if you could pick which beckers were being discontinued.

knifejunkie1928

knifejunkie1928

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Feb 15, 2015
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So as well all know the 4, 5, and 15 are being discontinued.

I can live with the 5 going, but I'm really bummed out about the 4. I'm impartial to the 15

So if you could pick three beckers from the current line to discontinue instead of the 4, 5, and 15 which ones would they be?

Feel free to say why you would discontinue them.

Im not a number cruncher for kabar so I don't know which ones don't sell very well.

personally I would go 5, 13, 17

I don't like the kabar model 5 it feels so lightweight and flimsy compared to my camillus 5. the camillus 5 left the spin a bit thinker as well. but this is just me being picky.

I would discontinue the 13 because while it fits nice it the sheaths, I can't get a grip on it. I can only fit two fingers on it. I haven't been able to really use it on anything comfortably. I always end up with my 11 or 24 instead.

I don't have a good reason for not liking the 17 other then its a clip point. I really don't like clip points at all. (bring on the hate haha)
 
BK2, BK2, BK2. I'm sorry, it's just a knife that does nothing well except be nearly indestructible.
 
Hmmm, I hate to see any of them discontinued so I'll answer our question a little differently. I'll list the ones I'd like to never see discontinued.
2, 4, 9, 11, 12, 14/24, 15, 16
The 11 is the only one on this list that I don't have that I feel I'm missing.
The rest I can live without and don't feel like I'd miss out without them.
I have 2-5's and really like them, the 5 definitely has its uses and just looks badass but now that I have them, I don't feel that I'd ever need a replacement.
3-indifferent, never used it, no hole to fill for me
10-prefer the 12 over the 10, never owned a 10
7-prefer the 9 or 12 to the 7, never owned a 7
17-i really like the clip point, I don't own a 17 but having 16's and 15's, no hole to be filled.

Even though these I haven't owned are not on my "keepers" list, I do plan on completing my collection one day. If was announced tomorrow that any of those would be discontinued, I'd for sure be scraping up change to make sure I get my hands on one..
 
AntDog said:
BK2, BK2, BK2. I'm sorry, it's just a knife that does nothing well except be nearly indestructible.
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How dare you!

I will say the 13 (A little too small for me) and the 17, because the 16 can do everything it can and I think of it more as a tactical or combat knife rather than a practical blade.
 
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Gassy said:
How dare you!
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Because I've used one. I actually had 2. I had one to use and one as a backup. I wound up thinking I wouldn't ever need a backup.
It simply was ok. Did it cut things? Sure. Could it chop? Sure, but not all that great. I just felt it was too short to be a great chopper, and too thick to cut things well. I can tell you with all certainty though - they are definitely tough.
By the way, I LOVE Beckers, I'm just saying the BK2 is not for me. If it appeals to you that's great! :D
Here's one of mine:


As you can see, I gave it an honest shot. Even bought a custom kydex sheath for it. I just couldn't warm up to the design. It was a quality knife, but it really was just "meh" at everything except just being incredibly stout.
 
AntDog said:
Because I've used one. I actually had 2. I had one to use and one as a backup. I wound up thinking I wouldn't ever need a backup.
It simply was ok. Did it cut things? Sure. Could it chop? Sure, but not all that great. I just felt it was too short to be a great chopper, and too thick to cut things well. I can tell you with all certainty though - they are definitely tough.
By the way, I LOVE Beckers, I'm just saying the BK2 is not for me. If it appeals to you that's great! :D
Here's one of mine:


As you can see, I gave it an honest shot. Even bought a custom kydex sheath for it. I just couldn't warm up to the design. It was a quality knife, but it really was just "meh" at everything except just being incredibly stout.
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Seriously I understand - I think.
 
I don't :D

Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Most overlap in the areas of general use which makes them so versatile and also why some don't sell as well as others. At the end of the day the business needs to make money and if the discontinuation of a few means we get a shot at new designs I'm all for it (as long as I have one of each that's being discontinued :D).
 
TBL said:
I don't :D

Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Most overlap in the areas of general use which makes them so versatile and also why some don't sell as well as others. At the end of the day the business needs to make money and if the discontinuation of a few means we get a shot at new designs I'm all for it (as long as I have one of each that's being discontinued :D).
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You make a good point. My two favourite blades are the 24 and the 16, however I use the 2 daily. I think the two can just about do anything the whole range can from fine slicing similar to the 15 to the extreme act of chopping like the 9. This is why I find it hard to digest when people don't seem to enjoy/appreciate/understand the blade. I can understand how people can find its weight unappealing - even though I don't. But we all view the world differently, so each to their own.
 
I'll go against the rules of this thread - I wouldn't discontinue any of them (though I do love the clearance pricing!)
 
I love and use my 2, 9, 16 and 24. I hate to see any of them go, but KA-BAR did ok in their choice to discontinue the 4, 5, 15. I will admit though the 5 gets used A LOT in the kitchen, and I'm going to miss not seeing it in the line-up.
 
Cody4x4 said:
I'll go against the rules of this thread - I wouldn't discontinue any of them (though I do love the clearance pricing!)
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I completely agree with you. Freedom of choice is a good thing! I don't HATE any Beckers, it's just that I looooove some of em more than others, and some are just not my personal cup o tea. I'm sure Ethan himself understands - I know he has his personal favorites, and some he doesn't like as much as the others.
Here's one of MY personal favorites. I know the 17 doesn't get much love because the 16 seems to be the darling, but I love me some clip points, and the size is just about perfect:

 
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After seeing one, I am fine with seeing the BK-1 and the BK-8 being discontinued.

Besides those I don't want any of them to be discontinued.

Jeremy
 
dresnor said:
After seeing one, I am fine with seeing the BK-1 and the BK-8 being discontinued.

Besides those I don't want any of them to be discontinued.

Jeremy
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The so-called BK-8 never made it to production. I'm not sure you could even consider it "continued" in the first place. There are only a few fugly prototypes floating around.
 
Only ones I could live without would be the 3, 13 and 17. The 3 is a good multiuser, but not my thing. The 13, well it just kinda stays lost in my collection. And the 17 is cool, but I prefer the 15 and 16 tweeners, and they can easily do what the 17 does imo.

All that being said, I would mourn the loss of each and every one of them
 
Well, I feel like this thread is a trap, meant to kick false beckerheads from the flock...

I don't have the 5,15, or 4 yet, but I REALLY think that I will like the 15 and the 4.

With that being said, if I had to choose three others...


It would be the 2, the 7, and the 17.

I feel like the 7 is an underpowered 9. I see no benefits to it due to its weight savings.
I don't like the 17. I feel that it offers nothing over the 16 or 15. I would rather have either other model.
The 2 is the only model that I have ever given away... I don't know why people say that it can chop... I personally don't feel that it can. But I am a khukuri man... so maybe that is why.

BUT!!! I don't hold anything against anyone who does like these! That is just my taste. So don't tar and feather me please. I still want to come meet Ethan Becker for some camping too, so I would like to not be disqualified from that!
 
This is an interesting thread. Economically, Kabar can't produce all models continuously forever.

Although the 11 was my gateway Becker, I'd probably drop the 13 and 11 in favor of a re-design that gave us a necker with a bit more handle, less blade, and the iconic bottle opener. As-is, the 11 infringes on the excellent 14/24 (logically, not temporally) while being more awkward to use. Then re-imagine the tiny blade as that micro mod that one of our fellows did. I forget which genius that was without looking.

I like all the full-size knives, though don't need them all. All the tweeners fill their own niches, and though I don't need a BK-17 again, it definitely has a role.

My ideal collection of existing and planned models will be: 5, 9, 10, 16, 21
All of those are inspirational to me.
My only 'extra' is likely to be my modified 15 which will stick around and find a good use. The 21 might displace my 9, but... it's the king.
I have a 2, but it's been displaced. If it were legal in my state, it would live in my truck.

The 5 is just awesome, mostly for funsies, and the closest to a Fisk I will ever own.
The 9 is my first short sword, and chops like a champ.
The 10 is my TEOTWAWKI bomber blade. Short enough to throw in a pack or on the belt, stout enough for everything without being the 2.
The 16 will be my backup factory woods/bushcraft blade (since I make 'em that size myself). That knife is so unreasonably brilliant without being flashy.
The 21 will be... The Twenty-One. That will live on a pack where I can legally get away with it. I mean damn, yo. Maybe I need two. 21*2 = 42. Just sayin'.
 
beachmaster said:
Well, I feel like this thread is a trap, meant to kick false beckerheads from the flock...
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haha this is not about thinning the beckerhead flock.

although I am a bit scared to say I don't care for the 5 or the 2.

I understand why they are keeping the 2. It sells like lemonade in the desert. Its just not a knife I want to use.

This kinda sounds like blasphemy because the 2 is one of the original beckers.

I really only go for knives like the bk9 and bk16 in terms of size and weight.

However, I never used a 2. I do have one, but its a camillus BK2SG. I don't plan on using it: I only have it because I'm working on getting all camillus model beckers and I got it really cheap.

The 5 I thought I would love, but I just can't get along with it. When I first showed up here on the becker forum, the 5 got rave reviews, more so here than anywhere else. It only got more popular when the price dropped. I've been thinking about putting a tanto point on mine.

I know everyone here is going to say they don't want any to be discontinued and they love them all, but I have faith new and better things are on the horizon.

I do feel bad about saying anything negative about a becker knife just because I know how awesome they are.

I would pick a becker knife over any other knife in the price range just because it says becker on it. Even if it was a 2 or 5.
 
I originally bought my BK2 as the "be all end all" of camp knives. I never expected that that one Becker would convince me to love them/want them all. I was never a knife collector or knife lover. Sure, knives were cool, but really they were just tools to do a certain job. Ethan's designs and love for edged tools is what made me love and appreciate knives. If it weren't for the 2, I would not be here amongst you all now. I can say with absolute certainty that my original thoughts have not changed that much since. I still wear and use my 2 in the woods more than any other knife, however, the 16 is my unequivocal go-to for everything outdoors-sy. I love it just as much as Ethan does. It is perfect in my eyes (/hands) and there isn't very many other knives which can fit in that category for me. Having revealed that, there are many Becker knives that I respect, but can do without. The 2, 16, 9 and 24 are not ever leaving me....ever. I trust them with my life and the lives of my family without a doubt. To the end of my days, they will remain with me...

I don't really want any Beckers discontinued from the KA-BAR line but business is business. My thoughts and feelings about any certain knife are not important in the grand scheme of things anyway. KA-BAR and Ethan will do what they do, and I will love them for it regardless.
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
I don't really want any Beckers discontinued from the KA-BAR line but business is business. My thoughts and feelings about any certain knife are not important in the grand scheme of things anyway. KA-BAR and Ethan will do what they do, and I will love them for it regardless.
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Well said!
 
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