Thoughts on the BK1 Brute?

One Legged Josh

One Legged Josh

Joined
Dec 10, 2010
Messages
492
I saw a (Camillus made) Brute for the first time this past weekend, and I made up my mind ;), what are your thoughts on the beast?
 
Not a big fan of the Brute. I've owned one but the BK9 can do anything it can. It does look cool though ;)
 
I've seen them only in photos, but I do think they look pretty sweet. The thought of another becker with a 1/4in blade (especially that large of a blade) is pretty sweet.

I have heard repeatedly that the BK9 outchops it, but that the new one will have a better grind for chopping, so we'll have to see.
 
I picked one up at a knife show, but haven't used one. Odd that the guy didn't want to let me test drive it.

It does one thing better than any other Becker, imo. It makes you want to start hacking and prying away at something no knife should be able to touch! Primal urges surge just as the sight of the beast.
 
yes, the Brute DOES look cool.

i think i'll just keep mine in the chest of chests and safe of safes in the mine of mines beyond the pit of doomia :)

now, i've HEARD that if you convex them well, they'll chop... but then, any 1/4 inch thick piece of steel with a good edge and heat treat should :>

what's cool are the Blackjack era Brutes in stainless :> those were PURTY :>

the Camillus ones? eh, coat them with grease, and hang onto them. they MIGHT go up in value or they might not when they new ones come in. Heck, they might just end up being worth MSRP or less, but they will be different than the what? third gen brutes? (1st gen stainless bead blast, 2nd gen camillus, 3rd gen kabar; i don't think they did a "sterile epoxy" as they did for reinhardt, campanion, and machax). mmm.
 
Boat anchor for my kayak.

My least like BKT of all, and I pretty much like them all. BK1 is at the bottom of the list. That's my opinion on it.

100_1401.jpg


I put all of them against one another, and I think "club" is more accurate of a description. :D

I done a review a while back, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...t-at-Half-Moon-Ridge?highlight=chop+test+moon

Moose
 
.... and say that the Brute was not my favorite knife. When I bought it I was thinking it would be a good cross between a machete and a big utility knife for my vehicle survival kit. One good size blade rather than two. But upon taking it on a few campouts I found that it just wasn't very comfortable for many jobs. It didn't chop all that well (on a scout campout we usually have a axe or two around), and it was too big for a lot of other day to day tasks. It did have a nice "feel" to it, and it was always good for a few "Wows" when I pulled it out around the scouts (or their parents!) I eventually decided to try the BK6 Patrol Machete as my "big" survival blade, and still used my beat up old 6" Randall model 5 Camp & Trail as my general woodcraft knife. I liked the Patrol Machete, but never used it much after that, as my son graduated from scouts and I gave up my Ass't Scoutmaster job. The BK6 went into the vehicle kit and I sold the Brute to a friend. (I wish I could remember which one, as I would like to buy it back just for old times sake.) I put a pic of both blades in my avatar.

Bottom line, I wish I still had the Brute, but it would be a "bunker queen." I think a combo of the BK6 Machete and the BK7 would be my ideal outdoor combo.
 
I am actually really surprised by the mostly "negative" feelings towards the Brute.
Thats ok though, I am used to people saying bad things about a knife That I like....I own a TOPS Tracker! :D
 
I hear the new one will be much improved as far as cutting angles and grind. Ethan has commented at least once I think about the changes.
 
One Legged Josh said:
I am actually really surprised by the mostly "negative" feelings towards the Brute.
Thats ok though, I am used to people saying bad things about a knife That I like....I own a TOPS Tracker! :D
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Not really negative, just compared to the other BKT's. Its just really redundant with no real world offerings that other BKT's don't have. You wanna baton, take your pick, they all do it. Wanna make some curls, take your pic, they all do it. Wanna pry a bumper off a car, best stick to the BK2.

There are folks that love it, I just don't see it beating the BK9/4/6 for chopping, I don't see it beating the BK2 for most knife on the belt in the smallest package. And the edge geometry is atrocious and thick.

Ok, maybe some negative, and, that Tracker makes a great kayak anchor. :D

Silverthorn said:
I hear the new one will be much improved as far as cutting angles and grind. Ethan has commented at least once I think about the changes.
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It has been Toooj'd (real word, look it up). With over 3 decades in the knife bin-ness, if Toooj does something to it, it will be better, fo' sho'.

Moose
 
Dammit, moose. Every time I see that avatar, I think it's trade posting.

Bill Siegle convexed the one I use. It is an excellent chopper with the edge thinned out a bit.
 
Guyon said:
Dammit, moose. Every time I see that avatar, I think it's trade posting.

Bill Siegle convexed the one I use. It is an excellent chopper with the edge thinned out a bit.
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Get some of that, then. :D

Just wait, it will change. Soon, my good man, sooooooooooooooooooooooooon............................

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
And the edge geometry is atrocious and thick. Moose
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Ya, I know, and that's why it's such a beeotch for me to sharpen to a shallower angle. I still like it though. It's thick, strong and dependable. It is quite comforting to have strapped down your leg in remote woods. For me anyway. But a Brute and full canteen of water on a pistol belt are just too much weight by the end of the day. I can still hack down 4-6 inch evergreens for shelter quite quickly with big chunks of wood flying. It's sure not EDC for me but there is a time and place for it, strapped to a pack maybe. It's name is quite appropriate and I'll keep it. Kind of reminds me of a big busted off sharpened leaf spring when I heft it.
:D
 
Having read all this... I still want one. Looking forward to the KB incarnation... maybe they'll put a hollow grind on it like the Cutlass/Grass machetes? Not sure I've ready anywhere what exactly it is that Toooj and Ethan are planning to change on this.
 
I look at it like this: as far as the edge geometry-"ain't nothin my belt sander can't fix !" My Condor Boomslang did not chop very good w/stock edge either IMHO-until i put it on the belt sander & reprofiled it. It now chops as good as my BK9. Took me a while though.
 
TwinStick said:
I look at it like this: as far as the edge geometry-"ain't nothin my belt sander can't fix !" My Condor Boomslang did not chop very good w/stock edge either IMHO-until i put it on the belt sander & reprofiled it. It now chops as good as my BK9. Took me a while though.
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So, what you are saying, is with time and a belt sander, you can make a Brute chop like a 9.

I'll just stick to the 9 and save the belts and time. :D

Moose
 
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