The Marvelous New Second Gen BK02 Sheath System

Killa Concept I just recently got a 2nd gen bk2, sharpened it, and I am constantly taking it in and out of the sheath. I hate to side with the other side but I have not noticed any problems with edge sharpness. Granted I am not OCD and so maybe I am just not noticing it, but it seems to keep its edge. Perhaps you could contact Kabar and see if the will send you a new sheath or if you know somebody else who has one try theirs. It could be that you have a defective sheath, but I do not think it is a problem with the whole line, but in mass production there are bound to be mistakes and I'm sorry to say you might have gotten one. Hope this helps.
 
killa_concept said:
Of the people who have responded to the issue when it was raised, the majority attested to the notion that keeping their knives that sharp is silly and impractical...
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No, not at all.
I think the point was that you do not need something as sharp as a straight razor to baton through wood.

If you keep your heavy duty bush knife like the BK2, with an edge that thin and razor sharp, that your getting immediate edge damage just by putting the knife in and out of the sheath...

Then the minute you use the BK2 for it's intended purpose that edge will be destroyed.

Sorry my friend that is what I call "Silly and impractical"
 
Will the BK-2 new sheath loosen up? I just got mine and it is pretty tense to present and re-sheath, should I sand down the tension tightness? That grabs the grip? Someone PM
 
Bladite, what size is your tek lok? I'm going to pick one up for my BK2, and I want to make sure it's the right size. Thanks!

Bill
 
willworship said:
Bladite, what size is your tek lok? I'm going to pick one up for my BK2, and I want to make sure it's the right size. Thanks!

Bill
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er, large standard? about 2x3 inches

i've only seen two sizes, that (the most common) and a 1/2 size model. i'm sure there are other (many) sizes, but that's all i know.


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
er, large standard? about 2x3 inches

i've only seen two sizes, that (the most common) and a 1/2 size model. i'm sure there are other (many) sizes, but that's all i know.


Bladite
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That's all I've found, but I wanted to check before I pull the trigger. Thanks! Did you have to get the spacers separately, or were they included with the Tek Lok? Sorry for 20 questions.
 
willworship said:
That's all I've found, but I wanted to check before I pull the trigger. Thanks! Did you have to get the spacers separately, or were they included with the Tek Lok? Sorry for 20 questions.
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they were included with mine, plus various hardware, but it doesn't hurt to call your vendor and ask.

there's even a space for the belt width :)


Bladite
 
Nice review, thanks. I have one of the original Blackjack models. BTW, it's Campanion, not Companion.
 
Bladite said:
did someone say COMPanion anywhere?


Bladite
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All the time, every day. Especially on excessivefeeBay, and sometimes even here in our cozy little home we call BF. Oddly, and I've mentioned this before, you will every now and then see it referred to as the BK-2 Champion. The first run by KA-BAR came in boxes so marked.
 
dawsonbob said:
As I said, killa, it was just a thought. Just out of curiosity, I'd like to know what is causing this.

I do keep my blades sharp (at least hair popping sharp), yet I haven't had any problems. I'd like to have some idea of why some of you do, yet others don't.

Curious.
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Because of this thread, I took a flashlight and pointed it along the edge side as I inserted the knife with the spine tight to the opposite side of the sheath. The edge is contacting the sheath the whole way down. I'm bummed. In all other respects, this sheath is better, in my opinion.
 
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Glock26 said:
Will the BK-2 new sheath loosen up? I just got mine and it is pretty tense to present and re-sheath, should I sand down the tension tightness? That grabs the grip? Someone PM
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I don't think you should sand the retention area on your sheath. It will most certainly loosen with some use. Use the thumb ramp to push off to unsheath the knife. Better to be a little tight than too loose.
 
willworship said:
Because of this thread, I took a flashlight and pointed it along the edge side as I inserted the knife with the spine tight to the opposite side of the sheath. The edge is contacting the sheath the whole way down. I'm bummed. In all other respects, this sheath is better, but this is kind of a crucial area to fumble, in my opinion.
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I just spotted your post, willworship: don't know how I missed it earlier.

That's good information. I don't have the new sheath yet, so I can't duplicate your test, but it sounds like a good way to check. Where is it contacting the sheath? Just at the throat, or for the entire length of the sheath?

I agree: this is a critical area to fumble in, and I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that KA-BAR would like to know what's causing it.
 
willworship said:
Because of this thread, I took a flashlight and pointed it along the edge side as I inserted the knife with the spine tight to the opposite side of the sheath. The edge is contacting the sheath the whole way down.
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This is true on my sheath as well. (On new updated model)

This really doesn't bother me too much tho. But I see how it could bother some people.

For me doesn't matter.

If it was my Spyderco street beat or another edc fixed rubbing and dulling the edge, I'd have a new sheath made up for me. Simple as that. I just could not live with it.

The streetbeat is also kept hair popping sharp for delicate and precise cutting tasks like processing computer paper and digging the dirt from under my nails.:rolleyes:lol ;)

The Bk 2 is kept with a sharp but durable edge for the knives intended purpose. So for me, an insane razor sharp edge is not needed out of this knife to cut and process wood.

"To each his own"

It's almost as if Kabar didn't make the sheath wide enough and that's whats causing your guys "problem"
 
frontline29 said:
No, not at all.
I think the point was that you do not need something as sharp as a straight razor to baton through wood.

If you keep your heavy duty bush knife like the BK2, with an edge that thin and razor sharp, that your getting immediate edge damage just by putting the knife in and out of the sheath...

Then the minute you use the BK2 for it's intended purpose that edge will be destroyed.

Sorry my friend that is what I call "Silly and impractical"
Click to expand...

Huh - I was going to post something completely uninformed without having read any of the previous posts, but it looks like you beat me to it. Bravo :thumbup:

Had you been reading my posts, you'd have seen that I've already described my convex edge angle on my BK-2 as being more obtuse and also thicker than the factory edge... the problem was also present when I experimented with a V-edge that was roughly 22 degrees (among other angles/grinds that I experimented with). You must not be aware that "hair popping" sharp does not translate to a "thin and acute" edge by any means - a splitting maul with perhaps a 25+ angle can still be made "razor" sharp. While a thin angle helps in creating a shaving sharp tool, edge alignment and refinement are much more vital.

That all said, it's not every day that I use the knife to baton or chop through wood - generally, I have a kukri handy to take on those tasks. Admittedly, I picked up the BK-2 because it can handle such chores should I need it to - but for the most part its primary usage is as a bush-craft knife with push-cutting or slicing chores in mind. Oddly enough, these tasks do not damage the edge as much as does the sheath (no visible deformations when held up to a light and still quite capable of shaving)... probably because it is digging into synthetic, plastic material instead of simple, natural wood.

willworship said:
Because of this thread, I took a flashlight and pointed it along the edge side as I inserted the knife with the spine tight to the opposite side of the sheath. The edge is contacting the sheath the whole way down. I'm bummed. In all other respects, this sheath is better, but this is kind of a crucial area to fumble, in my opinion.
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Thank you for checking - to verify, yours is a gen 2 correct? I had this same problem with my gen 1 sheath damaging a large portion of the edge, but all the metal I've removed in trying to solve it has helped somewhat... certain areas still make contact and ding up the edge, but I guess it's not as bad as it used to be. It's sounding to me like the "added retention" and "lack of rattling" in the gen 2 sheath came at the cost of an overly tight design that's nicking the edge. Maybe the trade-off is acceptable for most, but I'd personally prefer a bit of rattle in my sheath than a design that dings up my blade.
 
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update from my experience with the new BK2 gen 2 / gen 2 sheath.

Originally I had posted that I had the same gripes as killa (that the sheath was making contact with the blade and dulling it). I wanted to clear up exactly what I was experiencing. For me, my issue was that the sheath's retention was super tight and my thumb was getting really sore from using the thumb ramp (taking care to put pressure on the spine as I drew out). The retention was so tight that even when using the thumb ramp it would pop out pretty hard and almost half the knife would pop out, and this is when my blade would be making a lot of contact with the sheath.

My biggest gripe was with how hard the retention was when the knife was brand new. To remedy this I put the knife partially in the sheath overnight so that it was spreading the retention a bit. It eventually loosened up enough to still retain the knife in tightly but not vice-like tight as before. I also upgraded to micarta handles and this has helped with this a lot too. It's now tight enough that it doesn't wiggle in the sheath and also doesn't leave my thumbs raw.

My knife still makes contact inside the sheath in a couple places when drawing out the blade carefully and that's still a bummer, but i'll live with it.

And a separate note on the micarta handles: I LOVE THEM. They look, feel, and even smell amazing. They are substantially more grippy vs the grivory. I recommend them to anyone on the fence about buying them. I was really unimpressed with the grivory handles and everything about them felt wrong in my hands. They felt cheap and slippery. I plan to stipple them or maybe get them powder coated for fun.
 
daybreak said:
update from my experience with the new BK2 gen 2 / gen 2 sheath.

Originally I had posted that I had the same gripes as killa (that the sheath was making contact with the blade and dulling it). I wanted to clear up exactly what I was experiencing. For me, my issue was that the sheath's retention was super tight and my thumb was getting really sore from using the thumb ramp (taking care to put pressure on the spine as I drew out). The retention was so tight that even when using the thumb ramp it would pop out pretty hard and almost half the knife would pop out, and this is when my blade would be making a lot of contact with the sheath.

My biggest gripe was with how hard the retention was when the knife was brand new. To remedy this I put the knife partially in the sheath overnight so that it was spreading the retention a bit. It eventually loosened up enough to still retain the knife in tightly but not vice-like tight as before. I also upgraded to micarta handles and this has helped with this a lot too. It's now tight enough that it doesn't wiggle in the sheath and also doesn't leave my thumbs raw.

My knife still makes contact inside the sheath in a couple places when drawing out the blade carefully and that's still a bummer, but i'll live with it.

And a separate note on the micarta handles: I LOVE THEM. They look, feel, and even smell amazing. They are substantially more grippy vs the grivory. I recommend them to anyone on the fence about buying them. I was really unimpressed with the grivory handles and everything about them felt wrong in my hands. They felt cheap and slippery. I plan to stipple them or maybe get them powder coated for fun.
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I hear ya brother, the retention on that sheath is insane, but in a good way;).

I find that if you use your index finger to kinda pry up on the lip of the sheath while pushing with your thumb makes it a little easier to pop it out.
 
killa_concept said:
Huh - I was going to post something completely uninformed without having read any of the previous posts, but it looks like you beat me to it. Bravo :thumbup:

Had you been reading my posts, you'd have seen that I've already described my convex edge angle on my BK-2 as being more obtuse and also thicker than the factory edge... the problem was also present when I experimented with a V-edge that was roughly 22 degrees (among other angles/grinds that I experimented with). You must not be aware that "hair popping" sharp does not translate to a "thin and acute" edge by any means - a splitting maul with perhaps a 25+ angle can still be made "razor" sharp. While a thin angle helps in creating a shaving sharp tool, edge alignment and refinement are much more vital.

That all said, it's not every day that I use the knife to baton or chop through wood - generally, I have a kukri handy to take on those tasks. Admittedly, I picked up the BK-2 because it can handle such chores should I need it to - but for the most part its primary usage is as a bush-craft knife with push-cutting or slicing chores in mind. Oddly enough, these tasks do not damage the edge as much as does the sheath (no visible deformations when held up to a light and still quite capable of shaving)... probably because it is digging into synthetic, plastic material instead of simple, natural wood.
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I did read ALL your post in fact. :thumbup:
I just chose not to believe everything I read on the internet. ;)


Don't take it personal my friend it's just one man's opinion. ;)
 
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