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BK-4 or BK-9 ?

S

Silverthorn

Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
3,910
Ok, people have both now, including the new BK-4 soooooo

Which one works better ?
Is one a better chopper? Is one a better all rounder? If you could only take one of the two with you for an oh my god I might be living in the woods for a year, knife which would it be ?
I gotta know !

By the way, My BK-9 is a MONSTER

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It beat my Estwing camp camp axe, it beat my CS rifleman's hawk, it beat my Condor Golok. Lighter and shorter and still easier to use and chopped better with less fatigue. Deeper cuts and sunk in where the others bounced on the chops.
I knew this was a great knife but I am truly impressed. It came out the other side of this branch shaving sharp still. Took hair off the back of my hand with the crap from the branch still clinging too it.
 
IMO, I would take the 9 over the 4 simply for the easy of sharpening. I haven't tried or needed to sharpen the 4, but I foresee the curves being difficult for my skill set.
 
The 4 for the cool factor the 9 for the practicality factor. I am still learning how to use my 4 but, the 9 is a beast.
 
I used to think my BK9 was big but it is a perfect size. Smaller and easier to control than my Junglas. Need to do a chop-off between the two still though.
 
I'm personally torn at the moment between the two and can't really decide which one I like more at the moment. They both chop really well and are well built, the 9 is easier to sharpen, but with a little practice the 4 is not that bad really. The 4 in my opinion is better for close up fine work then the 9 on account of its design and you can have better control with some of the edge then the 9 unless you mod it as some have done. I think it will take a little more testing and time for me to pick one or the other but at the moment both are beasts and I love em.
 
I still like the 9 better, just based on looks. I was kinda surprised how thin the blade gets on the 4, and although it's a heck of a performer, I just don't like the aesthetics yet. Will probably like it more with the flats stripped though.
 
I have both. I think the BK9 is more versatile, however the BK4 is the perfect woodsman's knife. If I'm going into the woods I generally carry a BK4 and a BK2 (and maybe even a BK14) and I feel like I have all my bases covered.

The BK9 is better in the kitchen, which is where i use it more. But in the woods, the BK4 is lighter, weighted better, fits my hand better with the angles, and is better suited to bushcrafting imho, and I know some will debate me on this point.

They are both great knives.
 
runtothehills said:
I have both, and I'd rather have my 9 on my side. It's more of a multi tasker.......................
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We need go get together soon so I can handle your Machax before I decide to click "Buy Now". I dont get the 16 till monday, but my 9 is my all time favorite survival knife.

Taken today:

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I've been chopping the hell out of stuff this last week with both my 4 and my 9. The 4 is a better chopper, hands down. The sweet spot on it is a beautiful thing. But it is harder to sharpen. The 9 is real easy to put an edge on, and it still does a damned good job.

The 9 is also better at batoning, IMO. The recurve on the 4 has a tendency to push the wood into the scales and bind up, while the 9 just pushes straight through.

For fine work, I think the 4 is better because the edge is closer to the hand and gives me more control. I can make fuzz sticks easier with the 4, for example.

Given my personal choice, I know I'll carry the Machax way more than my 9. But I still love my 9's. When I hit the woods, the 9 will be on the pack, and the 4 on my hip. Best of both worlds.
 
What Cam said....but not hockey sticks. Thats different stuff. This feels like soft leather. The hockey stuff is sticky in your hand. You get it in 3 packs at Walmart. Feels great and makes a 110% difference in a Becker handle. I put it on all my knives. Will have to see whether or not it goes on the BK16. Prob not, but maybe.
 
JWL said:
The BK9 is better in the kitchen, which is where i use it more.
Click to expand...

For the cost of a 9 you can get a damn good actual kitchen knife. Just sayin'...

How about a good chef's knife and a BK4? sounds good to me. :-)

-Daizee
 
I love the BK9, and I have never owned a Machax, but I am an old school Kukri nut. The added snap you get from the recurved blade is pretty impressive.
As soon as I free up the funds, I am getting me a BK4! And, the hunt continues for another Camillus BK9....just sayin guys.
So, I say get both, and live the good life.
 
I don't know man, I like the BK4 and all, but I would steer you toward the 9. Versatility is the only reason I say that.
 
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