Condor Knife and Tool .VS. Becker Ka-Bar

B

Bnum3

Joined
Nov 8, 2014
Messages
31
Hi Everyone !

I'm new Here to the blade forums and i have a question to you "Professionals" if i can call you that :)

So i need to buy myself a Nice new outdoor fixed blade and i have a budget of around $135. so ive been looking at two companys now for the past month. I want a knife with a blade length no less than 7 inches and no more then 10 inches. additionally a spine of around a quarter inch or about 4mm. in terms of sharpening I have the Ken onion edition work sharp. I know that the condor knifes use 1075 high carbon steel and most Ka-bar beckers use 1095 Crovan steel. I dont need "Survival" features such as a 90 degree spine. i just need a tough knife that i can use to baton oak wood and ETC... i just want to know if you guys think i should go Condor knifes with something like the moonshiner or hudons bay ( or others ) , or go Ka-bar becker with something like the bk-9 or bk-7 ( or others )

Any help is highly appreciated !



These Are links to four of the knifes ive been considering but its not limited to these I prefer usability over looks too. i appreciate any suggestions !


Condor Moonshiner: http://www.condortk.com/productos-detalle.php?producto=50&cat=13

Condor Hudson Bay: http://www.condortk.com/productos-detalle.php?producto=35&cat=13

( Another one i like ) Condor Solobolo: http://www.condortk.com/productos-detalle.php?producto=49&cat=13

Kabar Becker Bk-9: http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/2

Kabar Becker Bk-7: http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/3



Thanks To All Who Help
Bnum
 
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The BK9 is a great knife. It should be able to handle what you are looking for your knives to do. It isn't 1/4" thick but I've never seen one break. Not that it can't happen, just never seen it. As far as the Condors, I'm pretty sure the Moonshiner is only a little more than 1/8" thick. I've never owned a Condor so I can't speak for them but I've owned a BK9 and it's solid as can be.
 
I believe that both companies are great, and realistically I don't think you'd be disappointed in blades from either of them.

That said, the bk9 would probably be my choice. Mine is my most used woods knife for the past two years, and I feel comfortable saying it should handle anything you throw at it. I used to idly lust for one that was 1/4in thick, but now I feel that 3/16" is more than enough for anything I'd ever need a knife to do.

Additionally, the 1095cv holds an edge better than the 1075 on the condors that I've used. The difference was noticeable, but not drastic.
 
Bk9, hands down.

If anything happens to it, poke around the Becker sub about it and Ethan Becker will likely post on it as to what path you should take.

A great guy that stands behind a great product wholeheartedly.
 
Get the BK9.

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Beckerhead #42
 
I like the BK9 but there are others also.

I have no experience with Condor as I prefer to buy American made knives when I can and your description tells me I can.

First there is the Ontario SP10 Marine Raider. This is my favorite knife for hard work. I carry this knife in place of a hatchet. It is big and tuff with a decent steel. Even at home and not just in the woods I am constantly cutting down new growth and this is the knife I go to. I use to use a BK9 but over all I like the Marine Raider a little better. Here is a video about it by Nut-N-Fancy. You can use it to chop down trees but I prefer to saw the tree down and then de-branch it with the Marine Raider. For about $55 I do not believe you can do better.
[video=youtube;5QI6qaX5DNg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QI6qaX5DNg[/video]

I do not at this time know a great deal about the Ontario SP5 but for the price I believe it is a knife worth checking out. A few reviews that I have watched has lead me to believe it may be a hair better chopper than the BK9.
[video=youtube;Y6QmT4CnMwo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6QmT4CnMwo[/video]

I personally believe that 1075 is too soft for the hard woods we have here in the Northern half of this hemisphere, it will work but I personally would not want to depend on it as it is going to bend and dull quicker than a good quality 1095 CroVan like KA-BAR uses or Ontario's 1095.

I also do no like 5160 for a chopper knife or even for a knife period as it is a sword steel and is meant to roll over or bend or crush instead of cracking or breaking.

I myself would start on the lower priced knives that are quality to learn from. It sucks paying over a hundred dollars for a knife just to learn you do not like it when you can get one for less than $60 to learn on.
 
Also, keep in mind that the Becker BK4 is on sale for November. I would get that while you can for as cheap as you can... Check the Becker sub a guy by the name of Dexwithers should be able to help you out.
 
The BK knives are wicked... The other thing you could do is buy a <$20 old hickory 7" or 10" butcher knife... It's pretty bad... 1095 steel... Throw on a new handle for it and it's tough (though not a 1/4" of steel either). It doesn't have any bling factor, but that is the style of knife that was carried by the pioneers for a hundred years. Plenty tough for some out door woods work!

A number of people modify them to be whatever they want them to be... I am turning a couple of the 7" ones into 4.5" bush crafters, modeled after the Benchmade Bushcrafter...
 
The Ontario SP10 (Marine raider bowie mentioned above) certainly has a great value on paper (I've never used one, so I can't confirm it personally). The reason I haven't bought one yet is because it is quite a bit thicker (.25 vs .188), and has a lower grind for an even thicker edge angle. I mentioned above that the reason I like the BK9 is because it keeps up with my hatchet, but still allows me to to do small knife stuff very well (for a large blade). However, if you're only looking to split oak, the raider might be the better choice for you, as it is more "hatchet" like than the BK9, which might be exactly what you're wanting/needing.

The Ontario RTAK II is also in the size and price category, as is the Ontario RD9, and Becker BK4.

The BK4 is on a great sale right now, but it takes some getting used to when chopping, and its chord (vertical height of the blade, when viewed from the side) is pretty narrow at the base of the blade, which in my mind would weaken it for batoning really thick tough stuff, which it sounds like you are interested in doing. On the other hand, if you buy it and don't like it, you should be able to resell it for at least what you paid for it.

But personally, out all of these and for my uses I would go with a BK9. But I think it will really come down how you plan to be using it, and what your priorities are.

Anyway, good luck with whatever you do :).
 
I'd go with the BK-9, but if you're willing to go a inch and a half over your maximum length, I'd get the KABAR Swabbie. I've got one and it's a beast. Insanely well balanced, very hefty and a great chopper and slasher.
 
I know everyone above me already sasid this but i would also go with a bk9. I have the condor bushlore and I found the edge to be very prone to chipping.
 
The kbar heavy Bowie and marine raider have been great heavy users. The sledge on the raider wears down my baton but what a great workhouse knife. They both are. Rt ak 2 is excellent but likely not as thick as you'd like because ive had lots of experience with the bk2 (almost1/4 inch) and that is a nice thickness, especially for baton ing and chopping.... So many good options. Most of which i like.
 
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