Message from Ethan Becker

Hey Cyblade and stich_paradox.....

I WILL bring this up at the next meeting with Ka-Bar....Bear in mind please that 1000 pieces is a HUGE investment and in order to get Ka-Bar to continue to listen to me I gotta give them advice that makes them money....I'm thinking about it OK...I am emotionally invested in the MAGNUM CAMP and a limited run of those is more likely...

All BEST....

ethan.
 
Ethan Becker said:
Hey Bladite, keyfit and Thumper416.....

First of all THANKYOU Bladite for your incredible support for my stuff....The Reinhart is also one of my all time favorites.....It not only cuts like a banshee on steroids who is in a very bad mood but, it was designed by one of the greatest western experts of the Kukri to have ever lived....Hank was a real prince and a REAL authority on almost every aspect of cutlery ....A scholar of the blade, an artist in steel and a wonderful friend......He was the brains behind Museum Replicas and the blades he designed WORKED and LOOKED good... I got to throw a tomahwk he designed many years ago and it was so incredibly well balanced that even I could hit almost anything with it!!!! ...His Blades LIVED in your hand....He is unfortunately no longer with us but every time his name comes up I get a smile on my face in remembrance... A truly GREAT guy.......BTW if you get a chance to pick up the Blackjack (original) version of Hank's Kukri it is one of the most impressive blades I have ever had in my hand!!!!! Talk about a light sabre !!!
Click to expand...

Hank was a stand up guy. I ordered a stage "3 musketeers sword" (best way to put it) with fancy hilt and cage and the signature fullered-blade... what i got was ... embarrassing. cheap blade, with a hilt and basket that looked like a kid with an arc welder was having some fun. Sent Hank a picture or two, and he called me VERY quickly after saying something like "you send that piece of crap back at my cost, i've got something NICE in a closet, and i'll have that basket made proper". which he did. nice piece :) i'd call it heirloom quality even :)

i have at least one of the Becker version of the Rheinhardt Khukri. it's pretty wicked. bead blast finish and all. have occasionally seen the original original, but people want WAY too much for those ($500 i saw once). bah :)

one of my favorite early pieces, aside from the field stripping quality of the original CAMPANION, is the dive-tul (not the skinny rescue model). ah, such a thing. FAT. lovely. i've noticed at least two companies now making what appears to be exact copies of those now. how cheeky :)

i'll throw in my vote for a good carbon steel brute too. woodscraft is more on an upswing right now. people are making and buying a LOT of scandi knives, nessmuk designs (becker nessmuk == beckermuk - SERIOUSLY :>), and field grade choppers. people want this stuff, and the resale value on a beat up brute is incredible. a new one is out of sight. what kind of sales does KBAR need to see? 1000? 5000?

something i never did get, and frankly, thought was silly at the time, but will always keep an eye out for is the S30V extreme knife. heh. just couldn't spend the money. now, for slightly less, i did get a BEAUTIFUL unused magnum camp original; and aquired an original extra sheath too. just in case :) that's a NICE-AH KNIFE-AH :>

mmm, waxing down memory lane. i should pull out the machaxes :) original originals, epoxy coats, *blued*, warrior... leather, eagle, and kydex sheaths. love them all. mine mine mine mine mine. not QUITE all the variants, but damn close. someone's going to slip and another shall be mine! MOO HAH HAH.

and hey, the patrol machete. people are going batS**T for those too. not sure WHY. i mean, sure, it's just a killer design. jeez :}

new Beckeroids? mmm. yah, i'd love to see:
o a folder
o a skinner / nessmuk variant
o a super chopper (brute, machax, WSK, ...)
o a razel crossover? :)

check out the big chopper that CRKT has now in the Razel series. that's very interesting and not-unlike the Jensen Elite blade... but perhaps something more ... primitive in flavor... a Siegle/Becker collaboration? like the Rambo type? 5160 :)

okay, i'm going to have to calm down now, and sip some rum :)

mmm

S'okay Ethan, you make'm; we buy'em, use'm, and collect'em.

Bladite
 
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Ethan,

Thanks for the offer. I spent some time on the Sharpmaker and now all is well. Even after the edge I am still pleased to own one. :)

I understand about the BRUTE....somethings simply don't sell well even though they shoud.
Forget about it.
Think MAGNUM CAMP! :thumbup:

MAGNUM CAMP
You're getting sleepy.......
MAGNUM CAMP
You want only to make.......
MAGNUM CAMP
 
Hey guys...

Thanks for the kind words and also the advice.....Bladite- I am glad that your experiences with Hank were positive... I really wish I had spent more time with him....Certainly my bad not his......Those of you who were at Blade, PWYP or SHOT show know I have been working on a series of blades based on a smaller handle that I have been working on for several years, and YES there is a BECKERMUKYKEPHARTY knife in that series...The blade is derived primarily from the Puma HUNTERS FRIEND in size and general flavor with some spice notes from Bob Loveless and myself, of course!!!...Before I got in the cutlery biz I carried a Puma friend on my hip for decades and found it to be a great package...I always thought the Stag scales should be replaced with something else and I am always trying to modify handle profiles....I want a folder too and we are scheming away on that as well as a follow on big whacker or two.... There are two big blades I really want to do and a medium size that I hope will enter the Ka-Bar pipeline in the near future....

Bladite I want to thank you for your incredible support of my stuff....I owe you and guyon at the very least one dinner...Are you going to be at SHOT or Blade this year?...And thanks also for posting the links you did...I do think you and guyon both have stuff I do not!!! Good on you and thanks again....

I am getting sleepy now... MAGNUM CA............. ... .. .

All Best...

Ethan
 
Hello Ethan

I understand it is very hard to be in between customer and manufacture, especially in today's economy. Resources need to be place accurately on profitable items, if Brute was not a seller before, it is very hard to justify the risk. But no doubt, it is a very good looking knife!

PB113076.jpg


I am really looking forward to your new choppers, and other Beckers products!

Cheers

Shawn
 
Ethan Becker said:
Bladite- I am glad that your experiences with Hank were positive...
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yah, he was very enjoyable to talk to on the phone, and even called me AFTER i received my new sword, making SURE i was happy. he probably spent 35 minute telling me about the history of the blade he sent, and if i was *absolutely* not thrilled, he'd hook me up with a custom maker somewhere in nova scotia?! and get a discount for me. at the time, that meant $750... and i WAS happy. sometimes i wonder what that might have been like :)

Bladite I want to thank you for your incredible support of my stuff....I owe you and guyon at the very least one dinner...Are you going to be at SHOT or Blade this year?
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tell me of the dates... BLADE esp i'd like to goto. SHOT i know not a lot about... got passes? heh heh. i'm now in a position where i can probably afford the air fare and a vacation. i'd love to go! dinner. mmm. i've always wanted to cut into a steak by the guest's own knife :)

...And thanks also for posting the links you did...I do think you and guyon both have stuff I do not!!! Good on you and thanks again....
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oh really?! heh. nice. i certainly have the old original literatures. some of the weird variants. have never seen a BK-8, or the fabled walnut mach-ax of old. one of these days. i keep hoping some idiot, i mean, uneducated enthusiast has something at a local show i can find ;)

all the best

Bladite
 
Hey Bladite...

Blade is may 29, 30,31.and is in Atlanta, SHOT is in Orlando this year on january 15,16, 17, 18.... You cannot see it all in 4 days....TOYS, TOYS, TOYS !!!!!Getting in to SHOT is a big deal, sometimes you can get your local toyshop (guns,knives etc) to get you a badge but is mostly limited to "the trade".....Blade is a consumer and trade show (mostly consumer), entry is inexpensive and for a knife nut it is a much better deal , in that there is also much less pressure on us industry types soooo we are a whole lot more sociable..... SHOT is one long series of appointments....Anyway if you are near East Tennessee, or somewhere on a future voyage, or Blade we need to sup...

I wish you well on your quest for an original MACHAX...less than 200 made... and the elusive BK8 only Gibbs can tell us how few(damn few) were made....keep in touch

All best...

ethan
 
I may have missed this but I have a question about the Campanion. I have a set of the micarta grips that fit the Camillus Beckers. Will these grips fit the new Kabar Campanion?
 
Ethan Becker said:
Hey Bladite...

Blade is may 29, 30,31.and is in Atlanta, SHOT is in Orlando this year on january 15,16, 17, 18.... You cannot see it all in 4 days....TOYS, TOYS, TOYS !!!!!Getting in to SHOT is a big deal, sometimes you can get your local toyshop (guns,knives etc) to get you a badge but is mostly limited to "the trade".....Blade is a consumer and trade show (mostly consumer), entry is inexpensive and for a knife nut it is a much better deal , in that there is also much less pressure on us industry types soooo we are a whole lot more sociable..... SHOT is one long series of appointments....Anyway if you are near East Tennessee, or somewhere on a future voyage, or Blade we need to sup...
Click to expand...

ah, alas, january is booked. however, may, ah yes. that has a good good chance :) will have to do the research, the cool hotel, airfare... din din :> actually, i've been to atlanta a few times for conventions - usually at the "giger hyatt" (the hollow beehive hotel). lots of "storm troopers" :)

tennesse is a hike from "near boston", but who knows. i might decide i need a cross-country motorcycle vacation? one of these days, i'll get around to visiting the parts of the country i've not seen yet.

we've got one big-small show coming up this way, last of the year, then they reset. many GOOD local makers, and other things to gawk at. sometimes some very nice bargains.

I wish you well on your quest for an original MACHAX...less than 200 made... and the elusive BK8 only Gibbs can tell us how few(damn few) were made....keep in touch
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sooner or later, one shall be mine. any chief identifying marks to keep one from buying say, a later model that someone just HAPPENED to wood up? ;)

i managed to snag TWO warriors :> sadly, the first one had delams in the metal that was advertised as "pristine", i thought of keeping it, but it WAS guaranteed and too expensive for a "second" like that :( very sad nana. on the other hand, the second one *grin* is very nice. only what? 50 of those?

the BK8 is a myth. even if i held one in my hands, i don't believe it for a second ;)

Bladite
 
Hey Ethan,

Keep us updated on the BK7 (when they'll be available/price). I almost bought one a few years ago and after they sold out and weren't being made anymore I was kicking myself.

I think it's great that you're back. Might have to get me a necker.
 
This Brute did some work on the Saskatchewan/North West Territories, Canada border. In the Lake Athabasca region. It's a good one.


Brute.jpg
 
Hey Bladite ....

If you make Blade try to afford The Renaissance Waverly which means you can get fall down (if such is your wish) without driving and socialize in the "Pit" till the wee hours...If you are a biker you should know we are very close to The Tail of the Dragon(we can see it ,and hear it, from the house) and the Cherohala Skyway is in the back yard(well, almost).....The walnut handled MACHAX has 5 brass cutler's rivets and the walnut scales are plain slabs.....The BK8 is not a myth, BUT, it might as well be...only a couple were made(maybe 3. 4, 5????!!!!)....Who Knows....The Gibbs knows, maybe...There may have been as few as 25 WARRIORS made...They sold almost as well as the BRUTEs.....

Cutter...
The Camillus scales should fit the new stuff....

Jake...

The sheaths should arrive in Olean this week and I am certain that they will be kicking 'em in the boxes and shipping 'em out forthwith...Thanks for the welcome back and I hope you enjoy your new BECKER(S).....

upnorth....

They are good...They look good.... They just did not sell....AND... When the new Camillus made BRUTEs first came out I took one on a camping trip to eastern KY along with a Cincy era MACHAX...I used the dog snot out of the BRUTE for a day and a half and was a VERY happy camper....I then switched over to the MACHAX and IMMEDIAELY realized what a superior cutting and chopping tool the MACHAX is......The last production Cincy MACHAX had the best Blade and edge profiles and the new KA- BAR production will mimic those exactly....NICE picture by the way and I am glad you like it...They DO work...

All Best....

ethan


.
 
Ethan Becker said:
Hey Bladite ....

If you make Blade try to afford The Renaissance Waverly which means you can get fall down (if such is your wish) without driving and socialize in the "Pit" till the wee hours...If you are a biker you should know we are very close to The Tail of the Dragon(we can see it ,and hear it, from the house) and the Cherohala Skyway is in the back yard(well, almost).....The walnut handled MACHAX has 5 brass cutler's rivets and the walnut scales are plain slabs.....The BK8 is not a myth, BUT, it might as well be...only a couple were made(maybe 3. 4, 5????!!!!)....Who Knows....The Gibbs knows, maybe...There may have been as few as 25 WARRIORS made...They sold almost as well as the BRUTEs.....
Click to expand...

hotel noted :)

ah, the dragon. fabled, and famed, and me? going to stay the hell away from it ;) the police dragnet the thing a lot now, and accident are legion at every mile marker. even if i didn't crash, someone would hit me as they do ;) hahahah.

any pictures of this walnut machax? that would be nice to add to the archive at least :)

i saw someone's mod of a campanion, it looked a lot like a BK8 is supposed to look. i hope nobody gets suckered in :>

i have the very old knife center catalog from when they listed the machax right next to the warrior. only 25? wow. no wonder they're hard to find. glad i got mine. it's a keeper.

and MMMMMMMMMM, a ka-bar machax? sweetness and light! must get two.

oh, i dropped you email - a special link to a special ka-bar knife that probably nobody would suspect has been made :)

Bladite
 
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