Factory sheaths

M

mike_mck2

Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
301
Recently acquired a BK16, and I can't understand why it would ship with the sheath it does.
A nice relatively small knife, and a way oversized sheath for it.
Why not a simple kydex sheath?

Sure, I can spend another $30 or so for a sheath, and another $12 or so for a tek-lolk but its very annoying.

Even the factory BK2 sheath had an oversized web belt loop that I had to remove and replace with a simple tek-lok.
 
The BK16 sheath is actually quite good. Its very close to a spec ops sheath. I believe its a little long because they use the same sheath for the BK15. Sure they could tailor make each sheath for each knife but then the price goes up. Be happy that you got a great knife for a great price and you got a very useable sheath for very little money. The low price of the knife allows you to upgrade on the sheath if you choose.
 
mike_mck2 said:
Recently acquired a BK16, and I can't understand why it would ship with the sheath it does.
A nice relatively small knife, and a way oversized sheath for it.
Why not a simple kydex sheath?

Sure, I can spend another $30 or so for a sheath, and another $12 or so for a tek-lolk but its very annoying.

Even the factory BK2 sheath had an oversized web belt loop that I had to remove and replace with a simple tek-lok.
Click to expand...

I think you answered your own question. The sheath the 16 comes with is serviceable, but if you add $42 to the cost of a 16 you are up over a $100 (more if MSRP) and that is really not the price point of the Becker line. The sheath does the job and is cost effective, bottom line. Throw in another $40 for factory micarta, and you can see where this goes. It's no longer a value priced knife. I like the factory sheaths for the most part, and they certainly do the job they were intended to. Mostly I like to mod or make anything extra, and I really appreciate that the cost of those options isn't built into the base price of the knife. Plus, Kydex isn't MOLLE compatible, and the OEM sheath is....and a lot of my knives go on packs, so I really like that feature in the OEM sheath. Plus, I almost never belt carry, so I would be somewhat annoyed paying for a Tek-Lok that I wouldn't use. Knives or cars, all the factory add-ons increase the base price. I for one appreciate the base price of BK&T's right where they are.
 
tobiism said:
The BK16 sheath is actually quite good. Its very close to a spec ops sheath. I believe its a little long because they use the same sheath for the BK15. Sure they could tailor make each sheath for each knife but then the price goes up. Be happy that you got a great knife for a great price and you got a very useable sheath for very little money. The low price of the knife allows you to upgrade on the sheath if you choose.
Click to expand...

+1 :D

granitestateofmind said:
I think you answered your own question. The sheath the 16 comes with is serviceable, but if you add $42 to the cost of a 16 you are up over a $100 (more if MSRP) and that is really not the price point of the Becker line. The sheath does the job and is cost effective, bottom line. Throw in another $40 for factory micarta, and you can see where this goes. It's no longer a value priced knife. I like the factory sheaths for the most part, and they certainly do the job they were intended to. Mostly I like to mod or make anything extra, and I really appreciate that the cost of those options isn't built into the base price of the knife. Plus, Kydex isn't MOLLE compatible, and the OEM sheath is....and a lot of my knives go on packs, so I really like that feature in the OEM sheath. Plus, I almost never belt carry, so I would be somewhat annoyed paying for a Tek-Lok that I wouldn't use. Knives or cars, all the factory add-ons increase the base price. I for one appreciate the base price of BK&T's right where they are.
Click to expand...

And +1 again. :D:D

I'm one of those folks who like plain ole "get the job done" sheaths from the factory, regardless of the brand. Why? Because no factory sheath ever built is gonna be the cat's meow for everyone. For most of my carry options, a factory sheath is just fine for doing it's primary job - carry the knife while it is in use, protecting both the user from the edge and the edge from the user.

If I want a sheath that had feature "X", regardless of what "X" might be, 9 outta 10 folks aren't going to want feature "X" and don't want to pay for it.

The Becker sheaths are basically low end, base model, work trucks - power brakes and steering, manual transmission, manual windows and in Texas, AC. You want power windows, a CD player, Sirius satellite radio, automatic transmission - all add-ons that raise the cost.

Same way with sheaths - tek-loc fittings, belt dangler, leather pants, fire-striker loop, etc - add-ons that cost more to incorporate and which many folks have no use for. Not saying they are bad things to have, just that a lot of folks don't want them. Example - for me, a tec-lok fitting on a sheath would be a deal killer because I don't use them.

IMHO, if some one wants special features on a sheath, they have 3 options.

The first is to figure out how to add that feature to the existing sheath. Becker sheaths are great "mod-able" sheaths.

The second option is to pay for a custom sheath that has all the bells and whistles you want, just exactly the way you want it.

The third option is make it yourself.

That's just one of the reasons I started learning how to make sheaths. To make'm my way. Are they top quality, sell'em for a ton of money customs? Not by any stretch of the imagination. Are they cheaper than custom sheaths? Depends on your definition of "cheaper". Had to buy tools and supplies. Had to screw up a bunch of leather/kydex and destroy a ton of rivets, snaps, other HW. But I had fun learning and doing for myself. The money saved with my Beckers having low end serviceable sheaths rather than fancy gee-gaws could be applied to my "leather toys". Just the way my boat floats.

YMMV.

Now, if someone REALLY wants a REALLY, REALLY snarky comment from me :D, just ask me about high-end knife makers who only supply a thin little card board sleeve with their knives so that the end-user HAS to pay for a custom sheath or learn to make their own before they can even THINK about carrying the knife. no names, please. :D
 
Bk16 is a great knife with a usable sheath.
Do I like the sheath, well I don't know as I've never used it.
I like kydex and usually go that route.
The knife, kydex, teklok, and micarta is expensive at first but should last you many good years of service.
 
Some very good answers here.
And to pile on, like GSOM, I seldom belt carry. My BK16 tucks into the side pocket of my Rush 72 pack along with a folding saw for cutting bone. I did spring for the micarta grips, but felt no need to upgrade the sheath. It works great as part of my standard pig hunting gear.
 
I find the sheaths supplied with the tweeners to be better than serviceable. I typically molle attach it to the shoulder strap of my maxpedition vulture II pack and the tweener sheaths seem to be the perfect length when attached that way. Compared to similar sheaths, I find the nylon/cordura to be pretty durable with great retention, and the front pocket to be generously sized. I have even bought extra tweener and larger sized BK sheaths for non-becker knives. They work well with my pack. That's just my 2 cents.
 
Last edited:
It isn't just Becker. I was enamored of Buck knives, especially the 119, 120 and 124 back in the late 70s or early 80s, but I didn't like the sheaths because the knives rattled in them. They were solidly made from leather but I hated them nonetheless. After my experience of hating the Becker sheaths and getting custom sheaths made by Skystorm I decided to check and see if anyone made custom sheaths for my 35 year old Buck knives and sure enough.

The ones I liked, as it happened, had snake-skin inlays:



In the course of checking everything relating to these knives I discovered that Buck had made new versions of the 119 and 120 with cocobolo scales and brass pommels and guards. Since I was back into Buck thanks to the snakeskin sheaths I ordered the 119BR and 120BR. In the 35 years since I bought my old ones with the aluminum pommel & guard and the rattling sheath, did Buck learn its lesson and get rid of the rattle in the sheaths for the brand new gorgeous 119BR and 120BR? Of course not and undoubtedly for the reasons mentioned above.

After reading my comments about hating the rattling Buck sheaths one 124 owner said that he solved the problem by tying a bit of cord through the belt holder and around the knife below the pommel. He had a little plastic slip-thing on it to keep the knife from rattling. He said it worked great and only added a second or two to getting the knife out of its sheath. One person responded saying that was a great idea. I guess he was going to do the same thing. While several people admired my snake-skin sheaths no one indicated that he was going to follow my example and buy one.

Lawrence
 
the reason for the length on the tweener sheaths is because they use the same sheath for the 15, 16 & 17, as the 15 is longer therefore the length of the sheath. Even tho I make my own kydex and leather sheaths, I really like the tweener's sheaths. It is far superior to other nylon sheaths offered on other knives, with a decent pocket, sturdy straps and MOLLE compatible. If you don't agree with the tan color, pick a leather dye of your choosing and it takes it pretty good.

IMG_20140521_165635_zpsldpckf5a.jpg


IMG_20140526_152304_zpsumikh2rc.jpg


IMG_20140526_152131_zpsbdgsarol.jpg
 
the length is perfect to drop in a cargo pocket and still be able to get to the knife without worrying about cutting up the pocket when you put it back?
that said - GSOM nailed it with his answer, as did several of the others.
in reality, Knife Knuts like us are a VERY small %age of the market for Kabar (though a very vocal minority) and 90% or more of their customers will find this to be a perfectly functional sheath for their needs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top