What Kabar Becker do I need for my "Bug out Bag"

R

Rainbow4758

Joined
Nov 26, 2014
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Hi all, been trying to decide what Kabar Becker knife i need for my Bug out - survival Bag and i want to Use your knowledge and expertise. I want "THE" knife for Batoning, Camp work, and general usage that might be needed! I have looked and looked and I still cant Figure out what I want. I have a smaller knife already for skinning smaller game and such already. Weight is going to play into my equation and while being a weapon might be nice I have Firearms for that. what do you think I should carry if i only can have one larger style Knife? Thanks guys!! Also , where should i buy it from? I looked at Wal marts website and they seemed to have a few different Kabar Becker's at what i thought , were very good prices.. Let me know what you think, God Bless and may i never truly need to use this in my stated application but if i ever do then i will Thank Kabar, Mr Becker and yourselves !!!
 
Howdy Rainbow4758,

Very interesting question you pose. I'm going to guess when you say 'Bug out- survial Bag' that you live someplace city/ suburban that you would need to leave from. With usage from impending obstacles to get to your destination, then the use of said knife at that destination for the above mentioned tasks. The KA BAR lineup has many excellent knives that would suit your purpose. My favorite to start would be the BK2. At 1/4 inch thick and 5.25 inch long, there is nothing that this bad boy can't pry or baton through. It's been proven; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/839944-BK2-test-the-final-part-%28LOTS-of-pictures%29. The only disadvantages you would find with this knife is the weight (I don't personally find it too heavy), and the blade length (most folks wish for longer).
Next I would recommend a BK3.
[video=youtube;QSuZxLT8_iY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSuZxLT8_iY[/video]
If it can dismantle a car :thumbup: There is also a Gentleman on here who goes by 'DOC CANADA' who frequents BK3 use outdoors (forgive me I can't find the reviews to link).

BK9 / BK7/ BK4 would fall into my next set of recommendations. They have the length that the 2 doesn't have, and will serve you well for all above tasks.

The 15 / 16 / 17 will also do a fair job as a survival style knife, just not 'as well' as the full handled Beckers. One of the moderators here has used his BK16 for the R.A.T course.

I would also implore you to consider some of the KA BAR line as well. The standard #1217/18/19/20 or with the kraton G handled #5011. This knife design has been used by the military now for over 70 years and hasn't changed (that's got to say something!).

If it has a KA BAR stamp on it, and its made in the USA you can't go wrong. Good luck with your hard decision :thumbup:

If there is a place local that has them, I would really suggest feeling them in the hand first :)
 
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My favorite Becker is the BK-5 but IMO the most versatile of the full size Becker is the BK-7.

It fills the same niche as the legendary USMC Ka-Bar, but is a much more rugged and robust design.
 
TBL said:
...snip
I would also implore you to consider some of the KA BAR line as well. The standard #1217/18/19/20 or with the kraton G handled #5011. This knife design has been used by the military now for over 100 years and hasn't changed (that's got to say something!). snip....
Click to expand...

Actually 72 years, (Camillus shipped the first 1219C2s in February 1943) but who's counting? :D

TBL said:
...snip
If it has a KA BAR stamp on it, and its made in the USA you can't go wrong. Good luck with your hard decision :thumbup:
snip.....
Click to expand...

Truth.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Actually 72 years, (Camillus shipped the first 1219C2s in February 1943) but who's counting? :D
Click to expand...

Interesting fact. I though the design was used in WW1. Goes to show ya, you learn something new every day!
 
Hmmm, batoning, camp work, and general use and with weight also being a consideration?

Sounds like a job for ... the BK5 Magnum Camp!

Here, try mine ...
 
depends on the size of your bag. if you have room, go for the 9. if not, scale down or get a bigger bag.
 
I took my 9 and added a choil for added versatility. I think that made it the ultimate tool. A lot of people don't like choils.....maybe you're one of them. Adding one to the 9, however, doesn't cause much loss of cutting surface on a blade that has plenty to spare.
B82AA35D-0889-4DC9-98CF-3720F4D1FF7E.jpg

B7C67929-CE11-4EC1-A313-FD5B6F6BA228.jpg
 
For a true bug out bag its going to be one of two (or both) of the following knives. 1.BK2, what is wrong with you guys I havnt seen it mentioned once so far? Its an indestructable quarter inch thick super baton blade that with a pro convexed edge done will fill these bug out bag needs well except for one thing. its pretty heavy for a mid sized fixed blade. Talking do it all blade for a bug out bag means first consideration must be weight period. Sure go ahead throw a BK9 in your bag its gonna heavy and take up far far to much room in the bug out bag. The BK2 batons better anyways. Even the BK7 is overkill to wide and to heavy the sheath alone takes up to much room in the bug out bag. All the Beckers even the Tweeners have something about them that takes up to much room save for the BK2.

Which leads me to my personal favorite of the two (have the BK2 and this one as well as all the Beckers mentioned except for the tactitool)ahem...its the baddest survival/fighting/utility knife I have ever seen or used and that knife Im proud to say is the Ka Bar D2 Extreme Fighting knife with a standard leather sheath. Why? begining with the sheath its the smallest and most basic yet still works fine. The D2 steel the EF is made of is the most stainless and indestructable D2 Ive ever seen best in the industry in my opinion. Dont worry about the thin tang the D2 is so strong it would take a multi ton pressing machine to snap it. I have many fixed blades lots of Ka Bars couple Ontarios most the BK line some ESEEs etc so I can compare here. Make no mistake the D2 can baton heavily all night. It will not baton like a BK2 then again almost nothing else does. The D2 with leather sheath weighs nothing compared to a BK2 so its easy to carry. The D2 is basically a "Super" USMC. Palm filling kraton rubber, halfguard instear of full guard so you can thumb forward onto the spine for real fine work and an extended pommel with lanyard hole to help keep you grip nice and in place.

The D2 serrations actually work very well going through say rope. So even though the D2 isnt some 3 pound2+ inch wide monster like the big BKs it will still be able to cut rougher materials much quicker say for instance a seatbelt.

On top of it all youll be very glad you have it when your firearm runs out of bullets cause not many other mid sized fixed blades are as fast, ergonimic or penetrate like a USMC like knife.

Honestly I would get both the BK2 and the D2 get a custom double knife sheath system done. Those two knives will do everything 10 others can and when it comes to the big BKs the BK2 has the most unobtrusive sheath with TONS of custom sheath options out there for both knives. Good luck...
 
TBL said:
Howdy Rainbow4758,
I would also implore you to consider some of the KA BAR line as well. The standard #1217/18/19/20 or with the kraton G handled #5011.....
Click to expand...

+1 on this. I have a very small collection and I plan to buy one of the BK's in the not too distant future. But every time I go to hit the "add to cart" button on the BK7 / BK9 or even the 4.... I look at my classic 1219. It does everything I want. While it maybe not be as strong as the 7 or 9, it has a classic design and aesthetic quality that appeals to me much more. Yes, batoning is all the rage around here, but it's not something I have ever needed to do in many years of back-country and minimalist situations and if I find myself using a knife to dismantle a car, stove, waterheater, etc... I am doing something wrong ;-)
Anyway, I think my point is I second the BK line but don't discount the classics. They are more than enough knife for 99% of the real world situations you'll encounter. Best of luck!
 
CelticCross74 said:
1.BK2, what is wrong with you guys I havnt seen it mentioned once so far? ... its pretty heavy for a mid sized fixed blade.
Click to expand...

Ahem ... maybe cuz we took into consideration ALL of the OP's requirements - "Weight is going to play into my equation ..." - and so the "pretty heavy" BK2 was passed over.
 
the other big beckers weigh roughly the same as the BK2 and take up much more room in the bug out bag. Hmm gonna weigh my BK2 it doesnt seem that heavy but hey prbly is
 
Rainbow4758 said:
Hi all, been trying to decide what Kabar Becker knife i need for my Bug out - survival Bag and i want to Use your knowledge and expertise. I want "THE" knife for Batoning, Camp work, and general usage that might be needed! I have looked and looked and I still cant Figure out what I want. I have a smaller knife already for skinning smaller game and such already. Weight is going to play into my equation and while being a weapon might be nice I have Firearms for that. what do you think I should carry if i only can have one larger style Knife? Thanks guys!! Also , where should i buy it from? I looked at Wal marts website and they seemed to have a few different Kabar Becker's at what i thought , were very good prices.. Let me know what you think, God Bless and may i never truly need to use this in my stated application but if i ever do then i will Thank Kabar, Mr Becker and yourselves !!!
Click to expand...

Are you bugging out from a large[r] city or a rural area to another [more] rural area?

Since you have smaller knives for those tasks - and weight considerations play a part, you will want something "in the middle" between large and small. I'm going to suggest something in the area of a Becker BK 10 [Becker Crewman] or the BK 3 [TacTool].

The BK 10 has a 5.5" blade, is 0.75 lbs and is roughly 3/16" thick [0.188]

http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/186

and the BK3 has a 7" blade, is 1.30 lbs and is 1/4" thick

http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/7

The BK3 is your basic knife design and the TacTool is a machete-esque/pry bar/seat belt/rope cutter combination tool.

You need to decide what the tool has to accomplish and that should help you choose which tool to get.
 
Some might find the bk9 perfect
It is blade heavy and great for hacking.
But i would go with the bk7
Only because it balances well for general duties
The short coming on the bk7
is that the clip point
somewhat shortens up the blade spine's tip area
Hampering effective batoning of thick logs/branches.
Your problem in finding a bug out bk is not unique
I know a lot could be resolved if there was a bk8!
Bk8 being the ideal 8 inch clip point.
 
GIRLYmann said:
Some might find the bk9 perfect
It is blade heavy and great for hacking.
But i would go with the bk7
Only because it balances well for general duties
The short coming on the bk7
is that the clip point
somewhat shortens up the blade spine's tip area
Hampering effective batoning of thick logs/branches.
Your problem in finding a bug out bk is not unique
I know a lot could be resolved if there was a bk8!
Bk8 being the ideal 8 inch clip point.
Click to expand...



This is the 'BK8'. In the phrasing of the distinguished NCSlice, "..that weird helicopter contraption". It's been said you need to talk to Mr. Becker about it..

My choice would be the
RSK Perseverence MkII a.k.a. BK12.
Specs-
Blade length: 6in
OAL length: 11.375in
Gross mass: 13.2oz
Blade thickness: 0.188in
Blade shape: Drop point



You can only get one of these from KnifeWorks.

Like I said, this is my choice. Rainbow, your preference comes down to the differential between what you believe you will need it for compared to your abilities. Hope this helps.. Springy..
 
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Looks like it will still take the Ka Bar upgrade micarta? The 3 brass weights screwed inside the handle for your choice of balance is pure Fing genius! Got mine on pre order
 
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