BK7 or what else for a woods knife?

S

ShooterMcgavin

Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
609
I want a woods knife. My largest blade so far is an ESEE-4. I want something that can take a pounding, in order to split wood to start a fire when camping. Batonning is probably the hardest use it would see. I can also see using the tip in a hard manner, in order to build a bow drill or do some other woods-craft. I would like something with a blade over ~6.5", so that I can comfortably handle wood up to 5-6" in diameter, just in case that's all I can find at the time. The finer work (feather sticks, notches, small whittling, etc.) can be handled by something smaller that I will have with me, but I would like to be able to use this one blade for everything if needed. In order to reduce weight, I think I want a 3/16" thick blade, but you guys can throw out other suggestions if you know better than I. I will carry a light saw, so I don't need a heavy chopper. Mostly, the heat treat is important for me. I do not tend to abuse my hardware but I want something that holds a decent edge and is tough. It's possible that I could be batonning frozen wood in 10 F degree weather. Chipping == :thumbdn:

Other things...
For handle material, I do like Micarta, but Grivory seems like something that I can "engrave" to make it work well enough for me. I don't need a coating, because I can just do a patina. I like a traditional drop point, or clip point, most. I don't want a recurve, tanto, serrations, up-swept tip, sharpened spine, or a delicate tip. I want a full tang that extends to the end of the handle (unlike Gerber). I don't mind a cheap sheath; I can get something better later (BK7). I also don't want sharp angles where the blade goes into the handle, so many Kabars are out.

What else? ...I'm not sure. Throw out some ideas for me? What else should I be looking at, besides the BK7?
 
The actress Betty White had wise words about things that take a pounding but as for knives, You'll be hard pressed to find a better blade than a BK7 for the woods.
ESEE 6 would be close never had one, Ontario is good too.
 
all of the Beckers have superb heat treat of course.

the BK7 should fit your needs, based on your specs. unless you want something BIGGER, then the BK9.

i'd say the BK4, but the new ones are not out yet. that will be such a perfect tool.

a note on chopping/batoning frozen wood: don't :) use the saw. you CAN if that's your kink, but it's extreme. if you hit a knot, esp in evergreens, it might be all over then. might as well be chopping rocks. even fine axes have a tough time and have failed. use a saw, or better, use the wood whole if you can. KaBar will of course warranty you, i'd expect, but there might be a "told you so" in there :D

use it in good health
 
Ka-Bar J.A.B. Potbelly. Like a medium sized hybrid of a straight razer\Bowie\BK-2. Hmmm, re read your parameters. The P.B. may not be for you after all. Too bad, it's a nice one.
 
I have been using a bk7 for waht you have been talking about pretty religiously for some time..it is one of the finests stand alone survival type knives out there.

controllable enough for carving sensitive trap triggers
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i you grind the coating off the thuumb ramp it works great with a fero rod

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great for splitting kindling
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and great for making shavings
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BK7 is a winner in my book
I had an esse 6 and an esee 5 and sod them both

I like alotta blades moras, saks scandis of all kinds....but when it comes down it if I had to rely on one knife for an extended stay in the bush ( in the North east) I;d take the bk7 every time.

that being said aftermarket sheath and maybe some micarta handles with a bow drill divot in them would go a long way..

if you are looking at alternatives.. the esee 6 is a great knife. (just not my style) also perhaps a leuku of some sort,
or something like a fallkniven a1, or a bark river Bravo 2,

Sorry for the complex post.. Just always hapy to document how awesome the bk7 is.. Good luck in your search.
 
One more vote for the BK7- seems like it'd at least meet all the needs you listed. The Esee-6 may be another good choice, but if you're OK with grivory and are looking to get an aftermarket sheath, the BK7 with a new sheath will be comparable to the base Esee-6 in both cost and quality.
 
Bladite said:
...i'd say the BK4, but the new ones are not out yet. that will be such a perfect tool.

a note on chopping/batoning frozen wood: don't :) use the saw. you CAN if that's your kink, but it's extreme. if you hit a knot, esp in evergreens, it might be all over then. might as well be chopping rocks. even fine axes have a tough time and have failed. use a saw, or better, use the wood whole if you can. KaBar will of course warranty you, i'd expect, but there might be a "told you so" in there :D

use it in good health
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I must know, what is the BK4?? Specs? Pics or links?

Thanks for the advice on frozen wood. If I had to do that, I'd make sure it was some small diameter, manageable wood.

RescueRiley said:
...Sorry for the complex post.. Just always hapy to document how awesome the bk7 is.. Good luck in your search.
Click to expand...
Not at all. I like the detail and some great pics to accompany it :)

I have considered the ESEE-6, but it's about twice the price. More than that, the choil reduces the working edge to 5.75". Also, I think the partial grind on the BK7 might leave a little more strength in the blade.
 
I love choils and the 5 and 7 have the same cutting edge length even with the choil. Its lighter, faster, doesn't have a pesky thumb ramp. Did I mention it feels like a samurai sword?
 
clich said:
I love choils and the 5 and 7 have the same cutting edge length even with the choil. Its lighter, faster, doesn't have a pesky thumb ramp. Did I mention it feels like a samurai sword?
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It seems like a good design and I have looked at it. I am just not a fan of the up-swept tip. It seems more fragile than the clip point of the BK7 and not as well suited to batonning. I don't think I mind the thumb ramp on the 7.

I don't know... Thoughts? What task/chore is that design better at doing, over the BK7?
 
ShooterMcgavin said:
It seems like a good design and I have looked at it. I am just not a fan of the up-swept tip. It seems more fragile than the clip point of the BK7 and not as well suited to batonning. I don't think I mind the thumb ramp on the 7.

I don't know... Thoughts? What task/chore is that design better at doing, over the BK7?
Click to expand...

The bk5 was driven tip first into concrete at the fall gathering and came out unscathed. I feel like its faster at chopping and bites deeper, the swedge is a little harder on the baton, but your just gonna burn that anyways. Just my personal opinion of course
 
I will say this about the choil, whie it does reduce the cutting edge on the esse 6, choils in general definitely ad allot blade controll while fine carving with abigger knife IMO.. that being said on the bk I;ve learned to work around it.
 
BK7, Shooter, you will be very happy with your choice. Its a solid knife, and it won't let you down, I assure you.

Moose
 
Thanks guys!! I was leaning heavily for the BK7 and, thanks to your reassurance, I'm gonna go for it. I have held off too long :)

I see what you are saying about the choil, Riley. On the ESEE-6, I just think it takes a little too much length out of the cutting edge. Besides, 99% of the time, I will have a smaller knife with me, to handle the fine tasks.

Moose, thanks for chiming in. I have read through a lot of your informative posts, while lurking on these boards.
 
If you're planning on splitting six inch logs at an ambient temperature of 10F how about a small axe? Wetterlings, Gransfors Brux, Council Tool, and Bahco all seem to have a good reputation.
 
Woods_Walker said:
If you're planning on splitting six inch logs at an ambient temperature of 10F how about a small axe? Wetterlings, Gransfors Brux, Council Tool, and Bahco all seem to have a good reputation.
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I'm just saying it's possible that I could need to split some wood at below freezing temps. It would be unlikely and it would not be done on 6" logs. I have looked at hatchet options, but the extra weight for each step of the hike outweighs the energy savings over a bit of batonning.
 
Yeah, the thing with frozen wood, its better left to axes when the situation is on the good side, I agree one hundred percent.

But I find carrying a large knife (BK9, Junglas, Trailmaster, etc.) is more versitile and cover more ground than an axe. Plus, I am a believer in the 9" cutting area versus 4-5" cutting area is safer to wield when you are tired, cold, and needing to get some wood small enough to burn. If you can't gather it (which I have always been able to do, BTW), you gotta make it. Smashing a large, sturdy knife through wood is safer. Its an opinion, and we won't get into a debate of baton vs axe, thats been done.

I agree with both sides, use and axe if you can, if not, do whatever is the SAFEST and do whatever is NECESSARY, to take care of yourself. We're not talking survival here, just good 'ol fashioned fun in the woods.

I have a torn ACL in my left knee, and hiking to me anymore means pain, and lots of it. I still go out and get some, but the pain wears me down very fast, and when its cold, I'm even more dulled. Weight is a concern, so my axes stay at home, in the chopping block, and my big knives go with me. My BK9 weighs in at about 1/4th of my axe, and I find hatchets damn near useless, compared to my big knives.

The 7 is not a 9, and I would not put it in a "big knife" category, I would put it more in the "just right" category. And it makes a dandy wedge.

If you are dealing with frozen wood, I suggest you scavenge small stuff to get your fire rollin', and thaw that big log by it as you're getting it going, then peel it from the outside in, never through the center. Protect your blade and protect yourself.

Shooter, that 7 will serve you well on your adventures. So will a 9, but we'll talk about that when the time comes. :D

Moose
 
8" chainsaw? jk, i love big beckers, yes B-eckers.....and its fun to baton, but the more im out the less i actually do so. so much energy saving deadfall laying around. I get that if your in 10F weather, theres prob snow and youll need to split em to get to the dry stuff inside. Anyways i DO love my 7, im just a big 5 fan is all. The seven will serve you nicely. However from what i hear, the 9 is the king...
 
first of all: i have both the becker 7 (camillus) and the 9 (ka-bar). nevertheless i don't claim to be right with what i am about to say :).
if i was you i would go with the 9. why? i like the 7 and i don't want to get rid of it but it is somehow a compromise. what do i mean by that? in my opinion it is to small to be a decent chopper and to big to be a good carver. it is the knife i'd go for when i only could bring one that has to cover chopping and whittling. in addition to the 9 i would use a 3-4" blade like the esee 4, fällkniven or maybe one of the upcoming tweeners (can't wait to get hold of em :)).
i hope i could help.

btw: i think what the 7 is able to do can be done with the 9 as well.
 
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