New Becker incoming, tips, advice?

I

IIBCx93II

Joined
Mar 26, 2013
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So after a month or so stalking the forums I decided I wanted a Becker, so I put in an order with Tomars yesterday and my BK9 should be here Saturday or Monday. That being said, what do you guys use to sharpen your Beckers, clean them, etc, what are some initial "out of the box" tests you guys use...give me the run down on everything I need to maintain, upkeep and test out my Becker.
 
find things, chop them up, repeat. :)

Grats on the new 9, it is an awesome knife. Also post some pics when you get it..
 
I use a wood backed leather strop with sandpaper on top to sharpen up through about 2000 or so and then strop with 2 sets of polishing compound.

For cleaning at home I just use soap and water. If it's being stored I'll throw some mineral oil on them otherwise I don't worry about oil. In the field I like to use natural things to clean them. Where I live that's horse tail and usnea although I haven't tried horse tail yet. I know it can be used but I can always seem to find usnea so I haven't gotten to it yet. it's usually swampy where horse tail grows and I'm a wus. ;)

Usnea: http://firstways.com/2011/03/13/old-mans-beard-rise-of-the-lichens/
 
I have a worksharp that is great but it's not quite as foolproof as they make it out to be. For a strop I just use a cheap leather belt with rubbing compound from the automotive section.
 
Whenever I catch my BK9 out the corner of my eye I have an instant impulse to go chop wood. It's a champion chopper. If I were you I'd go fell a tree right quick... ;)
 
Make sure you open the box from left to right or it won't cut right...
Oh it likes Oreo cookies too so you can score sharpness points by having a plate of Oreo's waiting...
Make sure you tell it it is the best knife in the world...you don't want it growing up with a complex...
 
I use a sharpmaker for sharpening, then strop using green compound.
For cleaning, just use soap and water if you leave the coating on, and if you strip it a little bit of Ronsonol on a paper towel or clean rag works wonders for removing gunk. (Note- I do not know how Ronsonol reacts with the coating, as I have stripped the only Becker I use it on (the Seven, pre laser etch) so take caution) Keep it dry and oil any exposed steel, like you would with any good carbon steel knife. Out of the box I recommend cutting up a phonebook then chopping down a redwood (lodgepole pine might work too) :D
 
I stripped my BK9 from day one and it has done fine. I just dry it off and sometimes hit it with a little Boos mystery oil that I use on my cutting board. For sharpening I do free hand with a pair of King water stones. I've been a little lazy because I keep thinking about doing a nice reprofile using my Edge Pro with a 40 degree micro-bevel. Someday I guess when the edge gets too buggered from general abuse.
 
General maintenance is just some WD-40 and superfine steel wool if I get sap or some other crap on my blade then oil the blade with either fluid film, 3 in 1 or petroleum jelly. After awhile when the blade starts to look kinda dirty I would just wash it with regular dish soap.
 
Welcome,
Don't test it just go out and enjoy it in the outdoors.
I use a lansky to sharpen mine.
 
What do you guys use to strip it? I'm thinking of doing that this weekend, it's coming tomorrow!!! Paint stripper and a wire brush?
 
I alter the edge bevels into a "short convex". I don't do the full convex some folks do. The shorter version works for me, and I feel it's a bit stronger geometry. Then I refine it on a medium, then hard arkansas stone, then onto my old Surgical Black, steel it and strop it until it pops hair with no effort.

I was able to get my newest, a BK-14, scary sharp.
 
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