9 Becker Knives For Survival
More Articles Related to Blades And KnivesIf you’re like me you are always trying to find the best survival knife. This leads to a great deal of discussion on just what makes a good survival knife and, of course, the acquisition of a quite a number of excellent knives over the years in the hopes of fulfilling this impossible goal.
One of the best survival knife manufacturers is considered to be Becker Knife and Tool, a subsidiary of Camillus Cutlery. I should say “was” one of the best survival knife manufacturers; Camillus Knives closed shop about May of 2007.
What Makes Becker Knives Good Survival Knives?
There are many good to excellent survival knives on the market today. But what is it about Becker Knives that make them so sought after?
One attribute that sets Becker Knives apart from many other good survival knives is extreme durability and overall robustness, always welcome for “knives that work for a living”. Just heft a Becker Knife and you know you have a serious contender for “Best Survival Knife” in terms of rugged usability.
What’s more, Becker Knives were just plain affordable when compared to most high end survival knives. The combination of price and quality made these knives popular to those who survive in the wilderness.
With a Becker Knifes strong fixed blade and very high quality steel you can baton thick pieces of wood with confidence and still keep a very sharp edge. In the first picture you can see me batoning a Becker BK2 Campanion into a thick log, taking out big chunks and not damaging the rugged blade. Try that with some of the cheap survival knives.
The beefy handle and bar stock promotes confidence that this knife will not fail you when you need it most in a survival situation, be it skinning game, breaking bones, or making that survival shelter that will save your life.
With the production of Becker Knives closed, they have become sought after by knife collectors and those seeking what they consider some of the best survival knives ever made.
The Nine Becker Knives
In this Becker Knife review we cover 9 blades that are some of the most sought after survival knives at this time. They include:
- Becker BK1 Brute
- Becker BK2 Campanion
- Becker BK3 TacTool
- Becker BK6 Patrol Machete
- Becker BK7 Combat Utility
- Becker BK9 Bowie
- Becker BK10 Crewman Utility
- Becker BK11 Necker
- Becker BK77 Extreme
Each of these knives has its place in the best survival knife hall of fame.
Similar Characteristics of the Becker Knives
Typical of the fixed blade best survival knives, these aforementioned Becker Knives are full tang blades. With a Rockwell Hardness score of 58-59, they are manufactured using high carbon 0170-6C steel and a non reflective matte black epoxy powder coat. These robust, thick knife blades are vary from .188 inches to a full quarter-inch and give you the impression these knifes can take punishment.
The Becker Knife handles are made of molded GV6H glass filled nylon scales with a lanyard hole.
Most Becker Knives come with a Kydex sheath that can be carried in a number of ways. I like kydex knife sheaths because it securely fastens the knife and allows me to carry the knife upside down for easy deployment without fear of loosing it.
Becker B1 Brute
The Becker BK1 knife is known as the Becker Brute. Like the some of its other knives, the BK1 knifes blade is a full quarter inch thick. It’s recurve blade is nine and one-half inches with a full length of fifteen inches from pommel to tip.
Rather than a survival knife, I would classify the Becker BK1 knife more as a small survival machete. In my view a blade of this size is limited in the role it can play as an all around serious survival gear component due to its large size and weight. The length of the Becker BK1 blade tends to prohibit work of finer detail a true survival knife is often called upon.
That being said, the ability to swing the Becker B1 with force gives this blade the ability to cut through finer limbs, grasses, and such, which could come in handy when traveling through densely vegetated areas. However, if you need to chop, say, firewood you would be better off with an axe or hatchet.
The Becker BK1 weighs 22 ounces.
Becker BK2 Campanion
Occasionally I have heard the Becker BK2 knife erroneously referred to as the “Becker Companion”. This chunky, thick blade is a five and one-quarter inch drop point that is a full quarter-inch thick! Overall length of the Becker BK2 is ten and five-eighths inches.
Exceedingly rugged, and heavy for it’s size, the quarter-inch blade thickness of the Becker BK2 seems meant more for a longer blade machete sized knife. I’ve used my Becker BK2 as a baton for firewood and for some very heavy duty prying that would break nearly any other of my survival knives in two.
One problem with the Becker BK2 is that its slab-like blade is very heavy for a true survival knife and possibly best serves as a vehicle blade where weight and bulk is not so much an issue. The knife also works well in the kitchen, by the way!
The Becker BK2 weighs 14.6 ounces.
Becker BK3 TacTool
The Becker BK3 knife is known as the TacTool and meant to be somewhat of a multi-purpose knife. This rectangular knife has a length of twelve and one-half inches. The seven-inch blade of the Becker Bk3 is about one-third serrated at its base.
Although I am not necessarily a big fan of serrated survival blades, they do have their place when cutting man-made fibers such as nylon or 550 paracord over traditionally bladed knives.
The Becker BK3 also features a blunt end blade that could find some use as a wood planer, for example. Opposite the cutting side of the blade is a notch for breaking wire.
The TacTool is designed to pry, hammer, and cut, which makes it a good urban survival tool where forced entry into buildings is a plus.
Like the BK1, I find the Becker BK3 to be on the large size for a true survival knife according to my personal definition. However this is indeed a very rugged blade and would serve you well should you choose to carry it.
The Becker BK3 weighs 18.6 ounces.
Becker BK6 Patrol Machete
The Becker BK6 Patrol Machete is of true machete size, being nineteen inches long with a blade length of 14-inches. The fourteen inch recurve blade gradually widens from about one-third the way from the handle to twice the width near its curved tip.
The Becker BK6 comes with either a kydex sheath (my favorite) or a nylon sheath that dangles loosely at your side in the traditional method.
Again, in my opinion a machete often has limited use as a survival knife due to its size and bulk. Of course depending upon the area you are traveling in a survival machete may be just what you need.
Becker BK7 Combat Utility
With the Becker BK7 Combat Utility knife we are entering more into the area of real survival knives. In fact the BK7 is perhaps the most sought after of Becker Knives in the survival community.
Though the blade is a little on the large size for a survival knife, being a clip point that is seven inches in length, the Becker BK7 does not have the extreme (as some might think) bulk and weight of those knives mentioned earlier in this article.
Becker BK7 knife is made from thinner blade stock than the BK1, BK2, BK3, and BK4 blades, at .188 inches thick.
Added features of the Becker BK7 knife is a thumb ramp notch that helps you guide the knife during usage.
Still a very rugged and dependable knife, the BK7 is going into the range of typical best survival knives as outlined in the Survival Topic How to Choose a Survival Knife. With an overall length of twelve and three-quarters inches this scales to being a very large survival knife that may be a bit impractical.
The Becker BK7 sheath is not full kydex as most of the others but is nylon with a kydex liner.
The Becker BK7 weighs 12.9 ounces.
Becker BK9 Bowie
The Becker BK9 Bowie is something of a beefier, larger version of the Becker BK7. Its nine-inch clip point blade that is .210 inches thick makes it a large survival knife that for its size and bulk may limit its usefulness in being carried on foot through the wilderness.
Certainly an impressive looking knife at fourteen and seven-eighths inches in overall length, the Becker BK9 has a built-in hammer pommel as well as the notched thumb ramp seen in the BK7.
I have also seen a Becker BK9 desert series.
If you ever find yourself at the Alamo, Jim Bowie would be interested in taking a look at your rugged and robust Becker BK9 Bowie.
The Becker BK9 weighs 8.25 ounces.
Becker BK10 Crewman Utility
The Becker BK10 Crewman Utility is one of the Becker blades that fall into the range of good survival knives, in my opinion of course.
With a five and one-half inch clip point Bowie type blade, the Becker BK10 has a rugged 188-inch thick blade, the notched thumb ramp and hammer pommel and kydex lined nylon sheath.
There is also a Becker BK10 desert series that is popular with the troops.
Becker BK11 Becker Necker
Meant to be a take-anywhere knife, the Becker BK11 knife is also called the “Becker Necker”. The Becker BK11 Becker Necker is a skeletonized knife that weighs in at just two and a half ounces.
The Becker BK11 makes a very good survival knife due to its small size and weight but overall rugged build. The BK11 has a three and one-quarter inch blade with an overall length of six and three-quarters inches. It features what is known as a “finger choil, holes in the handle for lashing onto spear poles and the like, a wire breaker notch and bottle opener.
The Becker Bk11 is known as the Becker Necker because it comes with a kydex neck sheath.
Becker BK77 Extreme
The Becker BK77 Extreme is a very expensive knife that is quite large for survival knife purposes. Its seven-inch clip point blade has the thumb notch ramp and hammer pommel of some of the other Beckers and is twelve and three-quarters inches overall in length.
Bucking the trend of its usual high carbon 0170-6C steel, the Becker BK77 is made of S30V stainless and micarta handle.
The sheath for the Becker BK77 is a little different from most of the other Beckers in that it is usually a Special Ops tactical sheath that has a small stowage pocket for additional survival gear.
The Becker BK77 weighs 12.9 ounces.
Becker Knives Re-Cap
A good knife is an important part of your survival gear. Knowing how to choose a survival knife can help you decide which blade is right for you. These nine most popular Becker blades offer a variety you might welcome in your survival knife collection.
You are welcome to share your Becker Knife review in the Survival Topics comment section below.
Va.,USA
To all Becker fans,there may be some hope. Since Camillus went out of business last year, Ethan Becker designer of of the Becker line has went to work for KABAR knives, Hopefully we'll see some great blades come from this joining.
West Valley, Utah
Is a camillus becker knive the same thing?
Outdoors
I carry a Cold Steel Recon Scout. I have never used a tougher blade, this side of a big Khukri.
Beavercreek, Ohio
Good Article, Great (Becker) knives. But with all do respect, you have the Becker BK 9 Bowie and BK 10 Crewman/Utility mis-labeled in the pictures.
Survival Topics - You are correct, Woody. The funny thing is I saw that right after the article was posted and kept it there to see if anyone would notice! Would you like a free firesteel as a reward for your astuteness? Email me your mailing address!
Alabama
I have two folders a Cold Steel and a Swiss Army knife that have gone everywhere with me. But a Cold STeel Recon and the very overlooked WART HOG fixed blade by Kabar are two of the toughest you can find. You can take a Warthog put it on a piece of wood and hit it with a rock and split wood. Very rugged knife.
Antwerp, NY
I agree that the BK2 is a little chunky for survival situations. It does appear rugged but sharpening it is tricky. I have one and find that the handle reminds me of a cheap machete handle thrown on as an afterthought. Every time I'm going in the wild, I pick the BK2 up, look at it and throw it back on the shelf opting for a smaller, easier to carry, sharpen and use knife. I wouldn't recommend it but I'm sure it has it's uses; I just haven't found one yet.
Hamilton, GA
My BK-7 is still awesome after three years. I live in a wooded area, and I carry either that or a Campanion with me when I walk the grounds. I have a bit of a knife fetish and own a lot of survival knives, but I always go back to the Beckers.
I'm curious to know what the differences are in the manufacture of the Camillus Beckers and the Kabar Beckers.
Pa.USA
The Becker Brute is the best blade in the Becker line in my opinion. A big knife can do anything a small knife can do, but a small kife lacks the chopping power and shelter making ability. I have never had a problem doing fine detail work with a big blade and usually if you are in a suvival situation you don't do alot of wittling detailed things. In nature the less complicated it is the better it usually works.
Texas
I own a Camillus "BKT Combat Bowie" that is the exact replica of the Becker Crewman Utility. Even the sheath looks exactly the same: color and kydex liner. I wonder if the "BKT" stands for Becker Knife Type".
NE Texas
I have a Cold Steel Recon Scout that is one tough blade. You could literally drive it into a crack in a cliff and rappel off it (though I wouldn't advise it).
Adirondack Mountains New York State
Well I own a number of "survival" knives and as you say I am always on the prowl for that perfect one i dont think its out there.
i own the brute by becker and it's a great knife. I also have the cold steels including recon scout, trailmaster in carbon five. Two great coldsteel knives woth mentioning are the srk, hich is the most privately sold knife to our armed services and the master hunter. Both are excellent "survival" knives
I also have a gerber bmf and a buck survival "rambo" era blade.
I am a liscensed guide, paramedic, fireman, search and rescue crew boss and absolutely do not go in the woods without one of the above or equal, a folding saw, ( gerber) and a gansfor brooks carpenters hatchet.
Florida
The Companion has a flat grind AND it has a powder coating, so is the only way to sharpen it is to depend on a system like the lansky or gatco angle clamps (perhaps at 25 or 30 degrees to avoid scraping the 20 degree coating?), or is there any other way?
Flat grinds are the best to have for sharpening and can get REAL dang sharp by hand just by using the flat grind as a guide. However there is a coating on it so doing it this way would scrape off the coating at least all throughout the grind angle to the edge. Other than relying on a sharpening system, is there any other way of sharpening (by hand?) where I can avoid scraping off all that epoxy on the grind?
I contacted Ka-Bar about this and have yet to receive a reply.
Nevada
I have a Campanion. It's a great survival knife
Missouri, USA
Just recently bought one of the Becker BK11 and have added the KaBar TDI belt clip to the sheath. Really an excellent addition. Thought I might mention that as a suggestion for those of you who might be interested in the knife. I have read online where some have even put the TDI belt clip on the sheath of the BK2 Campanion. I'm not sure how that would be since that knife is much larger (and is going to be one of my next purchases.
You are welcome to share this Survival Topic with others. I only request that you use a short blurb (not the entire survival content) and this code to
link to the origional:
Va.USA
I've carried a Becker Brute for many years and when it comes to making shelters or chopping firewood the Brute is the tool to have on your side, and the 9.5 inch blade is just a good starting point for me.
I work with 9.5 to 12 inch blades as wilderness survival knifes. You can't go wrong with 1/4 inch thick carbon steel. For delicate work I like to use a multi-tool with a smaller knife blade that can handle the small chores if I happen to leave my pocket folder behind.
If any of you are looking for a good fieldblade there are still a few Becker Brutes left out there so grab tham while you can.