BK4 or BK5 Help me decide

Cody4x4 said:
just remember - 3 beckers (4,5,15) is only about 160 bucks shipped to your door, you cant buy an equally nice grill for that haha
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Pretty well sums up my thought process. I was debating a nice folder also. I carry the 11 in my boot with a tdi clip during long pant season but in the summer I don't. I'm not sure why but a fixed blade in the city seems to bother others versus a folder clipped in your pocket. I was looking at the zero tolerance folders. Three new Beckers vs one folder. We all know what the out come will be. I do need a nice folder though. Always have used gerber and buck folders or multi tools in the past but the Becker line has given me a great appreciation for a durable blade that you can customize to your liking.
 
Longneck said:
Well I ordered a four from Dex. I just have to try that design out for myself and see if I like it. Now 15 or 5. 38 dollars for a 15 sounds real good. I'll have to check some threads!
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Good decision, and good place to buy from. :thumbup:

Give the 4 a good chance. Like I said, there is a bit of a learning curve, but wow, what a great tool.
 
Longneck said:
Pretty well sums up my thought process. I was debating a nice folder also. I carry the 11 in my boot with a tdi clip during long pant season but in the summer I don't. I'm not sure why but a fixed blade in the city seems to bother others versus a folder clipped in your pocket. I was looking at the zero tolerance folders. Three new Beckers vs one folder. We all know what the out come will be. I do need a nice folder though. Always have used gerber and buck folders or multi tools in the past but the Becker line has given me a great appreciation for a durable blade that you can customize to your liking.
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if you're on a budget, Kershaw has some very nice asian made framelocks that are almost as heavy duty and smooth of action as a ZT at a fraction of the cost. (like the cryo 2 or the cqc series)
 
I have come very close to pulling the trigger on a leek many times. Something about that blade shape just begs to take an apple and eat it one slice at a time.
 
What exactly is the role of the 5? The 2 is the tank. The 9 is the chopper (also, it seems like I've heard you can't not have a 9). The 16 is the versatile bushcraft tweener. But what is the 5? I've heard food prep, but isn't the 15's size better suited for that?
 
Longneck said:
I have come very close to pulling the trigger on a leek many times. Something about that blade shape just begs to take an apple and eat it one slice at a time.
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I had a crush on the Leek for a little while. Ended up with a blackwash cryo which lands in my pocket ONLY if I need to conceal the clip as well (I removed my cryo clip for this reason). Two better knives than the Leek - but around that price (cheaper actually) - are the Ontario RAT 2 (which I was unimpressed with initially but won favor due to it's fit and finish) and the Spyderco Delica (larger at 3.5 inches). If you don't mind spending more, get a Spydie Sage 1 (gentlemen's folder) or Sage 2 (outdoor gentlemen's folder) or the PM2. The PM2 is everything everyone says it is. Outstanding build, F&F, and ergos. I love Spydies. And once broken in, the Spydies hold up much better than the Kershaws.

Kershaws are fun though. Particularly if you want an assisted. I own three (two assisted and one Emerson opener).
 
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JWheel said:
What exactly is the role of the 5? The 2 is the tank. The 9 is the chopper (also, it seems like I've heard you can't not have a 9). The 16 is the versatile bushcraft tweener. But what is the 5? I've heard food prep, but isn't the 15's size better suited for that?
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The 5 over the 15 when wood prep is also high on the task list. The 5 is no slouch at chopping and earns it's name - Magnum Camp. ;)
 
TravisH said:
The 5 over the 15 when wood prep is also high on the task list. The 5 is no slouch at chopping and earns it's name - Magnum Camp. ;)
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I have a 5 on order now and can't wait to take it on the next backpacking trip. I agree with the name - Magnum Camp knife. Seems like it could get the job done around camp; big enough for wood processing and shelter building but agile enough to clean a bunch of trout.
 
dexwithers here on the forum - his online store is Coyle outdoors (yes, he is a paid vendor on BF, so this is not dealspotting)
 
He's out of stock, and the price shows $45. I guess I found out about it too late. Lol.
 
I like the way you think, longneck. Personally, I picked up a 4, 5, and 15 all within the last 6 weeks or so. I've enjoyed the 15 so far with various indoor food prep, and just got the other two over the weekend. I think someone mentioned this in the thread already, but the 4 is smaller than you'd expect (length and width at the smallest point) and the 5 is larger.
 
I think I'm underestimating the size of the 5. I originally thought it would mainly be used for food and game prep. Then I watched some videos and they were using it for bushcraft. Should be here on Wednesday. Kinda excited to see this beast. Luckily I have a 15 on the way also. The 4 I just have to try for myself to see if it's something I can put into use. Even if I don't take a liking to it I'll probably still keep it. I have two young boys that aren't quite old enough to handle a large knife yet. Maybe they will like it and can inherit it. Anything to get them into the woods. Thanks again for everyone's input on these knives. I just wish we had a store closer that I could handle a few of these before I buy them. Of course I would probably own more by now if we did.
 
The 15 and the 5 and very close cousins - darned near brothers I would say, just different sizes. They are both Jerry Fisk designed blades with the handles that we have all come to know and love along with a Ka Bar warranty, value, heat treat and that Becker factor that just rounds out the packages so wonderfully.

I use my 15 and 5 (in that order) more than any of my other Beckers. They do the same things for me, just on a different scale. Both are great at food prep - I use the 15 for gutting and slicing long hot peppers (just about one each morning with eggs) and the 5 for onions - especially if they are big onions. The 15 whacks branches while the 5 whacks limbs. The 15 is truly the World's Best Steak Knife and the 5 would make short work of a moose in the field. The 15 does an apple like no other while the 5 is the go-to knife for watermelons.

They are both very capable and certainly capable of much more than I use them for - but that what the other Beckers are around for. :D
 
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1066vik said:
if you have a 9, IMHO you don't need a 4, because they fill a very similar niche functionally.
the 4 excels at a couple of tasks better than the 9, but the 9 is a more generally versatile tool.
OTOH, the 5 is an interesting cat all on its own -- it will handle any reasonable woods task but truly excels at slicing up meat and other food prep tasks -- hence the "camp knife" designation.
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Needless to say, I do not mean this in a challenging or argumentative way, not in the least, but could I impose upon you to share your thoughts on those tasks/functions that you feel the 4 excels in comparison to the 9?

I ask this as a very happy 9 owner/user and one who has just gotten bit by the Machax bug. I am also one who likes to have a reason (minimal though it may sometimes be) as justification for more knives. :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance. My first 4 arrives Monday.:D

Any other experienced BK-4 Machax owners and users, feel free to chime in.
 
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