BCN Roll Call ?

Who is still around? I know some of the names. German Daggers forum is very dead. I suppose many of us are here, and some have passed and perhaps banging away with their M9s in a beer hall somewhere. Anyways maybe there should be a re-union of sorts. Seems like enthusiasm overall in the area has waned, but I rarely go to shows any more so I don't know what it's like on the ground so to speak. I always thought BCN died pre-maturely, I don't think it was out of dis-interest, rather the format and what was capturing peoples attention at the time with Facebook and other forms of social media. It wasn't long after, most forums, similar to this one died thanks to Facebook. I saw it happen not in just this community but especially car and automotive communities. I'm glad we have a home here where substance still exists.

Cheers


1) Erik in Ohio
2)

As the last Editor of the BCN, this is something I can speak to. Founded by John Jacobi, we were active for 19 years. For nothing more than a membership roster supported by emails received by the editor, formed into a newsletter and sent out to the membership, I think we did OK! I still have a large folder of pertinent emails, exchanges with individual members and the final membership roster. The reasons for John and I deciding to close down the BCN were several. Undoubtedly, lack of membership engagement was number one. In addition, there was always a percentage of "lurkers" whom joined the BCN, introduced themselves, and were never heard from again. By it's nature, the BCN was always meant to be a participatory organization. Thus, roll calls were held to clear out the "dead wood".

When John started out, he could generate up to five newsletters per week as our membership grew. Eventually this leveled out (although there was always more chatter during the spring, winter and fall seasons and drop-off during the summer months). By the time I took the helm, tried to do three postings per week, but often had difficulty making it two or even one. Sometimes I wrote in-depth articles of my own making, just to flesh things out enough to generate a newsletter. However, I suspect the real culprit was the formation of many online collector forums and social media platforms as well. Members could host or post their own photos, not have to wait a few days to get responses, etc. Technology had caught up with us, so the BCN went the way of the dinosaurs. However, John Jacobi and a couple members whom had made the suggestion, did form the BCN Facebook group. Years prior to that, a BCN sub-forum was also formed on the German Daggers.com website as well. Don't think it was ever very active (other than the mega-thread regarding SS attributed S84/98 T3 and other German bayonets). But, all has not been lost. Many former BCNers have found a new home here on the K98k Forum and I, for one, could not be more pleased!

Good idea Erik and didn't know luftpirate was you. Joined the old BCN in 1996 or '97 if I recall correctly. It was a good run, learned a lot and "met" a bunch of great people because of the group. I'm a member of the aforementioned Facebook group although I am essentially inactive on that platform. Much prefer things here. As I think many of the old BCN members would agree as there are quite a number of us here. Including one "Super Moderator."
My thoughts only - Lance O. Adams ....

PS - Loved the M9 comment

Yep, I was part of the BCN group as well. It was a good experience!

Slash said:

Good idea Erik... PS - Loved the M9 comment.

Click to expand...

Did someone say M9....? When the idea came up to inquire if the BCN could commission Lan-Cay to produce a BCN 10 year anniversary M9, they obliged. Much thanks to Jim Maddox (whom later got L-C to produce their own anniversary M9 as well) and the other BCNers whom helped make it possible (which includes the M9 BCN dagger logo and embroidered BCN pouch as well.). Price was $125. delivered. These pieces are highly sought out by M9 collectors as a scarce and never publicly offered bayonet. However, owner Barry Brown retained one example of every M9 variant they ever made, for their factory collection. Today these M9s are valued at triple+ what the members paid for them then... no sloshing of beer on these babies!

I regret not buying one now I was a poor college student at the time and probably bought a few 91/30s for what they were going for. Arguably a better investment. I think I joined around 2001 when Kim Henvig found me re-selling K98 pouches on Ebay I was getting from Aim Surplus. I was working at a computer store full time making 5.15 an hour and going to school.

In 1998, John Jacobi was doing some research on the Sg42 tool/knife bayonet and wrote a letter to Eickhorn seeking data. Via this initial contact, he learned that Eickhorn still held about 125 KCB77 M6 bayonets. The M6 was the newest and last bayonet for issuance with the M98/K98 pattern rifles ever manufactured. Purportedly a small number of them went to Iraq. The M6 came with either tan or forest green fittings. So, another "group buy" was offered exclusively to the BCN membership. Upon receipt of all funds, John initiated the purchase, received the bayonets and forwarded them on to the members. The KCB77 was never imported into the USA for commercial sale. I believe bayonet guru Homer Brett later got wind of this and acquired the remaining stock. Can't recall exactly what the members paid for them. Some years later sold off the green and later tan one. However, was able to undo that mistake when I was offered a KCB77 M7 (for Soviet AKM) from Jim Maddox, which is even scarcer. He also sold me his own green KCB77 M6 as well. Each KCB77 M6 came with a copy of the official Eickhorn letter, too...

Here is mine which is untouched. The tip of the scabbard still covered in the original protective cardboard and plastic wrap. Also has the original GI care sheet which was folded up in the pouch when delivered. The care sheet is dated 1 July 2003. The Nexus buckle on the hanger is dated 03/2002. Does anyone know how many of these were made?

The loose blade is from the preproduction prototype. The BCN logo was inadvertantly placed upside down at the ricasso. The blade is also in the white, polished steel and only rough finished. There is some old tape residue at the tip for protection. This is believed to be the only example and came from the Bill Porter collection; purchased from his estate.

The last pic is of some old school BCN ephemera. The small pin on the left is the first version. Came out at the same time as the patch. There is also a version of the patch in desert camouflage brown and tan which I believe John Jacobi had made at a local shop in Afghanistan while deployed. I have one, but could not lay my hands on it. The pin on the right was a deluxe version; I think for another anniversary. Could have been 15 years .....? Perhaps someone here will remember.

Slash said:

Here is mine which is untouched. The tip of the scabbard still covered in the original protective cardboard and plastic wrap. Also has the original GI care sheet which was folded up in the pouch when delivered. The care sheet is dated 1 July 2003. The Nexus buckle on the hanger is dated 03/2002. Does anyone know how many of these were made?

The loose blade is from the preproduction prototype. The BCN logo was inadvertantly placed upside down at the ricasso. The blade is also in the white, polished steel and only rough finished. There is some old tape residue at the tip for protection. This is believed to be the only example and came from the Bill Porter collection; purchased from his estate.

The last pic is of some old school BCN ephemera. The small pin on the left is the first version. Came out at the same time as the patch. There is also a version of the patch in desert camouflage brown and tan which I believe John Jacobi had made at a local shop in Afghanistan while deployed. I have one, but could not lay my hands on it. The pin on the right was a deluxe version; I think for another anniversary. Could have been 15 years .....? Perhaps someone here will remember.

Click to expand...

I still have the desert patch and the Chief Master Sergeant from John too!

Bret Stewart here, We do still have the Facebook page but it is fairly quiet on there most of the time. I still have a shite box of the BCN patches in 2 styles and 2 different sizes if anyone is interested.
Thank you for kicking off this thread

Slash said:

Here is mine which is untouched. The tip of the scabbard still covered in the original protective cardboard and plastic wrap. Also has the original GI care sheet which was folded up in the pouch when delivered. The care sheet is dated 1 July 2003. The Nexus buckle on the hanger is dated 03/2002. Does anyone know how many of these were made?

The loose blade is from the preproduction prototype. The BCN logo was inadvertantly placed upside down at the ricasso. The blade is also in the white, polished steel and only rough finished. There is some old tape residue at the tip for protection. This is believed to be the only example and came from the Bill Porter collection; purchased from his estate.

The last pic is of some old school BCN ephemera. The small pin on the left is the first version. Came out at the same time as the patch. There is also a version of the patch in desert camouflage brown and tan which I believe John Jacobi had made at a local shop in Afghanistan while deployed. I have one, but could not lay my hands on it. The pin on the right was a deluxe version; I think for another anniversary. Could have been 15 years .....? Perhaps someone here will remember.

Click to expand...

I read that only 75 were made. Only 6 or 7 have ever been up for auction/sale since production. Not sure how much they sold for, but you can bet it was a lot more than was originally paid.
Here is a link to M9`s at Bayonet Trader. No BCN M9 bayonets but the LanCays get pricey.

First M9 I recalled seeing was at a OGCA show. I initially found it laughable in that having served in USMC for three years, I thought "Glad we kept using the M7 instead of a heavy klunk like that thing!". However, after purchasing a used Phrobis M9 at a local swapmeet in the latter '90s, the ugly duckling kind of began to grow on me. Well, we have all been there, so now I have a collection numbering 99 MPBS M9s! Timing can be everything and in the years to follow I benefited greatly by making contacts and acquiring M9s from three major collections which were being sold. My primary interest was only variants made or used by the military and produced in the USA (Asian or other knock-offs need not apply). However, I ultimately began to acquire some of the better, more interesting, or limited production variants. Now that BUCK/Phrobis, Lan-Cay, and Ontario Knife Co. are out of production, only Tri-Tech remains... and it is doubtful any more M9s will ever be made for government contract. All this has propelled here to for once common M9s bringing prices reserved for much more desirable bayonets... which have become all the scarcer as well...