BK9 or Machax, chopping and clearing

worldwood

worldwood

Joined
Sep 30, 2012
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Ok so out of the 2 which would be a better pick for clearing small brush and also chopping fire wood. I love the look of the machax but i have never used anything like that. I can see the functionality of the bk9 in a thousand photos here. it seems the perfect tool would be a good machete and a good ax, machax sounds right. Bk9 couldnt fail. thoughts?
 
I had just pressed enter how did you answer so fast, this place is great!!!

i cant afford both of every option that sounds good even if it is the right answer. im hooked now so eventually i will own everyone thats obtainable, but honestly im thinking of the perfect xmas present for my father. he is in florida, goes camping atleast 3 times a month and often has to clear brush where he is at. he uses a walmart machete....... i want something that will blow him away.
 
Chameleonbear said:
You need the lucky 13 combo. It's a 9 and a 4.
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I heard they're working on bringing the 13 back too!


Worldwood: just my opinion and I honestly haven't spent as much time behind the 4 as the 9 (no time actually) so definitely take it for what it's worth. The BK4 has a great forward sweep but the "sweet spot" is small.... really small, I say BK9 all the way but you mentioned a machete too and I think that's the real answer... but not as cool and useful as the BK9 for other chores.


Eli
 
To be PERFECTLY honest. If you are on a tight budget. There is another machete you should check out. There are several of them here that swear by them. The Tramoline (something like that, I am sure I screwed up the spelling.)

With the recurve blade it really benefits from a different style of chopping, using a wrist snap technique (that I haven't mastered) so if he is an "old dog that doesn't learn new tricks" too easy, you would be better off most likely with the King.

As for the speed... I am a night owl. I have to work tomorrow though so I will be signing off here soon.
 
tramontina, they are priced great but it probably wouldnt WOW him. and would that cut firewood? his machete damn sure isnt a good chopper he uses a hatchet for cuttin fire wood i believe.

the evidence for the 9 is everywhere, the name machax just sounded like the right tool but i wasnt sure cause of the blade shape. And theres no way a bk9 wont WOW him.
 
And the speed, i cant keep up between the different threads, i was going to bed 3 hours ago but i keep reading something else and getting interested.......
 
Never held a BK4 but my understanding is it's chopping performance is roughly the same as a BK9. Though the BK9 is also good for a lot of other tasks so I recommend that one first.
 
machine26 said:
Should the BK9 be thrown in the garbage can? :p
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Yes! But only if your goal is to destroy the garbage can :)

I had the opportunity to play with both the 9 and the 4 at the NE Beckerhead gathering. For wood processing I found that the 9 definitely made quicker work out of it. I could see the usefulness of a 4 in place of a machete, for limbing branches, etc.. But the 9 could handle those tasks easily as well.

The 4 was also much much smaller than I had expected.

The real answer of course is to get both :) But I'd definitely start with the 9 first.
 
I like both but for chopping i can go through wood faster with a BK9.
I like the BK4 alot also and it feels really good in the hand.
It will chop.

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worldwood said:
Ok so out of the 2 which would be a better pick for clearing small brush and also chopping fire wood. I love the look of the machax but i have never used anything like that. I can see the functionality of the bk9 in a thousand photos here. it seems the perfect tool would be a good machete and a good ax, machax sounds right. Bk9 couldnt fail. thoughts?
Click to expand...

First of all, the Machax is my favourite knife ever. I have owned and used mine for 20+ years. I also have a 9 - also a great knife. Having said that, neither may be a good choice for your purpose. Let me explain:

Before the Machax, I used a Tramontina Bola machete for years (I'm 66). It cleared brush and chopped (and batoned) fire wood very well. I prefer the Machax and the 9 because they're smaller in size and more easily carried (and they're just nicer, overall). If this wasn't a factor, The Tram might still be used. I mention this because I wouldn't want to see you excited about gifting your father with a new nice knife and find out down the road that he's still using his machete.

A knife is a very personal thing and unless you know what a person (read knife knut) would like, it's best to leave any purchases to them.

Perhaps giving him a gift certificate to a (knife) dealer and telling him what you had in mind would be best, that way he gets what he likes, and you're happy that Dad really likes his gift. Just my 2 cents.

Doc
 
I believe in chopping the BK4 and BK9 are about the same. But each one has it's own advantages that one needs to consider before buying:

BK9; tradition blade shape, makes a good improvised chef's knife, The point is inline with the handle which everyone is used to.

BK4; Makes a much better draw knife, pretty curves, you can sharpen different sections of the blade for different uses (recurve thin for slicing, draw knife, main curve thick for chopping), better at hooking light vegetation for cutting. In the right hands, a blade with this shape has the potential to be a more effective chopper, brush blade then a standard straight blade. It has something do to Geometry, force, leverage and such.

I have a Camillus made BK9, SOG Tigershark (First Gen, Carbon steel blade), Kabar Large Heavy Bowie, and a Fiddleback Forge Camp Knife so I have experience with Bowies. I also have at least 6 H.I. Khukri's and over 12 Machetes. For lots of chopping and brush work, I use my Khukris and Machetes more then the Bowies/camp knives. . . . For me I'd lean more towards the BK4 Machax, it's more Machete/Khukri like.

My woods combo always includes a Machete or a thin, fast and light Khukri. Most everyone knows how good a Machete is when it comes to brush work, but what they don't know is how good of a Chopper the larger Machetes can be. My 18" Bladed USGI Ontario Machete is one Mean chopper!! Years before I got mine, I used a friends to clear some trails durring a service project. Between it and my 20" Sirupati Khukri we had the brush and trees all taken care of.
 
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In your case I would advise BK9 for versatility, weight and shape of the blade..
 
I don't care as much for the angle on the 4 when it comes to cutting brush.
My advice? Honestly? Pick up a $6 18" Tramontina and kick that brush's butt.
For wood chopping, it's hard to beat the 9. My two centavos.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
First of all, the Machax is my favourite knife ever. I have owned and used mine for 20+ years. I also have a 9 - also a great knife. Having said that, neither may be a good choice for your purpose. Let me explain:

I mention this because I wouldn't want to see you excited about gifting your father with a new nice knife and find out down the road that he's still using his machete.

Perhaps giving him a gift certificate to a (knife) dealer and telling him what you had in mind would be best, that way he gets what he likes, and you're happy that Dad really likes his gift. Just my 2 cents.

Doc
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I like this idea but i dont think he knows much about becker knives, he had an old usmc kabar but im not sure he has any clue of BK&T and i kinda wated to steer him towards them. I think maybe i could give him a gift certificate to a knife dealer that carries a wide selection of Beckers (and others ) then i could make the amount enough to choose either the machax or bk9 and put a note on the gift certificate stating i recommend him look at the BK9 and Machax by Becker before he makes any decisions.

I dont want him using his walmart special anymore :)
 
A 6 dollar Tramontina and bk9 would cost about the same as the Machax...... hmmm thats an idea too
 
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