The Kabar "unicorn" of BK2s

J

jeepnjg

Joined
Sep 13, 2014
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I had this in another section, and folks recommended I put this here. I actually broke my BK2 tonight splitting a piece of pine for kindling. Even stranger than the fact it happened is how it happened. I barely hit the thing!
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Rare, but that is exactly the same Break we have seen on the few other breaks.
I am sure someone smarter than me will chime in, but that looks like a defect failure, from an inclusion in the metal. No bending, no obvious heat deformation from straining of the steel.
Contact Kabar, and I bet they take care of you.
 
Yep. They'll certainly want to look at that. Like ST said that is quite rare, but there have been a couple pop up just like that. I feel certain you will be taken care of.

Out of curiosity, were you hitting the handle when it broke?
 
when I was recurving johnnys BK2 knife, I etched it and noticed a two tone coloring*around the same area yours broke. I don't think the handle area is heat treated, not 100% on that..

If your getting rid of it let me know I'd like it.
 
@tradewater I think I did hit the handle when it broke. Right at the site of the break actually. It folded backwards and my daughter said "Well, daddy, now you have another folding knife!"
 
@710 In going to send it in to try to get a warrantee replacement. They'll probably keep it.
 
Another reason to cancel the windows thing in the handle...full tang is full tang, no windows tang :-).
 
MKabar said:
Another reason to cancel the windows thing in the handle...full tang is full tang, no windows tang :-).
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I remember back when they made the switch to the cut out versions. I believe that Mr. Becker decided on the cut outs for ''better balance'' ? with the knife. I also remember wanting an original full tang version without the cut outs just at the transition period. I should have made more effort to get the original version. I am an unabashed fan boy of Becker knives, and have been so for years. But those cut outs and associated failures have stuck in my craw since day one. Rare the failures may be, but come on. The same failure point virtually every time ? Why not save a few bucks in manufacturing and bring back the original version without those potential failure points. It seems a little redundant to have a massively thick blade, then a weaker junction below it, roughly mid way in the blank. I remember reading that these ''cut out'' knives were initially tested and had proven satisfactorily strong. But the fact is that we are seeing them fail at the same junction repeatedly.
 
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Exactly, I want new BK2 and BK9 without the windows in the handle. I never believed, that with windows it will be same durability like without it. Air is not as strong as 1095 CV steel.
And this and others cases are proofs of this. Ka-Bar should replace all Beckers with new ones without windows in the handle for free :-))).
 
Actually, I will gladly pay double of the standard price for new BK9 without windows in the handle and with BK2 thickness :-). And I think I am not onlyone who want's the same new BK9 :-).
 
Well I don't expect any freebies. I knew what I was buying. But these breakages are showing up and it would be nice to see a run of solid tang 2's as an option.
 
The BK2 is a tough knife. I don't think there is any doubt about that. Bashing on any part of a knife that may be sticking out of a piece of twisted, knotty, dry, hard wood because it's in style is strange to me. It's a relatively new use for knives and comes from having no idea (other than they saw somebody do it on youtube) what or why they are doing it. Of course, it's your knife so have at it. Just a tad of good judgment and proper technique goes a long way here though. Done right, the BK2 can handle it. You can drive wedges with a Velvicut until the eye breaks or ruin a Klein screwdriver using it for a chisel. No need for any of these things to happen. I'm not going to hook up my truck to a three bottom plow then say the truck sucks when the transmission goes out.

I think Cliff Jacobson started this trend several years ago by taking a one foot long log down to thumb size by splitting it with a hatchet, then batoning his knife to make pencil sized pieces. A lot of people don't want to carry a hatchet so they just wale on their most important woods tool. And then it breaks. Imagine that.
 
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Even the full tang Camillus 2's and 9's (and 7's) have broken. There's no such thing as indestructible. And if you were hitting the handle, well, that's a no-no. Especially with the blade trapped in wood. I'm not saying don't send it in, but I think the breakages are on the order of 10ths or 100ths of percent of the 2's that are in hard use every day out there, cutouts or not.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Even the full tang Camillus 2's and 9's (and 7's) have broken. There's no such thing as indestructible. And if you were hitting the handle, well, that's a no-no. Especially with the blade trapped in wood. I'm not saying don't send it in, but I think the breakages are on the order of 10ths or 100ths of percent of the 2's that are in hard use every day out there, cutouts or not.
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Well said granite, thank you for that.

Tradewater too.

Ps, I probably won't ever carry a hatchet, but I don't live in deciduous forest either. I wasn't born in Minnesota, I was born on the bayou. I have a jungle like climate and therefore get along quite fine with my machetes.

I am definitely into getting a legit kukri someday though for chopping needs but the kabar kuk-chete has done great at both chopping and clearing. It might be better for me + I'd baton that thing.

My point being , people can't just say hatchet every time a tool breaks. But still, very well put.
 
stvpourciau said:
My point being , people can't just say hatchet every time a tool breaks. But still, very well put.
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You've got the idea though. Hatchet/kukri/machete (whichever applies) if you have the luxury of having one, use it. Use the knife if you have no other choice, use good technique and you won't have a problem. :thumbup:
 
Hey Jeepng.....

Woooooo....... Sorry that this happened....... I am certain that KA-BAR will fix this....... 800 282 0130........,

The Tangs are deliberately left soft so that there is a place for the knife to bend rather than break....... That is the theory and it works almost all the time...... The break occurred right at the transition zone between hard and soft....... There will be a discussion about this between KA BAR and me........ It may be time to revisit this policy....... I will be at Fisk's MIni Show in three weeks and I intend to talk this over with him as well....... It is BTW a discussion that has in a very real sense three correct answers......... I like the balance of the new configuration, the bend not break school is certainly valid and the cut out but whole blade temper is maybe OK too....... As I said, we will skull this out.......

Meantime please call KaBar ........ If you need to or want to talk I can be reached at 423 295 2500 ...... Nine to Noon Eastern usually works....... I do not check messages so keep trying.......

My apologies and I hope this did not inconvenience you too much.......

Ethan
 
@Ethan Becker thanks for taking the time to chime in here. That's interesting about the difference in hardness. We were just talking about that. I'm putting the knife in the mail today, so well see what happens. Thanks again!
 
Hey Jeep.....

Thanks for your understanding attitude....... We will make you whole on this.....

E
 
Hey Jeep.....

Thanks for your understanding attitude....... We will make you whole on this.....

E
 
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