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Stripped & Micarta'd BK12

Geektechnica

Geektechnica

Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
320
The BK12 a.k.a RSK-MK2 Perseverance was my first Becker, and as such has a special place in my heart (not literally!) but it doesn't seem to get much attention around these parts...

So I figured I'd mine off now that I've finally got some micarta on it and its paid a visit to a stripper. Sadly, no action shots yet in its current state as it is 11pm and pouring rain outside, but those will come soon I promise.

DSCF5197.JPG


I don't know about the other Beckers, but the BK12 seems to have a bead-blasted surface underneath the coating. When stripped, it is a uniform grey which I actually like a lot, so I don't think I'm going to sand it down or anything. I'm not interested in having it look perfect. To me a Becker looks best when pictured as what it is, a working knife. The only other improvement I plan on making is swapping the stock sheath for something from Skystorm.

Anyone else out there rocking a modded BK-12?
 
I look forward to the other pics. The BK-12 doesn't seem to get too much attention, possibly because it is more costly than other Beckers.
Thanks for sharing.

The BK-12 is manufactured by Rowen, the same folks who makes ESEE knives. If you look up stripped ESEE's I think you'll notice that it is a similar finish to what you found on your BK-12. Kabar manufactured Beckers generally have machining marks under the coating.
 
I don't think I've seen one stripped yet and I've been contemplating doing the same to my 12 so I can't wait to see how yours looks.
 
It actually is stripped,in that pic. The grey coating resulting from the textured surface is somewhat dark, and looks somewhat like the coated blade does when you photograph it under bright light. I'll try to get a better picture showing the stripped surface.
 
You wanna hit that grey coating with a scotch brite pad, or like 1000 grit sandpaper, I have more than a handful of esee knives, and the onces I have stripped but didnt take that greay almost bead blast down rusted like crazy and I live in colorado where it is VERY dry. It acts like tiny holes for moisture to stay.

You will REALLY like it once you hit it with a green scotch brite pad
 
It is really hard to get a good picture of the bead-blast texture, it either reflects too much or too little light. Here is the best I could get under my current lighting, it will probably photograph better under sunlight:

2012-05-16_01-10-16_877.jpg


Tin.Man said:
You wanna hit that grey coating with a scotch brite pad, or like 1000 grit sandpaper, I have more than a handful of esee knives, and the onces I have stripped but didnt take that greay almost bead blast down rusted like crazy and I live in colorado where it is VERY dry. It acts like tiny holes for moisture to stay.

You will REALLY like it once you hit it with a green scotch brite pad
Click to expand...

I'll keep that in mind. All I hit it with was some fine steel wool and mineral spirits when I was cleaning the stripper off. I was considering putting a layer or two of Johnson's Paste Wax on it, which is what I use to treat my vintage cast-iron table saw top. That thing will rust if you even look at it funny, but a couple coats of paste wax and I haven't even seen a blossom in a year or two.
 
Just so happens I got one of those in to play with today. I'm trying to ignore stripping it so far.
 
Looking good, I have been thinking about buying a 12 recently because its pretty much a ESEE with becker handles.

-orangish ducktape
 
Man that really looks good. I need to stop procrastinating and just pull the trigger on a 12. Thanks a lot! :D
 
orangish ducktape said:
Looking good, I have been thinking about buying a 12 recently because its pretty much a ESEE with becker handles.

-orangish ducktape
Click to expand...

Well put. For a couple days I was thinking I should consider getting my first ESEE but now I realize I essentially got it already in my bk12.
 
Tin.Man said:
You wanna hit that grey coating with a scotch brite pad, or like 1000 grit sandpaper, I have more than a handful of esee knives, and the onces I have stripped but didnt take that greay almost bead blast down rusted like crazy and I live in colorado where it is VERY dry. It acts like tiny holes for moisture to stay.

You will REALLY like it once you hit it with a green scotch brite pad
Click to expand...

Took your advise and hit it with a scotch brite pad. It is definitely not as dark anymore, but I am not sure I like the almost brushed finish it left. Think I'm going to follow through with some 1200 or 2000 grit and see if I can smooth it out a little more. Took her out with me to the range to go plinking a little bit:

DSCF5226.JPG
 
orangish ducktape said:
Looking good, I have been thinking about buying a 12 recently because its pretty much a ESEE with becker handles.

-orangish ducktape
Click to expand...
The only thing ESEE about it is the Rowan manufacturing and the coating. It's a Becker all the way design and feel wise. It's real similar to the Bk10 in function. Real good knife. I've got #059
 
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