Esse RAT6 vs. Becker BK2

A

aid1987

Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Messages
3
Hi,

I'm new to the forum and I'm looking for a bit of advice before buying a knife for a BOB I am building. I don't plan on carrying a lot of gear but I want one 'tough' knife to take on bigger tasks and I'm currently stuck between the RAT6 and BK2. I've read great things about the Becker and it is nearly half the price of the RAT6 but I am a weary that it will be on the heavy side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)
 
I have an ESEE-6 in Venom Green. Makes one hell of a knife, hold edge really well. Easy to see in the dark. AND has ESEE's No Questions Asked Warrenty!
 
Yea definitely go with an esee - killer sheath, attachment system, awesome heat treat, good handles, and warranty. Ive got a junglas coming in the mail tommorow and an esee 3 that i love.
 
BK2 is way to heavy to carry around and the grips come lose as soon as you use it.

I would spend the extra and get a nice knife.

I feel a BK9 and a Spyderco Military is a great match for a BOB. Just get some aftermarket handles for the BK9 and JB weld the screws so they do not come apart.
 
I'd choose the Becker any day. For your comparison, the Becker BK7 compares more closely with the ESEE 6 *or* the ESEE5 compares more closely with the BK2. Anyway - from the two you listed or four I listed, I'd still go with the BK2. It's a great knife, super comfortable and reasonably priced.

The handle isn't going anywhere on any of these knives unless you have a screw loose like the previous poster apparently did.

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Beckerhead #42
 
ESEE and Becker(Ka-Bar) both have nearly identical warranties. You can spruce up a BK2 with micarta and a custom sheath if you'd like, that'd bring the price about equal between them. Both use similar steels and are equally respected. I own more than a dozen Beckers and have yet to have any issue, handle or otherwise. I have a few ESEEs, but none of the RAT/Ontario variety. The RAT 6 I do have is the older Rowen version. You won't go wrong with either.
 
The quality and warranty are interchangeable between the two, I'd say its down to price and intended use. I've never used a bk2 but it always struck me as to short and thick for anything other than straight knife abuse, then again in a bob it might be right at home. For general use, the 6 caters better to MY style except for the choil. If you like em both flip a coin, or try to get them in hand before deciding. It's win win, you can't go wrong with either.
 
Having had owned both, The ESEE. Once the novelty of having the 1/4 inch blade wears off, you realize that the 6 is just more useful for camp chores. Also the sheath that comes with the BK2 renders the knife as little more that a paper weight (imo knives are supposed to be sharp)
 
My personal tastes is for the ESEE. I feel they are a better overall knife, better heat treat, better warranty, and just an overall better purchase. Again this is my view others may disagree but I like ESEE a bunch better.
 
Beckers are great, ESEEs are great, you basically can't go wrong with either. However, I don't like the BK2 or the ESEE 5, they're just too damn thick and heavy for their size.

For a BOB, I'd go with a BK 9 (or even a BK 4) with a Leatherman ST300 thrown in the pocket, a nice combination of heavy duty tools that should be able to handle almost anything. Plus they are both affordable. The only downside would be weight.
 
Thanks for all the great replies! I'm glad that they are both getting praise, I'm leaning *slightly* more towards the esse at this point but I won't be buying for a month or two yet so things can change. I like that, for me, the Esse would be good to go out of the box as I would definitely want to buy micarta scales and a new sheath for the Becker.

I currently have one knife, the Becker Eskabar (BK11), which is great. I was originally looking at the RAT4 to become my main BOB knife but I wasn't sure if it would really be worth it (correct me if I'm wrong) as it doesn't appear to much much of a step up in terms of blade size/ability which is why I'm looking at the 6.
 
Keep in mind that KA-BAR has just recently completely changed the sheath that the BK2 comes with. The new one is quite good although it is a cordura pouch sheath, not a hardsheel sheath like what comes with ESEE. I can't imagine for a BOB that you would need to change this and I'm also kinda wondering why you would need to spend extra on micarta for a seldom-used BOB knife.

Also, why buy a Rat knife when you could be buying the real-deal ESEE?

The BK2 is a tank. It's quite heavy, but pretty much indestructible. An amazing wood splitter.
 
GingivitisKahn said:
The handle isn't going anywhere on any of these knives unless you have a screw loose like the previous poster apparently did.
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No, not on all of these knives just the BK's. On every BK 9, 7 or 2 that I have owned the screws have come loose in the frist 5 minutes of use. They are famous for it and anybody who has actually used one for actual work knows the screws do come loose and fast.

I really like the BK9 but it needs improved upon in the handel holding area. I wish they would go G10 and glue and pin those grips because what they are using does not allow the screws to streach proper and keep a load on the grips so they back off fast and often unless you do something about it. I have two knives with only 2 screws because the others got lost from backing off. I do not like a knife that you HAVE to carry a allen wrench with you at all times.

The BK 7 and 9 are a great knife but I will not let a new buyer be lied to. On the BK the grips do get loose fast and often, no body elses does so pleas ask Ka-Bar to fix the problem if you know anybody who works there.
 
That's the first time I've ever heard of the screws coming loose on a Becker. I don't own one myself, but I've been researching them and window licking for a while and I really have never heard mention of loose handle screws until now.
 
Kansas Flatlander said:
No, not on all of these knives just the BK's. On every BK 9, 7 or 2 that I have owned the screws have come loose in the frist 5 minutes of use. They are famous for it and anybody who has actually used one for actual work knows the screws do come loose and fast.

I really like the BK9 but it needs improved upon in the handel holding area. I wish they would go G10 and glue and pin those grips because what they are using does not allow the screws to streach proper and keep a load on the grips so they back off fast and often unless you do something about it. I have two knives with only 2 screws because the others got lost from backing off. I do not like a knife that you HAVE to carry a allen wrench with you at all times.

The BK 7 and 9 are a great knife but I will not let a new buyer be lied to. On the BK the grips do get loose fast and often, no body elses does so pleas ask Ka-Bar to fix the problem if you know anybody who works there.
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I'm sorry, but this information is off-base in my humble opinion. I've been using Beckers for over a decade with both the stock Grivory and the micarta scales, and I've never had an issue with the handles coming loose once they were tightened properly. Yes, I might have gotten a loose screw or two out of the box, but I've never had any trouble once I secured the screws.

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Kansas Flatlander said:
No, not on all of these knives just the BK's. On every BK 9, 7 or 2 that I have owned the screws have come loose in the frist 5 minutes of use. They are famous for it and anybody who has actually used one for actual work knows the screws do come loose and fast.

I really like the BK9 but it needs improved upon in the handel holding area. I wish they would go G10 and glue and pin those grips because what they are using does not allow the screws to streach proper and keep a load on the grips so they back off fast and often unless you do something about it. I have two knives with only 2 screws because the others got lost from backing off. I do not like a knife that you HAVE to carry a allen wrench with you at all times.

The BK 7 and 9 are a great knife but I will not let a new buyer be lied to. On the BK the grips do get loose fast and often, no body elses does so pleas ask Ka-Bar to fix the problem if you know anybody who works there.
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weird. i've had Beckers since they started back 25 years and more.

the ONLY time i've had screws come loose is when the knife was brand new, and i didn't tighten them up first - lost one ONCE in 20 years. seriously. the stock handles are amazing i think, but many people prefer to buy the micarta ones, or even custom wood ones. there are plenty of people selling the knives with custom glued and pinned handles.

tips: use thread locker drops. or saran wrap. or swap the bolts for nylalocks (and go stainless!). heck, just lick the threads and put the nuts on. solid.

the nice folx at ESEE would happily point out they don't care if you buy Becker or their stuff. after all, they are all in bed together :D heh.

imho i would not buy RAT or Ontario, but that's my opinion. don't like how they do business.

now, some of y'all don't like how thick the BK2 is? but want a longer knife. well, buy Ritter's Perseverance knife. VERY nice. Becker handles. spear point blade. Rowen heat treat (it's like buying an ESEE). you'll get a basic non-dulling sheath that you'll hate (34% of all people hate the stock sheath ;>)....

OR buy a new and upcoming release of the BK10. thin. slicely. proven and stout.

or buy a BK7 right now. sweet knife if you like that style.
 
Bladite said:
huh, looks like he has a good collection. if he keeps growing it he might have as many as me ;)
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Those are just the users! :D

Another good fix if you've got a rogue screw is clear fingernail polish. It's cheap and does the job of the lower resistance Loctite.

HardTripper said:
Which is your favorite Guyon? Oh wait... probably the 9 right?
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The 9 is the King for a reason, but I've also been into the 17 lately.

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