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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
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BK22 vs. Tops BOB vs Buck intrepid vs Bear Grylls ultimate pro?
- Thread starter J1427
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
- 104
I have had a BK2 and currently have a Tops BoB; no experience with the other two. I don't really care for the steel Gerber uses; it is pretty soft. The bear grylls stuff just isn't on par with the quality of Becker or Tops.
I prefer the BOB over the BK2/BK22 personally, but you will enjoy either one. The BK2 is very heavy for its size, heavier than I prefer for belt carry; and if I'm going to carry something inside my pack I want more blade. It is made of 1095 CroVan and KaBar does a fantastic job heat treating 1095 (which is crucial to the blade integrity; a blade with a bad heat treat is junk). The 1/4" thick blade is fantastic for splitting wood, not great at small tasks but it can still get them done. The BK2 would also be great in an urban survival environment where that 1/4 blade would be great for prying. The sheath is a very well made Cordura and is more than adequate. The scales are grivory and have a very nice shape to them, but they do get slick when wet. Once you get used to handling Becker knives, you will be spoiled by comfort of the scale design. Looks like the Beckers are running about $75 on amazon now. When I bought mine they were 60; for the amount of knife you get though 75 is still a very fair price. However if you plan to upgrade to micarta scales and a kydex sheath (very common upgrades) you need to add another $75+ to that price and the great value of the Becker quickly diminishes.
I just got the Tops BOB and haven't had a chance to use it yet, so I can't comment on performance. This is the only Tops blade I have ever had, and I will say that I am very impressed with overall fit and finish of the knife. The micarta scales are a perfect fit for the blade, and overall fit and finish is flawless. Some people have commented that they do not like the belt clip on the kydex sheath, but I love it. It is very solid and rotates, which is my favorite feature because it allows me to comfortably sit down while wearing the knife and also does not get in the way of the waist strap of my pack. The sheath comes with an attached fire starter and whistle also. A feature of the BOB I really like is the Shango notch; do not believe reviews saying that it does not work, it works great but you have to know how to use it. The blade is 1095, and Tops also has a great reputation for heat treating 1095. Blade shape/grind is very similar, the Tops is a "modified" scandi, but it looks almost exactly like a sabre grind to me. I do think that the 3/16" blade is better for all around use than the 1/4" becker. My only complaint so far about the BOB are the bow drill holes in the scales, it sits right where the pad of my pinky finger goes and annoys me. I am going to fill the holes with foam and wrap a strip of electrical tape around the handle to fix this. The lanyard hole is also a bullet puller, which is a very cool feature so that in a survival situation you can get to the powder inside the cartridge to start a fire. I paid $119 for the BOB, but that is because I got black micarta scales which were a couple bucks more.
I won't give you a recommendation on which to buy because I don't know how the BOB performs yet. It sounds cliche' on this site to say this, but you really can't go wrong with either. As they come from the factory, the Becker is a good bit cheaper; but if you plan to upgrade the sheath and scales to be on par with the Tops, you will end up spending a good bit more for the becker. I think you get a better overall package with the BOB as they come from the factory, it is more "survival ready".
If you decide against the BK22, I highly recommend you pick up some beckers at some point. The BK9 is unreal!
I prefer the BOB over the BK2/BK22 personally, but you will enjoy either one. The BK2 is very heavy for its size, heavier than I prefer for belt carry; and if I'm going to carry something inside my pack I want more blade. It is made of 1095 CroVan and KaBar does a fantastic job heat treating 1095 (which is crucial to the blade integrity; a blade with a bad heat treat is junk). The 1/4" thick blade is fantastic for splitting wood, not great at small tasks but it can still get them done. The BK2 would also be great in an urban survival environment where that 1/4 blade would be great for prying. The sheath is a very well made Cordura and is more than adequate. The scales are grivory and have a very nice shape to them, but they do get slick when wet. Once you get used to handling Becker knives, you will be spoiled by comfort of the scale design. Looks like the Beckers are running about $75 on amazon now. When I bought mine they were 60; for the amount of knife you get though 75 is still a very fair price. However if you plan to upgrade to micarta scales and a kydex sheath (very common upgrades) you need to add another $75+ to that price and the great value of the Becker quickly diminishes.
I just got the Tops BOB and haven't had a chance to use it yet, so I can't comment on performance. This is the only Tops blade I have ever had, and I will say that I am very impressed with overall fit and finish of the knife. The micarta scales are a perfect fit for the blade, and overall fit and finish is flawless. Some people have commented that they do not like the belt clip on the kydex sheath, but I love it. It is very solid and rotates, which is my favorite feature because it allows me to comfortably sit down while wearing the knife and also does not get in the way of the waist strap of my pack. The sheath comes with an attached fire starter and whistle also. A feature of the BOB I really like is the Shango notch; do not believe reviews saying that it does not work, it works great but you have to know how to use it. The blade is 1095, and Tops also has a great reputation for heat treating 1095. Blade shape/grind is very similar, the Tops is a "modified" scandi, but it looks almost exactly like a sabre grind to me. I do think that the 3/16" blade is better for all around use than the 1/4" becker. My only complaint so far about the BOB are the bow drill holes in the scales, it sits right where the pad of my pinky finger goes and annoys me. I am going to fill the holes with foam and wrap a strip of electrical tape around the handle to fix this. The lanyard hole is also a bullet puller, which is a very cool feature so that in a survival situation you can get to the powder inside the cartridge to start a fire. I paid $119 for the BOB, but that is because I got black micarta scales which were a couple bucks more.
I won't give you a recommendation on which to buy because I don't know how the BOB performs yet. It sounds cliche' on this site to say this, but you really can't go wrong with either. As they come from the factory, the Becker is a good bit cheaper; but if you plan to upgrade the sheath and scales to be on par with the Tops, you will end up spending a good bit more for the becker. I think you get a better overall package with the BOB as they come from the factory, it is more "survival ready".
If you decide against the BK22, I highly recommend you pick up some beckers at some point. The BK9 is unreal!
Same as the previous poster, no experience with the Buck intrepid or the Bear Grylls.
Both the BK22 and the Tops Bob are made from very good 1095 High Carbon Steel.
They will both take and hold a good edge and you can beat the devil out of them in the bush if required.
Its almost a coin toss for me between these two. The Tops Bob is a little lighter than the BK22.
You can perform all of the same camp chores and bushcraft projects with either one.
Both the BK22 and the Tops Bob are made from very good 1095 High Carbon Steel.
They will both take and hold a good edge and you can beat the devil out of them in the bush if required.
Its almost a coin toss for me between these two. The Tops Bob is a little lighter than the BK22.
You can perform all of the same camp chores and bushcraft projects with either one.
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
- 104
Thanks so much guys. You were both really helpful. If you had to choose the BK22 or BK10, which would you pick?
BK10. Performs as well, lighter, better slicer.