Well someday when we get caught up on repairs and other expenses. I'm going to get a digital camera and figure out the posting thing. Peoples pictures are informative and fun.
So, today I was in the "take the fight to the heat" mode. Its broiling hot here again in Central Tejas. So the neglected trees and shrubs in the front yard got their mid summer trim. After the hedge trimmers and lopping shears did their work it was blade time. The BK-9 went head to head with my much prized Ontario 12" machette. It was mostly trimming sprouts and suckers from about thumb size down off scaffold branches and from tree bases. Both blades are smoking scary sharp. The BK-9 was the clear and to me a little surprising winner. I'd expected it to kind of hold its own but maybe not quite be as good as the Ontario for this kind of work. I know that one is a small machette and one is a large knife, but in my mind they should overlap somewhat in how I use them. The word that comes to mind in describing the magic of the BK-9 is precision. The weight, the blade geometry, and the balance, just make it very effective in chopping. You don't have to swing it hard. The weight and balance and very thin blade from the edge well back toward the spine let the knife really blast into wood. The result is controlled, easy chopping that is very accurate. I also sharpened a 2x2 stake and was impressed there as well. The knife powers through like a small axe but seems easier to be accurate with.
To me this kind of work translates very directly to the kinds of things I'll use the knife for in the field. Maintaining trails, building ground blinds, camping and fire making. It is really a good tool. Maybe it is just unique to me since I don't have any similar sized knives to compare to it. It is between my 7" Leuku and the 12" Ontario, but those are both much thinner and lighter relative to size blades.
Bottom line is what I thought I was buying for fun and as sort of a novelty, has earned its way to one of my favorite 2 or 3 knives.
Heading out to the back for some trimming and splitting of hickory for the grill. Think I'll try the BK-9 against a little hatchet.
