pictures request: BK10, BK17, Kabar short and Mark1/USN

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pietje

Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
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Hi everyone! I’m looking for some pictures to compare of a few knifes I have my eye on. Overhere it’s hard to feel a knife before ordering so a few good pics go a long way. I’m looking for lined-out blades by handle or ricasso. Handle thickness is also important for me.

This are the candidates: BK10, BK17, Kabar short and Kabar Mark1/USN. Throw in a Mora or Condor Kaphart/Bushlore for better comparing.

Thanks!
 
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a445b71ff29bc1d7507cf9e513955b1b_zps52242044.jpg~original
 
I got a couple of pics that might help.





I probably should have lined them up better. I hope this helps.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you planning on using the knife for?
 
rkmoore, It helps a lot! At 125% of its original size the picture below becomes, on my monitor, almost life-size (eye-balling the Bk10 next to my BK7).

Offcoure i don’t mind the question. I’m looking for a small-ish all-round camping/backpacking blade with cool-looks that doesn’t raise alarms when it’s carried and used outdoors...but still strong so it can be used in a “survival-setting” :) Yes i know that is knifenut talk about a holly grail. Basically when Mora is to small and BK7 to extreme.

My main criteria are:
.Good comfortable handle,
.Decent tang that allows occasional wood splitting with baton.
.9-10 inch overall length
.Decent wood carving and kitchen use.
.Proper heat-treated Carbon steel
.Price with kydex sheat

Personal preference so far (pros and cons:
BK10: + lots of experience with BK7, it’s a hardcore Becker.
- Big for a small knife, needs a kydex sheath, needs lots of modifying to fit my likings (coating remove, handle more grip, de-ramp, remove extended pommel and spear point)…maybe I cut my BK7 2inch down

BK17: + it’s a Becker, full tang, great benchmark in class.
- Don’t really like the looks of it (but never seen one in person), real expansive in Holland, needs a kydex sheath and probably liners too.

Kabar short: + love the design, I have great experience using my full size USMC, good price for kydex package.
- Lots of criticize about tiny handle, saber grind and maybe the weapon-looks

Kabar Mark1/USN: kind of a everything and noting blade imo
 
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I'll make another recommendation.... the 12. Almost as long as the 7, not as thick as the 2 bit still an all around woods knife. Sorry I don't have a comparison pic, but here it is with the small (15"?) Sven Saw:

14627078989_6c37d89b97_b.jpg


Good luck picking just one!
 
haha I saw that one coming! I’m looking for a smaller blade. Picking up a 12, that isn’t much smaller than the 7, is just silly ;)
 
You might be better off looking at a 16 instead of a 17. Personally I like my 10, I can put it in a sheath and drop it in the pocket of my dockers if I need to. All around for what you're looking for, I'd say the 10 is the best bet, then 16, then 17, then Short Ka-Bar, the Mk 1.
 
The MK-1 is a lovely blade, but the handle is surprisingly small.
I love the BK-10. It's a fantastic all-arounder. I don't think it 'needs' kydex by any stretch. And it fits a spec-ops sheath if de-reamped, IIRC. The 16 and 17 don't need kydex either. they come with great sheaths for the money.
 
When reading your pros/cons and descriptions I immediately thought of the bk16. Is there a reason it isn't on your list? It sounds like it is the right size and it doesn't have an overly weaponish look. Maybe someone can verify this, but I thought I read that Ethan Becker has called the 16 his ideal knife.
 
daizee said:
The MK-1 is a lovely blade, but the handle is surprisingly small.
I love the BK-10. It's a fantastic all-arounder. I don't think it 'needs' kydex by any stretch. And it fits a spec-ops sheath if de-reamped, IIRC.
Click to expand...

I love my BK10. Murph gave me a Spec ops sheath he had floating around (Thanks, Murph!). While playing around at the gathering, we removed the plastic sleeve, heated it up, and then slid the BK10 in to form it to the thumb ramp. It fits like a glove now. :thumbup:
 
Thanks guys for your input! You all made a lot of sense in my book ;)
I decided to start from what I have and chop down my Kabar BK7 about two inch. Its already a the knife I want but… to long. The blade the same size as the handle and a nice flowing spear point. The Camillus Crewman (higher saber grind then Kabar BK10) will be my inspiration next to the beauty on the below picture. Got the picture from BF, don’t know the owner, so credits for him/her. It’s on the interweb, realm of copyleft with all rights reversed ;)

As for my initial question about a smaller blade like BK17, Short Kabar and Mark1. If the BK10 isn't ''small'' enough I will bite that bullet later. The BK17 runs the competition.

I will end up with a cool Kabar BK10 variant next to my Camillus BK7. Will be a cool project on a already modified knife. Well documented of course.



Chameleonbear said:
You might be better off looking at a 16 instead of a 17. Personally I like my 10, I can put it in a sheath and drop it in the pocket of my dockers if I need to. All around for what you're looking for, I'd say the 10 is the best bet, then 16, then 17, then Short Ka-Bar, the Mk 1.
Click to expand...

Silver Needle said:
When reading your pros/cons and descriptions I immediately thought of the bk16. Is there a reason it isn't on your list? It sounds like it is the right size and it doesn't have an overly weaponish look. Maybe someone can verify this, but I thought I read that Ethan Becker has called the 16 his ideal knife.
Click to expand...

The 16 over the 17; I like a lil more steel behind the edge like the 17 provides. Saying that reminds me of a BK16 that was pounded on till a point the handle bent without a blade ‘malfunctioned’.





upload photo
 
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Man that is perfect, that is exactly what I'm looking for. Is that he cut down bk7? I want a BK 7 at exactly five and a half inches. Basically something halfway between my BK 16 and bk7 hopefully with slightly smaller scales. I have small hands. In fact again something halfway in between bk7 and BK 16 scales would be perfect, although if I had to pick I would pick my BK 16 scales over my bk7.
 
1776-SOLUTIONS said:
Man that is perfect, that is exactly what I'm looking for. Is that he cut down bk7? I want a BK 7 at exactly five and a half inches. Basically something halfway between my BK 16 and bk7 hopefully with slightly smaller scales. I have small hands. In fact again something halfway in between bk7 and BK 16 scales would be perfect, although if I had to pick I would pick my BK 16 scales over my bk7.
Click to expand...

You might be looking for a BK10 as well:)

A full size Becker with Tweener (BK15-17) scales...thats radical!!! Dont know it its ever done before or even possible. Well if you decide to realize this I advise to start with a BK2 whit a solid handle (non-skeletonised) and micarta- or homemade scales.

The picture of the customised Becker posted at #13 isn't mine, nor done by me. Found the picture on Bladeforums for inspiration.
 
Thanks pietje.
Im really looking for the blade shape of a BK 12 Doug Ritter RSK at 5 1/2 inches with slightly smaller scales. The bk2 is actually my least favorite of the Becker line way to thick for me.
Tops has th the Mil-spie 5 that comes close but I hate serrations. Maybe the bk 10 is the ticket, I'll just have to carve on the tip a bit.
Thank you for the suggestions though.
I'm just picky I guess.
DSC01669-1.jpg
 
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1776-SOLUTIONS said:
Man that is perfect, that is exactly what I'm looking for. Is that he cut down bk7? I want a BK 7 at exactly five and a half inches. Basically something halfway between my BK 16 and bk7 hopefully with slightly smaller scales. I have small hands. In fact again something halfway in between bk7 and BK 16 scales would be perfect, although if I had to pick I would pick my BK 16 scales over my bk7.
Click to expand...

That picture was my bk10 which i modified as you can see. I like the bk2 quite a bit, but I prefer the 3/16" of the crewman. I ground down the modified clip point more similar to a drop point, and removed extended pommel and the thumb ramp. This was my one knife option when i chose to leave the BK16 and BK9 at home. I have since moved on to a GSO 6.
 
I was looking for the same thing as you. So I modified my BK10. I made smaller handle scales out of maple, trimmed the pommel almost all the way off but left just a bit so I could still pound on it if I wanted. The swedge was brought down and then I just sharpened the hell out of it. Its a great knife.





1776-SOLUTIONS said:
Thanks pietje.
Im really looking for the blade shape of a BK 12 Doug Ritter RSK at 5 1/2 inches with slightly smaller scales. The bk2 is actually my least favorite of the Becker line way to thick for me.
Tops has th the Mil-spie 5 that comes close but I hate serrations. Maybe the bk 10 is the ticket, I'll just have to carve on the tip a bit.
Thank you for the suggestions though.
I'm just picky I guess.
DSC01669-1.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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