Big Chopper

M

metermatch

Joined
Feb 27, 2007
Messages
79
I'm up in the air about which big knife to get. Choices are the Becker BK9, Ontario RTAKII, or the Kershaw Outcast... Any input on this would be much appreciated!
 
The BK9 is a heck of a knife and good chopper. If I wanted a knife that could chop, that would be my choice. If I just wanted to chop....then any of the three would be great with little drop off in performance between the three. Rat Cutlery is going to release a new knife, I believe this month, that will be a 10" chopper probably as good or better then the other three at chopping.
 
A lot comes down to how big and how heavy and how expensive you want to go.

I have a BK9 and it arrived 'shaving sharp'. It is a large combat bowie knife that is capable of chopping & batoning. It is great value at under $70.
The only flaw is minor - you should loctite the nuts that hold the scales on.

I also have a KA-BAR Kukri Machete with an 11.5" blade - it is a great chopper and only cost me $46. It is more a dedicated chopper/batoner than a knife though.

If I had a bigger budget and wanted a better chopper then I would go with:
http://yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/15inchangkhola.html
or
http://yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/18inchangkhola.html

But if you just want a big knife that can chop well - it's hard to beat the BK9 for the money. If you want to spend more then I would suggest the BK9 + Micarta Scales.
 
All great knives, I heard that new RAT Cutlery knife is going to be a sweet knife. May want to wait for that to come out.
 
I doubt the Outcast is lighter than the BK9.

The BK9 gets my vote because its 1095 Carbo steel blade is a lot easier to sharpen and less likely to chip than D2, the handle is more comfortable (fills my large hands more than the outcasts skinny handle), and non-recurved blade (also easier to sharpen).

I'm not a fan of ontario because they have had some bad heat treat problems in the bast, and they're not my favorite business to give money too.

The RC would be the ultimate... but a lot more expensive than the others.

of course, no knife chops better than a small camp axe.
 
Out of the three mentioned I would opt for the BK9.I have an older camillus BK9 and really like it,heard it is thicker stock than the Kabar offering,.200"vs .188".
 
I'd pick the BK9 over the Outcast. Its got the geometry that just slices like a laser and the blade is easy to get out of binds in wood. Also easier to get the straight edge to bite into wood where the recurve of the outcast sometimes either pulls the blade out of the hand or the outer belly of the tip pushes the blade into the hand.
 
I own all 3 and the bk9 and rtakII are better than the outcast, just can't get comfortable with the weird handle, it chops well but is useless for light stuff with the full thickness blade.

If you are cutting light branches, berrybush/brambles go for the rtakII as it's point of balance and geometry is better for the scrub and still chops well, a really good heavy machete which Randall had in mind. If you have small hands forget about it because the handle is very large (ok for me but barely)

If you are doing heavy chopping/batonning etc go for the bk9, very comfortable handle and is ok for the lighter stuff.
It really reminds me of some of the heavy butchers I used to use in the slaughterhouse.
Kind of like a 2010 version of the big butcher knifes old mountain men used to pack around.
The little bonus knife it comes with is really useful and fits in an altoid tin BTW
Better sheath on the bk9 than rtakII as well.

The Kabar large bowie is a very underated and overlooked big chopper, I really like it to and is cheaper than dirt..... great sheath. I bring it camping as my beater/loaner chopper/camp knife for family and friends, and was one of my first big knives.

Hope this helps, I used all three this year clearing trails on the 10 acres we bought up north in the Caribou so my opinion is not based on backyard/firewood tests.
 
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Every Outcast I've seen came with a terribly obtuse bevel at the point. :barf: As long as you don't mind spending the time to fix it up, it's a good chopper, though.
 
Outcast with a convex Bevel will beat them all hands down. D2 chipping is also a myth.

I've put it to the test more than once and even put it up against small axe's, the outcast always wins.
 
The RTAK II was a great chopper when I owned it. Wish I never had sold it. My Son got the outcast but never uses it. Always borrows my CGFBM. I would love to try a BK9, good steel and great design. Of the three you chose it would be a toss up between the Becker and the RTAK II for me. :D
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Every Outcast I've seen came with a terribly obtuse bevel at the point. :barf: As long as you don't mind spending the time to fix it up, it's a good chopper, though.
Click to expand...

knifenut1013 said:
Outcast with a convex Bevel will beat them all hands down. D2 chipping is also a myth.
Click to expand...

This is true. If you can get one cheap enough and can re-profile the edge with a nice convex edge it's a hard chopper to beat. As far as the handle goes, I like it fine as it, but plan on cord wrapping it to had a little more girth to the size and for shock absorption.
 
I thank you all for the replies. I'm really leaning toward the BK9. I put a trade offer for a surefire on the For Trade forum. Hopefully I'll get a hit. Again thanks to all!
 
i have all three and your leaving out quite possibly the most important one and that is the CS trailmaster if i had to pick one
 
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