bk16 or tops bob?

[LukeSaint]

just want to hear some opinions. im thinking of buying a knife in about a month and am wondering which is better. i have saved up enough money so the price isnt a big factor, even though the bk16 is cheaper/ more inexpensive. which one do you guys think is a better pick?

 

[Yo Mama]

I dont have the tops which looks nice, but I have had a bk16 for years and think for what you get I'd trust my life on it. The knife is robust enough for medium chores and the sheath is a high quality one. The egos on the bk16 just melts in the hand.

 

[SteelJunkee]

Tops BOB is a real B.. A.. knife. Save a bit more and get the 154cm one

 

[shinyedges]

Have you considered an opinel?

 

[Spikediesel]

I had a 154cm BOB and it was a beast! HOWEVER if you want an all around outdoor knife the BK 16 is where it’s at. The BOB is too thick for anything but fire making in my opinion where the Becker is thin enough to slice and tough enough to baton with.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would go with the BK-16 for an all around woods knife. It's a great knife. Get new handles for it later if you don't like the factory handles. I like the factory handles personally. If it wasn't for the discontinued BK-15, the BK-16 would be one of my dominant users in the woods.

The new BK-62 Kephart might also be a consideration. It has been added to my all a-rounder woods knife category. It is a bit more expensive.

 

[115Italian]

Very similar looking knives in photos but that’s where it ends. As a multitasker the Kabar with its flat grind and slightly thinner stock wins. I do like the kydex sheath the tops comes with.

I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. You really have to analyze your needs for the knife. Will you be doing bushcraft tasks only or a mix of things? Do even really need the knife for anything, or like me sometimes, just making a purchase to have an extra knife.

You said you have the money so if this is just a purchase because you want a nice fixed blade for reasons unknown to you, go with the Tops. You will be very pleased with the work they put into the handle scales alone. The blade is a stout and ground well. You will be staring at this knife for days smiling. And if you are buying for a user, it will perform. Maybe not as well as a bk16 but not far off.

 

[22-rimfire]

The other aspect to this depends on how many knives you own and your ultimate purpose for this knife. I'm trying to recall your other thread on this subject. But if you are thinking "survival knife", I would look at something a tad larger than the BK-16. But the BK-16 is a wonderful user in the woods and you'll love it. I would also strip off the blade coating. Black knives don't do it for me. But I am often a bit slow on the draw in this regard as most of my Beckers are in fact black still.

 

[marcinek]

Have you considered an opinel?

I don't understand why someone who is looking for a 4-5 inch fixed blade knife would consider an Opinel.

Not seeing how that is a helpful suggestion.

Maybe I missed something and you could clarify.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I don't understand why someone who is looking for a 4-5 inch fixed blade knife would consider an Opinel.

Not seeing how that is a helpful suggestion.

Maybe I missed something and you could clarify.

Maybe he meant the No. 13?

 

[LG&M]

The 16 is the way to go, all around fine knife.

 

[marcinek]

Maybe he meant the No. 13?

I don't know...maybe he did. I'm sure our new friend L LukeSaint wouldn't know either. It certainly seems MUCH bigger than the knives the OP is asking about, and a folder, so I'm still not sure how the comment is helping our new friend get a new knife.

Of the two he is looking at, again, I cannot suggest one (or another knife), because it is not clear what application the knife is for, or what grind he prefers.

 

[shinyedges]

The 16 is the way to go, all around fine knife.

Listen to this man.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I don’t own a Bob but it looks like a good set up.

I do however have a couple of BK16s and can attest to their well rounded usefulness.

 

[19-3ben]

While I don't have a BOB, I have held one and it certainly inspired a lot of confidence in the blade. As Spikediesel mentioned above, it's a chunky enough knife that it would seem really limited to wood/fire prep. That said, with full disclosure, I haven't had a chance ot use one over an extended period of time, and for all I know, if I took it camping I might feel differently at the end of a long weekend of working with the knife.

The BK16 on the other hand, I have LOTS of experience with. It's light. It's strong. It slices well and takes a hell of an edge. It can be used for fire prep, food prep, and everything else I knife could be needed for. It's probably my most used outdoors knife.

I have to take some new pics. You guys have got to be sick and tired of seeing this one already!

 

[Shotgun]

Tops is not a good value. Twice the price for half the knife IMO. Most of their line is custom pricing with condor quality. YMMV

Never owned or used the bob itself but I just don’t get that stock thickness combined with a low saber grind. It’s like knife design throughout all of human history was ignored on this knife. I like the guys who were behind the development of this but...yikes fellas. WTF? You really are better off with a mora.

 

[KingMC]

TOPS knives look and feel fancier, but when it comes down to usage the Becker just works better. If I didn't own a Fiddleback the BK16 would be my go-to belt knife.