Fixed Blade Knife Useless?

C

Captains1911

Joined
Nov 17, 2012
Messages
20
I was chatting with a few co-workers today on the topic of knives, and mentioned how much I like my Becker BK2. One suggested that a knife like that is "completely useless." It's surprising since he's an outdoors person. I have trouble understanding how somebody could believe that, considering it's likely one of the most useful tools I can think of. It's like calling rope useless.

BTW, this is my first post but I've been lurking for years.;)
 
I think thick bladed knives are seen as pretty useless to many people. If you do a lot of camping in relatively easy living places, a thin sak is all you need. A big thick knife is just useless bulk. I personally enjoy a big knife for fun, but haven't found them to be particularly useful for most real world applications
 
Wow! I have switched to my main EDC blade as a pocket or Smaller Fixed blade on a daily basis. Just ordered a Scrapyard Scrapaviore today to add to my small EDC fixed blade collection. I just like the feel of a fixed blade in my hands. I like my folders but Im not a fan of the feel of the pocket clip when I grip the knife but I like the fact that I can clip it in my pocket and know its not gona move. ohh the agony!!!
 
I personally find a 1/4 inch thick 5 inch blade knife to be completely useless as well. I am sure for some it may be useful but I cant imagine the situation that it would be the best option.
 
Must not be much of an outdoorsman then. I know its possible to field dress animals and complete other chores with a pocketknife, but God gave man a brain so he would match the appropriate tool to the job. But, an opinion is like an anus.... everyone has one.
 
People have a different way of doing things, and different things to do - various hobbies, occupations, emergencies and disasters, etc.

As long as you like it, other people are just blowing smoke...but still might have a bit of wisdom that sneaks in.

I used a tomahawk once to get stripped bolt caps off my flat tire out in the middle of no where. In the same situation would have rather had a BK2 in its place before a Mora or folder. Never know what will happen or be the best in a situation.
 
I dont understand the mentality either. One of my buddies is into backpacking (as am I) and in his system he carries nothing but a SAK or small multi tool. I dont understand that mind-set. Yes, weight is important when technical backpacking but I wouldn't even feel comfortable going out without a fixed blade of at least 4-5.5 in. The common backpacking mentality is when you go really long distances you shouldn't carry more than a SAK or small multi-tool. I totally disagree, having a fixed blade gives me peace of mind and minimizes work which minimizes fatigue and therefore injuries. In the wise and controversial words of Nutnfancy, "There is good weight and bad weight."

I find a knife the size and specifications of a BK-2 to be rather disproportionate though. A sub 11" knife that is 14.6 oz?! Heck no tooooooooootally overkill; regardless of its thickness, It's not "good weight" in my opinion. Sure it would go through hell and back but you couldnt baton wood much wider than ~4.5" across. It's just a waste! A knife's blade shouldn't be 1/4" if its less than about 6" because of it's blade length restraints, IMO.
 
I recently sold my BK 2 and purchased a BK 16. I have also found that a 1/4" thick 5" blade knife is no where near as handy as the Tweener I just got...

Just my experience having one for about a year or so.
 
I have several thick, large fixed blades that I do like but they are really next to useless. I canary a SAK ans a large Stock man and when camping a 4 inch drop point hunter that takes care of all my needs. Many a mountain man survived just fine on a Green River knife which is anything but thick.
 
I was in Boy Scouts and backpacked all over the place for years and have hunted dear for over 25 years. The only time I saw a fixed blade knife hear in Ohio in the field was when someone was cleaning fish with a filet knife or at a Mountain Man Reinactment. I think different locales are drastically different. In my neck of the woods in Ohio it is all but illegal to carry a fixed blade knife edc. Hunters usually used a folding knife in my youth. Now a days there are more fixed blades on the belt but only during deer season.

Almost all of my friends would agree it was useless too. I must say that I greatly prefer thinner knives myself but I would never call it useless.
 
It is hard to know what someone else meant or intended with a statement.

That said, the 1/4 inch thick 5 inch blade is a fairly new development in the world of cutlery, and somehow skilled outdoorsmen lived quite happily without them and probably faced much greater challenges than many forum dwellers (me included) will ever know.

In that regard, I could understand someone scoffing at such a knife.

Simply put, if you have the skills to do everything you have ever needed to do with a thin bladed knife...thick blades are a useless solution to a problem you don't have.
 
I can say that I agree with him. A 5" 1/4" thick "knife" is not really even a knife. Knives are for cutting. The Becker BK2 is a sharpened prybar meant to be used as some sort of magic totem to protect the owner from "SHTF" I don't get it, but YMMV ;)
 
LOL I just commented on your thread over at The High Road. It's kinda a subjective IMO, when it comes to small Vs large fixed blades. As for me I like to have specific tools, and opt for smaller fixed blades and quality axes and machetes, with that being said I feel that a big knife is a sort of "jack of all trades" master of none tool. Though in a grab and go situation, you could just slap your big knife on your belt and be on your way........ Whatever works for you, and makes your life easier is what you should go for. I don't camp much (hoping to change that), but when outside bumming around it is easier sometimes, just to carry a larger knife, but in all honesty, I could get by (and do) on my short woods adventures with only a folding knife.
 
I appreciate knives like the BK-2 from a survival perspective. If I only want to carry one edged tool for building a shelter, making a fire, prepping food, and even digging or prying with if necessary. You have to make some significant compromises to make that possible and I think the BK-2 does that. Now I think most of us, myself definitely included, prefer to have access to a wider variety of more specialized tools, but I still have some admiration for the jack-of-all-trades master-of-none blades out there.
 
Chris Pierce said:
I can say that I agree with him. A 5" 1/4" thick "knife" is not really even a knife. Knives are for cutting. The Becker BK2 is a sharpened prybar meant to be used as some sort of magic totem to protect the owner from "SHTF" I don't get it, but YMMV ;)
Click to expand...

You are not alone. I can carry a hatchet for that weight. Or a proper knife (or two) and a saw.
 
I happen to own a BK2, but would never carry it hiking or backpacking. It's not entirely useless as a tool, just unnecessary. Why not carry a 3/4 ton bottle jack in your pack too, "Never know when you might need that." ;)

For me, I don't need to chop wood when backpacking and rarely even build a fire. It's a waste of energy, takes too much time, and is nearly impossible to no-trace.

Fact is that although I always carry a pocketknife (ultra-light fixed blade is my choice) when outdoors (it's one of the Ten Essentials, after all), I rarely ever use it. There just aren't that many things in the natural outdoors that need cutting or chopping. When I do use a knife it's for always for something mundane like cutting moleskin, opening a food pack, or cutting a guyline.

Car camping with the family and cabin living are great times for campfires, chopping wood, and carrying heavy tools. But in that instance I already have a saw, hatchet, and/or a full axe. Guess I could use a BK2 instead.
 
Unless the handle doesn't fit at all then i would agree partially that such fixed blade isn't thoughtfully designed; i could still use it as a spear with proper lashing.
The BK11 SM is in my pack all the time- compact yet useful.It's tad small for my mitt but did many job perfectly fine- scraped off dry wall paint, pried off the lid on paint and cut many canvas sheets for my recent renovation.

You could have a thick spine with a flat grind or hollow AND a tiny convex 2ndary bevel for strength. Again i'm speaking from a survival stand point which i always do whilst venturing into wilderness. I make sure i have a fixed blade and a multitool for that so the former will compliment what the other doesn't.

One justification is that folder takes more maintenance in the humid jungle here than a fixed blade, where rust and dirt is easily visible and removed.
 
If a particular knife can be used successfully to perform a task that the user needs to perform, then that knife clearly is not "completely useless".

There's a big difference between saying "I would have no use for such a knife", and saying "That knife is completely useless". The first is a statement based on personal needs. The second is a statement of pure arrogance and an attempt to posture oneself as an expert, as if such a person is an authority for all knifedom and in a position to universally declare what knives/designs have value and which ones don't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top