No, I’m not referring to my son Tayden. This monster is from yours truly,

KA-BAR.

When I first was introduced to the Becker Companion, I’ll admit I was a little intimidated. Not because I’m not used to working with knives, but more so, a knife with such heft that’s just touching over the 5 inch blade mark (overall length 10.5”). Blade thickness of .250 with a black epoxy powder coat finish. At 1 pound in the hand, the Companion at first prods the mind into wondering what would be the best way to wield such an instrument. Would it be effective at dissecting killed game? Could I chop up / split some wood for fire / shelter? How would it be when constructing the specific pieces for a trap such as the figure-four or minor snare components? Could I use the wide blade as a paddle for swimming? All these things seem to immediately, at least they did for me, pop up when being first introduced.

So..after you thought these things, what was the verdict?

The verdict was, D - ALL of the Above.

The Becker Companion was used for everything listed thus far. Full chicken (not snared - store bought...), beef sides, shelter building, fire prep, snare prep, fire starting, cord work, primitive weapon work, etc. It has been a blessing on this expedition and we have KA-BAR to thank for that.

OH - no I didn’t use it for a paddle - yet, but it’s wide enough for the possibility.

The primary components used for the construction of such a creature are Chromium, Vanadium, Carbon, Manganese, Nickel and Molybdenum, with an HRC rating (Rockwell Hardness of the steels strength) of 58-59. The 1095 Cro-Van is a great metal, especially for the larger blades, as they are easier to maintain in the field, take an edge fast, resist chipping better in colder climates, and the blades do not decline as fast with use. Chromium is said to improve the uniformity of heat treatment while Vanadium is said to produce a finer grain size. A finer grain size improves toughness / hardness. Simply said, this is a great blade.

Did I mention the handle and the sheath?

The HANDLE is made from Grivory®, which is a high performance thermoplastic synthetic resin, also found under the worldwide trade names of Grilamid®, Grilon® and Grilflex®. Its usage reflects its ability to deal with corrosion, heat (cold or hot), humidity, shrinkage, water retention and physical force. So..it’s very tough and offers a great grip to work with.

KA-BAR also offers Micarta handles for the Becker line.

The SHEATH is flat black in color, made with rugged glass filled nylon. A section of wear resistant black nylon material holds the Companion to your belt or webbing strap. There are additional side slots for attaching a leg strap for better movement options when worn at the side.

In final comment, the Becker BK2 Companion delivers. I like heavy blades. Maybe it’s from watching too many Rambo films, or from some ancient part of my genetic ancestry which appreciated a razor sharp slab of volcanic glass for dealing with the negative people to the north. To the contrary though, I also think one is extremely capable with just a small, well made, stout blade (such as the Becker Remora - or the Becker Necker). In either case, I think you would REALLY grow to appreciate the BK2. They are fairly priced and offer another tool in your survival closet. 

Keep your eyes peeled for write ups, as there are a few more KA-BAR items up our sleeve.