BK9 Knife Test on Web

S

Stephen J.

Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
8
Have you guys seen this site?

It has the most thorough knife tests I have seen on the web (this page is on the BK9 specifically). Though the BK9 has definite merits, I decided to buy a Camillus USMC instead after reading this report.

Enjoy! (OR read it and weep!)

<http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/becker_combat_bowie.html>

Let me know what you think.

Stephen J.
 
This is the website of our very own Cliff Stamp, an invaluable asset to the community. Basically, he breaks stuff and then tells us about it in great detail. Good stuff.
 
I hope Cliff keeps adding more reviews--there are a lot more knives out there I'd like to see put to the test (the USMC for one). He has the best detailed reviews that I've seen anywhere, and they can be quite helpful in making an informed and worthwhile purchase, IMO.

Stephen J.
 
I will try to state this without insulting anyone or starting any flame wars. :footinmou
I do not consider abusing a knife until it breaks as "testing". If you are curious, have more money than you need, or just feel destructive today, go for it. :cool: You can wear yourself out, for there is NO knife than can't be broken.
But if you really want to test a knife, use it for what it was designed. :rolleyes: Knives are made to cut, slice, stab, and in some cases, chop. It is more important to learn how to use a knife. :D
In the "test" as it was written, once the knife was stabbed into the material, was it lateral pulling that was applied until the tip broke? If so, this is not the way to remove a knife! Then it was pounded into a tree and weight was applied (again it sounds as if it was lateral) until it broke. WHY? :(
If you want a pry bar, buy one! But don't break your knife and then be disappointed that you did! Go back and re-read the testing. In every phase of the test where the knife was used as it should be, the Becker did very well.
I have "used" a Becker BK9 since they came out (until my father-in-law stole it). The only reason I have not gotten another is that I want to see the Extreme models first. For the cost of the BK9, I have yet to find a better knife.
Now, for those who have noticed that I have done photographs for Camillus and may think that I am influenced by this, think about it for a minute. I have shot knives for hundreds of custom makers and a few other companies. I have more knives than I really need and most of them much higher priced than the Beckers. But if you find me in the woods, and I'm there just about every week, you'll find a Becker knife with me.
 
I was wondering if that was a "bad" knife. maybe bad head treatment. Has this test been done on another BK9?
 
I can't be sure because I'm not Cliff, but I don't think it was meant to be a negative review. Cliff (who is a regular on this forum) just happens to test things to destruction to see how they break. He breaks a lot of knives! To me it's not at all a signal to buy a K-Bar or whatever instead of a BK-9.
 
Cliff has always been very complimentary of the Becker line. I know that breaking knives seems extreme, but I do like knowing just how much they can take. Yeah, I know a lot of people think that if you need to bring a prybar you should, but there have been many times that I've been glad to have a strong knife at my side, either in the woods, or out in the fields on the farm, a long walk back home either way.

I love the Beckers, and this review (as far as I'm concerned) just validated that. The fact that it broke doesn't put me off at all. FWIW. YMMV. Enjoy! Still one of the best buys out there.
 
I don't understand why people buy into Cliff Stamp's scientific bs. He tests knives by batoning them through steel bars, chops concrete and bunch of other nonsense that most of people will never do or need to in their lives. Just How many times have you had to chop concrete for dinner?
I think knives should be tested in the areas they were designed for, period.
 
Despite my faith that camillus makes the best functional USMC knife out there, I have no doubt that Cliff would snap one like a twig in short order, most likely right at the guard, due to the stick tang.
 
yoda4561 said:
Despite my faith that camillus makes the best functional USMC knife out there, I have no doubt that Cliff would snap one like a twig in short order, most likely right at the guard, due to the stick tang.
Click to expand...

Usmc knife has a really soft tang, the blade had bent 30 degrees upward during light chopping but I must say the end butt did an excellent job hammering nails and the leather handle is sweet. Beckers on the other hand are in totally different class. I've done tons of stuff with my bk7 and it's still scary sharp and still looks like it was just taken out of the box, unbelievable.
 
Kaos said:
I don't understand why people buy into Cliff Stamp's scientific bs. He tests knives by batoning them through steel bars, chops concrete and bunch of other nonsense that most of people will never do or need to in their lives. Just How many times have you had to chop concrete for dinner?
I think knives should be tested in the areas they were designed for, period.
Click to expand...

Every knife review of Cliff's I have read includes paragraphs about work in the kitchen and, if applicable, some sort of vegetation cutting outside. Many reviews also have some butchering tasks. Exactly the cutting tasks we do everyday.

He extensively performs objective testing to determine cutting and slicing ability. Cliff takes detailed measurements of grind angles and the sharpened edge, etc.. to mathematically quantify the knifes properties and remove subjective BS from the review. Rather than saying "its really sharp" he will give you a comparison chart of the force required to seperate a given media between several knives. Then redo the chart with different sharpened edges! Where else can you find data like that?

After all that, he does hammer and chisel and pry things just to see what the knife will take before the tip breaks or something comes apart. I personally have never pounded the tip of my knife into a tree and tried to do pull ups, but its nice to know I could if I wanted to.
 
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