Video by: cutlerylover

Knife on Deck: Ka-bar BK2 Becker Campanion

This beast of a knife you’re looking at right now is the Ka-bar BK2 fixed blade knife. If you’re looking at this review and video, you’ve probably already wondered why this particular knife is so popular. We’ll list down the pros and cons of this bad boy later on. For now, let’s go through the specs.

First, the entire Ka-bar BK2 is 10.5 inches long with the blade taking almost half that length (5.5 inches). Its blade is made of 1095 cro-van steel.

The Sheath

The knife comes with a Kydex sheath which, you must admit, looks pretty awesome. And, the number of holes along the sheath gives you a lot of customization options and places to wrap rope, paracord, molle straps, etc. Overall, the sheath is really nice in terms of appearance and functionality.

There are two downsides though. As cutlerylover points out, the button snap that holds the knife’s handle to the nylon strap can, over time, fail and no longer close.

Another downside is that putting the knife back in its sheath isn’t as stealthy as you might like it to be. Usually, it wouldn’t be an issue if you’re out camping or what-not, especially since you know the “snap” means your knife is very secure in its sheath. But if you’re a hunter, the loud snap of putting your knife away just may scare away your prey.

The Weight

Much like the love-hate relationship cutlerylover has with the sheath, the weight of the knife has its own pros and cons. The BK2 is a very heavy knife (weighing exactly 1 pound) especially for its length. This serious hunk of metal is 1/4" thick, which of course contributes to its extreme heaviness.

Now, the good thing about its weight is that it makes it a phenomenal tool for wood processing. The knife has what cutlerylover calls the hatchet effect - a thick stock () with a flat grind so there's a wide angle that allows it to wedge into the material while you cut it. The downfall of this particular blade, in terms of woodcutting, is its length. It is 5.5 inches long so you can't really baton large pieces of wood. But for wood that is 3-4 inches in diameter (or less), you got the weight and the blade that’s just about perfect.

As for the con side of the weight, it’s like carrying a brick. As cutlerylover points out, it might not matter that much if you’re carrying it just for an hour. But for a long period of time, carrying a knife this heavy on one side of your body can cause you back pain.

Other Features

The BK2 is shaving sharp right out of the box. The tip is incredibly strong. The thick handle is extremely ergonomic though it’s not made of very “grippy” material as some people like their handles to be. It feels very comfortable in your hand and its shape (with the guard and the butt end flaring out) enables you to hold onto the knife pretty well, wet or dry.

Holding the knife in reverse grip also feels great. The BK2 has an extended tang that sticks out of the bottom of the handle (around 1/3 to 1/2 of an inch) which allows you to use it as a chisel or something similar. 

Several features of the knife are a miss for cutlerylover. One is the textured coating on the blade that looks great and feels great. But you’ll soon discover that the light sandpaperlike feel just creates unnecessary friction while you're cutting something. Definitely not the slide and glide you want to have with your knife so it’s not the perfect tool for fine slicing or anything similar.

The blade length is also an issue because it sets limitations on what the knife can do. With this style of a knife, a longer blade would be better like the BK7 or BK9.

Why we like Ka-bar BK2 Becker Campanion

It’s a solid everyday survival knife that’s very versatile; can be used in a lot of outdoor tasks – batoning, slicing, chiselling, whittling, etc. Though it could use a bit more length and lose a little bit of weight, it’s not a silly Rambo knife or a short sword. It’s inexpensive and extremely well made (great quality, durable, American made).

If you want to own this beast of a knife, be sure to check it out in our store!