BK9 or Tac Tool for first Becker?

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DGladden

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Where I work, we get quarterly safety bonuses and it looks like this time it'll be a $100 Walmart gift card. I was browsing WM's website and was surprised to find they actually sell a few BK&T's. I have wanted a BK9 for over a year now and that was my first instinct. However, I saw the BK3 Tac Tool and really like it too. It kinda looks like the knife I got in Battlefield 3 for becoming a premium member! Chances are whatever I get will not be used much, mostly light chopping around the back yard and get tossed in the truck as part of my emergency gear. So, what say you? Pro's and con's of each?
 
If you're talking truck based emergency gear, you can't go wrong with the 3. I keep one in my car for said emergencies and it is pretty handy. It CAN handle the chopping and yard work, mind you not as well as the king, however it's still a VERY awesome knife.

My 2nd BK&T was a 3. I've been very happy with that purchase and never regretted it.
 
I cannot speak on the subject since I do not own a BK3 but what I can say is that the BK9 is a great knife get one and then see if you still want the BK3 then exchange them if your not impressed by the 9. I don't think I could ever give up my BK9...but that's just me.
 
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I keep the BK-3 in the back of my car. It chops great, you can beat the hell out of it ad it will not die. I have used it as a hammer, and the hook as a nail puller
 
My first Becker was a BK3 back when Catoctin Cutlery was alive and well.
I'd have to go with "get both".
There are some cross over things they can both do but they do what they are intended for REALLY well.
Now a rig that mates my BK9, Div Tul and BK14 would be perfect.
 
The BK-3 is better at construction/demolition based chores (has a nail puller, eats dodge omnis), and is chisel ground. Cons would be that it's not designed for chopping/batonning (though still capable). more of a sharpened prybar,

The BK-9 is better at chopping and batonning, and light machete work; and is an extremely well balanced knife. Does just about anything. Cons: no nail puller and larger package. The BK-9 is really a bowie/camp knife beefed up to the Nth degree.

My take is that if you want something for the emergency kit, the BK-3 might win out. but for light yardwork, all the way up to occasional limbing and processing firewood, or the like. the King rules. And it has more uses than duct tape.
 
The BK3 is very versatile, once you get out and start using it new ideas of what to do with it will start flooding your head. I like mine alot, I wrote a review on it, it's somewhere around here.

Be careful when chopping with it, the chisel grnd likes to make it bounce. I sharpen both sides of mine and it cures that problem for the most part.
 
I just recently recieved a Camillus BK-3 from our very own Greybush.
It's going to have a permanent home in the back of my 4-Runner.
As far as which to get, the 3 or 9? It's hard to say.
If you are going to keep it in the back of your truck as part of your emergency gear, then I'd say go with the 3.
It'll still do some light chopping in the back yard for ya.
Maybe even some light digging/ root removal.
The 3 is more of a tool where as the 9 is definitely more of a knife.
Hell, I dunno, flip a coin. You'll be happy with either one! lol
 
The Tac Tool is great overall, so I'd vote on that. The Tac-Tool looks like, well a tool whereas the 9 looks like a mini machete, and some folks (and law enforcement) might take a dim view of it based on the looks. Mine is a go-to as I reside in earthquake country.
 
One vote for the BK9 here. Love mine. I guess you really need to weigh out the uses for each and decide the application you need it for. No matter which one you decide on, you'll be buying the other one sooner or later. I've already started Becker my wish list.
 
IF you are keeping it in your truck, there are tools that when combined surpass the BK3 and 9's abilities.
That said; walk in the woods: BK9, Escape from NY...BK3.
 
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Never held a 3 but I love my 9. I think the best part of the bk9 is it's big enough to chop, baton, and tackle virtually any woodworking need that I knife can handle, while still being nimble enough to slice up onions and taters for dinner. I don't think the 3 would make as good of a "one knife" for all things, however it clearly has some advantages in certain arenas.
 
Vote a BK9 be careful though I had just 1 2 days later another showed up either one will get you started the 9 is called the King for a reason
 
My vote is for the 9, It is by far the sexier of the two ;)

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