I just received my bk-7 today. This knife is so cool. I can't wait till i can use it on something. I was wondering about equipping it. Can anyone give me some ideas of what to attach to it?

Frank

In my BK-7 sheath, I have 12 feet of 550 paracord and 10 pieces of Tinder-Quik behind the kydex insert, and about 10 additional feet of 550 paracord wrapped around the handles. In the sharpening stone pouch I have diamond-coated paper for sharpening (I forgot the exact name of it), my Leatherman Wave, and a Bic lighter. I have seen many who place a mini-PSK inside the actual handles themselves, but I haven't done so as of yet. I'd like to put some NATO lifeboat matches, a wire saw, and a fishing kit inside my handles when I get some time.



John McIntire

I placed a mini kit and a bottle of iodine tabs in the pouch. After the photo was taken, I added a large industrial trash bag on top of the pouch and 15' of paracord. I also have added a photon style light to the kit.

I'd rather not put the wave in the same sheath as the BK-7, unless space is a problem.
a) if worn on a belt, the lobsided weight distribution might be uncormfortable.
b) the ever recuring theme of putting all your eggs in one conveinient and neat basket keeps...well.....rucuring <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Alright Rambo....Excellent I'm tempted to get one of those but I think I would like a Battle mistress better. When you start using it could you write a review on the quality of steel and ergonomics and all that jive. I would realy like to know.I have also been knocking the idea around in my head of a Ratac

Robert, here's Cliff Stamps review of the Becker. It's what made up my mind about which knife under $50.00 to get.

Longbow

How did you make those knots at the top and bottom of your knife and sheath?? And how did you manage to fit a tin, a bottle of iodine tablets, a trash bag, and 15' of paracord in that small pouch??
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I put about 10' or cord and a magnesium firestarter behind the kydex insert. I put a sparklite type firestarter and some tinder in the handle. I also made a small altoid PSK for the pouch. And hanging off the side I have an LED light, container of strike anywhere matches, and a compass.
I will post pictures soon................I hope.

Frank

Here ya go Frank. the knot is called the Reeve coil knot from Chris Reeves site.

Sorry I wasn't more clear on what I'd done. I placed the trash bag on the sheath so that it covered the pouch and then wrapped the cord around the sheath to hold the bag in place. <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Longbow50: I've been looking for that knot FOREVER! Thanks!

WOFT: I have two Wave's, one in my assault vest or on my belt...and the one you see inside the Becker. To be honest, I have two Beckers also. The Becker I have pictured up there is the one I take on SAR patrols. As far as it being lopsided...It's tied around my thigh, plus it's balanced by my Glock model 22 .40 caliber on the other hip. Both are secured on my web belt...so they aren't going anywhere unless I'm going with them. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Robert: Jeff Randall is cool and all, but get the Becker instead of the RTAK. The RTAK is too big and unweildy, and the sheath pouch sucks. The Busse Battle Mistress, is, of course, far better than a Becker. But for the $350 price tag, you could buy two Beckers, two GI machetes, and two Estwing Hatchets...and still have $200 dollars to spend on more gear! Trust me, I learned this stuff the hard way. <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

John McIntire

JW, How did you manage to get 12 feet of 550 paracord and 10 pieces of Tinder-Quik behind the kydex insert inside of the sheath? Were you somehow able to stretch the sheath or was there already room enough? Mine seems to be tight as a drum.

Neal

Check out the following page:

http://www.survival.com/becker.htm

Hope this helps!

The original sheaths for the Becker were slightly bigger than the ones that are out now. They were recieving complaints that the tie-down rivets in the bottom of the sheath would come off in rare instances, so they re-manufactured the whole sheath. I have one old sheath, and one new sheath. With a little stretching, I was able to get approx. 10 feet of 550, and 6 pieces of tinder behind the new kydex insert. The best way I could find was to put it all in a garbage bag, then stuff it down in there.

I also recieved a few PM's about how I got the knife retention snaps to close with the 550 cord wrapped around the handle. The answer is the same as Neals question. They are using a different sheath now. You can't do this with the new sheath unless you modify the snaps. If you were going to do this simply for better grip, I would suggest getting self-adhesive gauze from Wal-Mart, and wrapping that around the handle. It works fairly well, and you can still use the gauze if an emergency came up.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you would like pictures of the two types of sheaths.

John McIntire

Yes, I would like pictures of both sheaths. I was able to fit about 10 to 15 feet of paracord, magnesium firestater, allen wrench to open the handle (because I put a firestarter and tinder there), and piece of a knife sharpener I broke behind the kydex insert. I found that there was room behind the kydex but not in front. It seems to be glued because the kydex doesn't come out, but there is a tiny space in the front of the kydex where I managed to stuff a piece of write in rain paper.
Hopefully I can post some pics soon! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Thanks, that explains it. I will just have to find another way. BTW I could get an altoids tin in the pouch but it was VERY tight. So I cut off the elastic band that was around the pouch and now the tin is so sloppy I have room for more stuff. I now use a ranger band to keep out the rattle which I believe was the purpose of the elastic to begin with.

Also, (if anyone is having this problem) When I first got it the blade was sloppy in the kydex and rattled alot. I slipped out the kydex from the sheath and on the bottom of the kydex I slipped on a belt clip that was off of an old broken tape measure. Slid the kydex back in the sheath and now it holds the blade tight. Others, heated their kydex and pressed it closer togeather while it cooled which holds the blade tighter.

Neal

I took some pictures of my BK-7.




There is a magnesium firestarter, an allen wrench (to open the handle), some paracord, and a piece of a sharpener in there.



Contents of handle.



I will take pictures of the contents of the tin later. Sorry if these pictures are really blurry I took them fast.

Frank

I like the knife very much.Does anyone know where I can buy one at

Wildernessman,

I suggest trying eBay first. If that's not your taste, I get most of my knives at Knifecenter.com. They have great service, and cheap prices. Here's a link to the Becker BK7 on their website: Becker BK7. Hope that helps!

John McIntire

JW, how did you do the paracord wrap around the handle? Is there a pattern to it? How do you deal with the loose ends?

Follow this link to Ranger ricks http://www.therangerdigest.com/index.htm
The instructions are about half way down the page.

Yep, that's pretty much what I did, only I didn't soak it in water. Doesn't seem necessary IMO.

John McIntire

We always just called it a Hangman's Noose. Just thread the "noose" through an eyelet before tying, & tie as usual.

I have them on most of my knives with lanyards.

David

On the new sheaths does the elastic band need to be cut because i can barely fit an altoids can in it.

What are the complete contents of the handle of the CU7? <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Rusty,

I cut the strap on my sheath as I had the same problem as you are having. If you decide to cut your elastic strap off, you may want to cut a ranger band from a motorcycle tube to stop any rattle.

My pouch opened enough to put extra items next to the tin in the pouch.

If you still require more space, you may want to make something like Click Here

Neal

I used paracord for the BK7 handle as it is too slippery.

BK7 paracord handle

Similar to the way Strider knife is wrapped.

Strider knife rewrap

Wow, you must have big hands!
The present BK-7 handle is just right for my hands. I wouldn't be able to hold it if I were to wrap paracord around it!

;P

]Trusbx[

I've small hands but the handle with paracord feels good.