The BK7 Challenge (or...why can't I love my BK7?)

Y

YellowSwiss

Joined
Sep 28, 2015
Messages
567
Something I have failed to understand since becoming a Becker nut is why I cannot love the BK7 more. It was my first Becker and I expected it to be perfect for my needs. The blade size and shape should be ideal, but I have just never been as crazy for this knife as I expected. Instead, I find the BK9 and my BK15 get way more time in the woods. I have noticed around here that I am not the only one to feel this way.

With that being said, I am going to challenge myself to give the 7 a bit more time and let it shine. I want to see if giving it another dedicated chance may help me overcome my reservations about using it more. My goal is to perform all my BK9 and BK15 tasks with the BK7 and give it the opportunity to "win my heart." Anyone else up for the challenge?

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For me the bk7 is my favorite combat knife. However, I'm never in a combat situation so it never gets used. If you're into the one knife option idea this is an amazing choice. And it doesn't matter what I think. The numbers speak for themselves, it's definitely one of the top sellers out of all the beckers. I really do like the blade, Ethan set out to replace the typical combat blade with a better option and he did just that. Personally I like to have a large blade, 9" or greater, and a small blade, 5" or under. Blades in the 6-8" range don't do anything for me.
 
If you really want to throw a monkey wrench into the mix. Try deciding between the RSK Bk12 and the 7 as a one knife option. I'm still carrying my 7 but the RSK is a fine option also.
 
I was ok with the bk12 but not the grind. On mine the edge was really really obtuse. In my opinion rowen didn't take the flat grind in enough at all. Ethan and kabar do a really good job at keeping those edges thin.
 
It's a good 1 knife option. It will never compete with the 9 or 4 chopping ever :D in a Kydex sheath it's about the biggest knife I would consider hanging on my belt :thumbsup:
 
I am going to try the challenge with few mods on my BK7. Honestly, I already miss the 9 and 15 in hand. I just used the 7 in the kitchen on a task (dicing up chicken and veggies) that the 15 would excel at.
 
YellowSwiss said:
I am going to try the challenge with few mods on my BK7. Honestly, I already miss the 9 and 15 in hand. I just used the 7 in the kitchen on a task (dicing up chicken and veggies) that the 15 would excel at.
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I'm pleased so far with my modded 7. Also put on a 90° spine. But I smoothed the spine where my hand wraps around for the choil.
 
Tanker 1/66 said:
Carry the Bk9 for 25 miles thru the mountains. The whole way a voice in your head will be saying....Shoulda brought the 7 Shoulda brought the 7 :D
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By that logic, though, if I carried the 7 in those conditions, the whole time the voice in my head would be saying "Shoulda brought the 16..."

knifejunkie1928 said:
Personally I like to have a large blade, 9" or greater, and a small blade, 5" or under. Blades in the 6-8" range don't do anything for me.
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Yup. I gave up on the 6"-8" range knives a few years ago. The said, i did just buy a BK7, just to see what it can do and if I can get back into the "one knife" type knives. I didn't want to be that douche who dismisses the BK7 without giving it a fair shake first.

Xr6x said:
And 1/4" steel it might be a chopping beast :)
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Yes!!! I couldn't get into the BK2 because while it's thick and stout, I found it too thick to be a precise slicer, and too short to be a good chopper... so basically useless at knife tasks. And with a 5" blade, you're also limited to how thick of a piece of wood you can baton, which is kinda the purpose of a saber grind "0.25 blade. However, a 7" saber ground "0.25 drop point would definitely definitely redirect weight from my wallet to my belt.
 
If you find a tree out here, it's probably in someone's yard!
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I have not opted to pick up a 7 so far, too many tools, so little time.
 
The Seven had its genesis during the Camillus Years.... Will Fennell who was, at the time, the new products guru asked me to come up with an updated Marine Combat..... This was a dream Assignment..... Drawing a whole lot on a BS and Brewski session at a long ago SHOT Show with Steve Dick among several others, I set to work..... I was thinking 1/4 thick before that prayer meeting but, Steve made a great point that the infantryman needs not any more ounces in his kit.... The size envelope pretty much had to be in the 7in range. Those parameters pretty much defined what happened next......

In doing my due diligence it was interesting to find out how well the 76 year old Ka-Bar iteration of Webster Marbles’ “Ideal” model stacks up against current “issue” soldiers knives..... Still looks pretty good to me..... The Seven is full vs.stick tang and is flat ground. I prefer the Seven, of course but, the old classic Ka-Bar is plenty OK....

All that being said, the Seven incher is always going to be either a wee bit too big to be comfy for the little stuff and it will never be a great chopper but, it is a utility player that has the reach in a confrontation and will open MRE boxes with abandon and will work for all the rest of the stuff....A one knife solution is never the best option but the Seven does it pretty well, I think...

E
 
Ethan Becker said:
The Seven had its genesis during the Camillus Years.... Will Fennell who was, at the time, the new products guru asked me to come up with an updated Marine Combat..... This was a dream Assignment..... Drawing a whole lot on a BS and Brewski session at a long ago SHOT Show with Steve Dick among several others, I set to work..... I was thinking 1/4 thick before that prayer meeting but, Steve made a great point that the infantryman needs not any more ounces in his kit.... The size envelope pretty much had to be in the 7in range. Those parameters pretty much defined what happened next......

In doing my due diligence it was interesting to find out how well the 76 year old Ka-Bar iteration of Webster Marbles’ “Ideal” model stacks up against current “issue” soldiers knives..... Still looks pretty good to me..... The Seven is full vs.stick tang and is flat ground. I prefer the Seven, of course but, the old classic Ka-Bar is plenty OK....

All that being said, the Seven incher is always going to be either a wee bit too big to be comfy for the little stuff and it will never be a great chopper but, it is a utility player that has the reach in a confrontation and will open MRE boxes with abandon and will work for all the rest of the stuff....A one knife solution is never the best option but the Seven does it pretty well, I think...

E
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History being written straight from the source and in real time. Thank you Ethan
 
Ethan Becker said:
The Seven had its genesis during the Camillus Years.... Will Fennell who was, at the time, the new products guru asked me to come up with an updated Marine Combat..... This was a dream Assignment..... Drawing a whole lot on a BS and Brewski session at a long ago SHOT Show with Steve Dick among several others, I set to work..... I was thinking 1/4 thick before that prayer meeting but, Steve made a great point that the infantryman needs not any more ounces in his kit.... The size envelope pretty much had to be in the 7in range. Those parameters pretty much defined what happened next......

In doing my due diligence it was interesting to find out how well the 76 year old Ka-Bar iteration of Webster Marbles’ “Ideal” model stacks up against current “issue” soldiers knives..... Still looks pretty good to me..... The Seven is full vs.stick tang and is flat ground. I prefer the Seven, of course but, the old classic Ka-Bar is plenty OK....

All that being said, the Seven incher is always going to be either a wee bit too big to be comfy for the little stuff and it will never be a great chopper but, it is a utility player that has the reach in a confrontation and will open MRE boxes with abandon and will work for all the rest of the stuff....A one knife solution is never the best option but the Seven does it pretty well, I think...

E
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I've posted this before and probably to many times lol. Your 7 is a mighty fine chopper indeed.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/153781516@N05/
 
The BK7 was my second Becker. I got it almost 5 years ago. Back then it was housed in the night table in my Brooklyn apartment, strictly for home defense. It’s presence gave me comfort.

It was very interesting to read Ethan’s thoughts behind the design above. :thumbsup:
 
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