Over the past week I have been “testing” a Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Companion which may seem a little odd because it is the probably the standard Fixed Blade Camp / Hunting Knife… but I have my reasons.
The Becker BK2 a horse of a knife and has a 1/4″ thick, flat ground, Carbon steel blade that can be used prying, cutting, slicing and chopping. Surprisingly, the blade of the BK2 I received was sharp enough to shave my arm (how is that even possible?)
Its scales are made from a type of glass reinforced nylon that seem to be very tough, but not as grippy as I would like in a knife of this type and are secured to the tang by 3 Allen bolts and common nuts. I would love to see G10 or micarta scales come on the knife, but they are available in the aftermarket.
One detail on the scales did bug me a bit however, if you are right handed the Becker BK2 Companion is carried with the nut side out. I would like to see the more finished Allen bolt side being carried out.
I am surprised how much I enjoy handling and using this knife. I was expecting it to be very blade heavy because of its thickness and depth, but it is balanced between the index and middle fingers, making it very easy to use.
The one area that I was disappointed with this knife isn’t actually the knife, but actually the sheath. The included sheath is made of an injection molded plastic sheath that just covers the blade and hilt and attached to a loop of webbing for the belt loop.
For just carrying the knife around it works good enough, but the sheath has so much retention that it is nigh impossible to remove it and the webbing loop doesn’t help keep it down.
- Blade Length: 5.25in.
- Overall Length: 10.50in.
- Steel thickness: .250in.
- Sheath: Injection Molded Plastic
Now for my reasons to test the Becker BK2 Companion
- It is the standard knife for this type. You can only do a review in comparison to something else and I felt I needed a little experience with it.
- At shot I was exposed to what I believe may be the best all around fixed blade knife I have seen the new BK16, which can be described as a scaled down BK2 with a full flat grind and I wanted to be able to compare the 2.
A prototype BK16 at the 2012 SHOT Show, before the full face grind
- EVERY Bk2 test includes chopping down a tree with it and how cool is that?
Ron is the Founder and President of When the Balloon Goes Up! He competes regularly in IDPA as an ESP/Expert, his focus is on concealed carry, home defense and analyzing equipment to find “Gear that Just Works!”
