Just bought a BK17

L

Lawrence Helm

Joined
Jul 24, 2014
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I have been disgusted with the Ka-Bar and Becker offers on eBay. A great percentage are asking a higher price than you would pay on Amazon. Do many people pay the higher price? There's a sucker born every minute. Maybe there's a new knife buyer created every minute as well.

In scrolling down the list of high prices & going "tsk, tsk, tsk," I ran across one for a new BK17 priced at $76 while Amazon had it for $71, but this outfit, Tomar, also offered a second handle. I have grown weary of people telling me I needed a BK16 when I have said several times I preferred the clip point; so I really needed a BK17 to end the importuning. I offered $10 less than their asking price and they accepted it. :):thumbup:

Lawrence
 
Congrats. Tomars is a great place to buy from. They are supporters of this forum as well.
 
I thought your collection seemed a little on the large side. That bk17 is a great size. Next choose between the bk14 and bk11 for a small fixed blade that you can carry all the time. For what it is worth I love the bk14 with the cheap factory scales. I find the bk14 handle a lot more compfortable than the bk11 handle. But do your homework because some like the bk11 better.
 
A straight-clipped BK16 would be nice... I'm sure we've seen one.
I prefer the higher grind on the 16, but the straight-clipped 17's sure are cool.
 
Someone has the Becker bug. Don't worry, Mr. Helm; it goes away when your bank account is empty.

And not to rain on your parade, but all the tweeners (15,16 & 17) come with two sets of scales - black and (peanut butter*).

If you end up with a 14 or 24 (judging by the looks of things you will), you can make a serviceable pair of scales for it with the ones you're not using on your 17.

*there are other names for this color. But this is a family forum.
 
granitestateofmind said:
. . .
And not to rain on your parade, but all the tweeners (15,16 & 17) come with two sets of scales - black and (peanut butter*).
. . .
.
Click to expand...

Dang. I just checked Amazon and you're right. But it could have been worse. I paid only a little less than a dollar more than I needed to.

Lawrence
 
Paying money to Tomar's is good citizenship.
 
I agree with daizee. Tomar's has very fair pricing, fast shipment, (often within the hour) and he takes care of his customers. I like to support the "little guy" and Tomar's is top notch.
 
daizee said:
A straight-clipped BK16 would be nice... I'm sure we've seen one.
I prefer the higher grind on the 16, but the straight-clipped 17's sure are cool.
Click to expand...

Like the top one here?
IMG_00000844.jpg
 
I tend to like a clip blade. But I purchased a BK-16. I will eventually get a BK-17 along with a BK-10. Those are the two on my current to buy list. Have another one or two more expensive knife(s) ahead of them. The "list" is in my head and subject to change as the wind blows. :D

Hope you enjoy and I believe you will. My guess is that you will stop carrying the bigger knives and go with the BK-17 as your regular hiking knife unless you have activities planned that require a larger blade. You definitely have the Becker Bug.
 
tueller said:
I thought your collection seemed a little on the large side. That bk17 is a great size. Next choose between the bk14 and bk11 for a small fixed blade that you can carry all the time. For what it is worth I love the bk14 with the cheap factory scales. I find the bk14 handle a lot more compfortable than the bk11 handle. But do your homework because some like the bk11 better.
Click to expand...

tueller,

Were you referring to the knives I pictured with the BK9 when you wrote "large size"? Those, maybe even the BK9 were purchased in moments of weakness and were never seriously intended for hiking. The BK2 and BK10 are definitely hiking size although I wasn't sure about the weight of the BK2. The BK7 will be okay I'm sure once I get a leather sheath. I knew I'd like a BK17 but, but it was in the same size-range as My Ka-Bar 3/4 USMC-type fighting knives -- and I had 3 of those. However I had never really "tried" the BK17. The sheath issue may mean that I won't use it as much as my Ka-Bar 3/4s -- unless I spring for another sheath. The Ka-Bars have nice little leather sheaths perfect for hiking.

Lawrence
 
22-rimfire said:
I tend to like a clip blade. But I purchased a BK-16. I will eventually get a BK-17 along with a BK-10. Those are the two on my current to buy list. Have another one or two more expensive knife(s) ahead of them. The "list" is in my head and subject to change as the wind blows. :D

Hope you enjoy and I believe you will. My guess is that you will stop carrying the bigger knives and go with the BK-17 as your regular hiking knife unless you have activities planned that require a larger blade. You definitely have the Becker Bug.
Click to expand...

22-Rimfire,

I think you have me figured out. I am pushing the upper limits of reason when I consider the BK9 for hiking. Actually the bK7 is in some doubt. I've had a Ka-Bar USMC fighting knife (of equivalent size to the bK7), an older one with a sharpened back edge for ages but never took it hiking because I was used to the Buck 639V and one or two others. More recently I was more focused (pun not intended) on cameras and lenses than knives but due to a nagging neck ache I began opting for smaller and smaller cameras. That sort of started me thinking about my gear. My 639V was still serviceable but beat up, especially the sheath; so I began looking at knives and started with Ka-Bar. I bought the little 3/4 USMC-type fighting knives, should have been happy and returned to my cameras and lenses, but my imagination kicked in and I kept thinking of "reasons" why I should add additional knives. Its a pitiful ailment I have. :(

Lawrence
 
Big knives are just COOL. I have a hard time resisting a big knife sometimes. Let's take for example the BK7 and Blackjack 1-7. Both extremely cool, but I seldom carry them. The BJ 1-7 is quite the "sticker". Can't help but like unless the chroil bugs you. The BK-7 is more of a small chopper, fighting knife, and cutter. I like it, but I have the same problem with the BK-7 as other larger knives. I just don't find them worth carrying unless you know you want a big one today. Everyone is different and I guess many feel comfortable using this size for ordinary stuff. Lawrence you might love the 1-7 or some of the Bark River knives....middlin priced.
 
I know sheaths make a big difference. But why not try out the knives a bit before spending the fairly large money on all these sheaths?
 
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