BK-9 vs RD 9

udtjim

udtjim

Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
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I keep starting down this road but remain undecided. Between these two, which might be the better choice for abuse. The BK is 1095, The Rd is 5160. I am not real familiar with the up or down side of 5160. I may yet throw the RC-6 into the mix but am not sure yet. Fourth in the running would be a new Outcast from Kershaw in D-2.
 
Hey man, I always have to chyme in for a Ranger discussion! I love my Rangers; the 5160 is BOMB proof. I have been beating the hell out of mine lately and there is still not a scratch on my RD-9 (satin finish). The weight and handle are just perfect as well. I chopped through a black walnut the other week, which is a dense wood, and the edge retention is superb. If this interests you, I posted pictures in the General Discussion forum under the thread "Ontario Knivez" or something. Hope I have been of some help:thumbup:

-Brendan
 
I think, for that kind of knife, the ranger looks really nice. I like the look of the ranger better, and i like the handle material on the ranger better. But, the BK is really comfortable. I dont know what kind of sheath the ranger comes with, but I know the becker sheaths are really nice.
 
snwbrdr202 said:
Hey man, I always have to chyme in for a Ranger discussion! I love my Rangers; the 5160 is BOMB proof. I have been beating the hell out of mine lately and there is still not a scratch on my RD-9 (satin finish). The weight and handle are just perfect as well. I chopped through a black walnut the other week, which is a dense wood, and the edge retention is superb. If this interests you, I posted pictures in the General Discussion forum under the thread "Ontario Knivez" or something. Hope I have been of some help:thumbup:

-Brendan
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You mind posting those, I've been intrested in the ranger knives for awhile now, they look like great deals.
 
Hey sorry man, but I don't know how to do so! Its says I can't upload pics already loaded on the forum. However, if you go to General Discussion, one of the top threads is "Ontario kniefz" and the pics I shot of the black walnut being demolished are in there! Enjoy!:cool:
 
Masteroffajitas said:
You mind posting those, I've been intrested in the ranger knives for awhile now, they look like great deals.
Click to expand...
snwbrdr202 said:
Hey sorry man, but I don't know how to do so! Its says I can't upload pics already loaded on the forum. However, if you go to General Discussion, one of the top threads is "Ontario kniefz" and the pics I shot of the black walnut being demolished are in there! Enjoy!:cool:
Click to expand...


Here you go

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They are both great knives. I handled a Becker 9 and it is a very well put together blade. I recently received an original RD-9 and like it quite a bit too. In the end, I'm a sucker for the mircata grips of the RD-9. However, if you have really big hands (apparently I don't compared to some of you guys) then you might find the handle a bit tight. For me it works really well. I think that the becker mircata grips can be or will be offered shortly for separate purchase.

DSC_0067-7.jpg
 
The new micarta scales will be available starting at the Blade show. I've never handled the RD-9, so I can't comment on that. I can say, as a Becker Backer, that you can't go wrong with the BK-9. I personally like them with the Grivory scales they come with, but I want to try some of the micarta scales, too.
 
Thanks for the replies so far, Us old guys got a check from Uncle Sam from the new Pork Bill, A guy should use it for knife or gun related stuff.:D (Of course I hate to do it)
 
udtjim said:
Thanks for the replies so far, Us old guys got a check from Uncle Sam from the new Pork Bill, A guy should use it for knife or gun related stuff.:D (Of course I hate to do it)
Click to expand...

I got one too. There's a new Silky Saw on the way to my house. It was a tough decision: saw, or food? The saw will be here soon.
 
udtjim said:
I keep starting down this road but remain undecided. Between these two, which might be the better choice for abuse. The BK is 1095, The Rd is 5160. I am not real familiar with the up or down side of 5160. I may yet throw the RC-6 into the mix but am not sure yet. Fourth in the running would be a new Outcast from Kershaw in D-2.
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No question, the 5160 of the Rangers will take abuse better.

Also, despite my love of the Beckers, I am absolutely cold on the FRN handles, no good.

As well, I have not held the Ranger, but I like the design better, overall.

My advice, buy the Ranger, but make sure you go with a reputable dealer with a good return policy, just on the slim chance that you hate it.

Marion

PS - I love the Rat stuff, but do you want a "medium" sized knife? And D2 steel in the Kershaw? Not an appropriate choice in my book for a big knife that will see a good deal of abuse. And unless they changed the handle, the Outcast handle is not great.
 
Don't know if you saw this comparison I did between the RD-9, koyote leuku and scrapyard SOD.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=644495

Anyhow, this test really threw out many of my preconceptions. I think the Koyote, albeit more expensive, is really a more versatile blade. I have used it in machete like chores, wacking slicing through vegetation to clear out the ragweed stand that used to be our wildflower garden, batoning through chunks of tough seasoned wood that couldn't easily be done with a 19" small axe and chopping. It is of course less good at chopping then the dedicated ones but more versatile overall. The thing that surprised me the most on this test is how everybody keeps claiming that the mass of the blade makes so much difference in the choppers, hence the need for 1/4" steel. I came in with that expectation and while it held a little bit of truth, the almost twice as heavy RD-9 compared to the koyote, only delivered marginally better chopping performance.

The ranger really surprised me on its ability to use the point and the clip makes for a very sharp and usable tip. It is much better at finer tasks than I would have thought. I felt that ranger clearly surpassed the SOD in fine control despite its longer length. This had everything to do with the balance and the centered point rather than just length. Horndog has a few chopping tests out as well.
 
I have both. I wish i could push both knives to the limit of their ability, but I will tire greatly before they quit. I have though found myself using the Becker almost everytime I am out in the woods. I have to force myself to choose another blade whenI am out or I will always carry a becker. The ranger is nice but just a damn heavy piece of steel.
 
I think the link below reflects an actual flawed BK9 especially given the way the blade scalloped out in pieces during some batoning. It will be interesting to see how Ethan responds to this one. The poster is not a troll, just trying to figure out what went wrong. Of course that didn't stop some folks from right away calling abuse. I don't think it was abusive and I don't think his BK-9 should have broke like that.

Not trying to slam the Becker, but I remembered this thread and thought it should go here.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647925
 
kgd said:
I think the link below reflects an actual flawed BK9 especially given the way the blade scalloped out in pieces during some batoning. It will be interesting to see how Ethan responds to this one. The poster is not a troll, just trying to figure out what went wrong. Of course that didn't stop some folks from right away calling abuse. I don't think it was abusive and I don't think his BK-9 should have broke like that.

Not trying to slam the Becker, but I remembered this thread and thought it should go here.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647925
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Ethan himself, on an earlier thread, stated that he considers batonning normal usage of his knives. I'm with you, kgd: it wasn't abuse, just a bad heat treat, which can happen to any steel from any manufacturer. I think Ka-Bar will handle it, but if they don't, I'm certain that Ethan will.
 
I am surprised by that BK 9. I was going to be getting one. Hopefully mine won't turn out like that when I get it.
 
I have never handled a Ranger knife, but the handles look really blocky.

If you don't like the plastic handles on the BK-9, they are supposed to come out with micarta handles soon.
 
did you brethren look at the knots the guy was banging though on the damaged BK-9 thread...?

i think it would've murdered almost any stock knife.

vec
 
vector001 said:
did you brethren look at the knots the guy was banging though on the damaged BK-9 thread...?

i think it would've murdered almost any stock knife.

vec
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While I have to agree with you that it must be incredibly dense, especially that type of oak, but the 1095 used in Becker's has a reputation for toughness for a reason. If the OP was using a wood baton, I would think the blade would have simply stuck (probably rolling the edge, though) rather than shattering. If he was using a steel hammer as a baton to force it through then, yeah, I can see where the blade might shatter. He hasn't said what he was using for a baton.
 
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