What's the competition, and why did you chose the Becker knife?

I found and bought a BK2 first after a quick search that lead me to these forums and the Becker photo thread. I was an avid backpacker at the time and need a good sturdy fixed blade ( broke a couple moras and folders ) and was considering a 1211 and while visiting the kabar site I stumbled upon the Becker line. After my BK2 I looked in ESEE for my next knife but the price steered me away and it was all over from there...
 
daizee said:
I would say ESEE, SYKCO, Cold Steel (for some people), Fallkniven, Ontario, TOPS, and yes, Ka-bar itself. I wouldn't put Condor anywhere near that set.

The BK&T line strikes a great price/performance balance while being made in the USA. The ergonomics are good, the designs are good, the price is good, the materials are good, the execution is good.
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This is your answer. If you were to put micarta on any of the regular beckers or even the tweeners, it puts the price over $100. The price doesn't take it out of competition with other brands, it's the selling point. You get a good knife at a reasonable price.
 
BK 9 was my first Becker, but I was looking hard at the RTAK II and pretty much had it narrowed down to those two. Then I stumbled into the BK&T sub-forum....and that was all she wrote. I was looking for some comparisons; the two knives were within $10-$15 of each other and I just wanted some info that might push me one way or the other. I really think it's the "soul" of BK&T that finally helped me to make up my mind...great tools, great community and a very stand up human bean for a designer. I have purchased a few other different manufacturers knives since then and while I like them (some a LOT), none come close in value/performance. And none of them have the kind of community where you can ask this sort of question and get a (somewhat) non-biased, straightforward answer.
The two knives I like the most that are non-Beckers would be my TOPS B.O.B. (damn you, Dubz) which, even used, was more than my 16 new; and a first gen DPX HEST made by Rowen, which was still twice the cost of a new 14 (comes with micarta and a really nice sheath, though, so some value adds).
Every thread needs pics:




BTW, your Beckers won't care if you buy a knife from a different company. They'll still be there for you when you come back.....
 
dynamicmoves said:
Esee was the competition for me, and I ended up liking the handles of the Becker more. Also it was cheaper.
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I started with Beckers years ago primarily because they had a rep for being tough knives, and the price was right. I also have ESEE's and prefer them overall a touch more. But with factory Micarta on a Becker I don't really see much real world difference. I like both knife brands. I will say though that I prefer the little BK-16 over my ESEE 4. And I don't say that lightly because the 4 is one of my favourites.
 
BK14 vs. ESEE Izula. Becker wins by a mile. Longer blade and handle. 2/3 the price. No brainer.

BK16 vs. ESEE 4 vs. Cold Steel Master Hunter. Different animals all, but here goes. Deck out the BK16 in micarta scales and a snazzy kydex sheath and it will cost you the same or more as the ESEE. If you are OK with grivory scales and a cordura sheath, BK16 wins by a mile. $80CAN vs. $140CAN. No brainer. The Master Hunter is in VG-1 laminated SS, with kraton handle and an excellent sheath. $119CAN. Personal choice. Flip a coin. All 3 are excellent knives.

BK2 vs. ESEE 5. I wouldn't look at either. I just put scales on my Stanley crowbar and saved a lot of money. :D

BK7 vs. RAT 7 vs. Cold Steel Recon Scout. BK7 all the way.

BK9 vs. Ontario SP50 Gen 2 vs. Cold Steel Trailmaster. I'd choose the Trailmaster in the new O-1, but its double the price or more of the first 2. So...I'll take the BK9 by a nose over the SP50.
 
For me, I was doubting between a 14 or an izula. Settled for the 14, was really happy with it, and ever since I've thought of Becker knives first before any other. There was no more competition for what the BK-line offers for me. Mostly because of price/quality ànd because of the nice people here. Having a new subject to talk about with other fellow enthousiasts when you get a new blade is half the fun, imo.
 
I picked the 14 over the Izula because of blade shape. I just wasn't a fan of the blade shape of the Izula. Though I did prefer the sheath on the Izula. It is; however, much easier to replace a sheath later on than to change the blade shape so I went with the BK14 and got the Izula handle and the Becker blade shape. I can say that I was surprised by the sheath and was expecting much worse. I will likely get a kydex sheath at some point in the future
 
Went back and forth between Beckers and ESEEs for a long time, reading reviews on the interwebs and watching vids on the 'Tube...until one day at a knife shop I was actually able to hold the two, in my hands, side-by-side...
Becker won out, hands-down, no questions.
 
This is coming from guy who makes handmade knives for a living... so, take it as you will.

BK&T offers quite simply the most cost-effective way to get a really solid American-made knife around. They're not real fancy, they just plain work right out of the box. They're also great fun to modify.

If you can't find a Becker you like, maybe you just don't like knives.

If you can't deal with Ethan and the folks at Ka-Bar... I dunno... maybe you just don't like people. ;)
 
Quillan said:
BK14 vs. ESEE Izula. Becker wins by a mile. Longer blade and handle. 2/3 the price. No brainer.

BK16 vs. ESEE 4 vs. Cold Steel Master Hunter. Different animals all, but here goes. Deck out the BK16 in micarta scales and a snazzy kydex sheath and it will cost you the same or more as the ESEE. If you are OK with grivory scales and a cordura sheath, BK16 wins by a mile. $80CAN vs. $140CAN. No brainer. The Master Hunter is in VG-1 laminated SS, with kraton handle and an excellent sheath. $119CAN. Personal choice. Flip a coin. All 3 are excellent knives.

BK2 vs. ESEE 5. I wouldn't look at either. I just put scales on my Stanley crowbar and saved a lot of money. :D

BK7 vs. RAT 7 vs. Cold Steel Recon Scout. BK7 all the way.

BK9 vs. Ontario SP50 Gen 2 vs. Cold Steel Trailmaster. I'd choose the Trailmaster in the new O-1, but its double the price or more of the first 2. So...I'll take the BK9 by a nose over the SP50.
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This is pretty straight forward and accurate. I will content though that materials and craftsmanship, are relative. If ergonomics are factored in the Beckers win out. One thing that keep me away from ESSE, Ontario and dare I say, Coldsteel is the ergos. I want to use my sh&t, not look at it. But in fairness to all, the ESSE and Coldsteel do photo better.
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
This is pretty straight forward and accurate. I will content though that materials and craftsmanship, are relative. If ergonomics are factored in the Beckers win out. One thing that keep me away from ESSE, Ontario and dare I say, Coldsteel is the ergos. I want to use my sh&t, not look at it. But in fairness to all, the ESSE and Coldsteel do photo better.
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Can't cut nuthin' with a photo, 'cept mebbe yer finger.......
 
IMO:

Competitors: ESEE, Swamp Rat, Scrapyard, Tops, Survive!, Falkniven, Bark River.

I chose Becker because: cheap, large fan base, quite a few offerings in different sizes/shapes, and designed for hard use.
 
I had a SOG Seal Pup Elite and really wanted to like the knife. The only thing that kept me from warming up to it was the handle. Too cramped for my hand, so I gave it to my cousin and he loves it. I did just buy my first Becker (BK10) and am impatiently waiting for it. Looks like the handle would be a lot more ergonomic for my mitts.
 
Chameleonbear said:
This is totally not true! I don't like people but I deal well with the Ethan and the folks at Ka-Bar.
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Your example is interesting, but superfluous and unrelated to my theory. Your statement that my hypothesis is "totally not true", is simply not supported by your following exposition.

Think that through one more time...

;)
 
james terrio said:
Your example is interesting, but superfluous and unrelated to my theory. Your statement that my hypothesis is "totally not true", is simply not supported by your following exposition.

Think that through one more time...

;)
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You are correct, my grammar was incorrect, the totally should go towards the middle of that sentence. "This is not totally true"
 
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