Is Camillus making changes to Becker handles?

[averageguy]

This is a comment posted in the general forum:

"Just got the new desert sand BK-7 and the grips are not slick like the desert sand BK-9, or the black BK-7 & 9. Don't know if they'll all come that way, or I just got lucky."

Is Camillus adding some texture to the scales of the Becker line?This would be welcome news for many of us.

 

[Will Fennell]

averageguy,
No changes in the basic handle at this time. The Desert Series knives have a camo coating on them that gives them a slightly diferent feel, but not significant.

We feel that the smooth handle surface, with plenty of contours for grip security, is the best handle surface for large knives that get plenty of work done, especially knives that get used for chopping and swinging. Rough surfaces lead to blisters and abused hands in applications like this.

Some users like rougher surfaces on thier knives, especially knives that don't get used as much, or don't get used for repetitive chopping and swinging, and it is very easy for the user to modify a set of scales to thier preference. Here is thread with some ideas discussed....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=246987

If the customer wants to experiment, contact customer service, and replacement scales are just $5

 

[W.T. Beck]

I could live with the slippery handles if there were guards on the Becker knives - I mean a real, straight or backward curving separate guard, not that small rounded hump on the current scales. It would be nice if replacement scales with an effective guard could be bought.

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

Umm, the BK-7, BK-9, and BK-10 all have a pretty substantial guard compared to other Becker models.

 

[fishbulb]

It is much easier for a customer to add some texture to slick handles if he so desires than to do the opposite.

Because of this I would like to see more companies take the approack that Camillus does and stop putting all sorts of crazy textures on handle slabs.

I've found that a smooth finish that has been lightly roughed up with wet/dry paper works best for me. I'm sure that could easily be applied to a Becker handle.

 

[W.T. Beck]

Hello Anthony,

Those guards may be "substantial" in regards to their size, but because they are slippery and rounded they are far less effective than other guards. I speak from experience, because on two occasions I was accidentally cut when Becker knives slipped through my grip and the blades came in contact with a finger. In both cases the slippery, rounded guards simply rolled over my hand, doing nothing to stop the sliding of the knife.

Sandblasting might make the handle more secure, but a more effective guard would solve the safety problem without taking away the advantage the slick handle has for chopping. I once went to a hardware store to try to find something I could attach to my Patrol Machete to make a D-guard, but could not find anything suitable.