Thoughts on a Becker 5"

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BigSky01

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Mar 8, 2017
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Just bought a BK 7 & BK 9. Been trying to decide between BK2 and BK10 since they are both in 5" range.

Honestly I'm beginning to think either might not be needed since the BK7 can do such a wide range of camp tasks, but isn't much smaller than the BK9 so would be taking out 2 large knives instead of 1 large/1 small.

What would you do, and why?
Decisions decisions ...
 
I do not have any experience with the BK7, but I own the BK2 and the BK9 and I have handled the BK10 with aspirations of purchasing one soon.

Though the BK2 and the BK10 are similar in size, length and width wise, they are dramatically different. The BK2 is a veritable beast with a thick, stout blade and a drop point (I think it might be the thickest blade in the Becker lineup). It is pretty much a concrete buster and you can find numerous stress test vids on YouTube demonstrating its many abilities aside from its primary function as a knife. Though it is technically my wife's knife, I have carried and used it on numerous occasions and I have found it to be an excellent knife for just about any camp task. I would say it's primary shortcomings are in regards to its slicing and finer work capabilities. Though I have seen guys treat the edge in a manner to improve such traits, it is still a beastly knife that is more at home processing wood and chopping through elk bones (definitely not much of a skinner), than filleting a trout or dicing up tomatoes...

The BK10, on the other hand, has a much thinner blade with a clip point and swedge. I used to think that the BK10 was useless since the BK2 would clearly outperform it, but I am afraid my experiences in the field have done much to evolve my thought processes regarding this. As a result, I find myself looking at thinner, "slicier" knives and I think the BK10 will prove to outdo the BK2 in the regard.

If you are looking for a brutish tank of a knife that is practically indestructible and can baton through cinder blocks, then the BK2 is your knife.

If you are looking for something a bit more delicate, but no less effective, then the BK10 will fit that role rather nicely.

Plus, if you are bringing your 7 or 9 along with, both of those should do exceptionally well at clearing shrubberies and processing firewood, leaving your smaller knives to do the more delicate tasks such as food prep and the like.
 
Personally every time I get a 5" knife, I end up not using it.
I prefer a small neck knife(BK11), a 4" knife(BK16 or FB Bushfinger), and a big knife. Usually my Machax or Siegle.
A 5" knife just doesn't fill a role for me personally.
 
I view a 5" knife as a hiking buddy as solo carry, or accompanied by a Victorinox farmer or similar.
They aren't too heavy, cumbersome, threatening to other hikers, and generally pretty nimble and capable when used in this role.
Doubling as an insurance policy if things do get rough, at least you have something that can break down some wood, clean food, et al.

That being said, if I am going to be going camping, or I am packing a large/small combo, I will prefer my BK4/11 or similar.

I feel that the smaller knives (16 included) can cover many camp utility, food prep and smaller firewood tasks just fine, while the 4/9/20, et al, will do the heavy lifting.

This leads me to see see knives in the 5"-7" range as being redundant and stepping on the toes of the other knives while potentially being clumsy to task in the process.
Difficult to clean trout, while not as good to break down firewood...
 
So much of what has been said here is factually accurate but perhaps a bit clinical. The 10 may be functionally great but the 2 truly has soul!

I agree that if you have a SAK, an 11/14/24 (or a Tweener) and a 4/9/20 you are G2G.

Now, that being said, a 5" knife has it's benefits, as stated by others above, but if your mission involves getting in and out of vehicles, the 5" knives are "big" knives that are not too unwieldy or uncomfortable in and out of vehicles.

There is something about the BK2 that just calls you; like the BK9, you just have to have one. The 2 is the Mack DM800 of the line-up and a darned near "must have" just because!

How's that for not too clinical?
 
Thank you all for your thoughts and insight, it's going to be very helpful in making a decision.
 
While I really like some knives in that size range, the BK10 has never appealed to me. It's the awkward middle child of the Becker family - too small to keep up with the big kids, too big to play with the small ones. (No offense intended to those that appreciate it more than I do.)
 
get a 14 or a 16 as a smaller companion knife and you should be good to go with either the 7 or the 9.
 
when I got my 7 it came with a 13 and it rides in the sheath. With that combo, there isn't much I haven't been able to do. Love the setup.
 
Between the 10 and the 2, in a vacuum, I pick the 10 every time. It has the type of performance I prefer and weighs substantially less.

In the context of the 9 and 7, you might prefer the 2 because it is much different from those, whereas the 10 is basically a short 7 with the tip grind of the 9.

But since you have a 9 and a 7, I would actually recommend you skip both the 10 and 2 (for the time being) and pick up a 16. It's a fantastic knife, and so much more portable than the other 4 that it would overlap very little, which is something I'd like for my own working set.
 
Nothing said already that I could say any better. However, if it were me, I would pair a 16 with the 7 or 9. YMMV
 
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