Ka-Bar Becker Necker San Mai Review

Hey macgregor22...

There are no plans to do a BRUTE per se...Right now the COMBAT BOWIE is the only thing close......When I match up the BRUTE vs. the MACHAX the MACHAX out performs it at everything but thrusts and for almost identical weight and size.....If you have not tried a COMBAT BOWIE, I think you will be very pleasantly surprised, I know I was and still am...I keep a MACHAX by the bench for froeing(is that the way it's spelled???) and one lives in my work Gator tool box but, when I head for the weeds or a demo, the knife I carry is the COMBAT BOWIE...The BRUTE lives in a drawer.....I have several re-designs of the MACHAX in the file, but no BRUTE redos....Sorry if I dumped on one of your faves and it is not that it is a bad'un and it is a handsome devil but, there is better stuff, I think....

ALL BEST
ethan
 
Thanks for the review. That sheath doesn't look as good as the old Becker Necker, but it sounds like it performs well.

I especially like the blade without the black coating. '

Where were the original Becker Neckers manufactured?
 
Ethan Becker said:
Hey macgregor22...

There are no plans to do a BRUTE per se...Right now the COMBAT BOWIE is the only thing close......When I match up the BRUTE vs. the MACHAX the MACHAX out performs it at everything but thrusts and for almost identical weight and size.....If you have not tried a COMBAT BOWIE, I think you will be very pleasantly surprised, I know I was and still am...I keep a MACHAX by the bench for froeing(is that the way it's spelled???) and one lives in my work Gator tool box but, when I head for the weeds or a demo, the knife I carry is the COMBAT BOWIE...The BRUTE lives in a drawer.....I have several re-designs of the MACHAX in the file, but no BRUTE redos....Sorry if I dumped on one of your faves and it is not that it is a bad'un and it is a handsome devil but, there is better stuff, I think....

ALL BEST
ethan
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No problem Ethan, as long as I'm getting Beckers I'm happy. :D
Good to hear you may have a MACHAX in the works, great design itself.

Thanks much,
Jed
 
Bring back the Patrol Machete and the Magnum Camp please!!!
(Yeah I know the Magnum Camp never sold well and the Patrol Machete with 14" flat ground blade needs wide grinders which Kabar don't have apparently...)
 
Kelevra1 said:
Hi...!
I'm new here. I just ordered one of these fine knives from the 'bay last night.
(( No auction- or deal-spotting. ))
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I've had this knife for about a week now, razor sharp and keeps a nice edge after doing some wood carving. Next to my BM M2, it's my fave.
 
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This is the fastest I have ever bought a knife. Opened the thread, read it, bought a $72 knife. I had an original - sold it - foolish. I don't like the sheath from what I see - too bulky, too much excess material, looks like it is built for a tanto not the knife it is carrying. I do enjoy making my own leather sheaths.
 
I guess the sheath is designed that way for multi carry options. I've carried around my neck on a recent long hike and you get used to it. The good thing is it doesn't rattle or fall out when running - pretty secure.
 
I just got one of these as well and the knife itself is very nice. My only complaint is the sheath's overlapping design contacts the edge of the blade and flattens a spot about an inch and a half long after a day of carry. There's nothing more frustrating than a blade that goes into a sheath razor sharp and comes out with half its length dull. The old Becker Necker sheath doesn't do this, but then it's a 'simpler' sheath design.
 
I got my Necker in yesterday. I am not thrilled with the sheath. The knife fits badly in it.
It is not secure at all and will fall out if upside down,very loose. The knife itself is great but the sheath is an after thought. For the price it should have had a proper sheath not one off some other model. Selling a new line of Becker's and the first model showing up with some ill fitted sheath off another model does not bode well for what we can expect from Kabar Becker's. Shortcuts ruin a good name and product. is this the new direction Becker will go down?
 
Surprising comments on the new sheath (which actually looks quite nice, IMO) especially given what a nice Kydex sheath the older Camillus-made BK11's came with:

bk11-wear3.jpg


Perhaps Ethan can chime in with reasons for the change ... ?
 
slipinn said:
I got my Necker in yesterday. I am not thrilled with the sheath. The knife fits badly in it.
It is not secure at all and will fall out if upside down,very loose. The knife itself is great but the sheath is an after thought. For the price it should have had a proper sheath not one off some other model. Selling a new line of Becker's and the first model showing up with some ill fitted sheath off another model does not bode well for what we can expect from Kabar Becker's. Shortcuts ruin a good name and product. is this the new direction Becker will go down?
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Did you really push it in there? I thought it was real loose at first too then I looked carefully and it wasn't all the way in. I had to put some muscle in it and it snapped in. Now it's good and tight.
 
Thanks for the tip. You are correct. Once pushed in hard it does snap in. What a difference! Now to locate a belt clip.....:)
 
The sheath now fits fine so I retract my emotional outburst about it.. LOL!..I did use the knife some today for a few test and the San Mai edge is like a razor even after cutting on some palm wood and palmetto branches. The grip is nice for most folks, a little small for my big hands but that's ok.
Is there a certain way to go about wrapping this cord on the handle so it looks nice and stay tight? Would to wrap it so I end up with a wrist loop at the end for security.
One improvement that would be good is if the handle slots were notched or swuared off so it worked to tighten bolts and nut's. The slots now have little use except to lighten the design.
 
The stock sheath is hideous! Why can't makers just fold a piece of Kydex in half, mold it to the knife with the spine in the fold, grommet it and be done? ..presto change-o! I like a slim sheath, plus it would save materials.
 
Amen archieblue.


Dog of War said:
Surprising comments on the new sheath (which actually looks quite nice, IMO) especially given what a nice Kydex sheath the older Camillus-made BK11's came with...
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The original sheath was better IMHO. I received mine this weekend. It came razon sharp! Overall a neat knife. I plan on carrying it a good bit. I bought a BK11, sold it and bought a RAT-3, sold it and bought a BK11... The BK11 is just right in size. I like the un-coated blade. I won't be selling this one. I need to make a leather sheath for it and I'll be set.

One last thing - I have tons of 550, how about including a beaded chain rather than the cord...
 
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Is it possible if someone can please explain how the wire breaker notch works? I just cannot picture it. Thanks!

And yes, I got the bottle opener part! :D
 
Hey slipinn and s201....

Slipinn...Ka-Bar has a very nice belt clip that the new sheath is designed for....check the website, ka-bar.com.....

s201...the deep part of the notch is placed over the wire and then you twist the knife back and forth until you get metal fatigue in the wire..it usually does not take long but, of course I do not suggest wiring a house with it, but if you have to cut a strand or two of barbed wire or chain link it sure beats using your teeth.....

All best,

ethan
 
I'm looking forward to receiving the new standard necker, I wanted the original for a long time, but they were pricey. Made in USA and $36, how'd you guys do it?
 
The new Beckers are here. I see knifecenter.com has the kabar becker companion and tactool for sale.
Chuck
 
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