Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Knife Review
  

One thing I’ve learned in my years of hiking and camping in the Colorado backcountry is the value of a good knife. A survival knife is one of those tools that has many uses, from skinning game, to splitting wood for the campfire, to whittling a sharp point for spear fishing.

This Ka-Bar Becker BK2 fixed blade knife has served me well in this capacity, and you’d have a hard time finding a better survival knife for under $100. At over two pounds this isn’t a lightweight knife (the blade is almost 1/4" thick!), but it balances very comfortably in my hand, and the Becker is pretty near indestructible.

The blade measures just under 6 inches, and the overall length of the Becker BK2 is about 11 inches. This isn’t some Rambo-style sword masquerading as a knife, and you might not make the cover of a survivalist magazine holding one, but as a practical camping and hunting tool I find it to be just about the ideal length.


       What It Is


The Ka-Bar Becker BK2 was designed by Ethan Becker, a serious mountain man, chef, climber and survivalist. Becker is known for designing thick, rugged, high-quality steel fixed-blade knifes that won’t set you back an arm and a toe to own one.

The Becker “Companion Knife,” as it’s also known as, has a nearly indestructible 1095 cro-van steel blade that’s perfect for splitting kindling, chopping food, or just about anything else you could do with a knife. The blade has a “drop point” shape, and a very versatile 20-degree blade angle and makes cutting a snap.

The handle, which I find easy to grip and quite comfortable, is made from Grivory, a glass-fibre reinforced thermoplastic that’s very strong and lightweight. The handle is well balanced, and I've never had trouble gripping the knife, even when using it in wet or cold conditions.

The Becker BK2 comes with a glass-filled nylon sheath that’s very good at keeping the blade sharp and safe from damage, a real plus when hiking around on rocks or playing in the water.

A good survival knife is one of those “must have” items if you spend any amount of time in the backcountry. There are some things I could do without on a camping trip, but this isn’t one of them. Especially when a good knife can serve so many purposes, from preparing your food to saving your life.

And if you weren’t aware, there’s a rich history behind the Ka-Bar name. Ka-Bar has been supplying the US military with knives for decades, and many US Marines in World War II have fond memories of their Ka-Bar combat knives. So you do get a sense of pride owning one of these knives, at least I do, and the fact that they're made in the USA is another bonus in my book.


 

   The Best Place To Buy One

The Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Companion knife is available in most of the major outdoor recreation stores like REI or Bass Pro Shops. You can also buy one online, and the best price that I've found on this particular camera is on Amazon.com.