It's getting late in the month...

[C_Tanner]

....and you know what THAT means!!!

FFG BEE-KAY-SIXTEEN!! FFG BEE-KAY-SIXTEEN!! FFG BEE-KAY-SIXTEEN!!

I've been sitting here patiently while you guys get your SMKW Tweener, Machax's, and such. I've been polishing knives, sharpening, custom painting random choppers in the garage, trying to keep my hands busy until the magic moment. Soon.....

I'll will be holding a FFG BK16 with the new coating, and some of you will wish you had waited. Or you'll be sleeping on the couch.

 

[clich]

Couch for me. I was just gonna keep using the sabre le but after Ethan's pics I need the ffg too. I'm glad its not too too lumpy

 

[Bladite]

Couch for me. I was just gonna keep using the sabre le but after Ethan's pics I need the ffg too. I'm glad its not too too lumpy

couch to 5k

 

[cz9r]

....and you know what THAT means!!!

FFG BEE-KAY-SIXTEEN!! FFG BEE-KAY-SIXTEEN!! FFG BEE-KAY-SIXTEEN!!

I've been sitting here patiently while you guys get your SMKW Tweener, Machax's, and such. I've been polishing knives, sharpening, custom painting random choppers in the garage, trying to keep my hands busy until the magic moment. Soon.....

I'll will be holding a FFG BK16 with the new coating, and some of you will wish you had waited. Or you'll be sleeping on the couch.

C_Tanner do you have any concerns about the fit and finish of these 1st tweeners off the assembly line? Slight imperfections that'll get worked out as the public gets their hands on the blades and gives feedback? Or did the FPR's leave nothing to be desired?

I'm itchin to place my order (for a 17) but was wondering about this. Overseas now and don't have the convenience of the US Postal service.

Appreciate any feedback...

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

I'm gonna wait til you guys with saber ground AND FFG start posting up about how much better the FFG is. Because I prefer the aesthetics of the saber ground, so unless performance is seriously something to brag about, I'll hold off for a while to avoid said couch.

 

[ozgooner]

I'll be ordering one as soon as I can track down someone happy to deal internationally. (Harder than it sounds sadly). Cannot wait to get my hands on the BK-16FFG!

 

[ocnLogan]

C_Tanner do you have any concerns about the fit and finish of these 1st tweeners off the assembly line? Slight imperfections that'll get worked out as the public gets their hands on the blades and gives feedback? Or did the FPR's leave nothing to be desired?

I'm itchin to place my order (for a 17) but was just wondering about this.

Appreciate any feedback...

I'm not C_Tanner, but I can tell you why I didn't jump on it.

Basically the only FPR tweener that is worth buying (for reasons other than collecting, which is separate) is the BK16, because it is the only one with a different grind. The changing of the stamp to a laser to me is a non-issue (not an up or downgrade in my opinion, more like a ... side grade), and the coating is a bit more interesting on the new ones, but not enough to really matter to me all that much.

The reason I didn't get a FPR is simply because of the cost. I'm poor, and having to spend $30 more on a $65 knife just wasn't going to fly, even though the saber grind on the BK16 is one I'd really love to have.

Thats it for me .

 

[clich]

I'll be ordering one as soon as I can track down someone happy to deal internationally. (Harder than it sounds sadly). Cannot wait to get my hands on the BK-16FFG!

Sent you a pm

 

[BRL]

lol man, with KB's track record of release dates I would say it'd almost be premature to be excited even once you're actually holding an FFG Bk16 in your actual hand

 

[cz9r]

I'm not C_Tanner, but I can tell you why I didn't jump on it.

Basically the only FPR tweener that is worth buying (for reasons other than collecting, which is separate) is the BK16, because it is the only one with a different grind. The changing of the stamp to a laser to me is a non-issue (not an up or downgrade in my opinion, more like a ... side grade), and the coating is a bit more interesting on the new ones, but not enough to really matter to me all that much.

The reason I didn't get a FPR is simply because of the cost. I'm poor, and having to spend $30 more on a $65 knife just wasn't going to fly, even though the saber grind on the BK16 is one I'd really love to have.

Thats it for me .

Thanks ocnLogan. I'm only talking about the soon-to-be-released BK 17's, non FPR. Around $65 like u mentioned. Hopin they're out by the end of nxt wk. I should've worded my msg better. Sorry, man.

 

[RogueBowie]

C_Tanner do you have any concerns about the fit and finish of these 1st tweeners off the assembly line? Slight imperfections that'll get worked out as the public gets their hands on the blades and gives feedback? Or did the FPR's leave nothing to be desired?

I'm itchin to place my order (for a 17) but was wondering about this. Overseas now and don't have the convenience of the US Postal service.

Appreciate any feedback...

As someone who bought a FPR, I can add that the fit and finish does show that they are still tweaking everything over at Ka-Bar. I bought mine purely for the fact that it might be one of the only 250 saber grind 16's and could be collectible one day. Mine does have a big drip bump from the paint near the tip and the grind is just a tad off. Ethan himself said in another thread that yeah, these are first production and we are still fine tuning this and that, so nothing against him or Ka-Bar, it is the first production run, not the 'okay, we've got all the kinks out now' run. It's definitely still a great knife, but I personally will be purchasing the regular production 16 as my user.

 

[BRL]

Take a close look at that drip bump. I too thought it was paint but ended up being metal.

 

[RogueBowie]

Take a close look at that drip bump. I too thought it was paint but ended up being metal.

Have a look:

If that's metal that kind of sucks (for the person I may eventually sell it to, not going to be stripping/using this model myself).

 

[C_Tanner]

I just don't like writing all over the blade, and I've grown fond of FFG since getting the MKI. And why get a NEW knife with the OLD coating...and probably pay more?

 

[cz9r]

As someone who bought a FPR, I can add that the fit and finish does show that they are still tweaking everything over at Ka-Bar. I bought mine purely for the fact that it might be one of the only 250 saber grind 16's and could be collectible one day. Mine does have a big drip bump from the paint near the tip and the grind is just a tad off. Ethan himself said in another thread that yeah, these are first production and we are still fine tuning this and that, so nothing against him or Ka-Bar, it is the first production run, not the 'okay, we've got all the kinks out now' run. It's definitely still a great knife, but I personally will be purchasing the regular production 16 as my user.

That's exactly the info I was lookn for - thank you. Drip bump was the only prob - or was there anything else? Even grind, scales flush w the handle steel, etc.

Are you gonna get a reg production run blade right away, or are you gonna wait say several months for any other kinks to be worked out?

Thanks mang

 

[CamH_16]

C_Tanner do you have any concerns about the fit and finish of these 1st tweeners off the assembly line? Slight imperfections that'll get worked out as the public gets their hands on the blades and gives feedback? Or did the FPR's leave nothing to be desired?

I'm itchin to place my order (for a 17) but was wondering about this. Overseas now and don't have the convenience of the US Postal service.

Appreciate any feedback...

Hey, I live overseas and finally recieved an email from SMKW...shipping was almost 100 bucks for a tweener. But hey, if you can live with that and the rough fit and finnish...

 

[CamH_16]

I'll be ordering one as soon as I can track down someone happy to deal internationally. (Harder than it sounds sadly). Cannot wait to get my hands on the BK-16FFG!

Hey, have you tried any online auction sites? Theres Hundreds of listing for Beckers (and soon for tweeners probably...hopefully). Unless you guys in the US are giving this guy some kind of special deal that I'm not in on?!

 

[thrillbilly]

besides....not all FPRs are flawed. mine was actually better F&F then my 2 or 14 was. The steel under the coating on my 16 is great, the two has rough grindmarks, especially on the spine. The 11 Im working on also has a rougher spine then my 16. My edge is excellent, was sharper out of box then all my other Beckers except my 9 which was scary sharp. my 2 was almost dull out of box, the 11 and 14 were just about as sharp as the 16 but not quite.

let me put it this way, the other 4 beckers I stripped....they got sanded/polished and/or etched as soon as they came out of the stripper...I intended to do my 16 the same way, when it stripped it was so nice/perfect I never touched it after...aint laid sandpaper on it and dont intend to, unless It gets wore later.


I'm also looking forward to the release of the regular Tweeners Tanner. I didnt mind at all paying 15$ more for the FPR16 because of the sabre grind, I wanted it. But I dearly want a 17...gonna try out the new coating and lazer-logo!

 

[RogueBowie]

That's exactly the info I was lookn for - thank you. Drip bump was the only prob - or was there anything else? Even grind, scales flush w the handle steel, etc.

Are you gonna get a reg production run blade right away, or are you gonna wait say several months for any other kinks to be worked out?

Thanks mang

The grind was a BIT off, but it's something that can be fixed literally in five minutes with my fine stone and strop, and that's something that is just gonna happen with factory knives, had it on Benchmade knives and others as well, gotta go custom if you REALLY need a perfect grind. Handles are flush and besides that drip (did you see the pics I posted above?) and the SLIGHT off grind, it's a great knife. I will probably buy the 16 right when it comes out because I trust Ethan when he said that they will have these small things worked out more towards full production AND the coating is a different kind of coating, a more coarse coating that I don't believe is as prone to drips and such.

 

[trailbum]

C_Tanner
You and me both, well except for the part about the machax.
I can't wait for the FFG BK16.