- Joined
- Feb 7, 2014
- Messages
- 11,432
My first experiences with BK&T was the Camillus line. I'd had other Camillus products, and was always happy with them; so, when I became aware of the BK series, I picked up a 7 and a 9. They were a bit of a novelty, as I didn't really have much USE for blades that size; but that doesn't mean I appreciate them for what they were. Exit Camillus, enter KaBar....
I'll admit that I always had something against KaBar; and that kept me away from any more BK&T until fairly recently. I'll say right now that I don't think I ever had a bad experience with a KaBar product - to be quite honest, I don't think I'd even owned a KaBar. I finally got curious and bought a new BK9, with the intent of comparing it to the Camillus version. Visually, they were nearly identical...except the blade of the Kabar version was thinner. That was all it took to satisfy my closed mind.
Some time later, I purchased an Ontario RD7 and, subsequently, a NS9. I used the RD7 a bit, then put it away - again, I didn't have much USE for large fixed blades.
(I have axes and machetes for serious work; small fixed blades and folders for lighter duty/fine stuff.)
Jump to present - I've not only given KaBar's BK&T line another chance, I've become a fan. Every now and then, I've wondered how the KaBar BK&T would compare to it's cousin in the Ontario RD lineup. I'm a big fan of 5160; but I know the Ontarios are run a little softer, and I recalled the RD7's edge as being more obtuse. This morning, curiosity spurred me into action. At 0730, I took the RD7 and BK7 in search of adventure. There were no preparatory tweaks like sharpening - this was a spontaneous thing. The RD7 was used, then ignored for a few years, the BK7 hadn't even cut paper yet...perhaps not the fairest face off, but it was time.
Appearance - basically similar. The BK has a more pronounced thumb ramp and a thinner blade. It's black grivory handles are longer than the RD's thick micarta slabs, which evened out the overall length (The RD's blade sports a choil, so it is longer, despite having the same cutting edge length).
In action: The thinner edge of the KaBar BK found bite much more readily than the Ontario. It did better at slicing & finer cutting chores...but, I felt the Ontario surpassed it in batoning. Chopping was close, and really hard to call...the extra heft of the RD blade carried it, but I'll give it the BK's better edge. Overall - the BK7 performed better today. I'm tempted to reprofile the RD a bit, and try this again...but play time is hard to come by right now, and too many things are higher on the priority list. (Maybe when things settle down this summer.) In addition to the performance edge, the BK iis more comfortable in hand...I'd taken a file to the RD's micarta years ago, but there's still no comparison.
This doesn't make me a KaBar fan; but it solidified my more recent impressions of the BK&T line.
I didn't drag the camera with me...but here's an obligatory picture, to prove it happened.
I'll admit that I always had something against KaBar; and that kept me away from any more BK&T until fairly recently. I'll say right now that I don't think I ever had a bad experience with a KaBar product - to be quite honest, I don't think I'd even owned a KaBar. I finally got curious and bought a new BK9, with the intent of comparing it to the Camillus version. Visually, they were nearly identical...except the blade of the Kabar version was thinner. That was all it took to satisfy my closed mind.
Some time later, I purchased an Ontario RD7 and, subsequently, a NS9. I used the RD7 a bit, then put it away - again, I didn't have much USE for large fixed blades.
(I have axes and machetes for serious work; small fixed blades and folders for lighter duty/fine stuff.)
Jump to present - I've not only given KaBar's BK&T line another chance, I've become a fan. Every now and then, I've wondered how the KaBar BK&T would compare to it's cousin in the Ontario RD lineup. I'm a big fan of 5160; but I know the Ontarios are run a little softer, and I recalled the RD7's edge as being more obtuse. This morning, curiosity spurred me into action. At 0730, I took the RD7 and BK7 in search of adventure. There were no preparatory tweaks like sharpening - this was a spontaneous thing. The RD7 was used, then ignored for a few years, the BK7 hadn't even cut paper yet...perhaps not the fairest face off, but it was time.
Appearance - basically similar. The BK has a more pronounced thumb ramp and a thinner blade. It's black grivory handles are longer than the RD's thick micarta slabs, which evened out the overall length (The RD's blade sports a choil, so it is longer, despite having the same cutting edge length).
In action: The thinner edge of the KaBar BK found bite much more readily than the Ontario. It did better at slicing & finer cutting chores...but, I felt the Ontario surpassed it in batoning. Chopping was close, and really hard to call...the extra heft of the RD blade carried it, but I'll give it the BK's better edge. Overall - the BK7 performed better today. I'm tempted to reprofile the RD a bit, and try this again...but play time is hard to come by right now, and too many things are higher on the priority list. (Maybe when things settle down this summer.) In addition to the performance edge, the BK iis more comfortable in hand...I'd taken a file to the RD's micarta years ago, but there's still no comparison.
This doesn't make me a KaBar fan; but it solidified my more recent impressions of the BK&T line.
I didn't drag the camera with me...but here's an obligatory picture, to prove it happened.
