Quick question for you becker fans

1066vik said:
because the raw material cost is the least of the costs associated with making a becker knife.
it takes nearly as much machine time to cut out and grind the 15 as it does the 5.
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This is very true and probably overlooked quite a bit. It's not always about the size or amount of material.
 
The 15 has been called the world's best steak knife. It's a great pattern for food prep and hunting chores (as long as you don't baton it through bone) but I wouldn't baton wood with it, nor would I do any super heavy duty chores with it.
I'd say get a BK14 if you want a good, short carbon hunter that can handle the tough stuff as well, or the 16/17 for a four incher.
 
ok so let me pose a third question: bk5 or bk15? knife for dressing down a kill (deer and pig), camp chores, and possibly fillet a fish or two?
 
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What it comes down to is you. What knife do YOU like? Any Becker is great and you can't go wrong either way :thumbup:
 
BadKarma46 said:
ok so let me pose a third question: bk5 or bk15? knife for dressing down a kill (deer and pig), camp chores, and possibly fillet a fish or two?
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+1 on Hunter Sharp's advice. I'd say BK15 for deer and pigs, BK5 for elk, moose, larger bear, and really big fish (sturgeon, halibut, etc). The BK15 would actually be fine for elk, moose, and big bear if all you need to do is field dress them, but often you have to do some processing of the carcass to get it out of the field, and there the extra length might help. I honestly think both are a little too stiff for 'normal' fish filleting, they'd be fine for the occasional catch, but I wouldn't want either of them if I were working in a fish market.

Erik
 
I have a few larger blades, but they never get used. I've tried before but you just lose the ability to do detailed work with big blades and the little 4" blade will do anything that needs done. If you are simply looking for something to process wood, the by all means go ahead and get the larger blade.
 
By the sound of it, the 15 suits my needs better. I personally don't like processing too much wood with a knife, that's what a hatchet is for; unless its carving kind,ing or the like
 
BadKarma46 said:
By the sound of it, the 15 suits my needs better. I personally don't like processing too much wood with a knife, that's what a hatchet is for; unless its carving kind,ing or the like
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It sounds like you are new to hunting, if you're an old hand, you know all of what follows, in that case, my apologies in advance.

Before you even start to field dress, make sure you are prepared for the job. In modern times, you need to be aware of blood born pathogens, you need to wear protective gloves, if there's even a chance you may have an open cut or wound on your hands (and in the field, isn't that always a possibility?) you should double glove. I prefer surgical gloves, I carry nitrile ones these days (though I miss the old latex ones), I've always got them in my kit anyway. Also carry some string or stout but thin rubber bands, you'll want these to tie off the rectal and genital area. Be very conscious of ticks, they have an annoying habit of acting like heat seeking missiles, as the carcass cools, they'll be looking for their next host and you are the most likely next free meal.

The main points behind field dressing are to prevent meat contamination and spoilage, being careful is a lot more important than being quick.

Don't go after splitting the pelvic bone by hacking at it with your knife. Splitting the pelvic bone on all but the oldest or largest mammals is largely a function of technique, not force, you don't need to chop through it. Usually if you get your knees above the animal's rear hocks and apply outward pressure on them, while applying pressure with your blade (or hatchet blade) not in the exact center of the pelvic bone, but just a little off center, the pelvic bone will separate.

You asked about the choice between a 5 and a 15, I'd say you've made a fine choice in picking the 15, just get it sharp, and if you think there's a chance you'll use it for something that could dull it before you need it for field dressing, carry a way to restore its edge with you.

FWIW, zpstl321 is right, you don't need a large knife for field dressing, too large a blade gets in the way. The blade I usually use is about half as long as the BK15, and once on a dare, I dressed out a Whitetail doe with an exacto knife, it was plenty of blade for the job. I've since met several who use scalpels for the job.

Enjoy your hunt, and enjoy your new knife!

Erik
 
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