Bk 9

R

roadkingrick

Joined
Feb 20, 2024
Messages
3
I won lots of knifes and have never felt comfy with my Bk 9. It has no hand guard or choyle. I feel like one slip and I'm on my way to stitch city. I cant ne the only only one. Has anyone designed something yet for the bk9? I have several shrades like the f51 end 52 that I feel perfectly safe with. Reminds me of my first mora. Pass the napkins please. Nothing to stop your hand from sliding right down the blade in a thrust. Just hoping and wondering. Thanks in advance. Im not really interested in any snide remarks just honest info please.
 
I'm not sure what king of grips are available for the bk bit something similar to the shrade knifes I mentioned. I find them real grippy. I don't want to white knuckle it to stay in control. Its a fairly heavy knife so firm is necessary but not so as your hand goes numb.
 
roadkingrick said:
Nothing to stop your hand from sliding right down the blade in a thrust.
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Do you really stab stuff that hard?


roadkingrick said:
I'm not sure what king of grips are available for the bk bit something similar to the shrade knifes I mentioned. I find them real grippy. I don't want to white knuckle it to stay in control. Its a fairly heavy knife so firm is necessary but not so as your hand goes numb.
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You just dont have to grab it that hard. The shape of the handle keeps your hand where it belongs. You are way over thinking this.

If you really want more traction, you can buy mIctars scales as shown above, or you can get G10 scales from TKC. Or if you want a cheap easy answer, just slide a rubber tube from a bike tire over the existing handle.
 
Depending on your hand size relative to the knife handle, you could try hockey tape or tennis racket grip tape.

A more permanent approach could be cordage like paracord (gutted or not, your choice) or thin cord like mason's line (I like braided vs twisted) wrapped then soaked in epoxy.

Serious grip can be achieved by removing the original scales and doing Japanese flat cord wrapping called tsuka-maki, which can also be finished with epoxy soak. Tons of tutorial pics & vids for the method online. However, hot spots & pressure points can be an issue, or not, again depending on how your individual hand fits the finished handle.
 
I was skeptical of the apparently slippery handle, which almost creeped me out at first.. Then I tried chopping with it. The smooth handles move easily in the hand on snap cuts, without chafing or raising blisters. I have other knives that chop better (Skrama), but the BK9 handles are so comfy that it is easier to work longer. There is no science to this. It is purely a subjective impression, but it suggested to me I should give the smooth handles a chance rather than rushing out and paying a bunch of money for micarta or something.

Ethan Becker is a very thoughtful designer. He is not infallible, of course, but I would like to think he left the handles smooth for a reason. He may have even mentioned it in one of his videos. I did not come up with this observation on my own, so it must have come from somewhere. I might end up putting micarta on my BK9, but not before giving the original handles an extended trial.
 
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axlplayer14 said:
Ethan's handle designs are incredibly ergonomic. CM Rick has a video on here of a stabbing test where he oiled up the handle and stabbed into a log. No slippage. You shouldn't have any problems unless you aren't holding onto the handle. After all wood is harder than flesh. Of all my Becker knives I've never had a problem slipping forward onto the blade when I was stabbing stuff. And that was with blades with no lower guards at all, unlike the 7 that does have a lower guard just in case.


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(I found this reassuring when I initially had the same concerns...)
 
Ethan Becker said:
In Cammillus days there was a BK-9HH or Hog Hunter model that was requested by a national hog hunting magazine...... I have not personally dispatched a boar with one but it is reasonable to assume that the Nine has done a few.... The stock grips work just fine....... Historically the main reason that knives had long full guards was the deflection or "catching"of an opponents blade or as a back up for a poorly designed grip...... Or, as a fashion statement....

E
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(from the same thread)
 
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