Good Micarda handles for a BK2?

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LairdyBird

Joined
Apr 11, 2018
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I am buying a BK2 in a little bit and i know that the only issue with the BK2 is the Handles.

Thanks a lot
 
LairdyBird said:
I am buying a BK2 in a little bit and i know that the only issue with the BK2 is the Handles.

Thanks a lot
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Personally I have 0 Issues with the factory scales on the 2. It doesnt create enough leverage for it to be a concern when I'm chopping. The 4 and 7 on up and I run factory micarta.
 
Tomars has great Micarta for Beckers ... some of the other places you get some variations in coloring but Tomars is consistant ... you may want to look at their scales.
 
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Tanker 1/66 said:
Personally I have 0 Issues with the factory scales on the 2. It doesnt create enough leverage for it to be a concern when I'm chopping. The 4 and 7 on up and I run factory micarta.
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I am going to need a good outdoor knife coming up soon and i was given 3 options. ESSE 5 or 6 (depends on your size preference), BK2 (its mandatory i get the handles), or the Ontario RD6 ( i need a new sheath for it) so The ESSE is off the table and now im debauting on the RD6 and BK2.
 
My custom dyed micarta...
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LairdyBird said:
I am going to need a good outdoor knife coming up soon and i was given 3 options. ESSE 5 or 6 (depends on your size preference), BK2 (its mandatory i get the handles), or the Ontario RD6 ( i need a new sheath for it) so The ESSE is off the table and now im debauting on the RD6 and BK2.
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Well this Is the Kabar forum and I am a Beckerhead...... Ummmmmm.... Bk2 :D
 
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LairdyBird said:
I am going to need a good outdoor knife coming up soon and i was given 3 options. ESSE 5 or 6 (depends on your size preference), BK2 (its mandatory i get the handles), or the Ontario RD6 ( i need a new sheath for it) so The ESSE is off the table and now im debauting on the RD6 and BK2.
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Your counting is off...that's 4 options.
The ESEE 5 is quite comparable to the BK2; though, while it wins the sheath category, the ESEE's handles aren't as good as the Becker's. With the thickness of the BK2, and the size of the handles (stock or micarta), you might want to consider TKC's G10 scales - they're not as thick.
The ESEE 6 is a very capable knife; but it has the same scales as the 5. They're not bad, actually; and it's slimmer info hand than the 5. TKC has g10 scales for this one, too! Overall, I think the ESEE 6 is a better choice than the 5.
The Ontario RD6, honestly, has the worst scales of the group... I'm not sure about replacements, as I took a half-round file to mine & reshaped them. (Mine is the RD7; but that doesn't change the fact).

Not knowing your plans for the knife, it's difficult to make a serious recommendation. As mentioned above, the BK scales are better than many people assume. I don't know why it's "mandatory" that you replace them; but that's your call. Most of the time, I feel the BK2 is overkill. It's a great knife; but I don't generally need a 1/4 inch thick blade. The BK12 (Ritter MK2 Perseverance, actually) is a great knife that's comparable in size to the RD6; though
 
Give the Becker scales a try. They are very comfortable. Plus you can always ruff sand them, stipple them, ranger band them. Truly make them your own. If you still don't like them then you can try some aftermarket scales.
 
hhmoore said:
Your counting is off...that's 4 options.
The ESEE 5 is quite comparable to the BK2; though, while it wins the sheath category, the ESEE's handles aren't as good as the Becker's. With the thickness of the BK2, and the size of the handles (stock or micarta), you might want to consider TKC's G10 scales - they're not as thick.
The ESEE 6 is a very capable knife; but it has the same scales as the 5. They're not bad, actually; and it's slimmer info hand than the 5. TKC has g10 scales for this one, too! Overall, I think the ESEE 6 is a better choice than the 5.
The Ontario RD6, honestly, has the worst scales of the group... I'm not sure about replacements, as I took a half-round file to mine & reshaped them. (Mine is the RD7; but that doesn't change the fact).

Not knowing your plans for the knife, it's difficult to make a serious recommendation. As mentioned above, the BK scales are better than many people assume. I don't know why it's "mandatory" that you replace them; but that's your call. Most of the time, I feel the BK2 is overkill. It's a great knife; but I don't generally need a 1/4 inch thick blade. The BK12 (Ritter MK2 Perseverance, actually) is a great knife that's comparable in size to the RD6; though
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I say its mandatory to change because the knife is going to see Hard use/Borderline abuse and plastic handles will not cut it. (i know Ka-Bar uses a fancy term for t but its pretty much plastic is all)
 
LairdyBird said:
I say its mandatory to change because the knife is going to see Hard use/Borderline abuse and plastic handles will not cut it. (i know Ka-Bar uses a fancy term for t but its pretty much plastic is all)
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False.

I say this, as a guy who has switched his scales to micarta... if you change to micarta, you're doing it because you prefer the feel, the look, it's more "premium" or whatever other reason. But durability is NOT the reason. The Grivory (the fancy term you're referring to) is damned tough stuff. You can borderline abuse it, or straight up abuse it all day long. You're not gonna break it.
 
Give the stock handles a chance - you can always swap them out of they don't meet your needs or surpass your expectations. (I'm not worried about them meeting your expectations - you seem to think they're sub par...worst case, you decide you were right.)
I've swapped scales on a few Beckers; but it's always been for aesthetic reasons... never because of any perceived functional shortcomings of the stock handles.
Now that you mention it, and Tanker 1/66 Tanker 1/66 brought up YouTube, I think I remember a video in which a guy broke the scales on a BK2. Why he was shooting at the knife, I don't recall; but hitting the scales was unintended. Darned plastic scales flying apart when they get shot. Pfffft. Maybe you should get the micarta (or TKC g10 :thumbsup:)
 
LairdyBird said:
I say its mandatory to change because the knife is going to see Hard use/Borderline abuse and plastic handles will not cut it. (i know Ka-Bar uses a fancy term for t but its pretty much plastic is all)
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I used the plastic scales on my first Beckers and never had any problem with grip or being weak . But hey get yourself some Micarta. :thumbsup:
 
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I like the Ka-Bar micata handles. Of my 3 BK9s, 2 BK2s, 1 BK5 and 1 BK4 only two have factory handles on and the rest KA-Bar micarta handles.

They do make G-10 handles for Beckers if your still looking.
 
Try using the Grivory stock scales for awhile, if you don't care for them cut a piece of bicycle tire rubber inner tube to fit the handle for a different feel and use that to test how well you like it.
Micarta scales are very comfortable; the G-10 scales are good but I wear leather gloves when using them because of the rough texture of G-10 (I don't want to sand them down because I like texture and prefer to wear gloves).
 
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