Is the BK2 right for me?

shmoe said:
Hi guys, first post here and its a big one - so please don't flame me too bad!

I've read so much about knives that I have analysis paralysis. I spend many days in the mountains of Utah hunting, fishing, and camping with nothing more than a pack strapped to my back - much of this is for 3-14 days and off trail. I need a good bushcraft/survival/heavy-use knife or knife combo to go with me. I currently have a Schrade extreme survival SCHF1 with a 1070 5.5" blade on it that I take. I have been very unimpressed with it. Maybe the heat treat was off, but the schrade has been tough to sharpen, won't hold its edge well, doesn't chop well, and seems to do nothing well except hold some fish hooks in the handle. It does however take a good beating and the blade shape would be good for self defense against some of the problem animals we have in utah (I've been chased by a blackbear and each year we have maulings).
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Have you considered a SAK and using the weight saving to carry BEAR SPRAY???

Really: if your anti-bear strategy is based on a sharp object that isn't a harpoon - and I mean an exploding rocket propelled one - then you should save your loved ones the and fill in your entry for the Darwin Awards yourself.

Esee 5 as my sole knife. i really like everything about this knife except for the price and the pointed glass breaker. I think the knife should have a flat bottom for pounding things if you need to - sure you could use a rock, but sometimes you need something with a bit more finess and flat bottom like on the bk2. Again, what about lashing it to a branch for fishing or getting other small game?
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Let the bear catch the fish, then take it when you harpoon the bear.
 
Chameleonbear said:
What about the 9? It's the king. It processes wood like a $2 hooker.

I don't know if that is a good analogy or not.
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It's pretty awful. Is the hooker so good at "processing wood" that she can make a living at $2 a throw because of the volume she can cope with? Or so bad, that $2 is all anyone will pay? Not all of us have your wide social experience, so we're in the dark.
 
Wow, thanks for all the great replies...lots of things to consider Saws are great for cutting cross grain for shelters, but stink for splitting wood to get to dry centers etc. As such, my opinion of a saw/small knife combo is that it isn't my favorite option. I dont like the handling of hatchets and don't think they are as versatile as a heavy blade that can chop and do other tasks. To address some of the spear comments, i have never seen a wooden spear such as the one posted...its AMAZING. as such, I have ruled lashing as a spear out of an imporant aspect...that wooden thing could get a rabit or fish or anythi8ng small swimming or popping its head out of its hole. Anyone have a link to a thread on building one like that?

To address defense...I carry a .454 casull where allowed. It will knock most anything in north america down. That said, its not allowed in some areas and national parks. Bear spray is an option, however most of the attacks here have been through tent walls....you cant spray a bear through your tent. If I can't have my gun with me, I want smoething large and pointy inside with me!. If i fish i will smell like bear food - despite how well i try and wash up my hands.

Last, Moose, your offer blew mne away. It not only shows you as an amazing representative of the community, but also your confidence that I wont mness upp your knife no matter what sort of heavy use I| put it to. I would never want someone to have to pay costs of shipping etc and risk the loss of their knife in th e mail just so I could try it. I think based on the comments I yhave seen and my personal preferences for blade size, the bk2 sounds just about perfect. Now if only6 I can find one locally. No one seems to have them :( sorry about the bad spelling etc...im posting from a phone lol
 
shmoe said:
Bear spray is an option, however most of the attacks here have been through tent walls....you cant spray a bear through your tent.
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Sounds like the bear would have you at a huge disadvantage. Not only is it bigger, stronger, and meaner than you... it would also have the advantage of having you trapped inside a "net" as it were.

That being said, if you let loose with the bear spray, you'd more than likely get a taste of it yourself. That would make the situation so much worse.


I think I'd opt instead to sleep in a hammock, up in a tree.;)
 
Good choice the bk2 is right for everybody the just don't know it yet. I know I'm late but I like my bk7 for breaking down wood.
 
Glad you have a Becker in the mail soon. The BK-2 was my first one knife solution, the BK-16 was second and I got the 11 about a month ago. I keep on looking for the knife addiction forum, haven't found it yet!!

You really got bears tearing through the tents at night?? I would have trouble sleeping!!

Jon
 
jonc123 said:
Glad you have a Becker in the mail soon. The BK-2 was my first one knife solution, the BK-16 was second and I got the 11 about a month ago. I keep on looking for the knife addiction forum, haven't found it yet!!

You really got bears tearing through the tents at night?? I would have trouble sleeping!!

Jon
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I'm a firm believer, when its your time, its your time. Not much can be done about it.

:D

One of the best lines from a movie favorite of mine, 13th Warrior,

"The All Father wove the skein of your life long ago, go and hide in a hole if you wish, you won't live one second longer. Fear affords a man nothing."-Herger, Viking Badass.

:D

Toting a 454 Casull, not much out there that I would be afraid to face in the dark, one shot, you'd be blind, deaf and in pain because of the splitting headache you just got. :D

I also wanted to add, there isn't anywhere on this planet that I wouldn't carry a gun, knowing there is a chance I'd need it. I carried firearms here in the GSMNP for YEARS before it was legal to do so, and in just about every national or local park I've been to. Hell, I sleep with a gun, both in my house and in my sleeping bag. Better to have it and risk getting in trouble, than getting in trouble and needing it, but not having it.

Just my $0.05. (due to inflation and the shitty economy, my opinion is now worth a nickel)

:D

Moose
 
jonc123 said:
You really got bears tearing through the tents at night?? I would have trouble sleeping!!

Jon
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Yeah, not many places in Utah have bear boxes/vaults and there are no rules or laws requiring bear cans/vaults, so lots of people just leave stuff out or take it in their tents. Unfortunately this has led to a bunch of food aggressive bears that have learned that tents are where to go to find snacks. I keep a clean camp and my only incident was mt biking up on a mother and her cubs. i had a head start and she chased for maybe 100 yards to get me away from the cubs and then broke off. Most bears just run. Still, after that, and even with a clean camp i prefer not to take chances
 
"I'm a firm believer, when its your time, its your time. Not much can be done about it."

Well, I agree. I got no problem with kicking the bucket, I just really like sleep!!

In my area it will be gettin close to Whip-poor-will time. They follow me around like black helicopters at night. Just like the choppers, I never see em'!
 
shmoe said:
Saws are great for cutting cross grain for shelters, but stink for splitting wood to get to dry centers etc.
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They actually split wood very well if you know what you're doing however the fastest and easiest method is to saw the wood cross grain and then split with your knife.

Have fun with your new knife. :thumbup:
 
Enjoy the BK2!!!

This thread needs another pic!

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The BK2 is pretty hard to beat and I bet would be one of the Top 3 in just about anyone's argument of an all-around Becker knife. Some like the 16 and others would say the 9, but for an all-purpose outdoorsman's knife for all possibilities it's #1 for me - not too big, not too small, built like a tank. Now ultimately add to it an 11 or a 14 and you're truly good to go - sweet little knives for most common tasks around home or camp, but not really up for heavy wood-processing.
 
Chameleonbear said:
What about the 9? It's the king. It processes wood like a $2 hooker.

I don't know if that is a good analogy or not.

But seriously, you should check it out. The blade is longer than the two which gives you more room to chop with, along with more room to baton, it may be slightly lighter actually than the 2 as well. It can handle like a small knife if you use a lanyard, you can put the remora in the sheath with it which gives you an ACTUAL small knife too.
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Wow that made me spit up my food, great analogy haha.
I agree,i definitely favor the bk9 over the bk2 for general camp purposeses
 
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