I'm playing identify the becker!

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kyanther

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May 16, 2010
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Hello, I was directed to post in this forum about this knife I recently received. As I posted in a different thread (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=741592):
"I have zero experience in this field. While researching the few "stamps(? please forgive my lack of knowledge of the proper terminology)" that are on the knives, this forum kept coming up, so I've decided to join to ask for help. Maybe I'll even turn into a full fledged collector myself by the time I get done learning about all this stuff
So, the first thing that really pops out at me is a "becker machax". This one doesn't completely match any of the ones I have seen on the web. It's shape is the same, curved blade for chopping I assume. However, the only stamps on it are on the sheath. On the front of the sheath (which is straight and not angled like the ones I see online. It also is leather) is the stamp Becker Machax, and on the back is a stamp "Brommeland". Theres two straps/buttons to hook it around your belt.
The knife it's self is all black, including the blade. Where this one stands out from the others Ive seen online is the "rivets(?)" that are on the handle. This one has goldish colored rivets, and is a solid flat disc on both sides of the handle. Again, there are no marks on the knife it's self that identify it."

So, I've got some pictures to upload of it now (not the greatest photos). Hopefully they help out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50242268@N02/4612854971/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50242268@N02/4612856207/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50242268@N02/4612856661/
 
I have to admit that I've never seen on set up quite like that before.

I'm sure that someone (Bladite?) will be able to give you info on it though. Or perhaps Ethan Becker will weigh in. His name is on the blade (or sheath), so he should know.

Nice looking knife though.
 
Bridgeman, thanks. Being so new, it's hard for me to properly use the search function. Like I think I said in my original post, I don't know the right terminology when it comes to knives (yet!). Looking through that link you sent me, I noticed where the engravings are on the blade, so I looked really closely at mine.
It does in fact have a stamp on the blade, it's just so dark that it's really hard to see. It has "BK&T Cincinnati USA" on it, and on the other side it says Becker Machax. So does this mean it is a "BK-04", or do the bronze/gold pins in the handle make it something different?? I don't know HOW to identify it really.
My sheath looks Identical to the one that listed under "original sheath", though mine doesn't have the rope thingy anywhere.
I'll dig through more of the thread you linked me to.
 
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All I can help you with is the "Brommeland" stamp. Gary Brommeland is a top notch holster maker from Tennessee. Maybe Etan contracted with him for some early sheath work?
 
52100 said:
All I can help you with is the "Brommeland" stamp. Gary Brommeland is a top notch holster maker from Tennessee. Maybe Etan contracted with him for some early sheath work?
Click to expand...

yup, early hybrid machax and sheath.

if you poke around, i've pictures of the sheath and some of the older blades.

i'm sure Ethan slobbered on that one at some point :) better send it to me for disposal :)


Bladite
 
kyanther said:
So is it special or common? What would something like it be valued at, roughly?
Click to expand...

i mentioned it to Ethan, he thinks it might be a reworked model (hybrid) depending on the handle material, and he's amused i think that these older ones still pop up.

worth? hard to say... the sweet spot imho are the early hard-chrome models with the swoopy black sheath. the early models with blackened blade are ... much more common. they didn't make too many grey-epoxy models before they gave up ;) and there's a ton of later varieties...

as for common... i've seen more than a few now, but i'm funny that way. i want to see them all.

in a matter of weeks now, the next gen Machax shouldbe getting some attention Blade 2010 is going to be good for KaBar :) flood the market.


Bladite
 
So how do I figure out what the handle is made of?

Thank you, by the way, for everything so far :)
 
kyanther said:
So how do I figure out what the handle is made of?

Thank you, by the way, for everything so far :)
Click to expand...

well, is it wood? plastic? glass? ceramic? micarta?

based on the 3 hole pattern, i'm guessing someone took some post-hard-chrome era blades, the so called phophate finish iirc, removed the bolts, and instead, used bronze rivets. why, i have no idea.

the sheath is curious, but perhaps that's what they had handy. it's not like i don't have mixed sheaths or anything :> or aquired random sheaths on ePray... or even have seen people mix parts from across 15 years and 3+ makers ;) hahahha.

so, why don't you tell us this knife's story? how did you get it? what are you thinking about it... what did the person before do with it? where they got it... how long they had it. all the details. old stuff needs some information! :)

also, more detailed pictures would be useful for the hunger curious.


Bladite
 
Well, there's not much of the story I can share. It belonged to my stepfather, who was a Cols. SWAT officer. He bought it 20 years ago or so I believe from Becker himself. He saw it as a "collector's item" and threw it in his safe where it's been since the 80's until now. He's been diagnosed as Stage 4 cancer, and passed it on to me while he could. I can promise you, the sheath has not been swapped. If it had been, he wouldn't have bought it. He also wouldn't have changed the handle, because he knew that would have "lowered the value".

I don't know what this "micarta" is. Out of the things you listed, I would have to chose plastic is the material lol.

My thoughts on it? It's a pretty badass knife that I'm semi-afraid to mess with because I don't want to screw up something that may be valued by someone more interested than me. Maybe a good thing to pass on to my kids. Who knows! I've only had one knife in my entire life up until I inherited this batch.
However, if it's just a common knife, I look forward to using it to chop up some wood on the 10 acres that were passed down to me after being in the family for 100 years.

Honestly though, I'm just not knowledgeable enough about what I am dealing with to put too much though into it.

You mentioned wanting better pictures. Do you have any certain shots of it you would like me to take?
 
it's a nice piece... i'd hold onto it, as is, for what it is. i LIKE safe queens often enough.

get a BK09 for smashing on :)

wait a bit, and get a NEW Machax to compare, contrast, and use.

sorry to hear about your dad. cherish the time. my dad certainly appreciated it, though he left me only memories.


Bladite
 
as for pictures, the best you can, good light, from good angles...

helpful i know, right? then i can archive and add to FAQ with your blessing.


Bladite
 
I haven't forgotten about you man. I'm waiting for one of my friends who is a photographer to come over and take some real good photos for your faq.
 
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