Might be the best knife ever...

DerekH

DerekH

Handsome According to my Mother
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Nov 18, 2010
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You know, I challenge any of you to find a better all around general use knife than the BK16. Pick your poison, either the FFG or the saber ground version, they are both just amazing knives. Every time I go to grab a different one, I hesitate, and always my hand drifts back over to one of my Bk16's.

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I went to hang out with the Major yesterday, and I got a wild hair to try my hand again at starting a fire with nothing but wood shavings using the spine of my knife and a firesteel. Both the BK16's made it happen without any real hassle. Then I pounded them tip first into that stump just for good measure. For general bushcraft, small camp tasks, whittling, and everything in-between, I don't think there is a better knife out there. (This isn't an invitation for you to try to convince me. Long story short, you won't. Just stating my opinion, which is far from definitive.)

I love my BK2, I mean downright love her, but she has a big rear end, and she is nowhere near as nimble for the more mundane things I actually end up using a knife for. If it was the end of days, sure, I would make sure the BK2 was with me, but I wouldn't leave behind the 16. Something about that BK16 makes it perfect in every grip, even weird backwards ones where it really shouldn't be comfortable, and the ease of use with it makes me want to own every single BK16 ever made.

Any of you reprobates got one of the BK's like that for ya? Something that does it all, no questions asked, and keeps coming back for more? Something that makes you pass over the rest of your knives each and every time?
 
did you use the BK2 to pound the BK16 into the stump?
 
I just can't get into it... I don't like the grivory scales... Once we get factory micarta for them (hopefully?)... It will probably pump my impressions of my BK16 up... for the time being, I prefer my ESEE 4 in that size.
 
What is it about the grivory that puts you off if you don't mind my asking?
 
Honestly, I'm not sure... I think maybe just that it doesn't line up with the tang very well. Sharp edges and whatnot. I could probably sand it smooth and not be so turned off. Maybe even doing a sports tape wrap or ranger bands or something. It's not the blade shape or anything... although it's so similar to the ESEE 4 that I have considered trading for a 17 just to have the difference.
 
All of my grips are "slightly" smaller than the tang on the knife, by maybe about .5mm or so, maybe .75mm at most. Since the tang of the knife doesn't have squared edges, I don't find it sharp, but I get what you are saying. To me though it helps to make the cross section more "oval" in my mind, although when you take the handles off and put them back on, it can be a pain to try to line them up perfectly. However, once I added liners to the handles, all those problems disappeared and they go on perfect every time now. Plus, with a slightly fatter handle (it is absolutely amazing the difference a couple of millimeters of thickness will make) the knife is so much more comfortable. I would try some out if you haven't. It might change your mind.
 
yep on liners etc.
I love me an inner-tube slip-cover on some grivory. It really brings it home. Removes vibration, adds grip, and is completely reversible. And the whole black-on-black-on-black thing looks pretty cool.
 
I dig the size of the Tweeners. Only have the 17 so far, but a 15 will be added in the not-too-distant future. Think I'll skip the 16 but only because I have a similar knife from 'dat udder comp'ney.' ;)

I'm not overly keen on the factory sheath though. Have you kept 'em for your 16's, Derek?
 
I second the 16, I modded mine but I would have been completely happy with it stock, sheath and all (and that's saying something for me). I have an ESEE 4 too and I much prefer my 16. It just feels better in hand, and I'm not a huge fan of the modular sheath on the ESEE, thats just a personal preference though.
 
I like the sheaths fairly well for what they are. If they were black I would be more inclined to like them, but as it stands, I am a kydex man through and through. Lower profile and endless variability makes for something that I really like in a sheath. Plus it comes in black. However, I wouldn't have any problems carrying one around in the provided sheath, it works very well, and has a lot of different options for attachment.
 
My BK9 is like that. I can't help but take it with me, no matter what the task or what other knives are also going.
 
RogueBowie said:
I second the 16, I modded mine but I would have been completely happy with it stock, sheath and all (and that's saying something for me). I have an ESEE 4 too and I much prefer my 16. It just feels better in hand, and I'm not a huge fan of the modular sheath on the ESEE, thats just a personal preference though.
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The sheath is quite functional but to me it feels a bit too generic for the knife. Maybe I just like fitted sheaths... :)
 
DerekH said:
I like the sheaths fairly well for what they are. If they were black I would be more inclined to like them, but as it stands, I am a kydex man through and through. Lower profile and endless variability makes for something that I really like in a sheath. Plus it comes in black. However, I wouldn't have any problems carrying one around in the provided sheath, it works very well, and has a lot of different options for attachment.
Click to expand...

I agree! I like kydex (love my E4 setup) but I have a soft-spot for leather sheaths. Perhaps I'll get a kydex sheath made for my 17 and get a custom leather jobbie for a 15 when I gets me paws on one...
 
Hah. Still can't clean out under your fingernails with a -16. The 17 is just so...so...AMERICAN! :D
 
DerekH said:
I love my BK2, I mean downright love her, but she has a big rear end...
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Fat bottomed girls, they make the rockin' world go round.

[video=youtube;VMnjF1O4eH0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMnjF1O4eH0[/video]
 
It's not all about the tool. It's about the tool behind the tool.

I say grab any Becker and you got yourself a winner!
 
I tried it, and the Esee 4 still wins for me. I don't know why I dislike the tweeners so much :/

However, the big Beckers still kick all butt.
 
i hand the 16 to a lot of people for "kitchen prep" stuff, and they're like "AHHHHH KNIFE", and i point out the santuko they've been using is bigger... "oh yeah, heh"

the 15 is truly my favorite though. oh yeah.
 
I may agree with ya Derek, if the handles would have fit my hands. I'll probably end up with another 17 one of these days, then do a handle mod on it. I think a bushcraft model would be cool too. Again, iffin it fit my hand.

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