Bk7 vs Ontario sp6

J

Joshua Wong

Joined
Feb 26, 2018
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33
What’s up folks. JOEX did a test on the bk9 and he seemed to have broke it really fast. The Ontario sp line seemed to have held up better. For just one knife for Survival and hard use. Which one is better bk7 or sp6? I can’t decide
 
I'm not familiar with JOEX or his testing. Kabar's BK9 is known for standing up to hard use (abuse). That doesn't mean there haven't been failures; but they aren't commonplace.
Depending on the model, and when the knife was produced, I believe Ontario's SP line has had 5160 (which Ontario runs soft), 1095, and 1075. I've never owned anything from their SP line; but I've used other Ontarios and multiple Beckers...BK7 vs SP6? I'll take the BK every time.
 
SP line is really tough. I have a 1075 SP1 that is invincible, I consider them budget Beckers.
I'd rec a Cold Steel SRK in 3V for just a bit more than the Ontario.
 
hhmoore said:
I'm not familiar with JOEX or his testing. Kabar's BK9 is known for standing up to hard use (abuse). That doesn't mean there haven't been failures; but they aren't commonplace.
Depending on the model, and when the knife was produced, I believe Ontario's SP line has had 5160 (which Ontario runs soft), 1095, and 1075. I've never owned anything from their SP line; but I've used other Ontarios and multiple Beckers...BK7 vs SP6? I'll take the BK every time.
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Stab cars, beat against cars, chopping/beating them on bricks, putting first half inch into stump and pulling with all your weight torquing sideways... CS Proof on steroids.
 
For a bush/survival/camp knife, I'd take the BK7 all day over the Ontario.

Also not familiar with JOEX. But I have put my BK9 through hell, chopping, batoning, whatever else, and it's never given me any issue. Also my go to pack knife is a BK16, which replaced my ESEE 4..

You can have issues with any knife, but I've never had any issues with my Beckers..

Edit: (after skimming the JOEX video)

Another idiotic video...

I could break any knife I own if I was intentionally trying to. But normal use case for my knives isn't smashing concrete bricks and trying to pry stumps in half, such as JOEX. If I need to do that I'll use a sledge and a splitting maul...

This would be like shooting lvl IIIA soft body armor with a 50bmg, and then complaining when it didn't stop the bullet.. well guess what,.. it wasn't designed to. Just like my knives aren't intended to replace my hammers 🤦‍♂️
 
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JOEX is pointless from an empirical standpoint. The sample size is exactly one, the medium tested is inconsistent, the use of force immeasurable, the commentary is indecipherable between the gas mask, thick accent, and random speed ups for no reason.

That said, I at least appreciate that he doesn't use any pseudoscience to extrapolate real data or come up with improbable cases where the items tested would fail. Case in point, I once watched a guy on a YT video toss an FNS pistol onto a puddle of water, let it sit for a solid minute, shake it and striker failed to ignite the primer. A valid criticism, but he flat out said that he would never carry the gun because of the chance he is knocked down by an assailant and his gun slides into a puddle...really? The gun passed every other test, shot well, carried well, and was reliable in every other way except in the off chance that someone knocks you on your ass, you gun slides away, AND it ends up in a deep puddle for 60 seconds?

Anyway, I digress. I would never purchase or not purchase a knife based on JOEX and his destructive "tests". I would not conclude thst a knife was a poor design because it does not pass getting stabbed into a car roof until he gets winded, whacked on a concrete brick a random amount of times, hammered into a stump and have said brick thrown at it, and finally shot with a Glock for good measure. What his "tests" did show was a couple of surprising things like the Cold Steel Marauder's tip surviving the car poking test. No way would I have guessed a budget knife of an "old" stainless sporting s thin tip would have lasted as long.

As far as the BK7 and Ontario, I think the Becker line is going to perform better as a knife when used as a knife. Ontario can be hit and miss in terms of heat treat and fit/finish. The Ontario may very well be "tougher" but that does you no good if it sucks at doing knife stuff or the handle has hot spots after extended use.

Both knives are fine choices, but I think the Becker is a better knife. The Ontario is good for the price, but I dont think it is superior in any significant way.
 
Regards knives that cannot stab car doors- all it will take is one guy wounding a car on a hunt and the anti's will be up in arms about it. And why are knives still even being sold that cant stop bullets in 2022?
 
mickb said:
Regards knives that cannot stab car doors- all it will take is one guy wounding a car on a hunt and the anti's will be up in arms about it. And why are knives still even being sold that cant stop bullets in 2022?
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People absolutely shoot their knives, and I am confident certain knives could stop slower bullets "bible in the breastpocket" style but I bet certain tough, thick choppers can! I've got a cleaver in 8670 coming and that probably counts as torso armor if its in my pants 😂
 
I'm certainly no fan of knife destruction or the gas mask, but the way that BK9 broke more than once is kind of concerning to people like me considering the knife.

I'm no steel expert, & I'd probably never break a knife, any knife, but what's up with that steel? I have 3 knives in that steel & I'm just disappointed it broke that fast, & more than once..
 
TheArab said:
I'm certainly no fan of knife destruction or the gas mask, but the way that BK9 broke more than once is kind of concerning to people like me considering the knife.

I'm no steel expert, & I'd probably never break a knife, any knife, but what's up with that steel? I have 3 knives in that steel & I'm just disappointed it broke that fast, & more than once..
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I would consider the gas mask a safety precaution for the inevitable flying bits of steel or aluminum or stone. He could use standard safety gear but most people who have 10+ fixed blades and want to test them statistically have a gas mask. So, he probably got that to start out with, and with the whole "survival blade torture test" which looks post-apocalyptic and the whole Ea Euro thing, can't hurt the image.

About the SP series, I really, really don't hesitate with it, my SP-1 the 1075 is really strong, cannot see Kabar brands in my future, because I have other fixed blades like this (rugged outdoor clip point) like the SRK and 119. Except for some other crazy specialty stuff that will come as my needs increase, going to see how I do with those, and my litany of folders. M4 steel is sweet to bash into wood.
 
I'd just go with Esse probably a better heat treat in the end as well and warranty.
 
Joshua Wong said:
What’s up folks. JOEX did a test on the bk9 and he seemed to have broke it really fast. The Ontario sp line seemed to have held up better. For just one knife for Survival and hard use. Which one is better bk7 or sp6? I can’t decide
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how many of the things that broke the bk9 will you be doing to your knife?

I mean REALLY?
 
The SP will probably be tougher I love my Sp10 for what it is but the Becker will be the "better" knife and unless you are prying with all your weight, or chopping concrete or hitting a steel pipe I'm sure you'd be fine. I'm 18 stone and was a world class powerlifter I'd hazard a guess I could break any Knife quite easily, Ive bent heavy wreaking bars at work.

I'd go for the Becker unless you really want to punish the Knife.
 
tinfoil hat timmy said:
how many of the things that broke the bk9 will you be doing to your knife?

I mean REALLY?
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I actually opened my knife drawer last night to grab my "smack the spine against a concrete block knife" apparently I don't keep my demolition tools in my knife drawer.... Who knew. Then I took my bk9 outside and cut down one of the many dead trees in the back yard I haven't delt with yet. To my surprise the Bk9 didn't break.
 
BlindMouse2of3 said:
I actually opened my knife drawer last night to grab my "smack the spine against a concrete block knife" apparently I don't keep my demolition tools in my knife drawer.... Who knew. Then I took my bk9 outside and cut down one of the many dead trees in the back yard I haven't delt with yet. To my surprise the Bk9 didn't break.
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go figure 👍
 
A knife should cut well first, if so many people didn’t seem to want slightly sharpened prying tools that they can’t break with a brick and hammer, then maybe the market wouldn’t be so flooded with useless, soft, heavy chunks of scrap.

Learning how to use a knife is the first step in the right direction of never breaking one.
 
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