Recommendation? Becker BK15 or Terävä Jääkäripuukko?

[McFeeli]

Alright guys, another recommendation thread.. Just what everyone wanted, right? Well this one is tough one, at least for me it is. I’m looking for a general purpose fixed blade, something not too large, but capable. It’s not something I’ll be carrying around every day or anything like that. It’ll be one I take camping or if I expect to spend a decent amount of time in the woods for whatever reason. It’d be used fo things like food prep, starting fires, and woodworking.

I’ve landed on either the
Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, or the more elusive/expensive BK 15. Both are right around 5.5”, I’d have to give the Becker a nod in the aesthetics department, usability.. I’d think that’d be a tie. The Jääkäripuukko seems like it’d come with a great sheath to start with, while the Becker could benefit from a new one. Add on that cost as well as being a bit pricier the Jääkäripuukko seems to be the better value, I’d go with the 80CrV2 model, which sounds like a solid steel, though I’ve never used it.

I know there’s a lot of Beckerheads for good reason, because I know their knives are built to be used. And while I like the larger BK5, it seems like overkill for what I want. Which is why I thought the 15 would be perfect. As for the Jääkäripuukko, from everything I’ve read it’s a damn good knife for the money, almost too good pass up.

So if you have any experience or advice on either of these choices I’d love to get some more feedback before I commit one way or the other. Thanks in advance!

 

[22-rimfire]

The BK-15 is one of my favorite woods knives and I'm not afraid to use it for any of the normal woods tasks. I think it's a great all around user. I don't have the Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140 and can't offer anything about that. The factory sheath with the Becker is functional and does last. I have no real issues with it.

 

[McFeeli]

The BK-15 is one of my favorite woods knives and I'm not afraid to use it for any of the normal woods tasks. I think it's a great all around user. I don't have the Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140 and can't offer anything about that. The factory sheath with the Becker is functional and does last. I have no real issues with it.

I really think I’d love the shite out of the BK15, I’ve come so close to pulling the trigger on a BK5, but I’d always stop myself because I just didn’t think I’d carry it enough. Then, like 4-5 weeks ago, I find out the BK15 existed and it instantly found itself on my “Next To Buy” list. The factory sheath would suffice, I’m 90% sure on that, but my previous knives with the same type of sheath, while also fine, they didn’t really work all that well for me. I have a feeling I’d have to commission/outsource the sheath work a few weeks after getting the knife unless I do a homemade Kydex set up(which is definitely an option).

Thank you for the input, though!

 

[aleforme]

I've had both. Still have the 140. The blade on the BK15 is a better more general use blade IMO. Thinner blade stock and a better slicer. The 140 has a thicker blade but is still a decent slicer. Both are super easy to sharpen and I don't think onc steel really wins out over the other in terms or edge retention.

The main advantage the 140 has over the BK is the handle/grip. The BK15 grips are pretty thin. It's the one thing I never liked about the knife. The rubber grip/handle on the 140 is very nice and thicker than the Bk15. Much better grip IMO. Very grippy.

As far as sheaths go, the BK15 sheath is pretty good. Not great but does it's job. The leather 140 sheath is actually very nice. It's a kydex shell with a leather outer covering. It's actually on of the better stock leather sheaths I've had.

Fit & Finish? The BK15 all day. It's just a cleaner more refined knife. Build quality? Both are pretty bomb proof but I think the 140 would certainly outlast the BK15 is some crazy impractical strength tests. For normal use, either will hold up just fine.

The BK15 has a blade coating so corrosion will be better controlled. The 140 (carbon version) is uncoated. The 140 stainless, well, coating is not an issue.

I think you would be happy with either knife. If you're going to do more "camp" type chores that might involved food prep, filleting fish or game processing, I'd got with the BK15. If you're going to do more "bushcraft" type stuff, I'd go with the 140. The 140 will better for batoning if that's your thing.

Which would I choose right now? Probably the 140 mainly due to the better grip/handle. But, depending on a person's hand size, the BK15 might be more than fine. I have pretty average size large hands for reference.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

The BK15 is also one of my favorite knives ... that's why I bought some up when I found out they were being discontinued ...

I am not familiar with the other knife mentioned ... but if you find a BK15 IMHO ... I would jump on it ... it can handle just about everything you could ask of it ... I dtill watch for 5s and 15s and may actually add more if I find them for a decent cost.

 

[McFeeli]

I've had both. Still have the 140. The blade on the BK15 is a better more general use blade IMO. Thinner blade stock and a better slicer. The 140 has a thicker blade but is still a decent slicer. Both are super easy to sharpen and I don't think onc steel really wins out over the other in terms or edge retention.

The main advantage the 140 has over the BK is the handle/grip. The BK15 grips are pretty thin. It's the one thing I never liked about the knife. The rubber grip/handle on the 140 is very nice and thicker than the Bk15. Much better grip IMO. Very grippy.

As far as sheaths go, the BK15 sheath is pretty good. Not great but does it's job. The leather 140 sheath is actually very nice. It's a kydex shell with a leather outer covering. It's actually on of the better stock leather sheaths I've had.

Fit & Finish? The BK15 all day. It's just a cleaner more refined knife. Build quality? Both are pretty bomb proof but I think the 140 would certainly outlast the BK15 is some crazy impractical strength tests. For normal use, either will hold up just fine.

The BK15 has a blade coating so corrosion will be better controlled. The 140 (carbon version) is uncoated. The 140 stainless, well, coating is not an issue.

I think you would be happy with either knife. If you're going to do more "camp" type chores that might involved food prep, filleting fish or game processing, I'd got with the BK15. If you're going to do more "bushcraft" type stuff, I'd go with the 140. The 140 will better for batoning if that's your thing.

Which would I choose right now? Probably the 140 mainly due to the better grip/handle. But, depending on a person's hand size, the BK15 might be more than fine. I have pretty average size large hands for reference.

That’s some serious food for thought. The grips on the 140 intrigued me, they look like they’d be fantastic, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Almost like the Res-C that Scrapyard uses, and that stuff seems perfect for many here. I do know not to expect amazing fit and finish out of the Jääkäripuukko just for the fact that it’s a $30 puukko. The extra $30 for a well designed sheath almost brings it closer to the BK15 prices, but for that type of quality sheath it’s definitely worth it to me. If the BK15 was $100+ I probably wouldn’t have even started this thread, but with them so close together in price and in general use, it’s a tough choice!

I do agree that the Jääkäripuukko seems like it’s designed more as a knife that can do everything, and I imagine the BK15 could be considered as such, it does have more of a secondary blade vibe for it. I always tend to have a secondary slicer on me anyway, my folder, so that could be another point in the Jääkäripuukko‘s favor.

Thank you for the excellent comparison!

 

[McFeeli]

The BK15 is also one of my favorite knives ... that's why I bought some up when I found out they were being discontinued ...

I am not familiar with the other knife mentioned ... but if you find a BK15 IMHO ... I would jump on it ... it can handle just about everything you could ask of it ... I dtill watch for 5s and 15s and may actually add more if I find them for a decent cost.

The ones I’ve found all tend to sell close to $80. That doesn’t seem like a bad price to me, but again, I feel like I’d have to get another sheath at some point. Now I’m not completely sure that will be the case, but from past experience I’ve learned rather quickly I’m not a huge fan of that style. I know the 15 gets a lot of love around here which is testimate in itself. It’s hard not to love that trailing point, haha.

 

[91bravo]

I'm still trying to figure out how yall are putting those sideways colons above those letters in Jaakaripuukko!

I love my BK15

 

[McFeeli]

I'm still trying to figure out how yall are putting those sideways colons above those letters in Jaakaripuukko!

I love my BK15

It’s a secret!




I’ve been copying and pasting it...

 

[22-rimfire]

The BK-15 has become like my Spyderco Delica a reference knife on what I like to use. I have other knives that are similar to the BK-15 with the trailing point style. I just find it to be a very functional knife. One of the knives that I use that is similar is the Dozier Pro Guides Knife. Again, I like the BK-15 and am so glad that I purchased it back when they were readily available. I do not have the BK-5 or big brother to the BK-15. Just felt I wouldn't get much use out of it. The Beckers are purchased to use, not look at.

Folks here like the Mora's but I would prefer to carry the BK-15.