So what happened to the 1085 bk1 & bk6?

knifejunkie1928

knifejunkie1928

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OK so I was going through some old old old BK&T threads today.

I saw lots and lots of talk about the bk1 and bk6 being made by kabar in china out of 1085. I in fact found a thread where moose confirmed that it was going to happen.

Anyway it has been quite a few blue moons since that thread and no china bk1 and bk6.

I always thought it was because Ethan put his foot down and said his blades will not be made in china. and that was that.

(or maybe it was just because he thinks those particular designs don't perform as well as others)

and of course there is the old made in china bk13. I thought Ethan had that moved to USA production because he didn't want chinese made bk's

I'm only bringing this up now because as we all noted the new bk23 is made in china.

I haven't found a thread where anyone officially said that the 1085 Chinese bk1 & bk6 are never going to happen. (so link it if it's out there)

So my question is: is that still on the table of possibilities?

and my sub question is: is the bk23 the start of "made in china" beckers?

Has Ethan given the green light for "made in china" beckers? (I mean other than the bk23)

Has anyone talked to him recently about this subject?
 
Ethan has stated several times that there's no reason to bring back the BK1. It's inferior to other blades he designs, hence, no reason to make it.

I believe there was a thread, or at least a post somewhere that said they would not be made in China. I can't remember the reason though. The BK6, that is.
 
I thought the reason for not making the 6 again was because of its length? If that's the case the 21 is pretty damn close in length so...
 
The Warrior said:
Ethan has stated several times that there's no reason to bring back the BK1. It's inferior to other blades he designs, hence, no reason to make it.

I believe there was a thread, or at least a post somewhere that said they would not be made in China. I can't remember the reason though. The BK6, that is.
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That's my only guess as to why it never happened. Ethan has said a lot that the brute and patrol machete don't perform well.

And personally I'm hoping it never happens, but I would understand if it does.

Kabar is not in the business of pleasing Beckerheads. They are in the business of making money.

They would probably sell well at a cheaper price. Truth be told I would probably buy one of each.


NixKustoms said:
I thought the reason for not making the 6 again was because of its length? If that's the case the 21 is pretty damn close in length so...
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That was the original problem when Kabar started making beckers. The bk21 is the same length as the bk6. Now the only reason the patrol machete isn't out is because Kabar doesn't think a USA bk6 will sell. And I have to agree with them.

I love my bk6 but it's too heavy to be a good brush cutting machete. With the extra weight you'd think it would be great at chopping but it lacks in performance there as well. I believe Ethan has shared a similar opinion about this as well.
 
1095CV?

Awhile back the excuse was that it was too long for Ka-bar's equipment. Their longest blades at the time (Zombie line) were being made in Taiwan. I think they up-sized the Olean, NY gear and moved those models to the USA, and that also opened the door for the BK21 (and 20). It seems plausible that the BK-6 could be made now.

The BK-6 is cute, but too short and heavy for my taste. Not that you asked about my taste. Pictures tend to make it look longer than it is, and given Kabar's slightly-too-thick recurves, I suspect it wouldn't be a high performer. If it were my call, and there was a market for it, I'd want the BK-6.2 to be another 4" longer made out of 1/8" stock. That would make it closer to a burly machete. As-is, the BK-6 doesn't out-chop the 9 or the 21 in wood, is too heavy for brush, and doesn't have any other significant advantages that I can discern. It's a nice collectible user (I've handled Dresnor's), but without some updates I don't think it would be a real winner in the current line-up. Also, Kabar is really good at doing long flat grinds. Their equipment is optimized for it. I'm less impressed with their recurve grinds, which I think need a bit of tuning to really perform.


Oooh... How about a BK-20, 3" longer, in 3/16" or 5/32", with a solid handle (for balance)? That FFG would sing....
 
I'd be interested in a Becker light machete for brush and grass. I have a Ka-Bar Kukri and cutlass but something lighter is what I need. Prob gonna grab an Ontario.
 
NCSlice said:
I'd be interested in a Becker light machete for brush and grass. I have a Ka-Bar Kukri and cutlass but something lighter is what I need. Prob gonna grab an Ontario.
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One mod I've had on the brain forever is a becker handled Ontario. I just need to weld a little material to the tang to make it work. But it would be awesome.
 
I think a bk6 in the thickness of the original blackjack Becker Reinhardt Kukri would be awesome.

That would be the one hell of a brush cutting machete.
 
Having used a Patrol Machete and owning a (Camillus) Brute, I'll agree with the Boss's assessment: neither one is worth bringing back. Ethan has a LOT of great designs (and collabs), those two aren't included. Why can't the 'Heads trust that he knows what he's doing? The RBK is back in production and is an absolute beast, the LE Bundock is another great NEW design....why must you guys keep lamenting those two even though their designer doesn't? There are plenty of machete options that are better than the 6, the Brute could be replaced with....OK there is no replacement, but that's a good thing, IMO. The 9, RBK, 4 & Bundock are all far superior. Let it go. They aren't coming back.

;) ;). not trying to be a jerk here...I'd love a PM if it fell outta the sky. Just....not gonna go lookin' for one for the $$ they command.
 
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I got one of each - both NIB - and they are awesome pieces of steel. But, I tend to agree with others on their "functionality" in comparison to newer models; just from handling.

That said, they will never be for sale (God willing) while I still breath.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Having used a Patrol Machete and owning a (Camillus) Brute, I'll agree with the Boss's assessment: neither one is worth bringing back. Ethan has a LOT of great designs (and collabs), those two aren't included. Why can't the 'Heads trust that he knows what he's doing? The RBK is back in production and is an absolute beast, the LE Bundock is another great NEW design....why must you guys keep lamenting those two even though their designer doesn't? There are plenty of machete options that are better than the 6, the Brute could be replaced with....OK there is no replacement, but that's a good thing, IMO. The 9, RBK, 4 & Bundock are all far superior. Let it go. They aren't coming back.
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Wow wow wow slow your roll.

I don't think anyone here said that they should come back. My main question is just if we should be expecting more China Becker blades. The 1085 bk1 &bk6 were just the examples used.

I wish I hadn't pointed those out because this whole thread seems to be about how those blades suck and should not come back.

I would say almost all the Beckerheads agree they don't perform well compare to others.

It's been let go.
 
Ok small group so everyone get along lol... There are some valid points made here... Including a thin machete ... Just saying.... :D
 
I don't know where you got your information. The BK1 and BK6 were NOT made out of 1085 and they were NOT made in China. Check the Becker Blade Database thread (sticky at the top).

They were made in the USA out of Camillus's proprietary 0170-6 steel formulation.

C-0.95 (same as to 1095)
Cr - 0.45
V - .19
Mn - .46

Just about the same as Kabar's 1095 Cro-Van.

Both are derivatives of Sharon Steel's 1095 Cro-Van. Camillus and Kabar had to come up with a replacements after Sharon went out of business in 1992 but Sharon's patent was still in effect. Both versions lack the nickel in Sharon's formulation. Sharon's 1095 was what Camillus used for Cold Steel's "Carbon V" knives.
 
knifejunkie1928 said:
Wow wow wow slow your roll.

I don't think anyone here said that they should come back. My main question is just if we should be expecting more China Becker blades. The 1085 bk1 &bk6 were just the examples used.

I wish I hadn't pointed those out because this whole thread seems to be about how those blades suck and should not come back.

I would say almost all the Beckerheads agree they don't perform well compare to others.

It's been let go.
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Wasn't really rolling, but this sort of thing does come up somewhat frequently, though maybe not with regards to overseas manufacture. So, in regards to China, I don't think anything (Becker) larger than something like the 23 or 13 will ever come from overseas. Most especially knives that Ethan doesn't really see the need to revive. Not trying to get in anyone's grill, at all. Just saying - and of course I don't know this for a fact, but - Ka-Bar and, more importantly, Uncle E., prefer to keep BK&T manufacturing here in Olean. AFAIK those are the only 2 BK&T models (not KB) ever made overseas. Perhaps the Brute and Patrol Machete were not the best examples to put forth....but until Ethan pops in to say otherwise (and I'm not inclined to think he will), I wouldn't expect anything other than very price point oriented BK&T designs (such as the 13 & 23) to come from anywhere but 'Murica.

zzyzzogeton said:
I don't know where you got your information. The BK1 and BK6 were NOT made out of 1085 and they were NOT made in China. Check the Becker Blade Database thread (sticky at the top).

They were made in the USA out of Camillus's proprietary 0170-6 steel formulation.

C-0.95 (same as to 1095)
Cr - 0.45
V - .19
Mn - .46

Just about the same as Kabar's 1095 Cro-Van.

Both are derivatives of Sharon Steel's 1095 Cro-Van. Camillus and Kabar had to come up with a replacements after Sharon went out of business in 1992 but Sharon's patent was still in effect. Both versions lack the nickel in Sharon's formulation. Sharon's 1095 was what Camillus used for Cold Steel's "Carbon V" knives.
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Don't think that's what he was saying at all. He wuz jest wunderin' if we can expect any more BK&T designs to come with a "made in China" designation....but I've been wrong before and will be again.
 
wildnewfie said:
Ok small group so everyone get along lol... There are some valid points made here... Including a thin machete ... Just saying.... :D
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I'm not NOT getting along, just stating an opinion....
As for thin bladed machetes, check out the offerings from Baryonyx Knife Co. ....though none of them have Ethan's great handle design. In my limited experience with machetes - and I say this as a devotee of Becker grips - I prefer a more traditional style handle with the little pinky hook at the butt. For a fine example of a slightly heavier bladed machete (more suited to the northeastern hardwood forests where I live) check out the TOPS Machete .230. 23" OAL and a nice comfy Micarta grip. This is, of course, my opinion and there are a lot of others out there. I think a LOT of heads have Tramontina machetes
 
ok I feel like there is a lot of confusion here.

Im using the bk1 & bk6 as an example for this post about future beckers made in china.

Im only using these as examples because they were at one point "going to happen."

I dug up the thread from 2011 where moose says its happening.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/847640-New-Old-Blades?highlight=1085

My main point is these blades NEVER happened and the bk13 is now USA made. I thought no beckers are going to come from china, but the bk23 seems to prove otherwise.

I really just want to know if anyone has talked to Ethan about this and if there may be more to come?

did anyone talk to him about this at blade?
 
knifejunkie1928 said:
ok I feel like there is a lot of confusion here.

Im using the bk1 & bk6 as an example for this post about future beckers made in china.

Im only using these as examples because they were at one point "going to happen."

I dug up the thread from 2011 where moose says its happening.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/847640-New-Old-Blades?highlight=1085

My main point is these blades NEVER happened and the bk13 is now USA made. I thought no beckers are going to come from china, but the bk23 seems to prove otherwise.

I really just want to know if anyone has talked to Ethan about this and if there may be more to come?

did anyone talk to him about this at blade?
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5 year old thread? and it didn't happen yet?

i think it's been said fairly well, since, the BK1 will NOT HAPPEN. they have no interest in it. done. it should be made a sticky ;)

the BK6 probably will not happen.

the BK4, BK6, and BK15 are dodos now. the BK20 is also likely not to see the light of day again.

but since KaBar is in the business of making money, and not informing us, (esp me!), they do what they want ;)

the BK23 is a cheap little thing, possibly an experiment, and not worth KaBar's USA time right now. if it does well, i'd guess they'd bring it home, and even in 1095. like the Remora experiment. or not.

take a deep breath. don't speculate or guess. we talk to Ethan all the time. things change. not everyone is informed. KaBar is not about to include us in business plans, so don't ask. don't offer them designs either. they are busy ;) they get lots of spam.

we are just happy customers here and barely represent a fraction of their business or interest.
 
Do I expect Ethan or Ka-Bar to comment on the future of production from China or any other country? Nope. Do I think it's an interesting topic and fun to speculate? You betcha!

As a consumer, I will pay a bit more for a USA made product but that has more do do with where I live and national pride. How much more I'm willing to pay depends on the product, the cost, and my perception of the relative quality.

In my experience, the quality of Chinese products needs to be evaluated individually. It has so much to do with materials, process, and quality control. Many people just default to Chinese = crap. I'm sure Ka-Bar is not going to send a rep over to China to supervise the production of a bunch of BK23 knives that retail for $12, but I would think discussions in the Ka-Bar board room about more expensive blades and production options is a fair one.
 
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