Magnum Camp!!!!

TWBryan,

Don't be so jaded about businesses; especially the knife industry. We really try to be good people.
Material savings to increase margin has not been a viable option since the turn of the last century when labor costs overtook material as the largest expense. Labor and technology efficiencies increase margin.
I can only speak for myself and our designers but when we make a physical change, it is to improve on performance and /or manufactability. Also, sometimes availability of material changes.

Give the new MC a try, the balance and cutting ability are superb. It literally comes alive in the hand. Is it a bludgoen?....no. But I believe it has become the knife that Ethan and Jerry envisioned. I am most proud of our efforts. (in a humble way of course)


Best Regards,


Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA- BAR Knives
 
Hey TW.....

If I went "off" a bit I apologise....This is a knife that has always emphasized speed vs mass and it is a heel of a camp knife .....I used it exclusively in the kitchen for a week or so and also took it around and about the property to cut small saplings,polk canes and river cane, etc.......It performed extremely well.....I would not consider it a belt carry chain saw but it was never intended for that.......One of my "checklist" evaluations of a knife is "will it keep me alive for 3 days" if I do my part.....That is my bare minimum and this blade far exceeds this......So much in getting performance from a blade is adjusting technique to the tool in hand.....I would not want to drive tacks with a 22oz framing hammer but if I HAD to I would adjust my stroke from the one I use on 20 penny nails as I would make adjustments to driving that large nail with a small hammer.......Jerry's design philosophy and his aesthetic sensibilities lead him to a place of some elegance and a place that I aspire to, frankly.....His Bowies are so well thought out it makes me a little crazy........Anyhow, I hope you have the opportunity to experience a few of Mr. Fisk's blades in a field situation.....I would suggest, in fact, that if you feel you can afford it, buy a new Magnum Camp, take it to the woods and see what I am talking about and then, IF I am wrong ebay it.....As a life long knife nut the ability to experience using a knife from one of the true geniuses in the cutlery field for this little money is just too good to pass up, IMHO........This knife really opened MY eyes and got my mind moving in unaccustomed pathways........

All Best.....

ethan
 
Toooj said:
TWBryan,

Don't be so jaded about businesses; especially the knife industry. We really try to be good people.
Material savings to increase margin has not been a viable option since the turn of the last century when labor costs overtook material as the largest expense. Labor and technology efficiencies increase margin.
I can only speak for myself and our designers but when we make a physical change, it is to improve on performance and /or manufactability. Also, sometimes availability of material changes.

Give the new MC a try, the balance and cutting ability are superb. It literally comes alive in the hand. Is it a bludgoen?....no. But I believe it has become the knife that Ethan and Jerry envisioned. I am most proud of our efforts. (in a humble way of course)


Best Regards,


Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA- BAR Knives
Click to expand...

I was just about to point this out along with some (rather negative) comments about outsourcing when I refreshed the page and saw your post. Altogether well said!
At first I was astonished as I didn't think anyone was up at 5:20 in the morning, but then I remembered my timezones :p

I'm definitely liking the new magnum camp, though being a working college kid, discretionary funds are hard to come by and I can't quite pick up every Becker that comes along. Right now my BK-2 is going to have to stay my go-to camp knife. What I'm really holding out for is the MachAx as I believe it would be the perfect compliment (a heavy duty chopper) to my BK-2 (do-it-all knife) and BK-11 (fine work blade) - PLEASE oh PLEASE resurrect that next :D If I happen upon some money in the next few months though, I'll definitely be giving the MC some serious consideration :thumbup:
 
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Paul,Mr.Becker,I appreciate your responses regarding my objections to the new magnum camp.Let me see if I can explain in a simple fashion.

It was thick,so you made it thin.
It was wide,so you made it narrow.
It was long,so you made it shorter.

Why bother calling it a magnum camp? I would choose a different model designation,a newly designed Becker model. I think there would be less confusion.

Respectfully,

TWBryan
 
TWBryan said:
Paul,Mr.Becker,I appreciate your responses regarding my objections to the new magnum camp.Let me see if I can explain in a simple fashion.

It was thick,so you made it thin.
It was wide,so you made it narrow.
It was long,so you made it shorter.

Why bother calling it a magnum camp? I would choose a different model designation,a newly designed Becker model. I think there would be less confusion.

Respectfully,

TWBryan
Click to expand...

I think "Magnum Camp" is a perfect designation. Consider the fact that most people consider a camp knife one of two sizes: 4-6 inch blade (check out the knifemakers forums and you will notice most 'camp' knives fall into this category), or 'choppers' which are usually 9 inches and up. There is a lot of debate about what makes a good camp knife, but when this knife was designed most people were savvy enough to bring an ax or hatchet of some kind with them when they camped. Also, I have a feeling that the MC will be able to do more than you think.

This, of course, is just my opinion.:thumbup:
 
Just a few thoughts about the new Magnum Camp. When I first heard that the Magnum Camp was going to be reintroduced I really wanted one. Actually, I'd wanted one for a long time, but a new one from KA-BAR . . . well, that sealed the deal for me.

Now that it has actually been released, we're hearing that it's a redesign; that it's shorter, thinner, narrower, etc., like that's necessarily a bad thing. I've looked at the specs and the pictures, and I have to say that I think it's simply outstanding: I want one even more now.

Redesign? How about refinement? Ethan and Jerry Fisk have had twenty-five years to look at, handle, and think about this thing. They decided to refine it a little before reintroducing it, and I, for one, like what they've done. For the one who thinks it should have a name other than Magnum Camp because it's not identical to the original, I'd suggest that you may want to rethink that a bit. Improving a model doesn't mean that it's not the same model, it just means that it's a new, improved version of that model. It's the same knife, updated to make it better.

I know I want one, and when I get some extra money, I'll have one.

Ethan, Jerry and Toooj have put together a really great release here. Thanks, guys, it's looking good.
 
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TWBryan said:
Paul,Mr.Becker,I appreciate your responses regarding my objections to the new magnum camp.Let me see if I can explain in a simple fashion.

It was thick,so you made it thin.
It was wide,so you made it narrow.
It was long,so you made it shorter.

Why bother calling it a magnum camp? I would choose a different model designation,a newly designed Becker model. I think there would be less confusion.

Respectfully,

TWBryan
Click to expand...

Summary of all Magnum Camp Specifications:

o Blackjack era:
oo Steel: 440-C
oo Rc hardness: 58
oo Blade length: 8.5 inches
oo Overall length: 13.75 inches
oo Blade thickness: 3/16 inches (.188)
oo Knife Weight: 14.2 oz
oo Handle: Esta-Loc
oo Sheath: Leather, metal pin lock , Kenny Rowe Design

o Camillus Era
oo Steel: 0170-6C
oo Rc hardness: 58-59
oo Blade length: 8.5 inches
oo Overall length: 13.75 inches
oo Blade thickness: 3/16 inches (.188, .190 with coating)
oo Knife Weight: 14.3 oz
oo Handle: Grivory-GV-6H
oo Sheath: Kydex

o KaBar Era
oo Steel: 1095 CroVan
oo Rc hardness: 56-58
oo Blade length: 8.0 inches
oo Overall length: 13.5 inches
oo Blade thickness: 3/16 inches (.188, .??? with coating)
oo Knife Weight: 12.0 oz
oo Handle: Grivory-GV-6H
oo Sheath: Black nylon with liner

Here's the oldest original catalog copy I can find:

480108152_hCP4R-XL.jpg


Check out that price. That's the street price then. Street price now is typically less! Nice.

I'm updating the FAQ with this information.


Bladite
 
Let's look at this subjectively. ;)

TWBryan said:
It was thick,so you made it thin.
Click to expand...
Improvement. Better cutter.

It was wide,so you made it narrow.
Click to expand...
Improvement. Lighter.

It was long,so you made it shorter.
Click to expand...
Improvement. Handier.

:D

But seriously? I like it. A lot. I'd certainly pick it over a BK-9. If it only had a smaller guard (more like the BK-2), I think it would perhaps be perfect. I just see that lower guard getting in the way, and is one of the primary reasons I went for a BK-2 instead of a BK-7. That and a 7" blade is just too large for my wants. But THIS. I like this. To the point I'd probably be willing to buy it and grind the lower guard off.
 
Magnum is out and I don't have any knifemoney :(
I can only complain on the sheath, othewise this is probably perfect field knife.
 
I was dumb enough to let the Camillus Version and BlackJack version leave my hands!! I will not make that mistake again......I can't wait till I get this version! Order placed!

Cerberus.
 
The magnum camp is one of the knives I have wanted for a long time. I don't need one but that has never stopped me. I don't want to sound like a fan boy but If both Jerry Fisk and Ethan Becker are putting their names on it I think it will be good and preform as intended.
 
Carolina River Rat said:
I think I might have to get one of these things.
Click to expand...

HEY!!! What'er you doin' over here!?!? Ok, let me see your Becker Pass. C'mon, I don't have all night. What don't have a pass? :D:thumbup:

Yeah, I probably won't be gettin' this one, at least not for a while. Never really suited me. Good knife though, well designed, and from what I remember, real alive in the hand. Moose
 
moosez45 said:
HEY!!! What'er you doin' over here!?!? Ok, let me see your Becker Pass. C'mon, I don't have all night. What don't have a pass? :D:thumbup:

Yeah, I probably won't be gettin' this one, at least not for a while. Never really suited me. Good knife though, well designed, and from what I remember, real alive in the hand. Moose
Click to expand...

:DI posted here once way back in the day. Think I'm gonna get this thing and an Eskabar. Seems a good introduction to Beckers. Might hang out over here a bit more. Maybe even see about this Beckerhead thing I've been reading about.
 
Carolina River Rat said:
:DI posted here once way back in the day. Think I'm gonna get this thing and an Eskabar. Seems a good introduction to Beckers. Might hang out over here a bit more. Maybe even see about this Beckerhead thing I've been reading about.
Click to expand...

SWEEEEET!!!! Moose
 
I see it like this.. If Ethan and Mr. Fisk redesigned it for some reason.. it's probably a good one. They know their stuff. If they're happy with the new one.. so am I.
 
Bladite, please give us a spine and tip pic. I will admit to liking sturdy tips as I tend to be a little stupid with them (randomly sticking them in trees, etc).
 
:eek:I passed up the first 2 models,don't want to make the same mistake 3 times:o.Looks to me like it would make an awesome pack blade!:thumbup:
 
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