BK-9 XL

Rebel Nimrod

Rebel Nimrod

Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
740
i really like the BK-20 & 29, but can’t help wondering how well an exra long BK9 would perform. Everything stays the same except extend the blade out 2 more inches. Would it then be called the King Ranch Edition??

What do y’all think?
 
Rebel Nimrod said:
i really like the BK-20 & 29, but can’t help wondering how well an exra long BK9 would perform. Everything stays the same except extend the blade out 2 more inches. Would it then be called the King Ranch Edition??

What do y’all think?
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If you were going to add extra, I don't think I'd like the extra length I would rather have it thicker. I think the 9 does just fine lengthwise as it is but I think a .25" thick version would be pretty cool. I've had a couple of the camillus .21 inch thick versions and I thought they chopped very well.
 
I'd be happy if they would put the BK20, the BK29, or both into regular production! Those who don't want this so they can have "exclusives" or bragging rights are, IMHO, just being selfish. End of rant.
 
I think 3/16” is plenty thick, but a few more inches would sure help!! If anything, just to be able to baton and split larger logs. I would thing a thicker knife would just impede it a bit for how I use it.
 
I really like the 9 as a 9.
I think the extra length would change how it feels.
If you pick up the esee junglas and bk9 one feels like a knife and the other is something else, a heavy machete maybe.
 
Considering the origins of the Junglas, it is no surprise it suggests a heavy machete. In addition, I saw an interview with Ethan about the BK20 where he said he had in mind a short machete, but wanted more weight. The original Collins "Gung-Ho" knife, also said by Ethan to be inspiration for the BK20, is not very thick as big Bowie knives go. Some would call it a machete. I guess my point in all this rambling is once you get over ten inches or so of blade (if it is more or less a conventional shape as opposed to a Kukri or something else specialized), then depending on thickness it is going to suggest either a machete or a short sword.
 
exactly -- the Junglas is a chopper that does knife stuff, the 9 is a knife that can chop.
people have made 1/4" thick knives on the 9 pattern before -- and pretty consistently learn the error of their ways and go back to using the king as it was designed.
those that don't learn seem to design knives for other companies and name them after their nightmare ex-GFs.

that said -- IF I was going to make one or have it made, I'd start with 1/4" stock and go with a strong distal taper to maintain the balance of the original.
 
Gun Doc said:
I'd be happy if they would put the BK20, the BK29, or both into regular production!
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Based on how long it took to sell 400+/- BK29s, I doubt we’ll see them in production...

1066vik said:
exactly -- the Junglas is a chopper that does knife stuff, the 9 is a knife that can chop
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We know how well the geometry of the 9 works now, I was thinking an 11” blade would make it a much more powerful chopper without being clunky heavy. Yeah, more of a chopper that could do knife things. Would it outperform the 20/29?? Probably wouldn’t out chop the 21, but shouldn’t twist/deflect angle shots as bad either and no recurve to sharpen.
 
Rebel Nimrod said:
Based on how long it took to sell 400+/- BK29s, I doubt we’ll see them in production...
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Respectfully, I don't consider that a fair indicator of the market. For starters, to get the BK29 you had to take the package deal. It wasn't a bad deal, but it was $200. Further, at least in my opinion, it was not nearly as good as deal as the BK20 package. In fact, to use your argument another way, look at how fast the BK20 sold out. Most say the BK20 and BK29 differ in looks more than they do in performance. I think either one, priced about like the BK21, and considering the "street price", might do pretty well. Even better were it priced above the BK9, but a bit less than the BK21. I could be wrong (and often am!), but it seems to me either one is a big blade that is much less specialized than the BK21. There is a market for big blades. Consider that there are at least three color variations of the ESEE Junglas. ESEE is paying some attention to marketing that knife.
 
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Gun Doc, you bring up a good point, I keep forgetting it was a package deal because I almost feel like the other two knives were free (I would actually like to see more limited edition package deals). However, once Ka-bar markets something as limited, it would seem to me as being dishonest to bring the product back for sale. The 29 was borderline selling more 20s, technically different, but ......

That’s why I was thinking a 9XL might be a hit, big new performance blade, but yet kinda familiar to the Becker Family.
 
Gun Doc makes a good point about the package deal part. I didn’t pull the trigger on either the 20 or 29 because I had no need for the other knives in the “package”. $200 was way too much to get the one knife I wanted (would have enjoyed either model) but did not want to shell out the $200 to get it.
If sold separately at a reasonable price, between the 9 and 21, I would own one today.

———-

Beckerhead #32
 
Different ways of looking at things I guess, what does a NIB BK20 go for now? $200+/-? BK4, $100+? BK5, $60+/-? I do understand $200 is a good chunk of change for some knives, but wish I would have bought more!

Regardless, based on this thread it doesn’t seem like there is much interest in a BK9XL, oh well.
 
Rebel Nimrod,

I agree the packages were good enough deals, especially the BK20 package. But it may have been a stretch for some people's budgets or perhaps they simply didn't want the other knives in the package, and didn't want the hassle of selling the extra knives.

I just flat missed the BK20, and would have loved to have a BK4 to play with along with an extra BK5. I didn't miss the BK29, and I'm happy to have the extra BK5, but I have yet to warm up to the Snody Snake Charmer.

I believe either the BK20, the BK29, or something just different enough (perhaps a BK20 with a longer clip?) to satisfy the "limited edition" status of the other two would do well. As for the BK29 being "borderline more BK20's", I don't see it that way. I don't think KA-BAR has to keep away from a 1/4" thick, 10"+ Becker Bowie forever, but I guess it should be different. If you can tell the difference, collectors should be happy. If some people want to stop production of more "big Becker Bowie's" forever, then they are just being selfish! (Most collectors of Winchester Pre '64 Model 70 rifles didn't squawk when Winchester started making the "Classic" rifles that were much like Pre '64's, because they simply weren't Pre '64's) KA-BAR can MSRP a production big Becker Bowie at $200 if they must. Just let the dealers have it to lower the real street price, much like the BK21. Repeating myself, priced between the BK9 and the BK21 would be even better.

And for the record, I think your 9XL idea is a good one too!

-Gun Doc
 
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A limited edition isn't a limited edition if it is subsequently made regular production. That said, it wouldn't bother me in the least if the 20 or 29 went into production (though, for the record, I wouldn't purchase either if they did).
Having been late to the party, and still being able to purchase (and watch, then buy another), the BK20 didn't sell out as quickly as some of the comments would have us believe. I was quite surprised at how long it took, to be honest.
Would I purchase a "9XL"? Probably not - I have a 9 and a 20. If I didn't have the 20, it would depend on a few factors. I have other large (10-14") fixed blades; so I certainly don't NEED another. The question would be do I want it enough to add yet another knife to the pile. (I'm currently of the mind that I should start selling some; but haven't quite made the effort to do so.)
 
hhmoore,

I hear you on the having more things than you need! Me too. It honestly gives me a twinge of guilt on occasion.

As for selling, I've bought a lot of stuff on the "bay", but never sold anything. Frankly, the fear of buyers who claim you "must have inadvertently sent the wrong item" then want a refund on a high dollar item for the $10 flashlight they said you sent instead have me a bit spooked. Plus, I imagine there are some other scams out there.

-Gun Doc
 
Better to have a surplus to make sure you have the thing you need than not having the thing you need if it goes missing.
 
1066vik said:
. . . people have made 1/4" thick knives on the 9 pattern before -- and pretty consistently learn the error of their ways and go back to using the king as it was designed.
those that don't learn seem to design knives for other companies and name them after their nightmare ex-GFs.
Click to expand...

I meant to comment on this a while back, and didn't get around to it. Most know who, what knife, and the name of the ex.
I find the person irritating, but that is just me, and hey, he seems to have a following, so what do I know?
The knife, . . . meh. But I am not a huge fan of heavy chopping with a knife. For me big stuff gets a saw, and the big knife is for lighter chopping and batoning. So I don't need a relatively short blade with a huge handle designed around a task I don't do. I'd go for a longer blade to baton. But again, that's just me.
But what really, truly, hugely, seriously, has me pizzed off is the one ex's name he chose to use was the name of one of my favorite Allman Brother's tunes! And he used the name at least TWICE!. So, I conclude she was either one hell of an ex (one way or another), or there weren't that many ex's to choose from . . .
Anyway, end of rant . . . but if anyone decides to publicly name a knife either Melissa or Elizabeth Reed, please make sure it is a really nice knife! Actually, just leave Melissa out of it altogether. I know a couple of pretty cool women named Melissa, so it's just not worth the risk.
 
Gun Doc said:
I meant to comment on this a while back, and didn't get around to it. Most know who, what knife, and the name of the ex.
I find the person irritating, but that is just me, and hey, he seems to have a following, so what do I know?
The knife, . . . meh. But I am not a huge fan of heavy chopping with a knife. For me big stuff gets a saw, and the big knife is for lighter chopping and batoning. So I don't need a relatively short blade with a huge handle designed around a task I don't do. I'd go for a longer blade to baton. But again, that's just me.
But what really, truly, hugely, seriously, has me pizzed off is the one ex's name he chose to use was the name of one of my favorite Allman Brother's tunes! And he used the name at least TWICE!. So, I conclude she was either one hell of an ex (one way or another), or there weren't that many ex's to choose from . . .
Anyway, end of rant . . . but if anyone decides to publicly name a knife either Melissa or Elizabeth Reed, please make sure it is a really nice knife! Actually, just leave Melissa out of it altogether. I know a couple of pretty cool women named Melissa, so it's just not worth the risk.
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love or hate, we can knock that stuff off here right now, k? :D

if the knife performs, i don't care who made it, or why it was named.
 
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