How did Becker become so successful?

E

EseeDownUnder

Joined
Dec 18, 2010
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I use the BK2 as a classic example. It has stood the test of time.
What makes a specific blade & cutlery maker so successful? What does it take to 'cut' it in this industry?
Ethan - did you ever think this would be so big? How did things start out for you? I mean way back. Did you always want to design blades? How did you get into it initially?
I'm down in Aus & you guys in the states have such a huge selection to choose from and in most cases could handle a knife before purchasing.
I have only ever seen Beckers & many others online which dont do it justice. I know I will love the BK2. Hangin out to get one soon I hope, shipping is a bitch for us.
Hope you know how lucky you are!
Now if only I had a Beckerhead # then I would qualify for the discount with the dealer that Moose has up his sleeve........:jerkit:
 
Well for me, it's there whole package. The insane value for the insane performance of these Beckers, thats what keeps me coming back. Can't wait to hear from ze master himself. Great question, should be a fun read. Working on my BH number to, guys are real picky as to who gets in this cool club.
 
I am new here and only recently bought my first Becker, but I would have to say one reason for success is that you get a great knife for an absurdly low price. I have several very nice customs that do not perform as well as my new BK-2. This thing is a great value if you are just starting your knife collection or if you have been at it for years. I know there are some more Beckers in my future!
 
Great question, I always wanted to know how Mr. Becker went from 'The Joy of Cooking' to 'The Joy of Perfect Knives' and overall Rock star.
 
I think a lot of it has to do with the price and reliability. The BK2 costs around $60. You get a 1/4" slab of steel that can be easily sharpened that also retains its edge fairly well. Removable scales that are pretty much indestructable. Kydex/hard plastic sheath. Granted, value is a personal thing, but for the money, there isn't much out there that can compete.

1)You have a low price, people are more inclined to get it.
2)You give people something nice, they are more likely to comeback.

Add 1 and 2 and you get the formula for success (and 3).
 
i'm sure hes successful from working hard and putting himself out there and trying things out.
 
The becker blades are just bad ass machines, thats all there is to it.....
 
I agree with what has been mentioned. I think a really big issue is customer service and standing behind your products. I've read many posts talking about how Becker has gone above and beyond more than once. Customer service seems to be a kind of lost art in many industries so when people find it, they stand by that company. Just my two cents.
 
Maybe Ethan will pen a book about his adventures and accomplishments one of these days. It would be a great read. But for now I'm glad he got into the knife business.
 
I had a real good time one night when a buddy was giving me crap about all the beckers I was buying. He was saying "there's nothing special about Beckers" and " why are you so retarded about these Beckers" you know shit like that. I told him "What's so special is that there's nothing special about them" now thats not the only thing special about them mind you, but it was exactly what he needed to hear. Conversation kinda quieted down after that.
 
OREGON FAL'ER said:
I had a real good time one night when a buddy was giving me crap about all the beckers I was buying. He was saying "there's nothing special about Beckers" and " why are you so retarded about these Beckers" you know shit like that. I told him "What's so special is that there's nothing special about them" now thats not the only thing special about them mind you, but it was exactly what he needed to hear. Conversation kinda quieted down after that.
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Nice.:thumbup:
 
OREGON FAL'ER said:
I had a real good time one night when a buddy was giving me crap about all the beckers I was buying. He was saying "there's nothing special about Beckers" and " why are you so retarded about these Beckers" you know shit like that. I told him "What's so special is that there's nothing special about them" now thats not the only thing special about them mind you, but it was exactly what he needed to hear. Conversation kinda quieted down after that.
Click to expand...

How true. Eh, my friends and family know what I'm about, I catch shit from my buds, because they all have Randall's and Rauna's and some real expensive custom mades. They all own a Becker though, funny how that works.

I love Randall's and Rauna's, don't own any, but I plan to. Thing is, the nothing special is what makes Becker's special.

Moose
 
Beckers--- real knives for real people, real heavy duty & real affordable which makes them a real value. :D
 
I have thought about this a lot. Why the heck do I like one kind of knife (Beckers) so much? When it comes down to it, there are many reasons. Here are the four I can think of off the top of my head.

1. 1095 is proven to be an amazing steel. Becker gives you varying shapes and thicknesses of it.

2. The handles. Necker aside, the fact that all of the large beckers use the same handles make them very modular in my opinion. If I go out and buy a set of Micarta, I'm not tied to using them on just one knife. I can change it to another knife if I like. Same goes for customization.

3. Price. I was going to list the going Amazon rates for each knife, but I don't want to get into it in that great of detail. I'll just say that there is not a Becker going on Amazon for more than $80. Damn. The most popular ones are going for around $65ish. That is cheap.

4. KA-BAR. Toooj has proven both in my personal experience and here on the forums that KA-BAR will stop at nothing to provide great customer service. This isn't bullshit. They are serious and this has been proven time and time again. Sure, Becker wasn't always under KA-BAR and this goes a little against the OP, but it is a reason why I love the knives. Their service and lineup has actually made me a KA-BAR fan first, and a Beckerhead second. I don't think KA-BAR gets enough credit here sometimes. Sometimes.
 
Also I'd like to add that I think they are popular as users because of the price. I know thats been said already a few times, but you can't hear it enough.
I mean, Is a randall a better knife, Maybe, Does it cut better? Probably not. Does it cut $500 better? Not at all. In fact "hell no".
Besides how many Randall owners use their knives? Yeah some do but most keep them in their gun safe.
I like my Beckers because I'm not afraid to beat the ever loving piss out of them.
That is all.
 
Becker has had a love for knives his entire life. When he decided to design his own knife he already had plenty of previous knowledge. However, one of the most important ways to be successful is with determination. His combination of determination, experience, and love for what he was doing ended up landing him in a spot where many people would like to be. I give him kudos for what hes done!
 
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