What’s The Story with Your Beckers?

[BluesStringer]

I had been a prepper for 10 or 15 years before I bought my first Becker. I graduated from prepper to full-blown survivalist back in like 2000 or so. I was putting together my bug-out plans and gear, and did a ton of homework on which knife I wanted. The BK-9 wasn't my first choice, don't even remember what was now, but it was what I could afford ($59 delivered back then!) so I went with it. Best investment in survival gear I ever made, though truth be told, I subsequently replaced it in the bug-out bag with a Kershaw Outcast and brought the 9 in the house to use as a full-time fireplace tool. For my purposes, the 9 is more at home, well, at home, where it gets extensive use every winter. The bug-out bag sees very little use, just a night out here and there to keep in practice making camp and fire etc.

Maybe a year or so after I bought the 9, I found a pair of BK-2s at an estate sale. Nabbed 'em for $20 bucks each. One went in the geo-cache tube, and I haven't seen it since I stashed it. The other one is in my wife's get-home bag, and I rarely see that one either (neither does she ). But it's there if she needs it.

Finally got me a 2 for "normal" use early this year. Polished and convexed it, and put some custom leather/Kydex on it. Used the 9 A LOT during the cleanup after the tornado swarm-storm that went through here in April, but only started using the 2 recently when it started getting cold and we started using the fireplace again. I still find the 9 better for batoning, but for its length, the 2 works amazingly well too. Pretty much use either one of 'em for fireplace duty so far this season.

Got the LE BK-10 when they were offered to Beckerheads (thanks Ka-Bar, Ethan, Moose et al), but haven't used it at all yet. May never use it. Not into safe-queens, it's just that between the 2 and the 9, the 10 doesn't really have a specific role to fill for my needs. May end up selling it. Not sure yet.

I still want a 14. Just haven't jumped on one when I had the money, and didn't have the money at the times that I felt like I "needed" one. Going to get at least two of the Tweeners (probably all three) and the Machax when they come out, and I'm probably done buying knives for quite awhile after that. Not really a collector, just a user/enthusiast. The 10 was the first knife I ever bought that I knew ahead of time that I probably had no use for.

Anyhow, here's a couple of shots of the 9 and the 2. Some newcomers probably haven't seen 'em yet. Apologies to the old-timers for not having any fresh photography.

After face-lift:

After double face-lift:

 

[orangish ducktape]

My first becker was the BK-14 Eskabar.
I fell in love with that knife on youtube and bought it shortly afterwards on amazon.
Even though I have other knives of that size, CS Pentleton Hunter Mini, Mora 2000, Boker Gnome,
but the eskabar is still the one I grab most.
Pair it with a CRKT M-21 12G, Victornox Cadet and the Ontario SP-42/ Becker BK-7 and a Bahco Laplander
it's the most practical blade system I own.
-Orangish ducktape

 

[Nk47]

My first Becker was a BK9.
I was actually seeking a BK7 but I had a shot to buy a second-hand BK9 to a really, really nice price on a French discussion board, I bought it.
I was looking for a well rounded and versatile camp knife that could be used outdoors, and I don't why, but I felt attracted by Ethan Becker's designs.
I just can't help it, and besides, I've wanted a Ka-Bar for a very long time (USMC, USA-made, all the myth surrounding the brand, etc...).
So I guess it was just perfect.

I didn't have a shot to try the BK9 in the woods yet but it shouldn't be long before I do...
With the BK9 came a BK13, and it's pretty handy even thought I didn't like the grip (I wrapped it with 550 paracord and the grip is kinda nice that way).
I'm thinking about changing the tip to a clip point and move the general view of the blade towards a more "aggressive" profile, but I find the BK13 pretty nice the way he is.

The Cordura sheath is nice and the MOLLE webbing is convenient in order to clip it to a belt or anything (I used some Maxped Tacties to do so and it's fine), but I'm waiting to receive some Kydex so I think there will be a couple of new sheaths for the BK9 and the BK13 in the near future.

 

[Guyon]

I bought a BK-7. After that, it's just a blur.

 

[InquisitorLord]

Well, I bought a KaBar at the PX on Parris Island the day I graduated boot camp in 1998. Earlier this year I received a BK13 for upgrading to Gold membership here on BF. Great little knife that resides in my "Oh $**!" bag. Just started looking here a few weeks ago and last week I decided to give something bigger a shot. I was aiming for a BK2 but then I stumbled across the BK10 and now I am coveting that blade. I called and left a message at the factory Friday night. Hopefully there is one left for me . After that I will probably grab a 14 while I try to find a Brute for a good price.. If I luck out on the 10 I will probably get the 2 but I have my heart set so I don't want to think that far ahead if I don't have to .

 

[Nsvens89]

Well, I bought a KaBar at the PX on Parris Island the day I graduated boot camp in 1998. Earlier this year I received a BK13 for upgrading to Gold membership here on BF. Great little knife that resides in my "Oh $**!" bag. Just started looking here a few weeks ago and last week I decided to give something bigger a shot. I was aiming for a BK2 but then I stumbled across the BK10 and now I am coveting that blade. I called and left a message at the factory Friday night. Hopefully there is one left for me . After that I will probably grab a 14 while I try to find a Brute for a good price.. If I luck out on the 10 I will probably get the 2 but I have my heart set so I don't want to think that far ahead if I don't have to .

No need to think man you will want them all! I have a 2,14, and a nine. And I've got tweeners machax and magnum
In my sights it's definitely a sickness.

 

[orca8589]

I wanted a good outdoor hiking, camping, chopping, beater knife, and bought and tested several back in 2006. I settled on the then Camillus-made BK7, from cheaperthandirt.com. By the time I'd decided to buy another couple of -7's as backups, Camillus had closed.

Mod's: stripped the blade finish, replaced the grip screws with slotted screws, so I can get into the scales with my SAK, and filed slots in the scales so I have a better grip with gloves in the snow.

I later sold it, then went back and bought it back, and it's been my go-to for everything outdoors. It recently helped take down the nasty old cactus plants (Agave Americana) around our new home.

My current "Becker Brood", with three of those nasty A. Americana spikes:

To my mind, the BK7 is the best of Ethan's designs. Ya'll may disagree with me . . . but you'd be wrong.

~Chris

 

[Nsvens89]

I wanted a good outdoor hiking, camping, chopping, beater knife, and bought and tested several back in 2006. I settled on the then Camillus-made BK7, from cheaperthandirt.com. By the time I'd decided to buy another couple of -7's as backups, Camillus had closed.

Mod's: stripped the blade finish, replaced the grip screws with slotted screws, so I can get into the scales with my SAK, and filed slots in the scales so I have a better grip with gloves in the snow.

I later sold it, then went back and bought it back, and it's been my go-to for everything outdoors. It recently helped take down the nasty old cactus plants (Agave Americana) around our new home.

My current "Becker Brood", with three of those nasty A. Americana spikes:

To my mind, the BK7 is the best of Ethan's designs. Ya'll may disagree with me . . . but you'd be wrong.

~Chris

That looks like a well loved 7 and a mighty clean 11. Is that a Camillus era 11? I do like the looks of the sabre grind on those. Probably why I am drawn to the 2 and the 16 so much. Thanks for sharing man.

 

[econnofoot]

I'd used a friends BK2 and 11 when I was trying to figure out what to gift a few people this christmas who like to camp I was like hmmmm BK14 looks like a choice got 3 cheap and kept one, immediately liked it enough to get sheaths made and still came in under the price of Izulas(which I'd debated). I love the thing, I'm not a big blade tote person generally, kind user loaned me a 2 which I've been using a lot as have some friends( I was on the fence rather I wanted a 2 or 7) got a 7 in route now.

kinda weird when I think about it 14 divided by 2 =7.

 

[gutsy]

it all started for me 12 years ago when i got a cammy bk 7 and the necker . since then ive had numerous becker knives and only got rid of a couple.i broke about a half inch off the tip of the 7 about 2 or 3 years ago and then ground it to a much better shape that has a stronger tip and a bit of a belly . that 7 is what started it all for me and i remember the girl that bought it for me very well because i married her 5 years later ! now ive got a 2 7 9 and ll that get used quite a bit.

 

[orca8589]

Is that a Camillus era 11?

Yup, it sure is. It's my desk knife for now, only because I haven't had to use it outside yet, other than helping with the "great cactus purge of 2011".

The -11 and it's Big Brother will go snow camping with our Scout Troop this February, and it'll get a good workout then.

~Chris

 

[Stacey_E]

I bought my first BK&T at Atomic Pawn in west Knoxville. It was a Camillus BK-5 with the top part of the sheath busted. After some haggling over my cash in hand, I got them down to $35 out the door. The blade was just almost mint condition, very VERY light superficial mark or two that was NOT through the finish. The handle was wrapped in orange non-550 cord, imagine orange in Knoxville, TN. I've unwrapped the handle and stuffed it with insulating foam to reduce that hollow handle feel. Then I re-wrapped it, stoned and steel rodded it a TAD, and it sits razor sharp with my Kahr CW9 next to my recliner.

Bought a BK-14 about two months ago, and I'm so sorry to say this honest truth.....It was as dull as a baseball bat. But I had faith in the Becker blade design! I had they guys at SMKW back the relief edge up, and did the final touch up myself including the Izula handles. I still need another sheath for both of those knives (I did get a non-tanto BK-14 sheath). I'm just being honest, and please bear with me.....both my Becker sheaths from two different generations are....ehhhhh. But even with those small knocks, these are knives I am willing to work with and upgrade as needed because I believe in Ethan's vision, design and overall philosophy of use. Great stuff!

 

[CCMI]

Cool story about you BK5. I'd like to see a picture if you haven't already posted one up.

Yeah, the stock sheaths aren't going to win awards anytime soon (the tweener sheaths don't look half bad though).

Beckers are a great value in my, and many others, opinion. So compared to simliar blades, the price difference allows you to get the exact sheath you want. Maybe it's nylon, leather, kydex, etc.. there are some great custom makers right here on the forums that do top notch work. Beckers are really a great knife to mod and customize to your liking.

 

[DougB2]

I bought a Becker Campanion (not sure if it was called BK2 then) on my first deployment to Tuzla in '96. I deployed with a Benchmade Mini AFCK, a Gerber Gator, and a Camillus Air Force pilot's knife. I think I ordered the Campanion from an AG Russell catalog I found by the terminal building. It was the one with the ugly gray finish, like semi-gloss house paint. The BM was great for opening MREs but the Becker quickly replaced the Camillus on my belt. What a beast! Heavy but no thought of it ever breaking. (Last year, I sanded the gray paint off and applied gun blue.) Several years later, I saw the BK7 and picked one up. It's my best chopper after my Cold Steel kukri machete, so far even better than my Condor Boomslang. Not thrilled with the cheap Chinese sheath that started coming apart soon after I started using it, but the 7 fits my Spec Ops sheath; not optimal but it works. I've also added an 11 and a 13. Several months ago, I found a DivTul at a local gun show and got it for a good price. New micarta handles for the Campanion, 7, and DivTul make them all more user-friendly. Now I'm waiting for the new line to come out.