Camillus Pilot's knife vs BK-17

Mack

Mack

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Does anyone have both of these? I'd love to see a picture comparing the two.
I've been really missing my old Pilot's knife and the BK-17 has caught my eye.
Thanks in advance.
 
Here are a few photos of the one I carried while I was in the Army.

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I always had a feeling that the 17 reminded me of something and as soon as I saw the title of this thread I realized it was the old pilot survival knives. Awsome pics btw Hawk
 
Thank you Hawk!!!
I thought that was what I was seeing. Those pics sure helped make it real.
Now, I think I need a 17.:D
 
I had both and gave one away. Now I only have the 17 and find it is a much better blade.
 
Wow. Hawk on the ball with whipping out pictures on request! I wanted a bk17 then I got a bk16 but I still long to have a 17 in my stable.
 
I wanted a bk17 then I got a bk16 but I still long to have a 17 in my stable.
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Same here. I was trying to decide between the 16 and 17... got the 16... and really want the 17. Soon enough I suppose.
 
The 16 is great for bushy stuff. The 17 is great for EVERYTHING!

I have both versions of the 16, and the 17. The 17 gets carried more often. Right now though I'm carrying K-9's FFG16/17 conversion.
 
Now, if we can only get them to make the 17 with stacked leather...
 
Well...I hadn't thought about that, but the familiarity with the Pilots knife, after carrying one quite a bit in my younger days, explains why the 17 is is so second nature to me. It's sort of like a pilots knife without the handle heaviness and steel pommel.


protourist said:
Now, if we can only get them to make the 17 with stacked leather...
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I'd say the stacked leather version of the Ka-Bar USN MK-I is about as close as your gonna get.
 
mistwalker said:
Well...I hadn't thought about that, but the familiarity with the Pilots knife, after carrying one quite a bit in my younger days, explains why the 17 is is so second nature to me. It's sort of like a pilots knife without the handle heaviness and steel pommel.




I'd say the stacked leather version of the Ka-Bar USN MK-I is about as close as your gonna get.
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I will certainly need to get a 17 and try it on for size. As for the stacked leather, one can always dream right.:D
 
The BK-17 is an excellent blade, and even better with a straightened clip:

IMG_20120929_124923-small.jpg
 
protourist said:
I will certainly need to get a 17 and try it on for size. As for the stacked leather, one can always dream right.:D
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Maybe it's because I have never carried a pilot's knife... but I really have no interest in stacked leather. I'm just waiting on the micarta for those little guys... then I'll buy the whole set.
 
I like the 16 and have bought a few for the boys as you all have seen on here. But for me it has always been the 17. It has always been my personal favorite and it is proudly mounted in a OD green Rit dyed factory sheath on the side of my go bag. It really has become my go to knife. I was suprised that it fit in the sheath of the flight knife so well. I do like leather sheaths.

The reason for the quick response is that I was ultimately curious beyond belief once I read the post and knew that I had one hanging on the wall in my old LBE harness inthe man cave.
 
The 17 is the only tweener I have and it is amazing. I can't justify a 16 purchase boi that I have the 17
 
Hawk590 said:
I like the 16 and have bought a few for the boys as you all have seen on here. But for me it has always been the 17. It has always been my personal favorite and it is proudly mounted in a OD green Rit dyed factory sheath on the side of my go bag. It really has become my go to knife. I was suprised that it fit in the sheath of the flight knife so well. I do like leather sheaths.

The reason for the quick response is that I was ultimately curious beyond belief once I read the post and knew that I had one hanging on the wall in my old LBE harness inthe man cave.
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Well I certainly thank you. First for posting the pics that showed me so much and second for the compliment of saying that a question I asked got you thinking like that.
15144316-emoticon-cheering-with-a-mug-of-beer.jpg
 
Uncle Malice said:
Maybe it's because I have never carried a pilot's knife... but I really have no interest in stacked leather. I'm just waiting on the micarta for those little guys... then I'll buy the whole set.
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When I first read this thread I thought stacked leather would be the cat's ass for a Tweener. Then I remembered the full-sized KaBar I carried in the Army, and it dawned on me how good the modern micarta or even the Zytel is compared to the ancient leather.
 
I'm currently lusting after a 17 (it'll probably be my next Becker) so I can't comment on those, but I'd recommend staying away from the Ontario (at least) pilot survival knives as a user. The edge is way too thick and it's hard to cut much on mine (which has a razor edge). It has good history and is a decent collection piece but there are better users for sure.
Stacked leather on a Tweener? It'd sure look good, but I prefer a full tang.
 
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