Kabar • Becker BK16 Drop Point • Survival Knife Field Review
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- Krik of Black Owl Outdoors reviews the Becker BK16 Drop point survival knife by Kabar. Designed by Ethan Becker for Kabar, the BK16 features 1095 coated steel with ergonomic zytel handles. While both the steel and the handles have benefits, the coating is too coarse and grippy while the handles, although ergonomic and comfortable, are slippery and leave something to be desired. One place the BK16 does shine is the sheath that comes with it. Constructed of Cordura Nylon, it is double stitched and feels rugged and reliable. The sheath also features a belt attachment, as well as Molle attachment capabilities. Another downside of the knife is the subpar edge it comes with from the factory. While the knife is by no means blunt, it is dull compared to many other knives at a similar price point. We want to like the knife, so we'll probably strip the coating, force a patina and redo the edge.. and maybe even some custom micarta handles to round it out. All in all the BK16 is durable, but for the price, you can find a knife that will perform much better straight out of the box.
Kabar - Becker BK16 - amzn.to/1QyXVaf
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I'm glad you brought that up. A sharp tool is a safe tool. The cut is able to be controlled when the edge is sharp, sharp, sharp. -Krik
Use sandpaper on the coating just enough to smooth it out. Makes a world of difference
I really like the quality of your video dude. It's clear as day. Good, honest review. I've been wanting to pick one up because I can't beat the price for a good field knife.
I EDC my BK-11, and my Ka-Bar USMc short and love them both so much. Definitely adding this to myu list for bushcrafting (for my staffmaking hobby and spear-making)
Really well done review, thanks!
I agree with you. this blade is a diamond in the rough. I got mine 4 days ago, and after some work, I prefer it over my ESEE 4. The handle shape just kills! I like that it is thinner than the ESEE 4, and lighter. Stripped mine, put a convex edge on it, and a patina. Becker Micarta scales ordered, and on their way, (A bit pricey, those scales), but to me, worth it. This is my new "general go to, all around" blade. But they do need work.
@Mike Davis can we just remove the coating and not add anything as the guy above stated?
Good stuff as usual!
great vid love that knife. can't decide yet
The vivid color effect of your videos makes everything look better.
Thanks for the reply and info.
Thanks for the vid. I really dont get the comments on the camera work, I think its great and the quality of the HD(?) makes it a pleasure to watch...so clear. Subscribed and off to check out some of your other vids. cheers.
Hola Krik. I own a BK2 so no doubt this BK16 is good as well. Gracias amigo for the info.
For those Becker handles, hit it with a hand grinder or file. Perhaps reshape it a bit to fit your hand, and then smooth the subsequent rough surface with various sandpaper grits to get the surface you like. That's what I did with my BK7.
I really like mine with micarta scales, stripped clean & sharpened on my Lansky!
De nada Carlos. Glad to be of help.-Krik
Hi Krik, I did get the BK-16, since now I only carry a 2knife carry a saw and a hatchet, and a multi tool, I paired off my BK-9 with my BK-10, my BK-5, with the BK-15, my BK-7 with my BK-17, and the BK-2 with my BK-16, and I also have the BK-4 which sometimes I use it with my BK-15 because I like a choil and a trailing tip knife, Thanx for reminding me of my Becker's. Oh Yeah I also have two BK-14's in two different color slab's which actually add another demension to the BK-14, again Thanx.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. And believe me, I am my biggest critic. If I could go back and redo all the videos, I certainly would! But as in life, we must move on. -Krik
Yea, we are from PA. The knife I would carry depends on my mood and the specific environment I'm traveling in. I've had plenty of fires where I never used a knife, hatchet, or ax. But, as of now, the ESEE 4 would be my go-to. Oh, and a organized backpacking trip isn't a bad idea at all. I'll give it a think -Krik
Great review! After some time the coating will wear, so IMO I wouldn't worry about it.
Is it better to just spray the coating off completely?
Surprised at the lack of edge on it. Esee puts a very good edge on their knives. Good review
Nice video amigo. I own the BK2 so no doubt BK16 is a good one too...
I'm all for carrying more than one blade. I always have a multitool regardless of what/how many knives I carry. If you want a blade for larger work (wood processing), than a 4 inch blade definitely wouldn't be a first choice. A hatchet, ax, or a 7+ inch blade (something I would consider a chopper) would work much better. -Krik
I think if you combined the BK 16 with a hatchet and small stainless folder or multitool, you would be set. Everyone loves these huge knives but they don't process wood as good as a $25 hatchet.
I dig it, and almost got it, but I did get the BK-15, and since I'm a 3 Knife man, I paired it off with the BK-5, and my neck knife is the BK-14, as far as the Grivory handle, you will see they are great, the feel is smooth, but I have no problems with my hands slipping on them, great stuff, my other set is the BK-2, the BK- 4 (machaxe ), and the BK-14, very happy with both sets. I did convexed both sets on my Tool Sharp Tool and Knife Sharpener , both sets are very sharp.
Nice review. The sheath is designed that way so that a tactical officer or soldier would not have to break down their duty belt to add the sheath. Just open and placer on. It's unlikely you would be removing it with any frequency so the velcro
lasting wouldn't be an issue.
thanks for the info. i think i'm going to buy me ESEE 4 for cutting tool and Buck Thug for the heavy duty tasks such as wood processing/batoning. i figured i need to have two knives to go out and play. Krik, what do you carry when you go out for... say 3 days of backpacking? and thanks for the videos once again. your videos quality is very good and the gears that you review is what i want to know about. keep up the good work and i hope ask you many more questions about gears. thanks again dude.
I must say, I subscribed to your channel because of the quality of the production as well as the choice of gear but I wasn't totally impressed with the commentary and your sharing of thoughts.
Now after having done quite a few of them, I believe you are steadily learning/evolving and certainly getting better at it,. being more comfortable now.
More power to you then!
Your HD camera really shows up that coating well. I see what you mean by grippy, it looks rough as from here. Save up a little more for the Esee you reckon?
lightly sand coating w/ 220 - 320 grit, smooths out nicely and retains protection
Thanks for watching and subscribing. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. -Krik
thanks for the info. what do you think about carrying two knives system? one small fixed blade for the camp chores, such as cutting and food prepping and the other for the wood processing. i like how ESEE 4 looks and performs but i think it is a bit small to process woods. yeah~ the west coast youtubers get together and do backpacking trips. perhaps us east coast youtubers should show them what's up :). i do realize that the west coast has lot more to offer but we too have the great nature here.
We have a review of the Izula. I do some cutting with it. We are going to do a follow up video to the Izula with new handle scales. What would you specifically want to see in the video? -Krik
Randall's Adventure and Training (RAT) originally collaborated with Ontario to make the RAT series. Eventually they started to make their own knives (ESEE). Either way, The Ontario RAT series are great knives for the price. I believe Ontario still makes the RAT series, but it no longer stands for Randall's Adventure and Training. -Krik
07:23 seems painful lol
great review though
Looks like a cool knife, though I kind of feel that a survival knife should have a mirror finish on the blade so you could use it as a signalling mirror in a pinch.
Careful with that Krik. You don't want to push too hard and lose control of the blade. I'd get it sharpened up asap.
You guys should do an updated review on this knife after you've done some modifications
Overall, I like the Esee 4 better. Better scales, better coating, came factory sharp. The BK16 is cheaper. And it's definitely not a bad knife with a little bit of work (reprofile the edge, strip the coating). I know some people don't the like ergonomics of the Esee 4 handle. But I have no issue with it. As for the BK16's handle, I really like the ergonomics, but not the material, at all. Hope this helps. -Krik
hey man which do you like better esee 4 or bk 16? which one is cheaper?? great videos~ i really enjoy your videos~ thanks~
Hi, nice review, how thick is the blade in mm? Thanks
A smaller knife is going to limit what you can do, as you probably already know. I will keep this in mind when we do the next Izula video and try to use different cuts and what not. -Krik
What do I carry for a 3 day backpacking trip? Do you mean what knife? Or all of my gear? -Krik
Is there a difference between Essee knives and Ontario's RAT knives? I only ask because I recently bought a RAT 7 for around $80 and seems to be pretty good.
BTW, could you please do a review on the 15?
Thanks in advance.
Forgot it came with that sheath. I picked up a kydex one for mine.
Finally they upped the quality of their sheaths because the sheathes that come with the other BKs are pretty crappy.
You're logic is sound. But I don't think it would be worth it to make the coating rough just for control on smaller pieces of wood. But honestly, I have no idea why the coating is coarse. Maybe that's what happens when you put a cheaper coating on a knife? If you talk to Ethan, let me know what he says. Heh. -Krik
what knife? thanks~ and i watched the bear bag hanging vid... it was pretty cool one~ are you from PA? seems to me that you travel often in the PA... i'm in Western NJ... you should organize a backpacking trip with your subscribers... get together and hang around PA and western NJ.. thanks
Hello, what did you shoot the movie that is what camera?
the black coating does not hold so good, right? so no good rust safe
The link you guys have for it shows a saber grind ? Did it end up being ffg or is that a different seller?
They used to make them in saber grind back when they were marked with a stamp.
When Ka-Bar switched to laser engraving the markings on the Beckers, the designer decided to switch to full flat grind in the BK-16, at least it's what he said, the interview is somewhere on YT.
Basically saber-ground BK-16s are the early production run.
Beautiful knife. Review knife Ontario RD 4.
what camera are you using?
Would this be a good defensive blade? Is the drop point good for penetrating? The blade shape on the Becker Eskabar isn't good for penetrating, so I was wondering if it was the same on this one.
REVIGOR Check out the Blackjack Tac Ops 4, it's my favorite EDC defensive knife and it comes with micarta handles and a kydex sheath, also comes hair shaving sharp out of the box, much better option in my opinion for EDC defensive knife.
Go with the bk17
I lost my BK16 on the side of the road because of the snape. Sheath is crappy but the knife is fantastic. the snap will wear out quickly.
KBar should lower the price on the "16"....maybe 59.99 or so,80 bucks is over the line,you can get a rat 7 for the same price with canvas Micarda,same steel,a nice choir,6 3/4 edge and shave sharp,go with the Ontario...,more bang, better handle,same steel,longer blade.
Lol it wasn't his best work :P Good video though, looking forward to more!
(Maybe invest in a tripod though haha)
Thank you for not buttoning your shirt all the way up.
Take a soldering iron, and stipple the grips. You will not be disappointed.
Yea, I'd like to texture the grip on this knife and my eskabar. -Krik
You don't like the cameraperson? -Krik
Canon 7d. Why what's up? -Krik
Coyote brown, dark earth, tan.
Hey brother hows it going? I hope all is well for you my friend.
John Kenneally It's going well. Staying busy and enjoying myself. I've been doing a lot of leather working over the summer. What's up with you? -Krik
The same brother. Work, camping, work. Lol but been messing around with leather & making knives. Im pretty set as far as tools go. So time to get some good steel instead of files & saw blades. But all is good buddy. I wld love to see some of your leather work.
Nice camera, shitty cameraman. Haha. Good review though! Really informative and well done!
Just stipple the handles
Quit that dang zooming in and out, dude!
Knife is great, the sheath is crap
Please fix that collar!
IMO you are putting WAY too much emphasis on the sharpness. Yes i agree it could be sharper but in the end this is something that you not only can do yourself, you will HAVE to do it anyway, sooner or later, especially if you use it for woodworking. So taking that as a key factor in rating the blade is really missing the point.
it's not a button, it's a snap
Hopefully ur not still gay. That stuff ruins the rectum