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buck hoodlum or becker bk9?
- Thread starter 37204
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2010
- Messages
- 505
I love my BK-9. Is it not half the price of the Hoodlum?
I have had no problem with rust. It is made of 1095 Cro-Van wich has a higher rust resistance to rust than regular 1095 because of the added Chromium and Vanadium.
I have had no problem with rust. It is made of 1095 Cro-Van wich has a higher rust resistance to rust than regular 1095 because of the added Chromium and Vanadium.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2010
- Messages
- 3,723
BK9.
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Beckerhead #42
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Beckerhead #42
I love one reply... the OP wants info on his considerations... a $70 and $140 knife. The reply of note? It contrasted the respondent's Randall and Busse examples! Seriously - if you can't offer info on the requested knives, why bore us? I'll wager the OP wants a knife that comes with a sheath, too. I'll wager he wants to chop/slice/split wood, too - not filet a Fleetliner.
Now, lest I get too far off track, my views re the BK9 and Hoodlum. I have fondled both repeatedly in my local purveyor of thing's sharp emporium. I do have a BK2 - with aftermarket Micarta grips, which I do like better than my older but similar RC-5. I have an assortment of Bucks, too - my first love in the knife world. The BK9 is a heck of a knife - with the Micarta grips. Their additional cost closes the price gap a bit, too. The Buck Hoodlum has the late Ron Hood's heart and soul in it - even in the sheath. I'm saving my sheckles for one now. If you can catch the Ron Hood you-tube where he explains it's design and use, you'll want one. Worth the search...
Stainz
Now, lest I get too far off track, my views re the BK9 and Hoodlum. I have fondled both repeatedly in my local purveyor of thing's sharp emporium. I do have a BK2 - with aftermarket Micarta grips, which I do like better than my older but similar RC-5. I have an assortment of Bucks, too - my first love in the knife world. The BK9 is a heck of a knife - with the Micarta grips. Their additional cost closes the price gap a bit, too. The Buck Hoodlum has the late Ron Hood's heart and soul in it - even in the sheath. I'm saving my sheckles for one now. If you can catch the Ron Hood you-tube where he explains it's design and use, you'll want one. Worth the search...
Stainz
I may catch flak here but, IMO, the bk9 is a bit too large for a survival knife. Your best bet would be to get a bk7 or something of similar size and length and use a hand hatchet or axe for your wood processing applications. The shorter blade will be easier to wield for a broader range of survival/bushcrafting jobs than the longer, heavier blade. My two cents....
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2010
- Messages
- 197
Now, this is an extremely tough comparison. In my opinion, the 5160 is going to be tougher, as that's the nature of 5160. But, if you ever use 1095 to the point of breaking it, you're doing something wrong, I can tell you that.
To me, steels aside, it seems as though it comes down to a few different things
1. Chopping - The Hoodlum won't chop as well as the BK9 will, simply because of how light it is, and because the blade is so narrow
2. Splitting - The Hoodlum will baton/split better than the 9, because it's not only thicker but longer as well.
3. Fit and Finish - While I've seen some unsettling pictures and rumors about the Hoodlum's initial production run's fit and finish, they seem to have cleared that up. The BK9 will undoubtedly come with worse fit and finish, and by that I mean the Hoodlum won't have raised edges in the scales and they'll mirror the tang perfectly. Also, the grind on Beckers definitely leave a bit to be desired - they're inconsistent, rough, and shallow. So you'll have to whip out the Lansky and take a few hours to give them a good grind, which you won't have to do with the Hoodlum.
4. Handle Shape/Material - The Becker comes with the grivory, which you can get used to, but is not nearly the material the micarta is; that being said, though, the handle shape of the Becker is unparalleled in comfort, whereas the Hoodlum's is just good, and definitely won't leave you wanting, but once you start using the Becker you'll realize it's just a better handle shape.
5. Sheaths - Maybe I've just been spoiled by ESEE's beautifully crafted, utilitarian sheaths, but both of these sheaths suck in my opinion. Both offer no retention, hold water, and don't feel good in the hand, to me. You'll most likely end up springing for a Kydex one later, if you want a good sheath.
6. Value - The Beckers are the pinnacle of amazing value, in my opinion: the visual-tang designs, good steel, and overall performance-to-price ratio is astounding. That said, the 9 won't be as good as the Hoodlum, I don't think. It will be a better value, but not a better blade, overall. But that's the thing you need to think about - is the Hoodlum twice the blade, as the price reflects?
That said, the ESEE Junglas trumps them both, on almost all fronts, I think, especially that amazing sheath, and beautiful warranty. Email if you want to know the best price on a Junglas ($110 - w/ sheath), and where to find it.
To me, steels aside, it seems as though it comes down to a few different things
1. Chopping - The Hoodlum won't chop as well as the BK9 will, simply because of how light it is, and because the blade is so narrow
2. Splitting - The Hoodlum will baton/split better than the 9, because it's not only thicker but longer as well.
3. Fit and Finish - While I've seen some unsettling pictures and rumors about the Hoodlum's initial production run's fit and finish, they seem to have cleared that up. The BK9 will undoubtedly come with worse fit and finish, and by that I mean the Hoodlum won't have raised edges in the scales and they'll mirror the tang perfectly. Also, the grind on Beckers definitely leave a bit to be desired - they're inconsistent, rough, and shallow. So you'll have to whip out the Lansky and take a few hours to give them a good grind, which you won't have to do with the Hoodlum.
4. Handle Shape/Material - The Becker comes with the grivory, which you can get used to, but is not nearly the material the micarta is; that being said, though, the handle shape of the Becker is unparalleled in comfort, whereas the Hoodlum's is just good, and definitely won't leave you wanting, but once you start using the Becker you'll realize it's just a better handle shape.
5. Sheaths - Maybe I've just been spoiled by ESEE's beautifully crafted, utilitarian sheaths, but both of these sheaths suck in my opinion. Both offer no retention, hold water, and don't feel good in the hand, to me. You'll most likely end up springing for a Kydex one later, if you want a good sheath.
6. Value - The Beckers are the pinnacle of amazing value, in my opinion: the visual-tang designs, good steel, and overall performance-to-price ratio is astounding. That said, the 9 won't be as good as the Hoodlum, I don't think. It will be a better value, but not a better blade, overall. But that's the thing you need to think about - is the Hoodlum twice the blade, as the price reflects?
That said, the ESEE Junglas trumps them both, on almost all fronts, I think, especially that amazing sheath, and beautiful warranty. Email if you want to know the best price on a Junglas ($110 - w/ sheath), and where to find it.
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