BK9 or other chopper/machete?

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ocnLogan

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Jul 31, 2011
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This is a question that I've been wondering about for a while now. Why did you guys (and gal) choose the BK9 over other "chopping" knives/machetes?

The reason I ask this, is because while I know that the BK9 is great, if for no other reason than the praise they receive around here, I wonder how they compare with blades like the KA-BAR Cutlass Machete and a few other comparable knives (Kabar kurki, Ontario 12in Machete, Machax, etc) which I first saw one in Mooses knife giveaway thread from a few weeks ago.

I have never owned (let alone used) a large chopping style knife (used to hatchets), and I actually almost joined the forum at that time just to post in that one thread to see if I could get my hands on one of the larger knifes, to see if I liked them. I decided that I would hold off and let people that have been around here for longer have the chance to get them though.

Objectively, the Cutlass Machete is a slightly longer knife than the BK9, but is the same thickness. The BK9 has a much better looking (and apparently functioning) sheath, and the full tang. Mostly it seems to be about blade shape.

So why did you choose the BK9 over other forms of choppers?

I'm also just going to say that I am not in the market to buy anytime soon (budget constraints), but I do feel that a chopper is eventually in my future, so thanks for the input guys, because this will help me make the right choice when I do have the cash.
 
Its range. Kuks and machetes are too big for fine work, yet the shorter 9 can chop with the best of them and do small stuff. I look at the Becker line as if each was designed to stand alone, even tho none of us have or carry only one, its entirely possible to do so. Machetes are cool and cheap and can chop, so if moneys tight and you want/need one pic one up for 10 bux. But the 9 is more than a chopper
 
I own the Cutlass and the BK9, I do believe the 9 is thicker. I'd have to get them out of the safe to be for sure. But I'm pretty sure. I didn't feel comfortable batoning with my Cutlass. Now the BK9 is great at it, doesn't split like theBK2, but then the 9 is 1/16 of an inch thinner. The Cutlass is a heck of a chopper. The first time out we chopped down a Boxelder tree about 8 inches thick or so.

Here is a pic. For the record the Necker really didn't do any of that cutting...It wanted to, I am just teaching it control.

bushcraft pics 012 by redmech, on Flickr

They are both handy to have around. My BK9 for sure gets more action.
 
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The kukri machete definitely outchops the BK9 but (for me anyway) the BK9 is more nimble and better at other knife tasks. It's still a really really good chopper, just not as good at that one task as the kuk.

Plus - just LOOK at it!

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Beckerhead #42
 
It would depend on what you need it for, but if you had a hatchet, the 9 (and a 2) would complement it nicely. Then again, a kukri + 11/14 + axe/ hatchet would work great too. Match the horse to the course, and all that.

What kind of duties will the chopper have?
 
Note that the Cutlass and Kukri are hollow ground. They aren't as thick as the 9, but they are flat, and the grind only starts where it's hollow ground. To me, that makes them heavier and great choppers. I wouldn't worry about batoning them nor the hidden tang, I've beat my Cutlass quite hard, and it's going strong, holds an edge very well also. For the price, they are great.
The Ontario Cutlass machete, @ 12" long is also a great chopper, it's flat 1/8" thickness is perfect. The added belly towards the tips gives it weight out at the tip. The drawback is the crappy handle and lack of an edge. If you can, make some new scales, and convex the edge, and get a sheath. Then you will have a great tool. Ontario makes them kinda soft, as far as temper, at least mine don't hold the edge too long, then again I'm digging and beating them pretty hard.
 
The nine is a great knife.
It can chop and split with the best.
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If money is tight buy a machete.
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Good at chopping, It was a sad splitter though.

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Buy a becker and a machete, get out in the woods and have some fun.
If I could only have one or the other it would be the BK9.
 
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Here's my stand point, the larger choppers, Cutlass, Kuk, Grass Machete, all have a lower Rc 52-54. For a good reason, impact. The BK9 on the other hand, 58-59. Hence the BK9 knife, Cutlass, Kuk, and Grass are all machete's.

The Cutlass is heavier, and though they are the same thickness, the Cutlass has a narrow hollow grind, and the swell at then really adds some umph to lick. The 9, you need to build up speed, but the flatter grind, and higher, makes the 9 lighter. Its more nimble and has a harder edge. The choppers are less tempered, and have more forward weight.

All that weight at the end, tends to wear the hands down fast, when you are doing small stuff, making control more difficult.

Great steel all, but the 9 is a knife first, chopper second.
The Kabar 'chetes are a chopper first, knife second.


Moose
 
First off, thanks for all of the great info and opinions guys, this has been really helpful.

I understand that knives like the cutlass, as well as other machetes are not the greatest to baton with, both because of the shape (akward for batoning), as well as the generally narrower blades (not so much wedge action). I didn't know that the heat treat was so different, so the hardness is actually quite a bit different between the two genres of knives.

Keep the opinions and thoughts coming though if anyone out there feels that they have anything to add to this.

Also, I'm sure a bunch of you carry both the 2 and the 9 with you when you're out and about. What do you find yourself using the 9 for? What kind of knife tasks do you actually do with the 9? If you carry a Hatchet, as well as a BK2 and the BK9, does that make the BK9 redundant?

Sorry, I just have lots of questions, since I've never handled a knife of that size, and don't really know what they are capable of.
 
ocnLogan said:
Also, I'm sure a bunch of you carry both the 2 and the 9 with you when you're out and about. What do you find yourself using the 9 for? What kind of knife tasks do you actually do with the 9? If you carry a Hatchet, as well as a BK2 and the BK9, does that make the BK9 redundant?
Click to expand...

I usually carry either the 2 or the 9 - rarely both. I use the 2 for the same tasks as the 9. The 2 is (imo) a bit better at small tasks, a bit better at batoning, a bit worse at slicing and a bit worse at chopping.

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Beckerhead #42
 
Thanks for the response GingivitisKahn, thats really interesting. So are you saying that you use your 2 like a big knife, or your 9 like a small knife, or that they both fill each role adequately?
 
IMO the BK2 is a better all around knife but I usually take the 9 with me when I hunt because I want a bigger knife for bigger tasks - snap cuts, chopping, etc. I do a fair bit of that when building blinds and so forth. It still does other knife stuff better than a machete would and it does chop and snap cut better than the BK2.

When I'm camping and so forth, I would rather have my BK2 because it's easier to carry, does small tasks better (whittling, carving, etc.) than the 9 though it can still do a good job on the bigger tasks. My camping tasks are all over the board and the BK2 suits them better - for me.

Nothing wrong with taking both but I wouldn't typically choose to do that.

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Beckerhead #42
 
Cool, thanks for the feedback man, I appreciate it. I am more of a camper than a hunter, so thats good to know.

And thats why I went for the BK2 initially, it seems great as an all arounder. I just have been curious because of the "hype" about them, and what people used them for.
 
It is almost always harder to do a big job with a small(er) knife than it is to do a small job with a biger knife. Many don't like the BK9 as much because of its size & the stock sheath. That can all be eliminated with a properly designed sheath & carry system. I can wear mine all day long with NONE of the normal issues associated with carrying a large knife. If a finger choil was to be added to the BK9 (which i will be doing to mine), it would be even easier to do smaller tasks with. But with all the Becker choices, why wear just one ?
 
I love the BK9....my all time favorite knife, I can do pretty much any "knife" task with it...some things are a little easier to do but with a little practice you would be surprised at what this knife can do ! My BK9 & BK11 has been shipped off to a good friend & custmome knife maker (Mark Wohlwend) for a custom kydex piggy back combo sheath. I call it the 9/11 combo !
 
I got my BK9 a friend today so it wouldn't feel like the only good chopper. Ordered my Blind Horse Knives Machete. Woot!
 
Thanks for the help understanding this guys, I think I learned quite a bit.

Now I'm just waiting for all of the chopper reviews that are coming as a result of mooses "promoter" thread. I'm pretty excited about them, because a few of them have all of the blades that I mentioned here, and should have all sorts of great pics. Luckily I'm not planning on purchasing soon, or the wait would be killer.

Thanks guys!
 
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