Distant cousins?

C

Claudiasboris

Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
143
I was intrigued by Moose's statement a while ago that the BK2 was loosely based on the MOD survival knife. I'd always been impressed by the MOD knife but never got around to obtaining one. So I got one to compare with (and do other knifey stuff with).

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All dressed up with Mummy9 and Little Sis2

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MOD is a big girl: 12" in total, 6.5" blade, .25" thick, 1.5" wide and big thick wooden scales with three big brass pins going through the full tang. The handles overhang the tang by maybe 1mm, which I guess will hurt with heavy use. That needs changing then. She's heavy but I haven't been able to weigh her yet.

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The edge isn't great, I'm going to have to work on it, but I'm getting better at that so it's okay.

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The sheath is oddly left-handed, made from cordura, with stiffening front and back. Fastening is by velcro on the handle and press-stud over the guard. The reverse has a 3.5" loop by the handle and another 3.5" loop directly below, about where the guard is.

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Not had a chance to play with her yet. I'll let you know when I do :D

Claudiasboris
 
WOW, interesting! Thanks for posting !!

______________________

Beckerhead #32
 
MyWifeThinksImCrazy said:
Cheese and rice! How much does that one weigh?
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Heavy!

I'll let you know when I get the scales out :rolleyes:. A lot more than the BK2.

I know that the designs have changed over the years. I first heard about them mid to late 80s, though I believe they've been around in some incarnation or other for longer. The handle on mine is dated 1993.

Claudiasboris
 
The first BK2 was actually ground from a MOD Mark I knife. You should see it, it really doesn't look much different than the new incarnations of the BK2. The thickness stayed the same, but the length got shortened, and the grind got lifted. The belly got thinned out and the handle, well, the handle is a Becker now, but then, it was left as is. The shortening of the blade and raising the grind, really left the weight in the handle, it wasn't until the Gen2 when the handle was skeletonized, that the balance really came alive.

The first BK2 was CUT FROM the MOD Mark I. Pretty cool. Ethan started out as a knife modder, then a knife maker, and finally, the designer. If you get a chance, watch the E2E PWYP interview that Adam did, all four parts, you will hear about the BK2 and where Ethan's love of knives came from.

Moose
 
Thanks Moose, I'll have a look for that.

You're right QT. One things for sure, I won't be throwing her around like I do with my ESEEs. It'll be harder to get the handles off for cleaning too...

Claudiasboris
 
Claudiasboris said:
Thanks Moose, I'll have a look for that.

You're right QT. One things for sure, I won't be throwing her around like I do with my ESEEs. It'll be harder to get the handles off for cleaning too...

Claudiasboris
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Not sure that guy ever made it to pictures, the one I saw was at Ethan's cave o steel. I'll see if the next time I'm down, if we can get a few pics of that guy, or at least some of the protos. Remember, the BK2 is almost 30yrs old, and its never going away, IMO, because it is the most basic, badass, hard use knife that ever rode a belt.

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
Remember, the BK2 is almost 30yrs old, and its never going away, IMO, because it is the most basic, badass, hard use knife that ever rode a belt.

Moose
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I'd agree with that statement. Super-basic, heavy-duty, no-frills bad-ass worker knife.
 
Claudiasboris said:
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Claudiasboris
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Hey thanks for this man, I myself was wondering what the original looked like in comparison with the BK2. Awesome how you can see the similarities but differences there. Great looking knives all around.
 
Thanks Derek, the similarities/differences thing was the look I was going for. Don't forget that the original inspiration was different again to the one I've got, but I'm not sure how different. This may be an interesting research project.

They do look good together though, don't they?

Can't wait to get a 7 to complete the set.

Claudiasboris
 
Hi all,

It feels like I'm resurrecting a thread but I've just weighed the MOD beast. She's a hefty 1 lb 9 oz/710g in her outfit, 1 lb 5 oz/590g naked.

I still haven't had time to try her out yet but I've got a Christmas tree in the garden that needs a trim. Hopefully this weekend.

Claudiasboris
 
Claudiasboris said:
Hi all,

It feels like I'm resurrecting a thread but I've just weighed the MOD beast. She's a hefty 1 lb 9 oz/710g in her outfit, 1 lb 5 oz/590g naked.

I still haven't had time to try her out yet but I've got a Christmas tree in the garden that needs a trim. Hopefully this weekend.

Claudiasboris
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Hey Claudias, glad to see you around.

Moose
 
Hey ClaudiasBoris.....

When you try to get an edge on that thing remember it is differentially heat treated.....I went right though the hard (harder) part and ended up with a not really knife......The edge WOULD cut butter after I left it in the oven at 350 for thirty minutes....LOL.....

I fear you will find, as I did, that it is more an IDEA than it is a knife.......

Have fun....

All Best....

ethan......

ps. It could be that it was the same crummy heat treat all the way through.....The para knife is made from steel I am not even sure is heat treated at all.....Another great idea that one--- but the execution sucks.....eb
 
:D I bought my MOD knife from a dealer in Canada and I will tell you what he told me concerning the blade sharpness. The MOD knife was not made for fine cutting. It was made for chopping and splitting wood and shelter making primarily. I guess it could have a fine edge, but I don't know how long it will last. Just thought I would put in my 2 cents worth. Hope it was helpful. :D
 
Woot! I got an answer from Ethan Becker!

Thanks Ethan, they're very hazy about steel and hardness.

I had noticed that the edge is very thin. I'm going to get around to putting a usable edge on her eventually, but I want to try some chopping as she is before that.

Cheers!
Claudiasboris
 
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