Ritter/Becker thoughts

[Herger]

Thanks guys for all the insight here. I've seen some different perspectives and actually learned some new things, keep it up guys this is one of the things that I think makes the Becker community strong...

 

[Bladite]

I have no idea why Ka-Bar isn't making it, but I suspect it might have something to do with the time frame.
Doug has been trying to get this project off the ground since '02.
As Tooj has posted here more than once, Ethan would like to see more of his designs put onto the front burner of the production cycle, but Ka-Bar has lots of irons in the fire.
Probably, and this is me guessing, Doug wanted to see the knife come to fruition some time before 2020, and so another maker was chosen.
Again, all speculation, but I suspect there's some truth to it.

As for not seeing it as Becker, I've had some Becker knives that had no BK&T designation on them. Heck, no blade stamping whatsoever. Some of them were collaboration knives. That doesn't make them Beckers any less though. I also paid a premium for them because there just weren't that many to be found. Right now, the same is true of the Perseverance. If this project does only hit 100 and folks don't get theirs, I suspect there are going to be some disappointed people on down the road once they hear about what a great knife it is.

that has some ring of truth i think?

Ethan has a LOT of designs for any one guy, and KaBar has a STABLE of talented guys coming to them, and let's not forget they have talented guys with their own designs and new ideas WORKING THERE (hi TOooOJ), so time is limited.

if they had another factory here, they'd use it... they DO have Taiwan for experimental (BK13?) and other new stuff that doesn't necessarily HAVE to be American made (designed, yes, overseen by the slave master Toooj, yes, heat treat designed here? pretty much?)

then of course, Ethan has several new designs out last year, and several more this year. the lineup is nearly Camillus complete, and yet there are new items. woot! Machax and tweeners? oh yeah. maybe other things.

so it only makes sense that some things just have to wait... or find another outlet.

maybe KaBar should buy Rowen out, and use him for their exclusive projects heh heh...