Tell me more about the different Beckers...

Y

YoungCutter

Joined
Sep 17, 2001
Messages
1,218
First of all, i'd just like to say that yesterday I received my first Becker, a Combat/Utility 7, after working with me as my pretty much constant companion today on a construction-style chore, I can say with a clear mind "THIS KNIFE ROCKS!".
I like the handles, like the coating, LOVE THE STEEL - OMG THE EDGE IS UNBELIEVEABLE. I've also discovered something a little bit shocking... apparantely when you have a good, comfortable sheath, carrying a belt knife can be a pleasant experience. So... I love 0170-6C and I like belt-knives... what is a man to do...

Easy, BUY MORE BECKERS! :P

I'd like some info on the following Becker models:
-The PATROL MACHETE: For those of us who don't actually find ourselves wacking through the bush (and don't do much in the way of camping-related chores), is this still a practical hard-use solution for serious cutting chores (such as trimming trees and other odd things)?
-The BRUTE: Ok, I admit it, I LOVE THE BOLO STYLE (but i've never had one). My inquiries about the Brute are similar to those of the Patrol Machete, is it good for hard use cutting, prying, and hammering chores even for those who don't do the "outdoorsman" thing much? Also, is the Brute a good penetrator? it would seem from that thick recurved front part of the blade that penetration would be a bit difficult.
-The CAMPANION: This one looks like it'd really rock my boat, I love "tough" knives (in spite of the fact that I almost never find myself needing to test their toughness, it's a psychological confidence thing), and the tougher they are, the more I love 'em. Anyway, if I were to get a Campanion it'd be alot more of a general use carry which begs a few questions... is it a comfortable carry? is it comfortable to use (i've heard complaints of it being a bit too thick, but I also have huge hands)? Is it still sharp in spite of it's incredibly thick stock, or does sharpness take a back seat?
-The TACTOOL: Here's an interesting one, normally I don't subscribe to something so unconventional but because of the impressive things i've heard I have to ask: how at home would this be to a non-LEO, non-outdoorsman type who often finds himself doing amibitious things with his knives and also ends up doing alot of construction-type projects? Tell me about some applications for the Tactool for those of us not (yet) in uniform.
-The MAGNUM CAMP: I guess my primary question against this one is... why on earth would I want it when i've already got a Combat/Utility 7? Feel free to answer that question, because right now I don't see it.
And lastly:
-The MACHAX: Again, unconventional, but for a guy like me who likes the Bolo style and also believes in the applications and tactics of a Kukri, would this be right for me? Now i'm well aware that the way I've described myself above implies that I wouldn't have much use for a knife like this... but it's so cool, and it would be even more cool if you could tell me: Can it function as a Machete in a pinch? or is it too thick? Can it take some real abuse? And lastly, can it, like it's name implies, actually function as a light AXE? That'd be so cool :P

Feel free to inject your own experiences, opinions, and comments about anything I didn't already ask about about any of the knives above.
INPUT! NEED INPUT! :P
 
I am sure that Will would say, "Just get one of each and try it out!":p :p :p

I would tend to agree but . . .

The Patrol Machete is just that . . . a machete. It is wonderful in the bush but too big for most other tasks.

The Magnum Camp is somewhat similar to the 7 but is more of a "camp knife" . . . not made for "stabbing" but it is a dream in the kitchen or on the field.

The Companion is quite fairly small bladed knife in comparison to the others but is as tough as they come.

I do not have the TacTool so I cannot comment.

The Brute is a great knife too. It is awesome in the woods in a "survival" type situation. Good blend of everything you need for cutting, digging, pounding, etc.

The Machax is something unique. I do not have one but like the feel.

If you can get somewhere that you can "handle" all three the differences will be readily apparent . . . but take your checkbook!

:D :D ;) :D :D
 
Thanks for the input, Jason.
Ok so that marks the Patrol Machete and Magnum Camp off my list.
I suspected they were of that type anyway, so don't think your opinion alone drew me to this conclusion.

As for the others, C'MON! I was hoping for alot more feedback here, did I mention that if you even have ONE of these Beckers I want you to tell me about it?

INPUT... NEED INPUT! :P
 
For reasons I can't explain I put off buying a Campanion for quite some time. I made my purchase about six weeks ago and couldn't be happier. It was purchased as a "do everything" knife. So far I've justified the purchase by removing a rose bush and a patch of bamboo that the previous owners of my house had planted (it made my wife happy and got her off my back about "another knife"). Now these two tasks should have been handled by a machete but the Campanion worked like a charm. It cut both these materials far better than I thought it had a right to. I look forward to more difficult cutting tasks to really flex this blades muscle.

In the end, this kife thats "just the right size" will be a hiking blade that won't raise eyebrows on a crowded trail and shows no sign of ever letting me down. A Patrol Machete is next if, for nothing more, a fun mate to the Campanion and a Brute as well for really destroying things.
 
YC,
I think that in a thread like this that your questions are best answered by members that have and use the models that you are talking about, but......

I must tell you that while I have a great deal of respect for ALL of the BK&T's[alot of thought went into the design of each], I think the real " Do all" high performance knife in the bunch is the Jerry Fisk Designed MAGNUM CAMP KNIFE. Don't write this one off your list!

The MCK is the BK&T that I grab for almost ALL occasions. I've used it to skin animals, cut sod, fell trees, clear shooting lanes, prepare dinner, cut the menacing "free hanging rope", and a myriad of other more mundane tasks. Jerry Fisk REALLY knows knife design!

If you really want something "Special", go to Jerry's website and buy a MCK that Jerry has re-profiled and resharpened the edge....mine is soooo scary sharp that it is not recommended for small children or people with pre-existing heart conditions;) His price is VERY reasonable, and its the closest thing you can get to Fisk custom performance without waiting 5 years.

www.fisk-knives.com

Don't let me keep you from experiencing the other fantastic BK&T's....get a BRUTE to chop and bash things with...get a CAMPANION to skin a Buick with....then get a MCK to cut things with:D

The MCK is the "sleeper" in the BK&T line-up....don't over-look it...or you will be missing out;)
 
So be it, Will, I will re-add the Magnum Camp to my list of possibles, however after looking at the Jerry Fisk site I don't think going with his reprofiled version would be a very good idea, he say's that he has it profiled to a convex grind, which is well and good until it's time sharpen that sucker - I don't have the necessary provisions for maintaining a convex grind, so the first time i'd bring to my 204 i'd just destroy everything he worked for. Thanks for the tip though! :)
 
Convex grinds really don't take much to maintain. People have been using convex grinds for a whole long time; long before the SharpMaker came out on the market. ;)

I'd actually buy A LOT more Camillus knives, if they were to offer them in full convex grinds. Once you use and maintain convex ground knives, V-grind edge bevels can be a real let-down.
 
all the more reason not to buy it... bad enough my BK7 has corrupted me in terms of fixed blades, I don't need edges corrupting me too (by the way, I have a suspicion that my Mike Cooper Neck Knife may be convex ground now... not really sure how to tell though)
 
The TacTool is another sleeper that doesn't get enough credit! That flat, sharp tip is the best short prybar I've used (easily beats grabbing the nearest screwdriver). The sharpened tip means you can wedge it into the narrowest cracks, and since all the edges are completely straight, sharpening it evenly is a lot easier. I reprofiled the edge on mine to a convex grind. When I'm not busting wood in my garage it stays with my BOB for emergencies. The TacTool really is a handy piece that few other knives can match for its intended purpose.

~SteelDriver
 
I have been using the Magnum Camp every day for about 9 months, almost exclusively for food prep, and it is outstanding. It is obviously large enough for any task, but it also feels very natural and intuitive for finer slicing and chopping. You can use the choil to choke up a little bit for detailed work. The handle material is the same as the rest of the line, which in my opinion is very comfortable. As others have mentioned, it ships very sharp. Traditional kitchen knives feel unusable to me now.

The edge does start to oxidize quickly if it stays wet long, so you need to use a food-safe oil or just make sure that you rinse and dry it right after use. The scales do not fit tightly and leave a gap under them. This makes sanitation in a kitchen knife a little more difficult. Also, the grooves on the spine of my knife were cut a little lopsided.

Overall, a great product and fun to use for everyday tasks.
 
:D I have had my Campanion for just over a year now, and have had to sharpen it about three times!! I use it regularly during search and rescue missions, and brutally hard around the home and the ranch. During an extrication, the jaws of life blew out a hydraqulic line, and we used the Campanion and a small sledge hammer to cut the roof off of a car. The victim and the knife were both doing fine after all was said and done. Treated at the scene, Band-aids for one, and five minutes on a Norton India fine stone for the other.
If you want one of the toughest knives for the money, the Campanion is the only option, and as far as an EDC, it just works. Nuff said.
Kelly Willis
 
Kelly,
Great Story! We are proud to make products that help save lives, and serve the folks that make it happen:)

If you have access to a digital camera, we sure would like to see a pic of your CAMPANION here on the forum. If you have trouble posting pics here, email the pic to me, and I'll post it for you.

Thanks for being a customer!
 
Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera, but I will try to describe what "skinning a Mustang", did to my knife.
The primary damage was not to the edge, but to the black coating. There is an area about 2" wide and extending about 2/3's of the way to the spine that is almost completely silver, and showing surprisingly few scratches and maybe 1 or 2 small gouges. On the spine, there are quite a few small dents from the hammer, and the coating is mostly gone from that area. All in all, IMHO, the damage to the knife is far less than I would have dreamed possible.
The edge, took about 15-20 strokes on the coarse side of my Norton stone, and just a few minutes of honing on the fine side to regain the very scary hair popping edge that I find so endearing about the knife.
For what it's worth, all of the guys and gals on the team are planning to purchase Campanions them selves. It is a KEEPER! Kelly
 
For various reasons... I decided about 3 days ago the Campanion would be my next Becker choice, and i'll be ordering it this weekend.
 
I must be doing something wrong. I haven't been able to find either the MAGNUM CAMP KNIFE or the BK5 on the Camillus web site. Does anyone recall where this particular knife might be found and/or purchased?

I lost most of my knives in a fire several months ago. I'm interested in an affordable utility knife. I always carry a folder afield (currently at nice Buck Crosslock - second blade is serrated, but without the gut hook). What ever pocket knife I carry is typically used for everything from equipment repair to food prep to fish cleaning and small game dressing.

What I want to ad to my equipment is a good tool for cutting dried limbs for fire making, chopping boughs for an emergency shelt, sharpening stakes or poles, and other typical, but usually unexpected, field chores and wilderness emergencies.

I know the argument that the price of a knife is like an insurance policy and I should be willing to spend handsomely for the best I can afford. But all my friends know I'm a "cheap #*%)!#@" and I firmly believe that guality and value should be available at a reasonable price.

Any suggestions on Becker (or other manufacturer) knives or tools that might fit my requirements would be appreciated.

I'm new at this forum stuff, so please go easy on me. Thanks for any replies. I love reading the stuff you regulars write. Entertaining as well as informative.

LeRoy
 
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