Striving For The Perfect Neck Knife

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Alnamvet68

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Mar 26, 2013
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As you may, or may not be aware of, there are a few members here who have customized their BK-11's and 14's. With that in mind, what features would you like to see in future 11's, 14's, and 24's that you believe may improve the utility of these knives, as well as their aesthetics?

Here is my wish list for a BK-11/14/24:

* Jimping, 1" above the logo, and 3/4" by the tip
* Polished stainless steel versions. CPM3V would be nice
* Convex or sabre grind
* Multiple color choices...grey, yellow, green, etc
* Deeper etchings (see ESEE knives etchings)
* Additional scale offerings besides the zytel and the micarta
* Sheaths that are compatible with the Spyderco G Clip & Tek-Lok, as well as offered in colors, such as foliage green, desert tan, camo, etc

Add your thoughts.:)
 
There's nothing wrong with dreaming, and I think you've made some cool suggestions BUT...
I think they're perfect as they are. Yes, I think jimping would look nice on 'em. Yes, I'd like a micarta option for my 14/24. Yes I'd like better stock sheaths to start with BUT...
That's the charm of Becker blades, IMO. You can get them at very good prices, great deals. But that's not where the fun stops. You get 'em. You strip 'em. Some stipple the handle scales, or make new ones. You order a custom kydex sheath, often made to your preferences. Some add jimping. Some convex their blades...
That's what I like about these blades and I wouldn't want it to change. If you get a whole variety of the same blade with jimping, different coloured paint jobs,... That takes away of the personality of the blade and takes away from your possibility to make it your own.
It would definitely up the cost quite a lot... and then when you get one... it's there. It has jimping. It has a different color. It has scales. Where's the fun in that? I like the part where I can make 'em my own. Of course that would up the total cost for me, but for that price I was able to choose what I wanted on the blade and what not. It's not a total package deal. It's mine. It's what I want on a blade, and I like it that way.
As for steel: I really like that these knives come out with another steel type once in a while. The san mai 11, bk77 in s30V, 14 in D2... I'm sure others will follow, but I'm patient.
 
+1 agreed GS, well said.

Ok, I'll add, I wouldn't mind some of those bad-ass aluminum scales that Sharp made, but I know he's not doing that anymore...oh well.
 
Galeocerdoshark said:
There's nothing wrong with dreaming, and I think you've made some cool suggestions BUT...
I think they're perfect as they are. Yes, I think jimping would look nice on 'em. Yes, I'd like a micarta option for my 14/24. Yes I'd like better stock sheaths to start with BUT...
That's the charm of Becker blades, IMO. You can get them at very good prices, great deals. But that's not where the fun stops. You get 'em. You strip 'em. Some stipple the handle scales, or make new ones. You order a custom kydex sheath, often made to your preferences. Some add jimping. Some convex their blades...
That's what I like about these blades and I wouldn't want it to change. If you get a whole variety of the same blade with jimping, different coloured paint jobs,... That takes away of the personality of the blade and takes away from your possibility to make it your own.
It would definitely up the cost quite a lot... and then when you get one... it's there. It has jimping. It has a different color. It has scales. Where's the fun in that? I like the part where I can make 'em my own. Of course that would up the total cost for me, but for that price I was able to choose what I wanted on the blade and what not. It's not a total package deal. It's mine. It's what I want on a blade, and I like it that way.
As for steel: I really like that these knives come out with another steel type once in a while. The san mai 11, bk77 in s30V, 14 in D2... I'm sure others will follow, but I'm patient.
Click to expand...

Very well said. All in all you get value with Beckers. You get a high performance, ready to rock and roll product straight out of the box for just a little dough. If you want to ante up for scales or sheaths, well they are out there ripe for the picking. Also think about how large KA-BAR's inventory really is. Becker line, Dozier line, ZK line, Fighting Utility Line, Mark 1 Navy line, Heavy duty line, Mule line, TDI line, Johnson Adventure line, so on. With a large majority of that being made right here in the USA for a real deal. Its probably not super feasible for them to devote a considerable amount of tooling up for just one part of a line of knives, but sometimes they do it anyways, because they listen to us beg, and then they give in. Everyone griped about the ZK blades saying "well if it didnt say Taiwan on it I would buy it..." "SK5 Steel isnt good enough I want 1095cv." Well after KA-BAR felt out the waters, sure enough there is a big old American flag right on the side of those blades. Is there a knife company out there that listens and appeases as much as KA-BAR? Im sure the 14 d2 after a couple years will go the way of the ghost, but hopefully there will be something to take its place. I would love a 14 in some sort of CPM steel really to give you an absolutely bullet proof package that I could throw my cheap as mud zytel scales on and go to town on whatever I wanted. It will be very nice, but once again probably not feasible for them to accomplish at this time or for me. Heck, I know if I could afford it I would give the D2 14 a run for its money. So I think all together, things are perfect right now, and I know KA-BAR is out there in the wing listening, and doing what they can for their customers.

Good things come to those who wait.
 
Boy, I'm glad we got all that out of the way. If I wasn't duly informed, I would have never thought in a million years the BK-11, 14,and 24 were perfect right out of the package. That being said, who would like to see some of the aforementioned features in the original post brought into the KB neck knife lineup; which ones, and why?
 
First off, no to any jimping. Something like that is a really big sticking point for some, so I say leave it off, if you need jimping you can add it yourself. Stainless would be nice, an option or two. I'm really liking elmax here lately. Multiple colors would be kickass. Pink 14's would be the perfect gag gift around here. Saber grind would be interesting, but I don't think it would ultimately be that useful in a knife this size, so I say leave that out too. Don't need deeper laser etched logos, I can do that if I need to. All in all some of that would be awesome, but I love the fact that most Beckers are just waiting to be modded. If they offered some other options that would be cool, like some of what I mentioned above or maybe some different types of blade shapes, that would be bueno, but for now I'm content with what we have.

Although I know Murph would go nuts over a Pink BK14. ;)
 
Alnamvet68 said:
Boy, I'm glad we got all that out of the way. If I wasn't duly informed, I would have never thought in a million years the BK-11, 14,and 24 were perfect right out of the package. That being said, who would like to see some of the aforementioned features in the original post brought into the KB neck knife lineup; which ones, and why?
Click to expand...

It was not my intention to insult you in any way, so if I did, I apologize for the misunderstanding. I'll try to put it this way: I like a bunch of the ideas you've put forward, but I'd like to choose from the options myself and add them to the blade myself. I wouldn't like 'em to come from the factory with all the bells and whistles, 'cause that would take away the fun for me. Of the ideas you mentioned, I dig full length micarta handles for the 14/24 and a better stock sheath. Jimping on two or more spots would look pretty cool as well, but I doubt the added value. I don't tend to slip off of these small blades anyway, and jimping might start hurting after prolonged use. So better sheaths and a micarta option for the 14/24 would be very interesting for me. As for the scales, I'd prefer them as options, like the zytel scales are now. Some experimenting with stainless could prove to be interesting as well, but that isn't a necessity for me.
 
I would like to see a better sheath - kydex or even leather. I think we all would. I don't understand why anyone would make a sheath out of a material that is known to dull your knife.:confused:
Also, a slightly longer handle (1/2") with G10 as an option.

And I know this last one is kinda way out there but I would like some kind of flat pry bar on the end of the handle. I've been edc-ing my 14/24 for over 6 months and I have had to use the blade to pry open crates & other things s few times. I REALLY hate that. It just seems wrong in a very fundamental way to use a knife that way.
I know that kinda change to the 14/24 would probably make it a whole new knife so maybe save that last one for a new knife design & just go with the first two.

Thanks for making me use my noodle!:D
RK
 
I think the sheath thing is just weird. It can be worked around, fixed rather easily or replaced but I have to agree with Mr. Moore on this. Not sure why that hasn't been addressed really.
 
You know, a 3 (without the cutter along the top) in the length of the 14, with flat G10 scales would just be the sh/t.
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
You know, a 3 (without the cutter along the top) in the length of the 14, with flat G10 scales would just be the sh/t.
Click to expand...

Hmm, you got me thinking with that one. That woúld be cool. Today my 14 had a helluva workout replacing a pump in the backyard, cutting wire, cutting tubes, pipes, it took hammering... Nothing it had any difficulty with but when we forgot the screwdrivers I proposed to lift a heavy lid on top of the waterhole with my 14. It went perfectly but I would've felt more comfortable lifting that lid with something without a pointy tip, like in the idea you just mentioned.
 
I agree with the sheath not being up to par. It seems to defeat all the reasons I bought a compact,fixed blade, neck knife. It is bulky, has very limited carry options and worst of all it rattles every time I move. I am ordering a taco kydex one as soon as I come up with a few extra dollars. I love the knife itself and want to make it my edc, just need a better sheath. New sheath, add a little jimping and I will be very happy.
 
Galeocerdoshark said:
Hmm, you got me thinking with that one. That woúld be cool. Today my 14 had a helluva workout replacing a pump in the backyard, cutting wire, cutting tubes, pipes, it took hammering... Nothing it had any difficulty with but when we forgot the screwdrivers I proposed to lift a heavy lid on top of the waterhole with my 14. It went perfectly but I would've felt more comfortable lifting that lid with something without a pointy tip, like in the idea you just mentioned.
Click to expand...

I find myself wanting to pry with my 14 a lot just like you mentioned here...and like you I get uncomfortable with the notion of doing so...

And, yes, the sheath......groan
 
I'm not a fan of the chisel grind on the BK3, however I really like my Ringed Razel. I would go ape $hit for a ~3.5" hollow ground chisel tipped blade on the izula/bk14 handle.


Also, the sheath issue is a real sore spot with me. I have two BK14's that haven't even been out to play yet because of the sheaths.
 
Another vote for a better sheath and stainless steel, that being said I'm really liking the D2 of my BK24. A better sheath with Tek-Lok and G-clip attachment options would be great, I would pay the extra cost. Even if they did it like a after market purchase like the BK14/24 scales, and the micarta scales of the larger BK knives.
 
Since I lost my 11 last night because of a loose sheath I have to agree, the sheath is the worst part of the 11,14/24.
Different colors would be sweet, maybe a limited edition run in olive drab or something.
And different colored micarta, or G10.

Then again, even if colors were available most folks on this forum would probably strip it and force a patina anyways.:D
 
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