It looks good to me too. The other Becker knives didn't seem to be quite the right shape- this one does. It looks boring, but I think a classic shape will. It just looks right.

I stole these specs from a post Doug made at Bladeforums:

Blade Style: Drop point, high grind
Blade Length: 6 inches
.188" 0170-6C carbon steel or CPM S30V stainless
Becker Trademark GV6H handles
Black epoxy powdercoat or stonewashed
Variable Balance: Neutral or blade forward (Magic!)
Sheath: Ambidexterous, ballistic nylon with Kydex insert, storage pocket

Can one of you knife nuts please explain what is meant by "Variable Balance: Neutral or blade forward (Magic!)", specifically the "variable" part?

I am presently about 2 months in to a 4-year wait for a new Randall 25-6" Trapper, and I bought a BK10 Crewman with the intention of using it as my hunting/survival knife. But I confess I'll have to take a hard look at the S30V version of the BK12.

Regards, Vince

Only thing I can presume with wariable balance is weight in the handle, and by shifting its position, or removing it completly, balance is adjusted.

Bogdan

I posted the same question over at Bladeforums. No reply as of yet. I am now guessing that it simply means that the 0170-6C carbon version is neutral balanced, while the S30V version is blade forward. If this is wrong I'm sure somebody will correct me.

Regards, Vince

Here is Doug's reply to my query at Bladeforums, which I hope he does not mind me reproducing here. Looks like Bogdan was on the right track:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349884&page=3&pp=20

"Some folks prefer a neutral balance, other prefer having blade forward. Using a very simple method, which I cannot yet reveal, we can offer both options in the same knife, allowing a user to adjust it to suit their own preference. This concept is not new, but our very simple, low cost and easy to use implimentation of it is, hopefully. We are in the process of doing the necessary deeper and more thorough intellectual property research as we speak."


Regards, Vince

Vince, I remember a version of the Fairbairn Applegate dagger that had weights in the handles that you could move and remove to adjust the balance.
Boker, maybe? Anyway, I wonder if this is similar to what Doug is doing.

But then where will I cram my fish hooks and snare wire? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, it sounds like it should be interesting.

Regards, VInce

Norad, I presume when you remove the weight there will be space for few small items. Anyway I don't like using knife handle for a kit, so that won't be a problem.

I thought about weight issue, lighter knife is always better choice, and usualy I prefer weight forward balance, which if we are corect in guessing is achived by removing the weight, so that solution will be nice. Obviosly more neutral balance will bring weight a little up, but on the other side, from my experience in knife testing and design, even small weight difference on the end of the handle will move balance a lott. So aded weight should be small.

Bogdan

In a follow up post over at Bladeforums, Doug noted that there were cutouts in the tang,
so that suggests that there might be room for a few items in the handles.

Doug, can you throw us a bone - pics, specs, ETA, anything?