Whatever happened to the BK32?

A

Adan

Joined
Feb 7, 2015
Messages
48
Around a year and a half ago, Kabar starting selling versions of the BK2 and 9 with clear cerkoting instead of the normal powdercoat. Calling them the BK32 and 39, it was implied that they might eventually give this treatment to other knives in their lineup. Now, not only are there no new knives, but the BK32 and 9 are no longer being sold.

What went wrong?
 
I can only assume there were not enough sales to justify continuing to offer them, probably because they gauged poorly the actual desire for a clear coated blade versus just a stripped coating-free one. I haven't seen nearly as many in use around this subforum as I have the laser-etched rough-coated normal BK2 and BK9.
 
I considered a BK39 but it had a large logo diagonally across the center of the blade that turned me off. I still like the idea of a clear coated blade but I preferred the standard logo that is on the black coated BK9.
 
cold one said:
I really liked the clear coat BK2 and BK9 but the combination of the billboard logo on the blade and bright handle turned me off. JMHO.
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Haha we must have been posting at the same time. Looks like I wasn't alone on the big logo.
 
Yeah, handle is an easy fix, the writing not so much if you wanted to keep the clear coat. Might as well buy a BK9 if you're going to strip it anyways.
 
I also like the blades except the billboard logo. and they should have shipped with black scales too.
 
One of the mossyback Beckerheads might chime in. I think that Bk10 blanks were left over inventory when Camillus went out of business. Ka-Bar bought the inventory. They roll stamped, heat treated, and clear coated them and put on micarta scales. 180 got made.
 
BK-10 LE version, It was a BeckerHead forum knife. 200 ish made, came with KaBar micarta. I didn't think it was clearcoated. $100 to BeckerHeads
 
That danged logo! Why did they do that? I think a LOT of people got turned off because of it. I know I did.
 
If not for the logo/billboard I would have been all over those clearcoat models.
 
SALTY said:
If not for the logo/billboard I would have been all over those clearcoat models.
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Me too. At first glance, I thought it was just a watermark for the photo. Then I saw one in use and it still had the diagonal writing on it! Looks great, but the writing is a bit gaudy IMO...
 
Exactly what I thought bravo. Watermark. Mallninjaesk with the green scales and diagonal markings
 
Yep. I was interested when i heard a clear coated becker was coming. Then like most I didnt like the giant logo. Or the green handles. OD green handles I would buy. But not sinus infection green.
 
Why doesn't kabar understand we don't want neon green, pink, blue, or red handles. Why on earth have they not done OD green, urban grey, hunter orange and brown. They make brown scales out of the same polymer for the Jarosz blades. They also give you a free set of brown scales with the tweeners.

I would buy so many sets if they put out brown and grey
 
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