Video by: gideonstactical

Knife on deck: Ka-Bar BK10 Crewman

This wicked-looking knife that you’re seeing right now is the Ka-Bar BK10 Crewman. It was initially designed to replace the earlier version of the Air Force survival knife. It’s a full tang knife that measures a total of 10 7/8 inches. The 5 ½” straight edge blade has a flat ground and is made of 1095 Cro-Van steel.

Some other features of this bad ass knife are a thumb ramp, Zytel handles, and an extended pommel. The BK10 Crewman comes with a heavy-duty polyester sheath with a front pocket. Now, while these specs might be oh, so fascinating, what we all really want to know is what this heavy duty survival knife can do in the field. So, let’s get to it.

THE FIELD TESTS

One awesome thing about the BK10 Crewman that gideonstactical demonstrates in the video is that you are able to use it even if you only have one available hand. If you've injured one hand/arm/wrist, you can still use the knife to create tinder or whittle a spear. The reinforced tip of the blade is nice and thin so you can easily pound the knife into a log and get the leverage you need for cutting.

Another cool feature of this knife is its ability to cut through 1 ton rated cord with ease. As gideonstactical shows in the video, it only takes a little bit of pressure to cut through a paracord that’s rated as high as the BK10. This means that the knife can easily cut through parachute cord, a seat belt, webbing, or anything similar that you may have gotten tangled in.

One feature that might be a negative for the knife is the thumb ramp. It's a bit uncomfortable to use while doing detailed work and could result in a hand cramp after prolonged usage. Gideonstactical's suggestion is to place your thumb over the thumb ramp instead.

This new position for your thumb is easy to do and very comfortable, giving you the traction and control you need while handling your knife. Of course, this is only good if you have a thumb that’s long enough. Though the thumb ramp isn’t as high as in other Becker knives like the BK7 or BK9, it might still be a stretch for some making it just as uncomfortable as using the thumb ramp.

Through the rest of the video, gideonstactical does other field tests such as stabbing/penetrating wood and batoning. The clip point design and the reinforced tip make it perfect for stabbing or penetrating wood. Of course, it would also work perfectly as a tactical knife.

As for batoning, the knife works great except for the fact that the clip point is very thin and could snap your batoning stick in half if it’s not thick enough. Chopping wood and carving are also very feasible with the BK10. As gideonstactical points out, this knife was designed to do every task well and stand up to hard use. It’s what he calls “a jack of all trades, a master of none.”

OTHER FEATURES

With the BK10, you get a solidly constructed sheath that has heavy duty snaps and multiple holes that provide you with various attachment options. There's a nicely sized pocket at the front where can store your fire steel or other survival stuff you might want to bring with you.

The Zytel handle of the BK10 is much like the BK2. The only difference is that the handle is thinner (due to having a thinner blade) and a bit shorter. And as we’ve pointed out with the BK2, the handle is very ergonomic and feels very comfortable. Rather than making the hand feel squished, the shorter length of the handle, with its flared grip, provides a comfortable place for the hand to rest. The finger groove near the guard also helps make a very secure grip.

WHY WE LIKE THE BK-10 CREWMAN

The BK10 is a perfect compromise of size and thickness. Unlike the BK2 or the BK9, it’s much lighter so it’s less of a strain to carry around for long periods of time. It’s not as long as the BK9 but not as short as the BK2. The blade is sharp and tough even under heavy use, and the knife as a whole is more than capable for most campsite tasks (including batoning!). What more could you ask for?

View the Ka-Bar BK10 on Amazon!