Choking down on the King

[Snakebreaker]

Looking for a little input here from the rest of you in regards to the 9's chopping efficiency. I have mostly tomahawks and kukris but my Beckers are among my favorites......specifically my King.

With that being said......I'm a die hard believer in Cold Steels Gurka Kukri. This design is a true grand slam. Anyone who own ones can testify. I'm also a huge fan of the Junglas. Either one of these blades should out perform the 9 in chopping.....and they do.......but I'm telling you, it's not by much.

I know this is not a new concept here but I want to see if the rest of you are getting similar results in chopping with the 9 by choking down on the handle.

I've been seeing a dramatic difference in utilizing the "knob" at the end of the handle with just 2 or 3 fingers holding on with a lanyard as opposed to a standard grip along with almost letting go of the knife just before it hits. The King bites deep as can be. Very impressive how the design of the Beckers lend itself to doing this opposed to other designs.

Again....I know this is nothing new......but out chopping the 9 in a similar sized blade with similar weight can't be an easy task.

 

[Auraria]

That's how I hold it too!
What kind of edge do you have on yours?
My queen has a purty convex at 20 degrees.
Might bring it to 17.5 degrees after my next abuse.

 

[Guyon]

Moist Beckers? Nine choking? What is this forum coming to?
For security/safety, I prefer a full hand grip with a lanyard, but I hear where you're coming from.
The key to chopping is really the wrist snap at the end of the swing. It adds speed on top of speed. Kind of like running on one of those moving boardwalks.

 

[Wood Splitter]

Moist Beckers? Nine choking? What is this forum coming to?

I was just thinking the same thing

I am most accustomed to Nordic blades, Leuku and Puukko, so it is natural for me to use large knives like a leuku while chopping. Which is just as you described. A three finger grip with a "snapping" action. Letting the knife do the work.

 

[Snakebreaker]

I sharpen all my steel with a mouse pad and paper. Convex. I'm able to get most of blades hair popping sharp. Not sure of the degree. I suppose against a "fleshy" medium......that laser edge will add a bit to the penetration....but after a strike or too against a dense material like wood it dulls some, but still bites like a beast.

Guyon.......not sure where you saw "moist" written, but the 9 does have that effect on people.

 

[Wood Splitter]

Guyon.......not sure where you saw "moist" written, but the 9 does have that effect on people.

It was the title of a different thread earlier. Not sure if it's the same still.

 

[Wood Splitter]

Just took some crappy phone pics of my 9 with a real Leuku. Just to compare them.

Many people think Leukus are thin and lightweight, most likely due to the high volume of "leukus" cheaply mass made for tourists.

As you can see, a real leuku is between 3/16" and 1/4" thick at the spine.

The handles are made with a chocked down grip in mind (it has been used this way for centuries).

 

[Auraria]

Just took some crappy phone pics of my 9 with a real Leuku. Just to compare them.

Many people think Leukus are thin and lightweight, most likely due to the high volume of "leukus" cheaply mass made for tourists.

As you can see, a real leuku is between 3/16" and 1/4" thick at the spine.

The handles are made with a chocked down grip in mind (it has been used this way for centuries).

That's really freaking cool.
The handle looks perfect for wrist movements when chopping.

 

[Windwhistler]

My Becker 9 is absolutely the best biting straight knife I use. When I go out to remove 40 year old trumpet vine and English Ivy from the acres of trees behind my house I will pick up a Kukri and heavy Hudson's Bay style hawk as I go but if I am already out there, I will attack those hard vines often 5" or 6" in diameter with the Becker 9 on my belt. I move back as far as I can on the grip and lay into the vines at the point where it bellies slightly just behind the point. Not only does it bite well but stays sharper, longer than anything else I have.