Magnum Camp Passaround - part deaux!!!

[Cobra281]

My review of the BK 5

First - thanks again to vik for the passaround.

And thanks to Clich for putting an insane edge back on it. Still sharp as H3LL too.


With all the attention the 5 got at the gathering, I was really looking forward to taking it for a spin.

Knife feels good. Light and balanced. Even liked using the Grivory handles for a change, forgot how comfortable they are.



Started with some small stuff, kindling, feather sticks, etc.

This is kind of where it went off the tracks a little for me. The spine on the 5 is not flat or wide. More like an inverted V. (not sure of the terminology) but it was tough
to get extra pressure and control with my free hand/thumb, for small work, without killing my thumb. Now I'm sure this is more user error (me) than the knife, but just an
observation.

So, figured I'd take it down to the campsite and give it a go at some "camp chores". I'll be honest, After the small stuff, I was kind of wondering if I was going to like this knife ...

Chopped some vines we've been using for chair and bench backs

Chopped some medium stuff

Chopped some bigger stuff

(could have finished, but I'd seen enough)

Like I said, after the small stuff, I was wondering about this knife .... But gotta' say I was impressed with the 5's chopping ability. Tore through everything. :thumbup:


So back to the house for a little clean up and kitchen work. (Mrs. Cobra281 needed a little convincing it would be good at food prep too) LOL

Mmmmmm ... Spear Ribs

The 5 did a great job at food prep too. :thumbup:

So in summary, on a scale of 10, I'd give the BK 5 an 8.
Great chopper (really did surprise me)
Good in the kitchen (although I'm used to a little thinner blade for food prep, but for camp cooking it would prob. be excellent)
If it had a different spine it would have scored a 10.

Thanks again for the opportunity to give it a try.

Here's the 5 signing off from a little slice of Heaven

 

[clich]

awesome stuff that place sure does look like heaven.

 

[Cobra281]

Thanks. Heck of job sharpening it brother. Held up great. Still going strong.

And thanks for the spelling tip too

 

[Bladite]

now, slice some olives

 

[1066vik]

Knife came back today -- you all put some good miles on the puppy!
Again, thanks to Clich for reprofiling the blade to clean up the nicks it picked up before he got it - for anyone who wonders, it's still plenty sharp even after both him and cobra used it.
Kabar puts a good heat treat on these!
nice reviews - looks to me like Moose and Bladite have a good group to pick from!
Thanks to everyone who played, hope you had fun.

 

[clich]

thanks for the go round. the others reviews really convinced me about the 5, those before me did some great stuff and i got one before the passaround arrived and was lucky to dual wield them . was always on the fence, now its one of my favorites. Thanks again for the passaround and thanks to the others that pushed me into the purchase, its been on of my wisest.

 

[Murphnuge]

Sorry for my lack of review so far Vik. I'm not really worried about the contest part of this, but I WILL get a review in soon!

 

[1066vik]

hmmm...
3 weeks later, no review from Murph and no prize announcements from Moosez or Bladite...
sad, sad, sad...

 

[NixKustoms]

I had a good time though

 

[Murphnuge]

"Soon", is a relative term for me. Vik, I am sorry. I was hoping to get my girlfriend's review on this, but she is shy I suppose. Here is my official review.

The BK5 has always been a knife I've looked upon with disinterest and maybe a twinge of "why?". It's not one I would have bought until...after the gathering. I was still waiting on the passaround BK5 before the gathering so my passaround review is based on my experiences at Ethan's and my dealings with it since. Upon arrival at Ethan's place I received a BK5 brand new in the box. My first thought was definitely of appreciation, but at the same time (probably unbeknownst to the Moose) I handed it off to my girlfriend Christina. She's really into the woods thing, that's part of what I love about her. Her only other fixed blades at the time were a Camillus Pilot's survival knife and a BK14 so I thought she needed another, bigger fixed blade. I soon regretted passing this blade off so quickly.

The BK5 stayed in the box until Saturday morning when we were told to be sure to bring it with us to E's shop. My ol lady wanted to (reluctantly maybe) participate in the challenges set forth that day. As a result we shared a BK5. This was to be my only time with the knife until after returning to Indiana. Mr. Jerry Fisk explained quite a bit about our chores set before us, theory and practice of proper technique and the design of the 5. We set about the challenges/contest with this strange knife. This thing WILL perform. Something else we all learned, some the hard way, was that the BK5 dominates concrete.
The Arena.

Vik cutting the water bottle top to bottom.

I admit that I started out with zero interest in ever owning this knife, but since the gathering it is on my Christmas list and I've bought one for my step mom to use in the kitchen.

Oh, I forgot to mention Christina uses this thing in the kitchen from time to time. Its a great slicing knife for almost anything you may ever want to prepare. I tend to use it as a steak knife and the kids love it when I cut up the younger daughter's steak. I would definitely recommend this knife to anyone looking for a solid, durable and lightweight sidekick. I am pleasantly surprised with it to this day.

Again, Vik I am very sorry for dropping the ball on this. I hope that my negligence and procrastination was not the reason for the delay in judging by Moose and Bladite. If that's the case, then I sincerely apologize to everyone who had actually posted a review in a timely manner. See all those big words up there? Yeah, the Marine did that.

 

[1066vik]

it's all good brother - I was just yanking your chain.
it's a squid thing.

 

[Bladite]

hmmm...
3 weeks later, no review from Murph and no prize announcements from Moosez or Bladite...
sad, sad, sad...

where's those mega-reviews? :> flexxx's pictures are gone.

still waiting on the finish, are we done now?

also, people's choice time too: all y'all decide which review was good, and perhaps beyond the beyond. then we'll see if that matches my idea. and so on.

KaBar sent me a mess of BK5s i've been waiting to sprinkle out, but the suggest rule was to wait for excellence... as it turns out, two Beckeroids won something at the Gathering. it was dark, i don't recall who it was plus some Doziers and such went out and about for trivia beyond the call of duty.

 

[1066vik]

hmmm... sounded to me like I closed it down?

OK, since Slapper is passing and Kalama already orderedone, we're done with the mailing part of this.
lets give it another 10 days for the folks who have not posted their reviews yet to post something and then Moose & Bladite can pick the winners. (if you were one of the original 10, even if you bought a knife before handling the passaround, post up a review and you're still in the running)

Knife came back today -- you all put some good miles on the puppy!
Again, thanks to Clich for reprofiling the blade to clean up the nicks it picked up before he got it - for anyone who wonders, it's still plenty sharp even after both him and cobra used it.
Kabar puts a good heat treat on these!
nice reviews - looks to me like Moose and Bladite have a good group to pick from!
Thanks to everyone who played, hope you had fun.

if you want me to post up a new thread with a poll for best review, I can do that, but i was under the impression from the get go that you were going to be choosing the recipients for whatever stuff you had as prizes.

speaking of prizes at the gathering, yes - I won one of those BK5's for knowing some trivia, and promptly passed it off to Kay Trade for fire maintenance and tater packets above and beyond the call of duty.

 

[NixKustoms]

also, people's choice time too: all y'all decide which review was good, and perhaps beyond the beyond. then we'll see if that matches my idea. and so on.

Maybe a poll then???

 

[Bladite]

reverse polish notation?

i was just thinking it would be fun to hear people's opinions. might sway mine.

no biggy if not. don't need a poll... was more interesting in hear the whys and wherefores and generate more BK5 love :>

 

[NixKustoms]

Well not to be biased (but I am ) mine was pretty bad ass.

Over all though I would say it would be between Me Clich and Cobra.

It's kinda hard not to love this knife. I was honestly expecting more awesome reviews out of this pass around; not saying there weren't any, just wanted more.

 

[clich]

I vote for nick or cobra.

 

[1066vik]

I vote Nick - he really went the extra mile with the second video and trap building.
Cobra has a really nice camp, but I think most if not all of it predated his turn on the passaround.

 

[Flexxx]

My pics got deleted because of PHOTOBUCKET, I lost all older and newer pics at the time......damn photobucket

I say everyone who used it and shown gets a new BK5.

 

[DerekH]

Yet another reason I always push for Flickr. You lose access to older stuff, but the pics still exist and are always there.