you know, i been thinkin'. (there's your open door DB) we've all been telling maxnharry he made a great choice in buying a 2 and a 7 instead of a Randall, and he did. and not only for the knife. if you ever have a problem with them, KA-BAR will fix you up. IMHO their service is second to none. I have experienced it personally. (I have a 2 and a 7 myself) but i also have a Randall on order, and I expect the fit and finish will be perfect. and, if you call Randall you will probably get to speak with Gary Randall, who gave me personal advice on options and balance. still, i wonder how the Randall forum would reply to this thread. probably not too kindly. Randall Made knives are VERY well made, and you pay for that. and unless you are active military, you wait for it too! unless you buy from someone who does nothing but order the maximum number of Randalls to turn a profit on them. Sharks.
Still, a Randall may well be in your future one day. I intend to use mine when it gets here. and the Blackjack line, some are quite nice. I have six of the older ones and they are very well constructed and well within reach for most people. And I also have my first RAT on the way, and rc-4. (I couldn't wait any longer for a tweener) (sorry ethan and paul). But i'll still get one when available. and a magnum camp, which will become the primary kitchen knife.
yes, there is a point to be made here, and i'm finally getting to it. These are all VERY nice blades, and very well built. i hear complaints every now and again about the grind being a tad off on a Becker. or of being able to slide a dollar bill between the scale and tang. my advice, unless it is severe, send me your dollar and forget it. The Becker line are good quality knives. And for the price (a BK-2 is currently $56.41 shipped to your door!), you just can't beat that for value. BZ KA-BAR (good job). Add to that their customer care and it is truly a winning combination.
so, maxnharry, once again, good job. but do not rule out the others as outstanding knives in their own right. but when price is factored in, wow. hands down, KA-BAR Becker has my vote.
Greg
There are a number of very nice knives on the market that have excellent fit and finish — like the Randalls — and those who can afford them should give them a try. Actually, I was all fired up to get a Randall when I was in the Marine Corps, but one of my NCO's talked me out of it (It ain't gonna cut no better than yer KA-BAR, LT, and you'd just lose it, anyway). He was right, of course, so I didn't get one. I've always wanted one though; I just can't afford one. They truly are nice knives.
But, for me, it really does come down to the fact that they won't cut any better, or last any longer, than a Becker, and they costs two to ten times as much — or more. I like some of the high end knives for what they are, but IMHO, they're not for using (unless you're filthy rich), they're just for owning. Like art, they should be appreciated for what they are, but what they are is not down-and-dirty, get the job done, working knives. Yeah, they'll probably do it, but at what price? I'd be too afraid of scratching one to ever actually use it. In other words, I see them as art/collectible knives, not field knives. Don't misunderstand me: I'm not saying that there aren't some mighty fine knives out there that I'd love to own, simply because they're superb examples of the knifemaker's art; there are. I'm just saying that, for a working knife, I'll take a Becker/KA-BAR.
You've all seen Ethan's line
"Knives that work for a living." Well, that pretty well sums it up for me: good, honest working knives at a good, honest price, backed by truly outstanding customer service. Knives I can rely on, and never worry about them letting me down. What more could I ask?
Man, I hated to read your line about the Tweeners, Greg. I can't help but wonder how many other people who waited for the Tweeners went out and bought something else when they couldn't get them? I won't go on about that.
Oh, and now that I've rambled on, congratulations on your new Beckers, maxnharry.
