Mr. Becker, You Just Convinced Me To Get My First Becker. Which Do You All Recommend?

B

B.F.U

Joined
Jan 1, 2013
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I have been in need of a quality all around large fixed blade for a long time now. I had a Rat 7 that I liked, but wasn't ultra happy with and ended up selling, and now I usually just use my small ax or a machete for woods work and a Blink Horse Knives Huntsman (I think that's what it's called) for general camp stuff. It'd definitely be useful to have an all around knife that I can use both bumming around in the woods, hunting, fishing, and general camp stuff like cooking, getting kindling, and such. I've always liked the simpler knives like Becker and ESEE, and recently really started considering the BK7, BK9, BK4, ESEE 6, and ESEE Junglas. Now, I know ESEE isn't becker and I'm not trying to rile anybody up by comparing the two lines. I will probably get a BK14 as an every day knife if I don't go with a Becker for the camp/all around knife.

Considering what I've said I'll be doing with the knife, which of the Beckers I've listed do you experts think would suit me best?

If I go with the 7 I plan to have a member here modify it into more of a bowie style. If I go with the 4 I plan to have the same member remove some material from the spine to give it the style of a bronze age sword/hunting knife that I've always liked (it'll also probably look more like a kukri, but that's not what I'm going for). The 4 is definitely where I'm leaning because I can get it for a reduced price of about $60 right now, 2/3 the price of the 7. If I go with the 9 I'll probably just leave it stock, but I think the 9 (and Junglas) would be a little big for normal camp stuff.

I'm really interested in what you guys and gals have to say, and I'd be happy to give more specific info on how I plan to use the knife if more information is necessary.

As to the reason for the title, I have been following that joker/troll's threads (I think you guys know who I mean) and though Sal Glesser of Spyderco is great, and the Cold Steel mod is exemplary, I have never seen someone be spewed with such idiocy, ignorance, and unwarranted criticism with such even headedness and such a great attitude. Mr. Becker's responses have made me want to own a knife designed by him.

Thanks for any help and suggestions!
 
I'm thinking E will respond later, but here's my recommendation, and welcome aboard. First, you will end up with more, but as a first Becker, and for what you want to use it for, I'd suggest a bk5. It will do all you want, and I don't think you'll need to mod it very much. That knife speaks to you once you get one in your hands. I think others will agree.
 
Welcome.
Exactly why I left the thread open. I knew Ethan would eventually respond with an aplomb that I can't muster in the face of such nonsense. :D
The 7 is THE all-arounder, though I will admit it is probably my least favorite Becker. Jack of all trades, master of none, and such.
To me, the sweet spot is a 9/16 combo, but if you want an all-around knife, the 7 is probably your best bet. Don't count out the 5 though.
You might have a look at the BK-12 too and see what you think.
 
my vote for GP camp and woods knife is the BK16.
if you want something larger but not as big as the 9, it's hard to beat the 10 or 12 (Becker/Ritter collab made by Rowen) aka the Ritter perseverance mk2
bk12 between ESEE5 & 6
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deramped 10 w/rounded clip:
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it would also be relatively simple to convert that to a concave clip if you wanted to seriously weaken the tip. ;)
 
I got the nine for my first Becker. It is great for clearing trails and processing firewood. I find it to be a little large to strap on unless I have an intended use for it in the immediate future. It rides in my truck always ready to go to work which is quite often. I would get the five first since the nine should be around for a long time. If the five doesn't fit your preference it should be easy to sell or trade to another knife that works better for your use. I'm learning that there is no ultimate do all knife. Some are better than others at multitasking but I'm leaning towards a good combo setup. With all that said the nine is an awesome first Becker.
 
The Bk4, 5, and 15 are on their way out right now, and are all DIRT cheap. So I would getting of those first.
For what you are looking for, I would go for the 4. They can be had with free shipping for like $60 right now... That is a STEAL!
 
beachmaster said:
The Bk4, 5, and 15 are on their way out right now, and are all DIRT cheap. So I would getting of those first.
For what you are looking for, I would go for the 4. They can be had with free shipping for like $60 right now... That is a STEAL!
Click to expand...

I agreee with this, but maybe start with the 15, it is the most general purpose and easy to use out of the 3, and can be carried daily very easily.
 
Quoting your sentence:

It'd definitely be useful to have an all around knife that I can use both bumming around in the woods, hunting, fishing, and general camp stuff like cooking, getting kindling, and such.

My choice(s) broken down by topic:

Woods: bk4
Hunting: 16 or 15
Fishing: 15
Cooking: 5 or 15
Kindling: 9 or 4

Carry ease: 16 or 15
Screaming deals: 15 or 4 or 5
Personally, if you weren't concerned about carrying a bigger knife around, the 4 is quite versatile although hunting/fishing wouldn't be ideal. You could piggyback a 11 or 14 or 24 with it and be good to go for about anything.
 
I think you'd be better served getting a 7 to accommodate the mods you want to do and still have that "all around" quality. Of course, adding a 16 or 17, and a 14 or 24 would cover all your camping needs. 3 knives to do everything needed.

To be straight forward, I use my 2 and my 16 in the woods more than any of my other Beckers. That's specifically what I bought them for..They perform very well in that role, and they don't get much use anywhere else. I use the 2 because I know I can seriously get rough with it, and destroy most anything. The 16 is an awesome bushcrafter.

BK2: Woods
BK3: Emergency Truck knife/sometimes a yard tool
BK5: Kitchen knife/Butcher blade
BK7: Unused so far......woods knife
BK9: Yard tool/Chopper
BK14: Utility/Food prep
BK16: Utility/Bushcraft
BK24: Utility/Food prep

All the other Beckers I got I gave to the family, so I'm not counting them here.

The 9 rarely gets use outside of my yard. I love my 9 for yard work, love it, love it. Hacking, chopping digging, prying, the occasional pesky critter destruction; man that thing has replaced all my yard work tools other than my shovel and rake!!
 
Lots of great insight from everyone, thank you! I'm setting up my sister's graduation party right now, but I'll respond in more detail when I get some free time.
 
ALLHSS said:
As to the reason for the title, I have been following that joker/troll's threads (I think you guys know who I mean) and though Sal Glesser of Spyderco is great, and the Cold Steel mod is exemplary, I have never seen someone be spewed with such idiocy, ignorance, and unwarranted criticism with such even headedness and such a great attitude. Mr. Becker's responses have made me want to own a knife designed by him.
Click to expand...

I, too, was impressed with Mr. Becker's patience in dealing with the OP. And FWIW, I think we may have actually been witnessing a manic episode.
 
I'd get a 9. It was my 2nd becker, but it's my most used by far!

Ethan is a class-act and is half the reason I'm a Beckerhead. I posted a thread about my 1st Becker purchase (BK7), and within a few mins, the knife's designer chimed in. I was blown away by this. Flash forward to the present..... I have many more Beckers, and plan on many more. And, everytime I see Mr. Becker active in these forums, taking time to socialize (not even attempting sales/marketing), it makes me want those future BK's even more!
 
Hey ALlHSS....

Thanks for the kind words, Sir....... My triumvirate is an Eleven, a Sixteen and a Nine......and a SAK Rucksack..... If I am in the woods or in camp there is an Eleven around my neck and a Sixteen tucked just behind the Glock...... To prove a point to myself I made a quite comely bow drill and fire board with a BK-6 Patrol Machete but, having the more or less right tool does not hurt...... The Nine can do it all, the Sixteen is just handy as hell and it is easy to always have the Eleven as back up.... The Nine or a similar tool such as a small hatchet, Machax or Kukri is very nice to have in or on the pack..... I use the snot out of my Sixteen and Eleven and have used the Nine from desert to swamp, highlands and lowlands and from Northern Ontario to South Carolina with good effect........I tried for years to build the one knife that can do it all and I am still trying but, I have no expectation that I can squeeze that Stihl 17 into a less than one pound sheath knife that will also be the delight of eye surgeons........With judicious use of a baton you can make a small or medium size blade work way out of it's weight range but remember the judicious part.....

I do not know if this has been at all helpful but, I hope to have shone a little light on your problem.....

Thank you for your interest in my blades.....

Ethan
 
Ethan Becker said:
Hey ALlHSS....

Thanks for the kind words, Sir....... My triumvirate is an Eleven, a Sixteen and a Nine......and a SAK Rucksack..... If I am in the woods or in camp there is an Eleven around my neck and a Sixteen tucked just behind the Glock...... To prove a point to myself I made a quite comely bow drill and fire board with a BK-6 Patrol Machete but, having the more or less right tool does not hurt...... The Nine can do it all, the Sixteen is just handy as hell and it is easy to always have the Eleven as back up.... The Nine or a similar tool such as a small hatchet, Machax or Kukri is very nice to have in or on the pack..... I use the snot out of my Sixteen and Eleven and have used the Nine from desert to swamp, highlands and lowlands and from Northern Ontario to South Carolina with good effect........I tried for years to build the one knife that can do it all and I am still trying but, I have no expectation that I can squeeze that Stihl 17 into a less than one pound sheath knife that will also be the delight of eye surgeons........With judicious use of a baton you can make a small or medium size blade work way out of it's weight range but remember the judicious part.....

I do not know if this has been at all helpful but, I hope to have shone a little light on your problem.....

Thank you for your interest in my blades.....

Ethan
Click to expand...

And there you have it.

The 16 and the 9 are the ones I'd say to start with (I love my 9, don't have a 16 just yet).

However, the prices on the 4/5/15 right now make them very attractive buys.

The upside, is you can't really go wrong with any of them.

Good luck with the decision :).
 
Can't argue with Mr. E or his suggestion on the 11 - 16 - 9 as Ethan is not only THE indisputed knife guru but an accomplished outdoorsman as well. That said, I hope he will glean no disrespect by my voicing my passion for the 5 and the 15.


Triumvirate; of the 11, the 16 and the 9, which would be Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus?
 
Hey Salty......

I worry when you worry about disrespecting me!!!!!!.... I absolutely love the Five and think that someone in every group should have a Fifteen somewhere........ The Eleven, Nine and Sixteen are the blades I use most frequently but, as you know, I have a few blades not of my own design and enjoy using them as well........ Never worry counselor about being a bit Crassus around me...... Please give my best to the Scout...... A fine son you have, Sir.......

Ethan
 
I use the 4 and the 16 most often. I just got a 5 and haven't used it much yet. 15 gets tons of use in the kitchen and as a general utility slicing knife. The 2 is a brute and my go-to for batoning.
 
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