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Ka-bar Mk1 Navy vs Becker BK16?

P

pastormarty

Joined
Mar 22, 2010
Messages
157
I posted on the Ka-bar forum, but folks here might chime in as well. I tried to do a search b/c I thought somebody already talked about this. Has anybody handled both of these that could give insights? I have the MK1 and love it, though I wish the balance were on the index finger and not the second. Still a great knife though. How does the BK16 - drop point tweener compare in feel and overall weight?
 
The BK16 will not be released to the general public until March/April sometime. There are one or two on the forum who have sneak previews/samples though so they may show up.
 
Yep, not been released to the public yet.

That Moose feller' might have an opinion on the matter.... though his BK16 is saber grind while the final production model will be full flat grind.

Good question though, even if there isn't an answer just yet.
 
I dont know how the two preform against each other,
but I just got the Mk 1 yesterday and I love it!
and for the price point, buy both!
you cant go wrong with a 50 dollar ka-bar
I know I will have both

-orangish ducktape

1671.jpg
 
I like the look of the Mk1 a lot, and actually might get it in preference to the bk16 since I really want a bk15...
But neeeeed? hmm. HMMM.... hrm...
 
Forgive me, I am flat ass tired. Work beat me like rented mule today, so, I'll get some pics up comparing the two tomorrow.

At least let me offer a brief comparison for you, though.

I'm comparing the Kraton MKI and the early run BK16.

Cutting wise, I think the MKI cuts better. The FFG on the MKI make for a much thinner edge, and thin cuts. I haven't seen the FFG BK16 yet, so, I'm betting for cutting ability, they will be a match, with the MKI probably being the better.

The MKI is 1/4" longer OAL, and offers you about 1/2" more blade. The BK16 is cut from thicker stock, though and has a full tang construction. I'm gonna give the overall toughness to the BK16.

The MKI handle is more round (oval) and really fills the hand, with tapers at the guard, the make it better in the chest lever cut (my favorite) than the BK16. The BK16 handle has better ergos with finger reliefs, palm swells, and a rounded (hooked) base.

The MKI is more handle weighted, with the balance being right at the middle finger in a standard front grip. The BK16 balance is directly located right on your first finger. Edge goes to the BK16 on balance.

The MKI has a 1/4" thick, solid steel pommel, allowing your use it to pound with, or drive point first. The BK16 has a small tang extension, that angles, making the impact area for point first driven rather small and angled. Edge goes to the MKI.

The MKI has a finger guard on it, the BK16 has a drop down that has more flow with the blade contours. I call it a draw.

Overall, I would say the two are a close match. The full tang and blade thickness is gonna let the BK16 take more abuse than the MKI, but for cutting ability, I give the MKI the lead on that one. Those things just love to cut stuff.

You would not be underknifed with either of these two. Some folks think that a stick tang is weak, so that will steer them away from the MKI, and some prefer a thinner blade, and the BK16 is not gonna get any thinner.

I've used the MKI more than the BK16, just because time of ownership, but I am really liking the BK16. I'm probably gonna go help hatcreekk9sar with a bushcraft class this weekend, so, I'll let you know how the BK16 fairs in the bushycrafty world. I don't expect any problems.

I've taken the MKI out on a couple of bushiestcraftiest outtings before, and I know there is not any problems with it. It will take to the baton, it will make uber thin curls, and will be a faithful companion in the woods.

The blades are just close to size, weight, blade shape, and overall design, you can go with either, and be in good hands.

Hope it helps.

Moose
 
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^ Yeah, but which one do you like best though? :D
 
The Warrior said:
^ Yeah, but which one do you like best though? :D
Click to expand...

BK16. Silly question, you tiny, little man.

I like the MKI, but I love the BK16. I'm not known for my gentleness with my knives. Ask around. :D. I have a stacked leather MKI, and my wife has a Kraton handled MKI. She's handled the BK16, and gave it back, with a, "I like mine better". She has great taste in men and steel, so, what I will say, is everyone will have to make that choice for themselves.

LadyMoose has medium sized hands, but unlike mine, they are thinner and more demure. My meaty ass hands perfer a thinner handle, for better grip and control, the BK16 has that. The MKI is a full on hand filler.

Moose
 
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Really looking forward to that 16. I owe my son one too. Told him I would get him one too. In all honesty, I have admired the MKI. I really like the looks and size of it.
 
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The Warrior said:
Really looking forward to that 16. I owe my son one too. Told him I would get him one too. In all honesty, I have admired the MKI. I really like the looks and size of it.
Click to expand...

Get one and give it a try. If you don't like it, I'll take it off your tiny, childlike hands. :D

Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
Get one and give it a try. If you don't like it, I'll take it off your tiny, childlike hands. :D

Moose
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You gonna fund it? You talkin' to a poor boy here. I was thinking of selling a few things that just sit around doing nothing to get the money. Hell, I've been sick at home all week. My paycheck is gonna be for a whopping 2 days. :jerkit:
 
The Warrior said:
You gonna fund it? You talkin' to a poor boy here. I was thinking of selling a few things that just sit around doing nothing to get the money. Hell, I've been sick at home all week. My paycheck is gonna be for a whopping 2 days. :jerkit:
Click to expand...

Damn, bro, I hate to hear about the sickness. I was down with something a few weeks ago.

If you wanna try one, I'll send one your way for you to play with, but I gotta have it back. I don't have those to spare laying around. I only got one for me and one for may wife. You want to give it a go, let me know.

Hope you get to feeling better, brother. Plenty of echinacea and OJ, should boost your immune system up.

Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
Damn, bro, I hate to hear about the sickness. I was down with something a few weeks ago.

If you wanna try one, I'll send one your way for you to play with, but I gotta have it back. I don't have those to spare laying around. I only got one for me and one for may wife. You want to give it a go, let me know.

Hope you get to feeling better, brother. Plenty of echinacea and OJ, should boost your immune system up.

Moose
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Appreciate the offer, but it's all good. I'm just gonna wait until the 16 comes out and be happy. I'm going back tomorrow sick or not. Can't keep missing work. Still weak as can be, and achy. Running hot and cold. Just called my mom a few minutes ago. Haven't talked to her since Sunday. She's been in bed all week with it too. Damn. And thanks, appreciated.
 
Moose's review was very helpful. There is a lot I love about my Kraton Mk1. I like the way it fills the hand, the gripiness of the kraton, blade geometry and the way they made the top of the finger guard small so you can put your thumb easily on the back of the blade. I am sure it will last my life and be handed down to my grandchildren; but that doesn't mean I don't also need a BK16 and a BK14 with zytel handles!
 
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ozgooner said:
The BK16 will not be released to the general public until March/April sometime. There are one or two on the forum who have sneak previews/samples though so they may show up.
Click to expand...

March/April? no. April. or later! none of this silly March stuff. no no no. nobody every in the history of the world said March.

stated release date is 2012-04-01. April 1st. really. would they joke with us? (yes, they would, but that is the official date)...

2012-04-01

dun dun dun!!! :D
 
Hmmm....Never considered the MK1 before, but after reading this thread, I may give it another look-see...
 
Dangit!....OK Moose, you sold me. Just watched some Youtube vids of the MarkI and have to agree it appears to be an excellent midrange bushcraft knife. This is one reason I have been so excited about the tworts (tweener/shorts)....a good (tough) mid sized knife is hard to find.

Yes, it is a stick tang, but its a full stick tang....not one of those fruity little Mora tangs. And it's Kabar, so that helps.

Love the sheath. That was a big decider.

I was going to spend $46 on a can of silly spray for my nasty bag tommorrow (IOW: a 1lb sprayer bottle of Fox 5 point 3) since it has been on my "to buy" list. I check the large online retailer with which I have a paid Prime membership with (free 2 day shipping!) and lo and behold the Navy MK I is the same price that I was going to spend on liquid pain. SOOOO.....

The local gun store has kabars and I THINK I saw a Mark I. I want to hold it first, just because that handle looks so big to me.
 
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It's a cool knife; and while I need a full-size Ka-bar (for the same reason one needs a 1911 45acp - it's a classic), I like the smaller Ka-bar for what I do.
 
I really like the MK1....It really is mora-like.....But....It has a full height grind and it does not have a Skandi grind YEAH !!!....Skandis maka me nuts.....Very slicy.....Originally designed for sailors when sailors actually cut, spliced and knotted Manilla hemp rope on a daily basis........One of the very best knives ever issued in the U. S. military.......EVERY enlisted sailor was issued one.....Made in various but closely related forms by a slew of American cutlers....Tooj picked IMHO, the best characteristics from all of them and came up with a great single barrel distillation.....Great knife.......Great design .....Marvy steel......I remember seeing these in surplus stores by the freaking barrel.....Never bought one....Stupid kid.....Smart enough to buy K-Bars though.....

all best.....

ethan
 
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