Sourdough
09-20-2010, 05:18 PM
The BK-9 arrived today......First response: "WOW" That is a BIG hunk of iron. The second thought is Man, that thing is huge. So First thoughts over the size, I felt the quality was very good for a tool intended too be used hard and abused hard. Blade is 3/16" thick (.188) and 9 1/4" long (9.250) and a staggering 1 7/8" deep (1.875). Over all length is 14 3/4" (14.750) I have already taped the blade to reduce 1/2" (.500) off the tip.
I paid $64.99 including shipping from Lexington, Kentucky to Alaska. I think M.S.R.P. is about $119.00'ish. Fit & Finish is what I would expect on a $150.00 Knife. The design is basic tool, and any beauty is a kind of RUGGED beauty, nothing screams superfluous cosmetic gingerbread. The handle is man size, basic, and functional, as is the overall impression of the knife.
It comes with a Becker BK-13 knife in a pouch in the sheath, for little things like pealing a potato or apple. People snivel about the sheath quality, but for what it is I am impressed with the sheath. It has a pocket for other stuff, like "FireSteel" a swiss army knife, etc..
You can buy Macartta Handles for it for $38.50 But why bother, it would be like lipstick on a hog, it is still a hog.
(I'll add more later......) I am off to the belt sander.
First update: I have shortened the blade 1/2" and to my eye it looks "More Gooder". Also I took some vise-grips and did an extraction of the plastic sheath for the Becker BK-13, It took a few good yanks, but it came out. I have decided that the BK-13 is too small for any application considering the size of my "Real'Man" hands, (read: Gorilla Paw) So that space will house the FireSteel and Magnesium rods & other stuff. Leaving the large pocket still empty.
Update #2) The BK-13 Is a piece of used bear food, as it comes, it took a long time with the belt sander to get an edge. So the two pockets now contain 1- Magnesium rod, 1) 5" by 1/2" dia. FireSteel, & 1) Striker Thingie, 1) small "AAA" battery LED Flashlight, 1) New Diamond'Lap Steel, 1) Small amount of "0000" Steel Wool, 1) Becker BK-13 "sharp" Knife. I have 8' of 550 rope wrapped around the bottom. And still have room for a small first-aid kit (not yet assembled).
I paid $64.99 including shipping from Lexington, Kentucky to Alaska. I think M.S.R.P. is about $119.00'ish. Fit & Finish is what I would expect on a $150.00 Knife. The design is basic tool, and any beauty is a kind of RUGGED beauty, nothing screams superfluous cosmetic gingerbread. The handle is man size, basic, and functional, as is the overall impression of the knife.
It comes with a Becker BK-13 knife in a pouch in the sheath, for little things like pealing a potato or apple. People snivel about the sheath quality, but for what it is I am impressed with the sheath. It has a pocket for other stuff, like "FireSteel" a swiss army knife, etc..
You can buy Macartta Handles for it for $38.50 But why bother, it would be like lipstick on a hog, it is still a hog.
(I'll add more later......) I am off to the belt sander.
First update: I have shortened the blade 1/2" and to my eye it looks "More Gooder". Also I took some vise-grips and did an extraction of the plastic sheath for the Becker BK-13, It took a few good yanks, but it came out. I have decided that the BK-13 is too small for any application considering the size of my "Real'Man" hands, (read: Gorilla Paw) So that space will house the FireSteel and Magnesium rods & other stuff. Leaving the large pocket still empty.
Update #2) The BK-13 Is a piece of used bear food, as it comes, it took a long time with the belt sander to get an edge. So the two pockets now contain 1- Magnesium rod, 1) 5" by 1/2" dia. FireSteel, & 1) Striker Thingie, 1) small "AAA" battery LED Flashlight, 1) New Diamond'Lap Steel, 1) Small amount of "0000" Steel Wool, 1) Becker BK-13 "sharp" Knife. I have 8' of 550 rope wrapped around the bottom. And still have room for a small first-aid kit (not yet assembled).