BK7 vs. BK9?

B

bdmicarta

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Feb 16, 2012
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Someone just said "easier to do small knife jobs with a big knife than big knife jobs with a small knife". I'm just wondering what are the real tradeoffs of the 7 vs. 9. I've got lots of knives shorter than 7" so for my first I thought I should get at least 7".

The advantages of the 9 seem to be better chopping ability, so the logical question would be how much better? And a disadvantage that I might see is that it would be harder to carry the 9 in a sheath. Is it reasonable to expect to carry either of them on your belt in a sheath?
 
I dont have a 7 but I carry the 9 on a belt sometimes. Usually it gets strapped to the pack or thrown in the truck.
 
I'm not sure you can really quantify "how much better" when it comes to these knives. I have both along with their short, chubby brother (BK2), but find myself using the BK9 more than any other when it comes to general work around the ranch. Gives me a bit more reach and swings harder due to the weight distribution. However, the BK7 exhibits much better balance than the BK9...and the BK2 for that matter...in my hands. For a general purpose camp knife, I think the BK7 would be a great choice. However, I'd rather have a short, thin knife and a large, thick knife rather than one medium sized knife. That's why my BK7 rarely ever leaves the tool box...sort of a jack of all trades, but master of none. At least for my needs...as usual, YMMV.

As to your other question, I keep all my Beckers in a tool bag or on a shoulder strap. I've never been a fan of wearing a knife on my belt. Just a personal preference thing for me.
 
Go with a 9, then put a choil on it & some jimping. IF you want to do small knife things with a big knife that is. :D


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Now, if you want to do BIG knife things with a small knife, a BK2 would be the one.
 
it's better to hold both big and small, but depending on the circumstances, everyday? small knives. ONLY knife? esp in the woods? big knife. probably.

but who only carries one knife? or just two :)
 
Go for the 9 but don't you dare choil that blade as how often are you really going to be choking up and doing detail work with a 9 inch blade?
buy a remora for it or a little folder like a kabar dozier in the pouch for the little tasks.
 
When I said that I was referring to a small knife being an Esee-4 vs a Brute. I like the E4 but as to being my only knife to go tra la-la-ing through the woods? Nope, no thanks I'll take the Brute or 9 and the extra weight. When I can't lug around my knife in the woods for a few days it's time to stay home and learn to knit.
Get the 9, it weighs like 3.5 ounces more than the 7 but is a better choppa.
 
I personally love the 9, not a huge fan of the 7 though, sold one and gave another to a friend. The 9 doesn't weigh much more but it gives you much more capability. YMMV...
 
bdmicarta said:
Someone just said "easier to do small knife jobs with a big knife than big knife jobs with a small knife". I'm just wondering what are the real tradeoffs of the 7 vs. 9. I've got lots of knives shorter than 7" so for my first I thought I should get at least 7".

The advantages of the 9 seem to be better chopping ability, so the logical question would be how much better? And a disadvantage that I might see is that it would be harder to carry the 9 in a sheath. Is it reasonable to expect to carry either of them on your belt in a sheath?
Click to expand...

I think you just about nailed it. My son carries his BK7 scout style all the time when he's out and my BK9 rides just fine crossdraw. No problems!

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Beckerhead #42
 
The BK7 won't chop as well as the BK9, but it WILL chop...well. But really, unless you just want to "use" your Becker's to bash through a bunch of crap unnecessarily, how much chopping do you really plan on doing with a knife?

I like the idea of having a blade big and sturdy enough to chop if I NEED to...but so far, I haven't had the need. YMMV
 
TwinStick said:
Go with a 9, then put a choil on it & some jimping. IF you want to do small knife things with a big knife that is. :D


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Now, if you want to do BIG knife things with a small knife, a BK2 would be the one.
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Old thread, I know....

Twin, how did you modify the handle on the BK2? Looks sort of like snakeskin texture in the photo. Nice.

Thanks
 
looks like he either used a wood burning tip or the narrow edge of a dremil cut off disk and just lightly scored a checker board pattern in it....might have even gone back over it when done with some sandpaper to smooth down any extra high flash left over from the cuts....

That's what it looks like to me anyway...
 
9 > 7

I took maths

(I've held both, the 9 beats the 7 for everything but weight, they feel nearly the same when doing fine work, and the longer blade is better for all brute strength applications)
 
You can't not have a Nine.

OK, with that out of the way I will respond to your dilemma from the basis of my own opinion and experiences.

The BK7 is a Jack of all trades and Master of none ... and say that in a good way. It is rugged and handy - purpose built yet versatile.

If I were to go afield with just one fixed blade knife (can't imagine that) the BK7 would be a top contender and my likely choice; though it would be a tough call as aginst the BK2.

I am in the camp (pardon the pun) of preferring a large and a smaller knife as opposed to just a medium knife. The BK9 (or BK4) along with a Tweener is a dandy combination. Throw a Necker or 14/24 into the mix along with a SAK and a Multi-Tool and you are set.

Putting aside my five knife quiver (assuming the MT is consider a knife?? Otherwise it would be four) and getting back to the 9 or the 7 - I would have to ask, wouldn't you also have a folder or some other blade of some sort with you? If the BK can't handle it due to being too big, a BK7 isn't going to make things all that easier ... certainly not enough to offset the performance delta on the other end where the 7 falls short of the 9.

The fact that you have lots of knives shorter than the 7 makes this a no-brainer; get the BK9.
 
I love my 7. It lives on my pack. Sure it's a master of none, but I know it can take on anything. Whatever knife task is required is no problem. It's a great size for every day use. Really, I don't use it for heavy chopping since I have a couple of nines and a 4 for all that. And an RBK enroute.

I've had my nine much longer and never intended on picking up a 7, I got it in a trade and quickly fell in love. I highly recommended it. On that note...if I could have only one, I'd pick the 9. As convenient as the 7 is to have around, I'd pair the 9 with a tweener or some other small blade and be set for anything.
 
With a 2 carry system, the 9 is very comfortable/easy to carry around. I prefer a scout/dangler option rig that is also easy to attach to a pack. So depending on how far you're going, how often you'll need to use the blade, and whether or not you're carrying a heavy pack, all your bases are covered with essentially the same sheath, and you can switch the carry system as needed. This means you'll need to replace your stock nylon sheath, unless you're creative and can modify the factory issued one. I've never used the 7, but I carried a SOG multitool and the bk9 for the duration of a pretty intensive expedition mostly in rainforests, and that combo was very well balanced and suited my needs almost perfectly. I would say that if I was carrying the 7 in the same environment, I might bring a machete and the same multitool as well, but that's just thinking out loud, not really based on any experience with the 7. The 9 can get away with behaving like a short machete, but it's kind of pushing it, therefore I think the 7 would be way too short. I guess all this depends on your area and what tasks you'll need to do. I will be sticking with the 9 & a multitool forever, but I'm also considering a decent camp saw for more northern/colder hardwood forests as well. One thing is for sure, nobody has ever regretted buying a 9. The 9 feels heavy and cumbersome the 1st time you strap it onto your belt, but after a couple days you'll be used to it for life, especially with a good combo scout/dangler system. Hell, if they had a 10-1/2" version of the 9, I'd probably carry that.
 
You guys might wanna read the entire thread. Or at least check the date stamps on the posts.
 
Bladite said:
it's better to hold both big and small, but depending on the circumstances, everyday? small knives. ONLY knife? esp in the woods? big knife. probably.

but who only carries one knife? or just two :)
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Many truths here. :)
 
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