Last week, I added a classic USMC KA-BAR to my collection, as I had no fixed bades, it was all folders, mostly Spydies and Vic SAKs
I liked the KA-BAR enough to try one of the 3/4 scale short models, let's just say, I was not impressed with the ergos of that blade, the handle was too small for my hands (I wear a size XL ski glove) and it was generally not comfortable, pity, as I like the basic design
While I was looking at the shorty, I also looked at the BK2, my first impressions, too thick, too heavy, and with that wide spine, it must be crap for finesse cutting, I mean, how often am I going to need a sharpened pry bar anyway?
So I passed on it, but something about it called to me, I love overbuilt, rugged tools, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of a truly bomb-proof, nearly indestructible fixed blade, so tonight, I went back to the store, returned the KB Shorty, and looked at the BK2 again, as I held it, I began to appreciate the weight, the balance, the sheer massive indestructiblity of the thing, it began to make more sense, so I decided to take a chance and bring it home.
Now, the more I examine it, hold it, and, okay, yes, "knifesturbate", the more I like this massive slab of steel, the first thing I did to it once I could spend some quality time examining it, was to loosen the bolts holding the scales on, put a drop of blue loctite in the hole, let it seep in, then retighten the bolts, as an added bit of trivia, it turns out that the Victorinox Cybertool 34's T-8 Torx bit's flipside, a full size hex bit, is the absolute PERFECT size for the hex bolt heads on the BK2, so if you're lucky enough to own a Vic. Cybertool (with all the bits), you have the correct size scale bolt driver already
I haven't even cut anything with it yet, and I'm already planning upgrades, new scales, I'm torn between buying a set of the KB micartas, or making my own out of a couple pieces of interesting wood, I have a big chunk of juniper wood, some yew wood, and plenty of rock maple, I've never made scales before, and have limited woodworking skills, but, to quote the lads from BBC's Top Gear series.....
"i mean, how hard could it be?"*
Oh, and that mediocre plastic sheath has to go, I'm torn between three options;
1; seeing if one of the guys at KTP can make me a custom kydex sheath
2; ordering a kydex sheath from grizzly outdoors
3; ordering a nice leather sheath From B.G. Leatherworks
4; trying to hack together something on my own....... I mean, how hard could it be?
* for those unfamiliar with the show, the phrase "IMHHCIB" is usually immediately followed by an exasperated "don't SAY that!" and is typically the harbinger of some horrible, yet incredibly funny misfortune befalling the lads in the next segment.
I liked the KA-BAR enough to try one of the 3/4 scale short models, let's just say, I was not impressed with the ergos of that blade, the handle was too small for my hands (I wear a size XL ski glove) and it was generally not comfortable, pity, as I like the basic design
While I was looking at the shorty, I also looked at the BK2, my first impressions, too thick, too heavy, and with that wide spine, it must be crap for finesse cutting, I mean, how often am I going to need a sharpened pry bar anyway?
So I passed on it, but something about it called to me, I love overbuilt, rugged tools, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of a truly bomb-proof, nearly indestructible fixed blade, so tonight, I went back to the store, returned the KB Shorty, and looked at the BK2 again, as I held it, I began to appreciate the weight, the balance, the sheer massive indestructiblity of the thing, it began to make more sense, so I decided to take a chance and bring it home.
Now, the more I examine it, hold it, and, okay, yes, "knifesturbate", the more I like this massive slab of steel, the first thing I did to it once I could spend some quality time examining it, was to loosen the bolts holding the scales on, put a drop of blue loctite in the hole, let it seep in, then retighten the bolts, as an added bit of trivia, it turns out that the Victorinox Cybertool 34's T-8 Torx bit's flipside, a full size hex bit, is the absolute PERFECT size for the hex bolt heads on the BK2, so if you're lucky enough to own a Vic. Cybertool (with all the bits), you have the correct size scale bolt driver already
I haven't even cut anything with it yet, and I'm already planning upgrades, new scales, I'm torn between buying a set of the KB micartas, or making my own out of a couple pieces of interesting wood, I have a big chunk of juniper wood, some yew wood, and plenty of rock maple, I've never made scales before, and have limited woodworking skills, but, to quote the lads from BBC's Top Gear series.....
"i mean, how hard could it be?"*
Oh, and that mediocre plastic sheath has to go, I'm torn between three options;
1; seeing if one of the guys at KTP can make me a custom kydex sheath
2; ordering a kydex sheath from grizzly outdoors
3; ordering a nice leather sheath From B.G. Leatherworks
4; trying to hack together something on my own....... I mean, how hard could it be?
* for those unfamiliar with the show, the phrase "IMHHCIB" is usually immediately followed by an exasperated "don't SAY that!" and is typically the harbinger of some horrible, yet incredibly funny misfortune befalling the lads in the next segment.
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