Got all three LE tweeners -- my unofficial critique

[BRL]

I think calling something "Limited Edition" and lazering the heck out of it kind of knocks it out of the "proto" category, don't ya think?

Good observations in your original post. Honestly, you described 75% of the KA-BAR knives I own.

These FPRs aren't anything special, LE or no LE, except for some cool design elements that only a few people actually care about. They're not some special thing hand-carved by elves to make them 'worthy' of receiving a corny etch... just factory knives, same as all the others.

 

[vittorioe89]

sold on the minimag. now... where to get the money from.

 

[Greybush]

Good observations in your original post. Honestly, you described 75% of the KA-BAR knives I own.

These FPRs aren't anything special, LE or no LE, except for some cool design elements that only a few people actually care about. They're not some special thing hand-carved by elves to make them 'worthy' of receiving a corny etch... just factory knives, same as all the others.

Mine are...

 

[Ethan Becker]

Hey Everybody.......

A first production run is the run you learn on, and scarcity is the Reason it was offerred as a LE.........As far as fit and finish (see first production run above) That will improve......This is a company that is still making improvements to the Marine Combat that they started making in 1943?........

I would urge the following........Honest to murgatroyd this IS a roughly seventy buck (street) knife.......It is damn hard to beat at anywhere near that price, I think........I have maybe thirty to forty 3-5inch utility hunters or bushcrafty knives in the drawers....Some in the three hundred buck category and some in the Cheap Mora range and i really think we got the bang for the blade ratio really well.....

..The thinner handles were on purpose as I wanted a verry handy to wear knife and thicker handles tend to catch on more stuff.....I also factored in that the 11 frequents molle vests in quite exotic places and one of the reasons is that it's
Less likely than most to hang up egressing a vehicle.......Sooooooo I wanted a really low profile....

Hope this helps a bit.....I don't really like beating my chest (at my age that hurts quit a bit) but, I really think we got it mostly right.....

Ethan

 

[K9-Handler]

A-a-a-a-ah. That's lots better!

.062 X 2 orange Kydex.



Ok, Ethan. I'll take your word on the teething problems -- and will hold you to that!

Yeah, my rant (if you want to call it that) was more aimed at the QC Dept., not the design.

 

[TwinStick]

I have not even got my 3 yet & i think you nailed it Ethan, right out of the park. I was lucky enough to get to handle all 3 at the 2011 WNY Knife Gathering. I was sold then, instantly---but those dod have micarta handles. So, to those that really dislike the current handles, the micarta ones may be your saving grace. JMHO.

 

[GingivitisKahn]

A-a-a-a-ah. That's lots better!

.062 X 2 orange Kydex.



Ok, Ethan. I'll take your word on the teething problems -- and will hold you to that!

Yeah, my rant (if you want to call it that) was more aimed at the QC Dept., not the design.

I'm liking the liner.
---

Beckerhead #42

 

[thrillbilly]

Yeah, like I'm some kind of expert...

The box arrived about an hour ago. Of course, I had to open all three and fondle.

First impression: I didn't get a signature box. Second impression: A gorilla (maybe the 800-lb one?) at SMKW jammed the KaBar/Becker box carrying the BK16S into the shipping box and tore a corner. Normally not a big deal, but these are billed as "collectors" items!

I just modded my 16 so I dont need my box for collectible reasons...if you're safe-queening this and wants my box you're welcome to it.

It has a slight scuff, not 100% but better then ripped up.

 

[K9-Handler]

I just modded my 16 so I dont need my box for collectible reasons...if you're safe-queening this and wants my box you're welcome to it.

It has a slight scuff, not 100% but better then ripped up.

Wow. Thank you, Sir.
But I will be getting more boxes (it was the outer sleeve that they ripped) since I'm a part time dealer and plan on getting a few for inventory anyway.
I'll steal one of the sleeves from the box of the regular production ones that I plan to mod! Then this one can go back to being the safe queen...

But, hey, thanks for the offer!

 

[wasatchdan]

I'm actually glad the scales are in the thinner category. I've been planning to EDC my BK-17 horizontally on my belt, and I didn't want the handles to be as thick as the normal Becker scales. Looks like they'll be perfect for my purposes.

BTW, the spacers look great on the peanut butter scales, K-9.

 

[K9-Handler]

BTW, the spacers look great on the peanut butter scales, K-9.

Why, thank YOU, Suh.

I have not yet begun to mod.... (well, the tweeners, anyway).

 

[Liveitloud]

All I can weigh in on is the 16 which I got the other day. Looking at each side of the blade one of the grinds is a bit higher than the other. It's a production knife so it isn't a surprise or disappointment. Other than that, I can't find a thing wrong with it. It made a feather out of a post-it note so really good on the sharpening. Grind does look a little coarse but it cuts just as it should.

I have heard a few complain about the more demure profile on the handle. I have small hands and I love it. I think this was what Ethan wanted to accomplish with this line of knives and he frankly knocked it out of the park for me.

The sheath.....oh, the dreaded Becker sheaths Extremely pleased. One of the nicest sheaths that I have ever gotten with a production knife. Top notch all the way. If I could find one thing that I hate, it would be the fact that I bought this one to keep pristine so I am losing my mind not using it. Come on Tweeners before this one gets stripped.

 

[MikeyJ]

Great, informative review. The addition of the liners is a nice touch, as well as the use of orange. Looks great!

 

[LG&M]

K9 love the liners, nice job

 

[Bladite]

ooh, awesomesauce on those liners

 

[The Warrior]

Liners look awesome. Nice work.