Ka-Bar is a good solid company. The Becker line is new for them, so I am not surprised at a few problems. I'm sure Ethan and Ka-Bar will make good on any defects, and that the QC will improve. One of the great things about Beckers has always been affordability. To mass produce a quality field knife here in the USA at a competitive price to imports cannot be easy. I want to see them succeed. I'm tired of exporting American jobs to China. Having used Camillus knives all my life, I was saddened when they closed shop. As a collector, I try to buy American whenever I can. For some types, like kukris and machetes, I buy imports because they are the best available. Lets hope the folks at Busse, Swamp Rat, Scrap Yard, Bark River, Ontario, Ka-Bar, Buck, Gerber, RAT Cutlery, Benchmade, Spyderco, and the others can keep making quality knives here in the USA.