The Decision Has Been Made: The BK-16 - My First Real Knife

C

CalmAsHinduCows

Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
127
Hello everyone. :D

After lurking these forums for the last few weeks, I've decided to join and very glad I have. This place has a wealth of information!

I've always been fairly outdoorsy. I grew up in North Carolina, camping, hiking, fishing, and all that fun stuff. I've since relocated to Western Massachusetts and find myself yearning to get back out to the woods and do some camping and hiking.

After having only owned some cheap-o knives from Wally World and various flea markets over the years, I've decided to go for an upgrade. My brother-in-law has a fairy decent assortment of fixed blades that he was willing to let me handle and use out in the woods and his backyard. Overall, I spent 2 days testing and playing with ESEEs, SOGs, Bucks, Cold Steel, and I know I'm forgetting one or two more. I practiced some of the basics, batoning, making feather sticks, simple traps, cutting tests, etc. They were all great, quality knives and I enjoyed using them. But, something was missing. I just felt like the knives I had been using were lacking something, yet I didn't know what.

I eventually made my way to his BK-16 and right then and there I knew this was going to be my first and hopefully only knife purchase I have to make. The thing was perfection in my hand. I loved every aspect of the knife; the weight, length, thickness of the blade. Everything I wanted in a well constructed, full-tang knife was there. But, what really sold me on the knife was the handle. The ergonomics of it were absolutely molded to my hand. I'm fairly big at 6'2, 220 and some of the ESEEs I was using felt a little too thin for my liking. The BK-16 filled my hand in all the right areas which gave me a super comfy and secure grip. The one mod I might make is taking an 80 grit sand paper and going over the handles for a few minutes to rough 'em up. My brother-in-law did that with his BK-2 and it felt very similar to micarta, but without the added cost.

The knife performed spectacularly in all the tasks I put it through and still had a razor sharp edge. My brother-in-law is letting me borrow it until I get my own (he refuses to part with it! :p). Until then I've been drooling over the customized and modded pics of the BK-16, here on this forum. There are some seriously gorgeous knives some of you own.

Well, I look forward to posting more and learning more about Becker line of knives and tools. From what I've been reading and hearing from friends, it's nothing but positive reviews and them telling me that I won't be disappointed in whatever Becker I choose.
 
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Welcome to the forum, and congrats on the 16.

CalmAsHinduCows said:
I eventually made my way to his BK-16 and right then and there I knew this was going to be my first and hopefully only knife purchase I have to make.
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If you stick around here long enough, you'll own all of them, haha. :D
 
Excellent choice. I wish I started like you. It would have saved me a lot of time and money. You'll need a bk9 next. The 16 and 9 make a perfect duo. Congrats on the 16.
 
Thank you for the welcome. :)

Yeah, I didn't want to end up buying hundreds of dollars worth of knives only to realize they weren't what I was looking for. I've always heard glorious reviews of the Becker line of knives and now that I've gotten to test them, I'm in love. Hopefully I don't end up buying the whole line, haha. Honestly, I think that knife coupled with a quality hatchet or axe, should easily take care of me in the woods.

The only negatives I hear about the knife is the sheath. Is it really that bad? It doesn't look all that terrible to me. Although, I probably will upgrade to a Kydex sheath at some point in the future. There are some beautiful leather sheaths as well, but I don't have the money to spend on a such quality leather work.
 
The 16 sheath isn't that bad. It's too long though but still very practical.
A nice kydex or leather sheath will be a nice upgrade when you are ready. At least the stock sheath is good enough to use till then.

And the bk-16 paired with a bk-9 or the new Bk-21 kukri that's coming out is really all you would ever need in the woods.
 
BBBWWWWAAÀHHHHAAAAHHHHAAAA. he said his first and only Becker..... That's a good one! Welcome to the fun. I pulled in a friend and his wife to Becker world. They tried my BK 9 and were hooked.
 
Anyone have suggestions on a good Kydex sheath? I'm looking for one with a leather dangler, but one that won't run me close to a $100.
 
Nice choice, you are really going to appreciate the Becker line with this choice. and as the saying goes "you can't eat just one".
BTW I highly recommend that you get the micarta scales, they really make the 16 feel great in the hand.
 
only knife? HAHAHAHA!

Good start, though, it will save you some thrashing around.
The stock BK-16 sheath is quite good and includes an accessory pocket.
Sure, leather is nicer. Have one made with a pouch when you want to treat yourself. All the aftermarket sheaths will appear a bit spendy compared to the cost of the knife because you're buying hand-made stuff, but the quality of all our friendly vendors around here is first-rate. :thumbup:
 
Don't forget, the 5 and the 15 are going the way of the dodo... Get them while they last...

Welcome to the first step to admitting you have a problem, signing up here and buying a Becker was step two... You don't know it yet, but you're in trouble! To give you an idea, there are plenty of people who own one(+) of each and are now working on the out of production versions. That isn't the issue, the problem lies with the fact that they started out like You, just one knife...

Welcome aboard, at least you will have some friendly, informative and helpful company!
 
Congrats on the 16! The only issue I see is your comment about it being hopefully the "only knife purchase". Beckers are like ruffles....just try to stick with one. In time you will post asking if there is BK obsession support group....it's useless to resist.
 
Haha! That's what my brother-in-law keeps telling me. You'll start with the 16, but it'll soon be the 9, 15, 17...it won't end. I honestly don't think it'll happen to me. I'm more on the minimalist side and I've been really researching about what's a great solid, performing knife.

Time and time again this knife kept coming up and was shown nothing but love.
 
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Good call on the 16. I'd pick the machax a lot of the time but the 16 is smaller and easier to carry.
 
CalmAsHinduCows said:
I honestly don't think it'll happen to me.
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Denial not a good start to acception of your new addiction. The first Becker is like a gateway purchase. It WILL lead to more. Don't let me get started on the modding phenomenon. We can cross that bridge when you are willing to accept your fate.... Lol welcome Brother!
 
Hawk590 said:
Denial not a good start to acception of your new addiction. The first Becker is like a gateway purchase. It WILL lead to more. Don't let me get started on the modding phenomenon. We can cross that bridge when you are willing to accept your fate.... Lol welcome Brother!
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So much wisdom and truth in this post.
 
tinman207 said:
So much wisdom and truth in this post.
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:thumbup:

Yes, oh my, yes. I started the same way ... just wanted one good knife, just one ... got the BK24 ... now look at them all ... they're like tribbles ... use them and they multiply!


CalmAsHinduCows said:
Anyone have suggestions on a good Kydex sheath? I'm looking for one with a leather dangler, but one that won't run me close to a $100.
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Several good kydex sheath makers here like 701, azwelke, trailbum, just to name a few.

<$100 is possible. Basic sheaths start around $30. Add-ons like danglers, firesteels, crossdraw, scout carry, go up from there.
 
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