4, 9, or 16?

Semper Praesidio

Semper Praesidio

Joined
Feb 19, 2014
Messages
1,184
My fellow Beckerheads and Becker enthusiasts: I find myself in a bit of dilemma and I seek your wisdom and knowledge.

Thanks to a little side work, I have recently come up with the funds to purchase my next Becker....and I am struggling to make a decision. I find I am battling an internal struggle amongst pragmatism, practicality, and predilection (fancy, roundabout way of saying desire - I had to look it up).

Pragmatism - The BK4 is going away. If I want one, I need to probably get it soon before it becomes an endangered species. Biggest downside is I *think* I would like it, but just not sure; I've never owned a blade like it and never handled one, so I don't have a good point of reference...

Practicality - The BK16 just seems like a great, all-around blade. And, if I recall correctly, Mr. Becker's favorite (which is good enough for me). Biggest downside is I would feel like I have to replace/dye the sheath so it isn't just purchasing the blade...

Predilection - As I've heard said here so often, "you can't not have 9" - and I don't! I got to handle my brother-in-law's 9 at Thanksgiving and it felt great! I'm pretty confident I would enjoy using this knife on a regular basis. Biggest downside is it is a little more than I was hoping to spend even with the extra funds available...

I already own a 2, 3, and 14. And just to head it off at the pass because I've been hanging around you guys long enough to know the suggestion is coming - I can't afford all three right now.... ;-)

So, HELP! What do I do?!
 
Get the 4. Not a budget buster and you will be totally surprised how much you dig it. And if I understand correctly, it was Ethan's first great design and has stood the test of time. 30 years? Back me up fellas, and straighten my info out.

The 16 and the 9 will always be around I'm sure. The 4 can be had for around $70 or less if you really dig and look for promo codes.

As for the 16 sheath, you have a cheap option here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...a-bar-short-leather-sheath-swap-Fit-Confirmed!

Over all, I'd say get the 9 now if you have the funds as it might be easier to splurge later for the 4 since its cheaper.

Ok, I realize I'm no help, maybe it'll help you in your decision.

ETA: also wanted to say, if you get the 9 now while you have the funds, and for some reason you can never get another knife, you know you can't go wrong, you've handled it, you know you like it, no more pressure or regret down the road. I hate to say that because I really love the 4 and hope you get the pleasure of owning one some day.
I had the 2 first, then the 9 and I was hooked...
 
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I'd probably get the 4. It's the wisest cost/benefit ratio.

Both the 9 and 16 are at regular price. They also aren't in danger of going away.

The 4 is on sale right now at a lot of places, and it's a steal to be quite frank. Even if you don't end up liking it, wait 6 months after you can't get one easily, and sell it for $30 more than you paid.

Can't do that with a 9 or a 16.
 
I guarantee you won't do that with the 9 or the 16 unless your starving. Overall good points though co557guy, I agree.
Man, Sophie's choice here...
 
Not only is the 4 on sale but the 15 is too! Frankly, I prefer the 15 over the 16.

The 9 and 16 aren't going away anytime soon but the 4, 5, and 15 are. If you get one now, you won't have any trouble selling it later. At last year's Black Friday and Xmas, there were all sorts of incredible jaw-dropping sales.
 
Get the 4, and I say that because it's the most unlike any of the other knives you have. The 16 would be my next choice. No surprise that the 4 and the 16 are my 2 favorite Beckers (waiting for the RBK too).
 
Knew I never should have looked in this thread. Guess I will be getting a 4,5 and 15. I can be of NO help here.
 
Whilst the 4 looks like its just for chopping, it isn't. It's not as big as it looks in the pictures and the canted handle is really very ergonomic. Fat end for chopping, thinner end for fine work.

I was dubious about the 4 at first as I thought I probably wouldn't really 'need' one and wasn't sure about the handle angle. I bit the bullet and got one anyway. When I pulled it out of the box, wow, it felt so good to hold onto. It just WANTS to cut stuff. IMHO I think the only drawback of the 4 is it would be more difficult to sharpen than the 9 and 16 due to the blade shape.

You have Beckeritis now (even if you don't know it yet) so I know with our horrible influence you'll make a way to end up purchasing all three at some stage. But my suggestion would be get the 4. Trust me (a person you don't know and will probably never meet :D) you'll love the 4.

It seems like you already have most bases covered with the other steel you have (14 for dextrous work, the 3 for destroying cars, the 2 for destroying everything else) so I reckon the 4 would be a great way to round out the START of this wonderfully terrible affliction.

Hope that helped brother.. Springy.
 
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Ok. Just realized you're already a BeckerHead. You've well and truly got Beckeritis and you well and truly know it! Hehe sorry mate. Me = dingus..
 
Ok, I totally get why the 4 is being recommended. However, as a Beckerhead, it is your birthright to own a 9. You must remedy this and soon! I say this from experience....... you will regret all the years you have wasted not owning a 9.

-Dan
 
co556guy said:
The 4 is on sale right now at a lot of places, and it's a steal to be quite frank. Even if you don't end up liking it, wait 6 months after you can't get one easily, and sell it for $30 more than you paid.
Click to expand...

This thought had actually crossed my mind and is an excellent point.

BeeKayNutCase said:
Ok. Just realized you're already a BeckerHead. You've well and truly got Beckeritis and you well and truly know it! Hehe sorry mate. Me = dingus..
Click to expand...

No worries, brother! Catching Beckeritis certainly didn't take me long - think I contacted it the moment I picked up a BK2 at the gun show 2 Octobers back. This will be the first one I've purchased for me (got one for a GAW recently) in about a year. Pretty sure I'm overdue...
 
The choice is simple.
I still can't believe the Machax is going away....
So versitile!


 
Can someone point me to a photo of a BK4 next to a BK2? I keep hearing that it is smaller than it looks, so I'd like to get something by way of perspective if I could. Thanks!
 
Here's my 4 with my 2:

BK2-BK4.JPG


The 4 is stripped, has rosewood scales and a skystorm leather sheath. The 2 has the stock sheath & scales, and has been convexed.
 
Interestingly, these 2 knives weigh about the same, since the 2 is thicker than the 4. Given the equal weight, the 4 gets a LOT more woods time than the 2, though I do still use the 2 a fair amount for batoning smaller pieces, cutting up chaga, and other such things.
 
Ok...just pulled the trigger on a 4. Move along now. Nothing left here to see - until it gets here and I can take some pics! :-)
 
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