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Why the BK-2 love?
- Thread starter BlueRabbit
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BlueRabbit,
I found it interesting that while we were asking similar questions our presuppositions were different. I approached the matter from already having a BK2, liking it for hiking but wondering why so many other people liked it since it seemed most appropriate (given my presuppositions) to hiking. You on the other hand had yet to make a purchase and while having handled the BK2 decided it didn't fit your preconceived idea of what a knife ought to feel like (for you), but you doubted yourself and asked whether you were missing something -- hoping perhaps that someone would point something out that would sway you more toward the BK2. You didn't want to miss out on something important.
Given that you mention above the BK10 and the BK16, it seems safe to say that within your own preconceptions you have a preference for a knife lighter than the BK2; so following that path I will venture to say that you can't go wrong by getting the BK16. That knife will satisfy you.
You mention the BK10. In my own preconceptions (based on having tried katana-like blades and not liking them) I would not want a BK10, but if you have no objection to the blade configuration, then the BK10 would be (for you) a safer next knife than the BK2.
There are some things we don't know about each other that might add to our understanding of why you are leaning away and I am leaning (which isn't quite the right word for me since I have already purchased 2 of them) toward the BK2. I have hiked most of my adult life and since I'll be 80 in October that's a long time. To help me from hurting myself from falls and twisting something, I loosen up with 10 and 15 pound dumb bells before a hike. So insofar as holding the BK2 in my hand, it feels comfortable and not at all heavy.
On the other hand, and this should form a sort of disclaimer, I have a lot of knives and some of them are in the same weight-category as the BK16. I've mentioned in other notes, mostly on the Ka-Bar forum I guess, that I have three Short USMC Ka-Bar knives. A Short USMC Ka-Bar weighs a hair over 6 ounces. Your BK16 weighs 6.7 ounces; so you can tell from this that I have no objection to lighter knives. But in my case I don't object to having both a BK2 and a Short USMC Ka-Bar. Whereas in your case you seem to be thinking that you "might" be satisfied with a BK16 (6.7 ounces) and a BK10 (12 ounces). If you bought the BK2 (15 ounces) you might have buyers remorse after carrying it around for a while and wish you hadn't purchased it.
I've got plenty of knives in between the BK2 and the Short USMC Ka-Bar, btw -- the full sized USMC fighting knife for example (11 ounces).
So, to conclude, and speaking from an advanced age, buy the BK16, and later if you want something a little beefier buy the BK10. Then in a year if you discover you don't mind the additional weight of the BK10 and would like something beefier yet, go for the BK2. I think I can safely promise that Ka-Bar will still be selling the BK2 in a year.
Lawrence
I have the BK2, it was my first Becker. It excels at batoning, and is capable of just about everything else you'd want to do with a knife. It's the thickest and most indestructible Becker. That said, I'd take my BK4 into the woods over the BK2 every time, and my new BK16 sees more use than the 2 does also.
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Well said. :thumbup:
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i bought a bk2 for someone based strongly on the "chopped through the cinder block" post. then this year during a camping trip i got to use it. after i cleaned the crud off the coating and the rust of the edge. and then sharpened it for him. then oiled it. it stood up well, considering it had been used hard and put away wet. i'd still like to get one for myself, but i like my 9 better. just my thoughts. hope they're somewhat useful to you.
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Chops just fine - you just need to know how...
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Beckerhead #42
Beckerhead #42,
I'm not really one to debate this subject. I was trying to give Chris of Prepared Minds as much benefit of doubt as possible. He has his reasons for his negative opinion about the BK2. I don't share his opinion but I was attempting to be fair to it -- I apparently haven't wrapped my mind around it well enough to do that however. Also, I'm probably not even interpreting his view correctly.
On the other hand, what little wood chopping have done in recent years has been to cut dead-wood branches in order to eventually make hiking sticks and canes back at home. I frankly never considered using one of my knives to cut these branches. I had never heard of Becker as I went about my task, but it wouldn't have made any difference. I have a Buck 106 hatchet, but I wasn't happy with the results so I ended up using my Buck Saw. This saw has no number on it but with its sheath weighs just 14 ounces. It cut through any branch I've ever wanted with ease. Also, I can cut close to the length I want without fear that I'm going to damage the part I want to keep.
My Buck saw is still in good condition, but I recently thought I'd buy a backup. I couldn't find it on the Internet any place; so I posted a note on the Buck forum and a couple of members knew of it and one posted a picture of his resting against some deer horns. However, Buck doesn't seem to be making them any longer. But be that as it may, if I entered one of Becker's Armageddon scenarios, I'd take my BK2, but I'd probably want my Buck saw in my back pack as well. I'd bet money I could get through the log you show quicker with my Buck Saw than you could with your BK2.
I'm disagreeing with the Highlander by asserting that there doesn't need to be "only one."
Lawrence
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Lawrence, having just got back from chopping down a handful of forearm sized trees and a ton of limbs with my 2.......you may be able to get through that log quicker with a saw, but there's no way it would be as half as fun as using a 2 (or any chopper for that matter).
There's a lot to be said for just having a great time with these edged tools/weapons that we use. If your anything like me......you relish each chop or cut. You take pride in the way you had the grip on the handle just right,the alignment of the cut, the angle you hit the wood and the depth of each cut. There's something very primal and satisfying in chopping or cutting. When you combine those feelings with a tool like the BK2, also knowing it will probably never break......knowing you can pry, dig, chop up lawnmowers, baton bolts and carve up concrete. Knowing it would be pretty hard to beat for a "one tool does it all in the end of the world type situation" .........it's just about as fun as it gets.
That's why there's love for the BK2 for me.
There's a lot to be said for just having a great time with these edged tools/weapons that we use. If your anything like me......you relish each chop or cut. You take pride in the way you had the grip on the handle just right,the alignment of the cut, the angle you hit the wood and the depth of each cut. There's something very primal and satisfying in chopping or cutting. When you combine those feelings with a tool like the BK2, also knowing it will probably never break......knowing you can pry, dig, chop up lawnmowers, baton bolts and carve up concrete. Knowing it would be pretty hard to beat for a "one tool does it all in the end of the world type situation" .........it's just about as fun as it gets.
That's why there's love for the BK2 for me.
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Hmmm. Perhaps because I was raised during the depression I'm inclined to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on my gear so it will be in good shape when I really need it. I (who will be 80 in October) have a vague recollection of liking to chop things up with an axe for the shear fun of it, but that was a long long time ago. I can't even recall how old I was at the time.
Lawrence
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Beckerhead #42,
...
I'd bet money I could get through the log you show quicker with my Buck Saw than you could with your BK2.
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I bet you can too, but that isn't really the point. I could also chop through that more quickly with my BK9, my trail hawk or my axe. I was responding to the notion that the BK2 is a poor chopper. Its not but there is a trick to it.
The notion that it's inadequate for batoning was too preposterous to even address.
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Beckerhead 42
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Afaic, he doesn't know his ass from his elbow. :thumbup:
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The BK-2 does make a decent chopper in my opinion for it's size. But why chop with it? I have much better and safer results by cross grain battoning the tree down. Of course this has limits on the size of the tree you can take down but if you surpass that, maybe it didn't need to come down in the first place... or get a saw.
Here is a picture of what I am talking about. Make similar cuts like you would with an ax or chopping.
Jeremy
Here is a picture of what I am talking about. Make similar cuts like you would with an ax or chopping.
Jeremy
Murphnuge
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We should probably refrain from the CTanner bashing. It's almost derailed a couple threads.
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Page 14 of the Testicle owner's manual states: "All men shall, at some point, own a 10-22 and a BK-2."