Roll stamped or laser etched

L

Lethal289

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Apr 10, 2013
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Is one more desirable then the other? Is one more collectible? I understand that roll stamp degraded the structural integrity of the knife, and it also came with an inferior coating. However, since they are no longer in production, are they more collectible? Are they more desirable?

Being relatively new to beckers, (I got my first, a bk2 only a couple months ago) my only experience is with laser etched. Since, I've picked up two more bk2's, a bk3, a bk9 (because you can't not have a 9), and an 11. All in the last month. All laser etched. All great knives in their own right. All brand new.

The other day I got another knife. A new in box bk 14 purchased off the shelf at a local gun dealer. He has plenty of kabars, but only had this one becker. I opened the box saw what it was and we took it up to the register. I didn't take a closer look, i just new I couldn't pass it up at the $30 price tag (I've got a bunch from Tomars so I'm familiar with the prices).

Today when i got home from work, I grabbed the box an wanted to check out my knife. At first handling I was taken back by how smooth it was. It took a couple of seconds to realize it was a different coating. The older coating. Then I took a closer look at the stamping. Certainly it's roll stamped.

I have to admit, I kinda felt like I hit the lottery. Now, I'm not a collector, I'm a user. I plan on using the knives. Except I'm saving one bk2 for my son.

It's funny really, I feel like I shouldn't use this 14, I feel like I should put it away and save it. It just feels special. Is this weird? Could it be collectible some day? Could it be (maybe it is to me) more desirable?
 
Lethal289 said:
Is one more desirable then the other? Is one more collectible? I understand that roll stamp degraded the structural integrity of the knife, and it also came with an inferior coating. However, since they are no longer in production, are they more collectible? Are they more desirable?

Being relatively new to beckers, (I got my first, a bk2 only a couple months ago) my only experience is with laser etched. Since, I've picked up two more bk2's, a bk3, a bk9 (because you can't not have a 9), and an 11. All in the last month. All laser etched. All great knives in their own right. All brand new.

The other day I got another knife. A new in box bk 14 purchased off the shelf at a local gun dealer. He has plenty of kabars, but only had this one becker. I opened the box saw what it was and we took it up to the register. I didn't take a closer look, i just new I couldn't pass it up at the $30 price tag (I've got a bunch from Tomars so I'm familiar with the prices).

Today when i got home from work, I grabbed the box an wanted to check out my knife. At first handling I was taken back by how smooth it was. It took a couple of seconds to realize it was a different coating. The older coating. Then I took a closer look at the stamping. Certainly it's roll stamped.

I have to admit, I kinda felt like I hit the lottery. Now, I'm not a collector, I'm a user. I plan on using the knives. Except I'm saving one bk2 for my son.

It's funny really, I feel like I shouldn't use this 14, I feel like I should put it away and save it. It just feels special. Is this weird? Could it be collectible some day? Could it be (maybe it is to me) more desirable?
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I have the same question in a thread I started, and I won't troll post or attempt to derail the thread with a "it works, with or without logos, so who cares..." or whatever non such. IMHO, the roll stamped Beckers, or any roll stamped knife for that matter, lends itself well to those who plan on customizing a knife, especially one with a latex paint coating that they wish to remove, and highly polish, all while preserving the manufacturer's logos. I have an older roll marked 14 that I stripped, and sent off for a polish job, and like the idea that the logos will still be there. Some don't care about the logos, so that's fine. In the case of the laser etched knives, chances are you'll lose the logos, unless you acid etch them, but then again I've seen mixed results with that method of preserving laser markings.

Anyway, I'd keep the knife as a collector item, and see what happens in the future. So long as it's not your only knife, and a knife you must use now, for $30.00, I would just make it a safe queen for now.
 
The stamping adds stress in the metal which can potentially weaken the blades. The laser etching does not so it's slightly more desirable. FWIW not many break due to the stamps, but I've seen pics of a camillus BK9 that broke right along the B of the BK9 stamp.
 
Not collectible. Use it, enjoy it. FWIW, I doubt you could put enough strength on a 14 under normal use that would cause a break along the roll. That is just my opinion.
 
bigghoss said:
The stamping adds stress in the metal which can potentially weaken the blades. The laser etching does not so it's slightly more desirable. FWIW not many break due to the stamps, but I've seen pics of a camillus BK9 that broke right along the B of the BK9 stamp.
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I was under the impression that the stamping was done while the steel was untreated and any stresses in the metal was addressed during the tempering/normalizing process.
 
Charlie_K said:
I was under the impression that the stamping was done while the steel was untreated and any stresses in the metal was addressed during the tempering/normalizing process.
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What I gathered was that it was done towards the end but that the stresses were minimal and they weren't concerned with it at the time but switched to the laser etch because it doesn't do anything to the metal and it doesn't require the flat section of a sabre grind for the stamp.
 
in the many decades long history of "the knives", very few are reported as breaking even considering abuse. it's not really an issue with the warranty (unless you obviously abused it).

so keep it, don't keep it. up to you :)

just remember though, you opened the box and touched it, so... there's that.
 
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