CS Outdoorsman vs. BK7?

bladefan

bladefan

Joined
Dec 14, 2000
Messages
324
How does the cold steel outdoorsman compare to the becker bk7 for slicing ability and overall camp chores?
 
The Becker BK-7 has a much wider, slightly thinner carbon-steel blade, a "better" handle, and costs ALOT less money, than the Cold Steel Outdoorsman. The Becker is alot better suited to the role of "camp knife" than the Outdoorsman, IMO.
 
For me, the Outdoorsman is a pure combat knife - thick and tough. The Becker is what I call a combat / utility. Better all around cutting ability. The CS Bush Ranger is VERY similar to the BK7 in form and function and also made by Camillus. I prefer the positive grip on the Bush Ranger, especially if I was in a combat situation. I have bead blasted the scales on my Becker and am reasonably happy with the grip now. The Outdoorsman is simply a CS Tanto with a more useful tip profile.
Actually that is not quite true. The construction and appearance is similar but the tantos are hollow ground and my Outdoorsman - original model - is "sabre?" ground. Overbuilt and, dare I say it, very weaponlike for a knife with such a name.
 
Well I have to agree with the overall tone of the responces so far. The bk&t is virtually indistructable, it would be my choice over the cs
 
Of the two, I would pick the BK&T, only because of the steel. I think, however, that the CS Bush Ranger is better than either, and cheaper, especially if you get a factory second.
 
thanks for the info and opinons, I was leaning towards the bk7 but I like the idea of stainless steel (aus8)...
 
while AUS8 is not a bad steel, if you're not ultra-abusive to your Becker, corrosion shouldn't be a real problem, the Black Epoxy Power coating holds up relatively well in outdoor-type chores (though I've seen some pics that demonstrate that activities such as cutting open the roof of a Buick is murder on the coating ;))

Still, it's your money, do what you want, but rusting isn't an especially big problem, and even if your edge does rust, a couple swipes on the sharpening stone should brush away most of that (as well as fine up your edge).
 
Youngcutter hit the nail on the head. I love high carbon steel, and the black coating is GREAT for keeping the rust off. Nothing to do with tactical, at least for me. Everything to do with PRACTICAL.

By the way, chopping firewood usually takes the rust off the edge pretty good too... ;)
 
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