the pic up?
 
You can just go to image codes and copy and paste the BBCode into your post and it should show up I believe.
 
Thanks. I sent to B.Mauser a few minutes ago. I have never been a fan of large knives until I bought this one. I've used it harder and in much colder temps. I've come to find it much easier for me to use than my small Wetterlings. I've had tools break before but I've never had such a personal attachment to one. My BK-9 was one I had just started to really rely on so it will be missed this weekend.
 
It's weird how customizing your own knife can make you become so attached to it! I will contact KaBar tomorrow. I just thought I ask here first. I've seen some trashed blades on here with guys claiming they didn't hit a rock etc. I understand it's not a maul or splitting axe. Even though I don't feel I was doing anything Ethan would frown upon I will replace at my own expense if need be. It's still the best big knife I've ever used. I even made an entire roast chicken dinner using just my BK-9 once.
 
Not a broken blade. That's a chip out, and yes, it can happen with batoning. That said, I'd certainly see if Ka-Bar will warranty it. It never hurts to ask. I don't speak for Ka-Bar (I just moderate this board for Ethan), but I cannot imagine how stripping a blade would void the warranty. It's just coating/paint and has little to do with the performance of the steel.
 
I can't rule that out. If I did it went right through. I always back out and flip the wood over if I hit a knot or the blade starts to get wedged. After I was done I put it back in the sheath on my belt. It wasn't until today while checking gear for a fishing trip to the same spot that I saw the damage. I'm not blaming the knife but I wasn't "torture testing" it either. It was 75 degrees out. I've used it in 28 degree weather after warming it up in my sleeping bag and on much harder wood without as much as a nick.
 
I've seen this happen before, with Becker blades, as well as other knives. It's not uncommon. While batoniing, you're introducing a lot of different stresses and variables on the blade. It's not necessarily a bad spot in the steel, it just the extreme stress applied. Good luck to you, I hope KA-BAR takes care of it for you. :) Please let us know what happens.
 
That knife should take more abuse that what you described.

Toooj will want that one.....

Moose
 
FalconerPhoto said:
After I was done I put it back in the sheath on my belt. It wasn't until today while checking gear for a fishing trip to the same spot that I saw the damage
Click to expand...

anyone else have access to it when you weren't using it?

i have had some items damaged, and then put back... "it was like that dude"

yeah, not.

anyway, contact KaBar
 
Was the wood Hard Maple?

Looks about the right size for a sap spile?

That being said, it happens. I took a chunk out of a Golok some time ago. On the first day of use. It looked like the Grand Canyon when it happened.

Hopefully Ka-Bar will step up and take one for the team.
 
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