Becker bk-2 or Schrade SCHF9?

the handle strap is adjustable for width, I guess in case u decide to change scales. The belt loop is attached by velcro so the rig can be removed without taking off the belt.
 
. . .or you can fold the Velcro from the belt loop all the way down to the Velcro that keeps the auxiliary pouch attached and carry the knife higher on your hip. This works better without the auxiliary pouches still in places it takes up a bit of the available Velcro - I put my leatherman in there and attach it to my pack, anyway, so I have less weight pulling my pants down :D
 
Got them both, like them both. The schf9 is a bit longer which makes it look just right (I know, I know, it's not just about looks). There is nothing wrong with either one of those blades, pretty sure there are way better options out there which I can't afford so I'll use those two until they break (which I doubt). Hate both sheaths so I made a leather one for the bk2 and bought a spec ops combat master sheath for the schf9.
I got me a ceramic rod and the schf9 is really easy to sharpen with it, add a strop to the mix and you will have a scary sharp knife (it's even sharper than the bk2)


 
Well Ive had my SCHF9 now for a few days and I think its just as good as the BK-2. for 40 buck and a lifetime warranty i think the math adds up to a SCHF9.

I would recommend it any day...
 
I took one out this past weekend and split half a cord of wood with it because I lost my Wetterlings hatchet. I ground down the finger grooves as well as the majority of the raised circles in the handles. It fits my hand very we'll but not as well as a Becker. Very little knife shock even on the oak. The blade remained very sharp all weekend. If you don't like to mod your own knife I'd say get the BK-2. If you don't mind spending an hour with a grinder, sander, etc then the Schrade is a very good buy. I did not think I'd like the recurve blade but I do. It's in a spot on the blade that works great for carving.
http://s917.photobucket.com/user/falconerphoto/library/?sort=3&page=1
 
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I looked closely at both of these knives not long ago. Becker has a big following on the forum, the Schrade doesn't seem to have an outspoken fan club. But I think the SCHF9 Schrade deserves more credit than people give it, and would probably do most bushcraft/woods duties just fine. So would the BK2.
The choice is as much or more about personal ergonomics and personal aesthetics as any real technical specs.
 
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Tallahassee said:
I looked closely at both of these knives not long ago. Becker has a big following on the forum, the Schrade doesn't seem to have an outspoken fan club. But I think the SCHF9 Schrade deserves more credit than people give it, and would probably do most bushcraft/woods duties just fine. So would the BK2.
The choice is as much or more about personal ergonomics and personal aesthetics as any real technical specs.
Click to expand...
I agree but would like to add you can get two of the Schrade knives for the price of a BK-2 AND you won't be spending another $40-50 on a sheath so you can actually use it right away. The Schrade sheath is far more usable. Though I am a Becker fan and will continue to collect them the BK-2 is not on my short list due to the poor sheath design and cost. After thousands of complaints I just can't understand why both the glass filled nylon and terrible BK-2 sheaths haven't been replaced. It takes them right out of the "affordable" market for many people who need a sturdy knife and a sheath to match.
 
Tallahassee said:
I looked closely at both of these knives not long ago. Becker has a big following on the forum, the Schrade doesn't seem to have an outspoken fan club. But I think the SCHF9 Schrade deserves more credit than people give it, and would probably do most bushcraft/woods duties just fine. So would the BK2.
The choice is as much or more about personal ergonomics and personal aesthetics as any real technical specs.
Click to expand...
I agree but would like to add you can get two of the Schrade knives for the price of a BK-2 AND you won't be spending another $40-50 on a sheath so you can actually use it right away. The Schrade sheath is far more usable. Though I am a Becker fan and will continue to collect them the BK-2 is not on my short list due to the poor sheath design and cost. After thousands of complaints I just can't understand why both the glass filled nylon and terrible BK-2 sheaths haven't been replaced. It takes them right out of the "affordable" market for many people who need a sturdy knife and a sheath to match.
 
Falconer I agree, both the scales and the sheath on the Schrade are OK and good to go out of the box. A lot of BK2 owners wind up replacing not only the sheath but also the scales, so after you add in the sheath and some micarta you've spent at least the cost of the knife a second time. I realize to a lot of BK2 owners that upgrading is not a bug, it's a feature.

To me there would be better value if the BK2 came in factory micarta for a few bucks more. Ditto the BK7 and BK9.
 
I'd like to do a video, maybe with some forum guys, on a range of classic survival knives, starting with the $40 SCHF9 and going up from there. I have the SCFH9 (still new in the box), a BK2, a ZT 0100 (CPM-3V), three Survive! GSO knives (4.1, 5.1, and 7/7) and I'm piddling with the idea of getting a TGLB / INFI.

If anyone is interested, I live on a farm in North Alabama, where if it's possible to break something, it'll happen here. We beat the ever-lovin' crap outta stuff like we're paid to do it. :D
 
I just ordered a SCHF9 after contemplating an ESEE 5/6, BK10/7, and the Ontario Ranger knives. For the price and all the good things that I've heard about it I just had to bite. Hopefully it lives up to its reputation!
 
The best thing about the Schrade ... at $36 you can really use it without having to worry about damaging your expensive exotic blade ... and it still brings a smile to my face every time I pull it out of the sheath !!

I do have a Becker BK2, and it was my go to knife when I visit the folks on the farm, but the size has always been a bit of a limitation, especially when dealing with larger wood like fence posts. That’s why I was enthusiastic about the Shrade, looked pretty much like a larger version of the Becker, solid beefy thug of a blade that will take punishment.

And, that’s pretty much what this knife is, long and strong enough to split fence posts with comparative ease, which is impressive, the ironbark wood here is incredibly hard, especially when it’s aged, it’ll destroy most stainless blades pretty quickly. We don’t even worry about taking the fencing wire out anymore, the Schrade just goes through it all.

I know this is a knife forum and everyone rates knives based on the suitability to its task, which is fair enough. But this is one of the few ‘survival knifes’ that doesn’t just sit in the pack with my other knives waiting to be taken on a trip every now and then. The Schrade is actually an incredibly versatile and dependable tool that I have found myself using around the house and garden as much as out bush (it always accompanies me out camping), at $36, it’s also one of the cheapest garden tools I have lol.

Most of my family now own the Schrade, and we all agree, at $200, we’d still have one, but then we'd be more careful about using it. That’s where the true value of this knife is, it is just so useful that you use it, and you don’t have to worry about it, because it doesn’t cost $200.

But the best recommendation I can give this knife doesn’t come from me ... when we were leaving the farm, dad asked if I could leave the Schrade ... much to his total delight, I gave it to him, and it hasn’t left his side since.
 
As a survival knife, I would trust my life on it. Some love them, some hate them. I'm keeping mine.

 
Zuluninja and Graffix, you have convinced me to pull the trigger on the Schrade. Like I need another large fixed blade, lol!!!
 
I have the O.K.C. Ranger Afghan, and the BK-2, my fav ofcource is my Ratmandu which I have in the INFI Steel too, but as a beater set I am getting the SCHF 36 and tge SCHF 37 and down theine switching the handles to micarta, I understand the SCHF 36 M and the SCHF 37 M are identical in design except the SCHF 36 M and the 37 M have the Micarta Handles and are the 8Cr13Mov Stainless Steel, I want the 1095 High Carbon and I plan to get the Micarta Scales for it, check it out.
 
Not to be a broken record, but Beckers and other Kabars are not 1095. What Becker calls "1095CV" and Case calls "Chrome Vanadium" and Cold Steel called "Carbon V" is a premium carbon steel known as 50100B.

1095 is fine, but you really are getting better, more premium steel when you buy a Becker that is more comparable to O1 or 52100. And it is well heat treated by Kabar.


That said, Taylor/Schrade does a good job with several of their carbon steel knives.
 
Look, I'm a Beckerhead. Now, with that out of the way ...

For an "All Around Survival Knife" I'd take a BK-9 but when many say survival I suspect they mean outdoors knife. I do not mean a picnic, complete with basket, checkered groundcloth and a bottle of wine outdoors but hunting, fishing, camping type outdoors.

In that regard, it is a great time to be into knives as so many wonderful offering are out there providing great utility and value - the BK2 and the SCH9 included.

Yes the sheath leaves a lot to be desired on the beloved BK2 and yes many spend as much (or more) on pimping and dressing up there Beckers as the knife originally cost but I will venture a guess that if you bought both (as they are both great knifes for their prices) that you would enjoy and use both - but wind up owning more and more Beckers as time went on.

Why? Maybe the ergonomic handles, perhaps because the 1905 CroVan is slightly better, maybe because of the fraternity (or Fan Club as some may call us) or, in my estimation - because Becker Knives have soul.
 
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