My bk2 broke under the scales!! WTH!

J

JTmisterknifeguy

Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
477
Hey guys,
while I was taking my camping/survival knives out for some playtime (in the backyard, thank God, not depending on it for real!) and I decided that my bk2 was still way too pretty.

And while using the 2 to 3 inches near the point in a seasoned log to split it, as it could not fully span its width, I used a 2 1/2 inch diameter baton on the 2 inches of the spine near the hilt, being extremely careful NOT to hit the scales. Here are the gut twisting results.
Now, call me a newbie, dummy, ignorant, or whatever, but I don't think it should've broke there. I don't think it should have broken at all given its reputation.
I'm waiting for uncle Ethan to weigh in on it.

I've already sent an email to Ka-bar's customer service, I'm really hoping they don't tell me that I was "abusing" the blade, again going back to its "Buick skinning" reputation. No kidding, as I am batoning kindling with my Bk2, I'm thinking, "Even if my RTAK II or Bk9 bends or twists, I can always count on my Bk2 to function like the sharpened pry-bar that it is".
If the BK2 is not supposed to be used for woodworking, delimbing, and light batoning, then it's an extremely expensive and chunky salami slicer.

What do you guys think?
Will Ka-Bar/BK&T take care of this, or is this an expensive lesson for me? 😓
 
That's nasty. I think they see things case by case, so it's good you contacted them.

On the other end, this is on their website:
> My knife broke while I was throwing/batoning with it. Is this covered under warranty?
No. Our warranty specifically advises against throwing knives and batoning with them. These endeavors rarely end well!
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Edit: just saw your last pics. Well, I wouldn't baton any knife through a piece of wood where 3-4 branches come together and create one massive knot. Definitely not when it's seasoned. I applaud you for trying though, that's another reminder for me why not to do that in a similar situation :D
 
Well, I wouldn't have attempted anything that I thought was abuse (and as for batoning being abuse, i've seen Ethan Becker use his BK4 for kindling on YouTube).
In the years that I've had it, today was literally the second time I was using it for making kindling.
Also, it wasn't as if the blade snapped off inside the log with me holding the handle, it's simply cracked underneath the scales.
Nowhere near where any of the downward pressure was being applied. Like I said in my OP, if they refuse to help/consider making it right, then I'll know that the bk2 is little more than an overpriced, overbuilt, and overhyped whittling knife...
Something that I truly hope isn't true. 😟
 
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Galeocerdoshark said:
That's nasty. I think they see things case by case, so it's good you contacted them.

On the other end, this is on their website:


Edit: just saw your last pics. Well, I wouldn't baton any knife through a piece of wood where 3-4 branches come together and create one massive knot. Definitely not when it's seasoned. I applaud you for trying though, that's another reminder for me why not to do that in a similar situation :D
Click to expand...

Well crap, I'm getting that sick feeling in my stomach reading your post. Not quite sure what I would do with a broken knife that the manufacturer would refuse to take back/replace. Paid over $75 for that thing... I'm hoping the patron saints of CroVan look on me with pity. 😥
 
Ugh....sorry bro. I've always been told NEVER baton on the handle side period. Always on the tip side of the log...

Hope it works out for you...
 
NCSlice said:
Ugh....sorry bro. I've always been told NEVER baton on the handle side period. Always on the tip side of the log...

Hope it works out for you...
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Uuuuugh! No one EVER told me that!! I figured because I steered clear of, and never directly contacted the hilt/scale area that it would be fine, the wood would give, and my knife would look all the cooler for the scuffing.
😩 I'm seriously bummed, and hoping they're feeling generous!!
 
It's not the first time that's happened:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-unicorn-quot-of-BK2s?p=13956669#post13956669

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...OMG-I-broke-my-BK2-!!?p=13782927#post13782927

I really haven't researched this, but IIRC the BK2 tang was solid at one time and then in order to lighten the knife, Ka-Bar began milling it. The problem the OP encountered as well as the ones I referenced above didn't start happening until after Ka-Bar started milling the tang. I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence. But the first time a BK-2 fractured, I wondered whether milling the tang introduced a weak spot in it. I'm no expert, so that's mere speculation on my part. But one thing is certain. Those fractures aren't speculation. They happened. And they all happened at the same place.
 
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Monofletch said:
I bet they stand behind their bk2.
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I don't doubt that for a second. But I might suggest that you bring it to the attention of Ethan Becker. Whatever's going on, he needs to be aware of it.
 
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Yeah, this sucks for you. I've always batoned with my knives from the tip side, as was related by NC, so have not had any failures. Of course, I don't baton a whole lot anymore, considering I got an axe. But, you're right, regardless of warranty, the cutouts in the tang do need to be readdressed and fixed.

Lessons learned
 
JTmisterknifeguy said:
(and as for batoning being abuse, i've seen Ethan Becker use his BK4 for kindling on YouTube. 😟
Click to expand...

I missed this before so I'll add this...

I just watched one this morning long before seeing this post and I noticed he kept it to the outside perimeter of the log, never thru the middle, and even made a note of never going thru knots and he would use some other instrument if that was the case.

I'm really not trying to be against you and I hope they hook you up. It's just that I hope you understand if you don't get your way. Some of your comments lead towards a notion that if you get it replaced, its still an awesome Blade, if they don't then its a hunk of crap. It's the same piece of steel either way .

I'm not sure if it would have busted if it wasn't skeletonized and this could lend favorable to that argument. But, maybe it would...I believe that part is on the edge o the heat treat, though I'm no expert and could be wrong.

Whatever happens, I hope you stick around. That's some nice steel you have there. Thanks for keeping us posted, and good luck!
 
NCSlice said:
I missed this before so I'll add this...

I just watched one this morning long before seeing this post and I noticed he kept it to the outside perimeter of the log, never thru the middle, and even made a note of never going thru knots and he would use some other instrument if that was the case.

I'm really not trying to be against you and I hope they hook you up. It's just that I hope you understand if you don't get your way. Some of your comments lead towards a notion that if you get it replaced, its still an awesome Blade, if they don't then its a hunk of crap. It's the same piece of steel either way .

I'm not sure if it would have busted if it wasn't skeletonized and this could lend favorable to that argument. But, maybe it would...I believe that part is on the edge o the heat treat, though I'm no expert and could be wrong.

Whatever happens, I hope you stick around. That's some nice steel you have there. Thanks for keeping us posted, and good luck!
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No, I hear ya.
I believed that the BK2 was nigh indestructible. That's dumb on me for coming across as someone whining about potentially not getting his way. It's just hard for me not to grouse a little bit given the reputation of the BK2, the fact that it's (for me) not a cheap knife, and that it cracked inside the handle, and it was a log, not a concrete slab... But I digress.
I guess the whole reason/meaning behind my tone was that if Ka-bar says "that was stupid gross abuse of our knife and we refuse to replace it" then, in a way, it says to me "no, our knives must be babied and never ever used hard", if they replace it, then (in a way) they're saying "Wow! You got a lemon, and we need to look into our skeletonizing process".
I'm just worried that I will have to hang onto a broken $75 knife. If so, that sucks, but at the end of the day I have plenty of good steel.
 
Sorry about your loss brother. I hope they take care of you and I think they should. I understand not backing a bk16 that was used to pry a steel door but in my opinion a 1/4 thick piece of steel is designed for heavy use to include batoning through wood. I think picking apart someone's technique is splitting hairs.

That being said, I am not a huge fan of your thread. I personally would give ka-bar a chance of replacing it prior to posting pictures and making comments that almost seem to threaten the company with bad press. If given the chance, they may come back and say, yeah something went wrong with the heat treatment on that one and replace it. Then you wouldn't have to spread those pictures. If given the chance and you feel they wronged you, then hell, all bets are off.

For what it's worth my bk2 is a tank and has survived and excelled at much worse. If I was a gambling man I would think your steel had a week spot after the heat treat.

Nice blades. You certainly have your bases covered :).
 
tueller said:
Sorry about your loss brother. I hope they take care of you and I think they should. I understand not backing a bk16 that was used to pry a steel door but in my opinion a 1/4 thick piece of steel is designed for heavy use to include batoning through wood. I think picking apart someone's technique is splitting hairs.

That being said, I am not a huge fan of your thread. I personally would give ka-bar a chance of replacing it prior to posting pictures and making comments that almost seem to threaten the company with bad press. If given the chance, they may come back and say, yeah something went wrong with the heat treatment on that one and replace it. Then you wouldn't have to spread those pictures. If given the chance and you feel they wronged you, then hell, all bets are off.

For what it's worth my bk2 is a tank and has survived and excelled at much worse. If I was a gambling man I would think your steel had a week spot after the heat treat.

Nice blades. You certainly have your bases covered :).
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Heck no!
I know they are an excellent company and have a long tradition of great customer service. My whole reason for my tone, as I was explaining earlier a little bit, is due to the possibility of them not covering a BK2 for simple wood batoning. Again, if they say that I was an idiot and it has nothing to do with their craftsmanship, I will be content, though disappointed, with their decision. I hope they decide otherwise though, given the fact that on blade forums alone there are a good number of photos of bk2s broken in almost exactly the same spot mine is.
Oh, never fear. I think very highly of Ka-Bar. And the general consensus that I'm getting, is that they will take care of me on this issue.
Oh and thanks, I enjoy and take pride in my wee little collection. 😏
 
tueller said:
That being said, I am not a huge fan of your thread. I personally would give ka-bar a chance of replacing it prior to posting pictures and making comments that almost seem to threaten the company with bad press. If given the chance, they may come back and say, yeah something went wrong with the heat treatment on that one and replace it. Then you wouldn't have to spread those pictures. If given the chance and you feel they wronged you, then hell, all bets are off.
Click to expand...
Normally I'd agree. But when a pattern of failures develop, I think it's important to let folks know that they're continuing to occur. This is the third time this has happened in precisely the same spot in a little more than a year. Someone needs to let Ethan know what's going on.
 
I agree. Or at least start a thread there and reference this one. And better it should come from a Beckerhead than from me. That way there can be no question that were not trying to start trouble, we're trying to fix it.
 
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