- Joined
- Jan 20, 2012
- Messages
- 2,278
If you want something close to a BK16 in CPM-3V, look at the Survive! GSO 4.1. Excellent knife.
wow,I never realized just how similar the 4.1 is to the 16....
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Mr. Ethan Becker
- Thread starter wannabuckbiotch
- Start date
wow,I never realized just how similar the 4.1 is to the 16....
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2010
- Messages
- 15,417
I like exotic steel, but I've handled plenty of shitty designs made from great material.
For me, the allure of solid carbon steel performers in awesome design packages are the core of BKT.
I've got some knives made from S35V, with TiNi coatings, that cost several hundreds of dollars. I can't bring myself to beat the hell outta them, but a $65 BKT I'll hammer down on everytime.
Inexpensive, mundane steel, made like a tank. In the US of A no less.
I likes me some mundane skill, and yeah, Ethan can't grind worth a damn..........
Moose
For me, the allure of solid carbon steel performers in awesome design packages are the core of BKT.
I've got some knives made from S35V, with TiNi coatings, that cost several hundreds of dollars. I can't bring myself to beat the hell outta them, but a $65 BKT I'll hammer down on everytime.
Inexpensive, mundane steel, made like a tank. In the US of A no less.
I likes me some mundane skill, and yeah, Ethan can't grind worth a damn..........
Moose
I couldn't agree more, the so called super steels won't do anything more or less that the current steels will do.
I doubt anyone is thinking about discontinuing 1095 as the standard issue metal at KaBar. In my opinion it would be something like the BK11 (PLEASE) in some kind of "super metal". Be it S30/35VN, 3v, cpm 154, Elemax etc. This would simply be an additional offering in the line up.
I agree that part of the allure of BKT is that they are reasonably priced and tough tools as is. But that said, some variety in materials in the line would certainly spice things up!
Ethan totally nailed it with the BK11 (and others). This is a perfect knife for EDC, would LOVE to see it in some new steels is all.
Drew
I agree that part of the allure of BKT is that they are reasonably priced and tough tools as is. But that said, some variety in materials in the line would certainly spice things up!
Ethan totally nailed it with the BK11 (and others). This is a perfect knife for EDC, would LOVE to see it in some new steels is all.
Drew
- Joined
- May 23, 2012
- Messages
- 199
I have a fiddleback kephart and I feel really checked about treating it ruff.with All these fancy knives out there I'm perfectly happy with my BK16 and BK9 and I treat them like redheaded step children with no hesitation.
Ethan Becker
Moderator
- Joined
- Sep 1, 1999
- Messages
- 3,564
Hey Drew.....
Very few people have ever accused me of being frugal but, spendthrift that I can be, it is very hard to justify doubling or tripling the price of a blade for a tiny increment of increased utility...... Yeah, I got plenty of blades in exotics(the spendthrift side of me) but I rarely use them........ Most of them are safe queens(see Moose above) .........I have a couple I use regularly but, not many..... I have a bunch of kitchen knives in every imaginable steel and use and abuse them every day and I seem to sharpen them about the same amount and the ones that demonstrably cut more efficiently are my Murray Carter customs and I suspect that is more about edge geometry than anything else........I find it easier to overspend on steels myself than ask you guys to overspend (ok, I do occasionally do that but, my heart is rarely in it) ...... D2 and A2 are exceptions to this rule as they also offer a very good bang for the buck.....I like S30V and find it good but, I do not love it with all my heart....I buy S30V blades usually for the blade not the steel........ I just went thru some price point calculations with Brother Stitt last week and S30V came up in relation to a new product and I just could not urge him to pull that trigger......D2 I could justify on your behalf..........We all want the latest, best, most exotic stuff....... I have that impulse too but old age is tempering that a bit and over the last thirty years I have been in way too any discussions fueled by alcohol and enthusiasm about the newest latest, most wonderful, magic, fantastic steels that I tend to find my eyes start to glaze over and I start to think about going to bed.......BTW, I freaking love Talonite for small blades but it's price per pound would have a BK11 at about four or five hundred dollars....Probably not worth it.........
All Best .......
Ethan
Very few people have ever accused me of being frugal but, spendthrift that I can be, it is very hard to justify doubling or tripling the price of a blade for a tiny increment of increased utility...... Yeah, I got plenty of blades in exotics(the spendthrift side of me) but I rarely use them........ Most of them are safe queens(see Moose above) .........I have a couple I use regularly but, not many..... I have a bunch of kitchen knives in every imaginable steel and use and abuse them every day and I seem to sharpen them about the same amount and the ones that demonstrably cut more efficiently are my Murray Carter customs and I suspect that is more about edge geometry than anything else........I find it easier to overspend on steels myself than ask you guys to overspend (ok, I do occasionally do that but, my heart is rarely in it) ...... D2 and A2 are exceptions to this rule as they also offer a very good bang for the buck.....I like S30V and find it good but, I do not love it with all my heart....I buy S30V blades usually for the blade not the steel........ I just went thru some price point calculations with Brother Stitt last week and S30V came up in relation to a new product and I just could not urge him to pull that trigger......D2 I could justify on your behalf..........We all want the latest, best, most exotic stuff....... I have that impulse too but old age is tempering that a bit and over the last thirty years I have been in way too any discussions fueled by alcohol and enthusiasm about the newest latest, most wonderful, magic, fantastic steels that I tend to find my eyes start to glaze over and I start to think about going to bed.......BTW, I freaking love Talonite for small blades but it's price per pound would have a BK11 at about four or five hundred dollars....Probably not worth it.........
All Best .......
Ethan
- Joined
- May 13, 2012
- Messages
- 692
I enjoy the higher end steels as well, but I have no problem with 1095. As I pointed out with the GSO 4.1 vs the BK16... they are similar in size and shape. One is 1095 and one is CPM-3V... the BK16 being about $95 (after adding micarta), the GSO 4.1 being about $240. Is the GSO 4.1 nearly 3x better than the BK16? Absolutely not.
I have a hard time choosing between the two as a favorite. Sure, the 3V hold an edge longer... but it also takes a bit longer to sharpen. The GSO is more corrosion resistant, but the BK16 looks really good with a natural patina on it. It all comes down to personal reference. I use them both equally hard and haven't had any issues with either knife.
Honestly, if I could make any change to the Becker lineup, it would be to have a factory option of an uncoated blade with factory micarta and stainless hardware. The BK16 as it comes from the factory was probably my least favorite BK knife... I actually put it up for sale but ended up not selling it, decided to give it a try with micarta once those became available. I stripped it at the same time. I can't explain it, but after stripping and adding micarta, it just became a completely different knife. It is now probably my favorite BK... especially riding in the leather pouch sheath from Condor. The knife really shines as a perfect little bushcraft blade in this configuration.
I have a hard time choosing between the two as a favorite. Sure, the 3V hold an edge longer... but it also takes a bit longer to sharpen. The GSO is more corrosion resistant, but the BK16 looks really good with a natural patina on it. It all comes down to personal reference. I use them both equally hard and haven't had any issues with either knife.
Honestly, if I could make any change to the Becker lineup, it would be to have a factory option of an uncoated blade with factory micarta and stainless hardware. The BK16 as it comes from the factory was probably my least favorite BK knife... I actually put it up for sale but ended up not selling it, decided to give it a try with micarta once those became available. I stripped it at the same time. I can't explain it, but after stripping and adding micarta, it just became a completely different knife. It is now probably my favorite BK... especially riding in the leather pouch sheath from Condor. The knife really shines as a perfect little bushcraft blade in this configuration.
- Joined
- Dec 21, 1999
- Messages
- 869
... especially riding in the leather pouch sheath from Condor.
That Condor sheath is a nice one. Not only does it fit the BK16 . . . it fits the other Tweeners as well. :thumbup: