Thought experiment: reissued Beckers not made by KA-BAR

[BRL]

First off, I am really happy with all my KA-BARs and my KA-BAR Beckers and am not wishing for Beckers made by someone else. This post is just idle speculation.

The recent post about the Patrol Machete, not to mention the time since we've seen prototype PMs and Brutes, got me thinkin'... Let's say KA-BAR did a business case for some of the Beckers and determined that the numbers would never work out for them. And let's say they were willing to let BK&T take these designs back and do whatever Ethan wanted with 'em. What would you want him to do?

I mean, possibly someone who he's got a close relationship with like Rowen might give a factory knife a go. But what about if he teamed up with a custom maker? Since people are buying the old factory versions of these things for hundreds of dollars, it makes me wonder if a custom maker couldn't grind out say a Brute for $300 and still make it economical. Let's assume so. And let's assume that the warranty issues (which is actually what would scuttle this whole idea) weren't a thing.

Would you want one? Or would you want a factory one for less bucks, but maybe on a longer timeline?

 

[Bladite]

could work. up to our Masters

there are plans for the PM and the B, just not a priority. both are recurves, and historically they just don't sell well, yet they are cool looking and people DO like them.

the brute by Camillus was a poof performer, and it needs updates. lots. it'll be a new knife by the time they are done.

the PM? well, the old model was not bad actually - the sheath... well, the sheath was a way to sell the knife i guess lots of people liked it, yet... how many are out there? doesn't seem like a lot. machetes are "in" though now, so KaBar should get a move on. make a good zombie machete i mean, yeah, a proper Becker.

 

[FAL'ER]

I think there'd be more chance to get some custom mods done to it right from the maker, Like 5160 steel or sharpening the spine. Sounds like an interesting idea.

 

[Moosez45]

I often wondered about a BKT custom shop.

I think it would be fun, but I also think it would cost out the ass. I would have a few.

S30V BK10 with black maple handles
O1 BK2 with burlap micarta
1095CV BK9 with a full convex grind bacote/ with micarta bolsters.

Yeah, I would have a few.

Moose

 

[wasatchdan]

A reissued Machax Warrior with a sharpened swedge.

A full convex Brute, again with a sharpened swedge.

Reinhardt Kukri.

 

[Skystorm]

Now if they has an online site with a customizing tool for ordering, Yea that bladesmith would be buried under loads of work in short order. And I would be utterly broke.

 

[trailbum]

Too much money.
But maybe.

 

[MrKnifekid]

Well, to me, that is not what Becker is about.

A custom shop for Beckers would make them a lot more costly.

Beckers are about bringing you the best quality tools at the best quality price.

Just my .02 sense

 

[Nsvens89]

I often wondered about a BKT custom shop.

I think it would be fun, but I also think it would cost out the ass. I would have a few.

S30V BK10 with black maple handles
O1 BK2 with burlap micarta
1095CV BK9 with a full convex grind bacote/ with micarta bolsters.

Yeah, I would have a few.

Moose

Good god man you are making my mouth water and my wallet hurt, Fun to think about though.

 

[BRL]

Beckers are about bringing you the best quality tools at the best quality price.

I think this is a really good point. It's one of the major reasons I've got a bunch of Beckers instead of a bunch of Busses. BUT... based on the thought process in this thread, the question is whether you pay more in order to get a remake of the older models, or you never get one, ever. 'Cause I'm kinda thinking that's where we probably are on at least one or two of them.

 

[Bladite]

i would think of it not as "custom" Becker, but perhaps more like sprint runs? limited editions but volume produced.

 

[bigghoss]

Honestly, with what I've read about the BK1 and how it preforms, I'm not interested in the brute without some serious changes. The patrol machete however, I want one. Even so I can only seeing me shelling out maybe $150 or so for one. Pushing the bounds of what's realistically possible I know but that's about all I can afford to drop on one blade.

 

[ironborn]

I'm a big fan of any opportunity for those of us who may never have the chance to own the discontinued models being able to share in the joy of owning them....

 

[Uncle Malice]

I would love to see a Bark River produced Brute design... 3V steel.... full convex.... micarta slabs holy geez.

 

[Bladite]

I would love to see a Bark River produced Brute design... 3V steel.... full convex.... micarta slabs holy geez.

trolling? mmm!

won't happen unless KaBar/Becker licenses the design, which i fully doubt

 

[OutdoorsFamilyMan4]

I am new to Beckers so I dont understand what is so much better about the Patrol Machete than any other similar machete (Condor, Ontario,etc) that would make people willing to pay so much money for it (same with the Brute)---Aside from the obvious answer: They are Beckers and I want them all!

 

[CamH_16]

I am new to Beckers so I dont understand what is so much better about the Patrol Machete than any other similar machete (Condor, Ontario,etc) that would make people willing to pay so much money for it (same with the Brute)---Aside from the obvious answer: They are Beckers and I want them all!

No way in hell I'm paying the current price for out of production Beckers but I think one thing that sets the 6 appart from other machetes is A, its looks and B, its weight...Even if these were reduced to 3/16ths thats still thicker than most 'chetes.

 

[bigghoss]

I am new to Beckers so I dont understand what is so much better about the Patrol Machete than any other similar machete (Condor, Ontario,etc) that would make people willing to pay so much money for it (same with the Brute)---Aside from the obvious answer: They are Beckers and I want them all!

Because there are no other similar machetes. Condor and ontario make good machetes but they are traditional thin machetes where as the BK6 has a unique shape to it and IIRC is much thicker.

 

[Guyon]

I would love to see a Bark River produced Brute design... 3V steel.... full convex.... micarta slabs holy geez.

Not likely to happen unless someone buys Bark River. Let's just say Mike Stewart has burned a lot of bridges in the knife industry.

 

[Mistwalker]

I often wondered about a BKT custom shop.

I think it would be fun, but I also think it would cost out the ass. I would have a few.

S30V BK10 with black maple handles
O1 BK2 with burlap micarta
1095CV BK9 with a full convex grind bacote/ with micarta bolsters.

Yeah, I would have a few.

Moose

If BK&T could bring just some of their economical factor to it, a BK-17 or 16 in CPM S35VN would be really cool for the guys working in harsh corrosive salt water environments. As is I think I'll send my Spartan Hunter with Jimmy while he's working drug interdiction in the glades for the next three years. I already had it down there for a couple of months and already know just how corrosion resistant the CPM S35VN is, and it would at least save him the money of having to buy a good quality stainless knife for working in that environment right after all of the financial strain of the move to south Florida when he is already going to have to spend a good deal of money on specialized gear for working the new environment anyway.