ESEE 6 or BK7?

I don't think you can go wrong with either really, more of a personal preference. I dislike the handles on most beckers, save for the tweeners. I am far more of an Esee guy but even their handles are a bit flat. Esee knives improve greatly with the TKC scales. I personally like the way Esee handles idiot customers. Keeps morons from being repeat customers which in turn keeps the cost of having a fantastic warranty down.

I will say the two companies did a great collaboration when they worked together on the long discontinued kitchen knives. Seems they are more friendly with each other than the fanboys and haters of each company. Guess which warranty these came with? :D

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Both are really good knives, and tough as nails. I prefer Beckers over ESEEs because I don't like finger choils, and the grip on Beckers are more comfortable.
 
Becker Bk9! You wont be disappointed, it doesn't get it's moniker "The King" for nothing. If not then the bk7, 1095 Cro-Van steel is superior to 1095 but still as people have said I doubt you would notice the difference in most real world use.

I personally don't think Esee's are worth the price, $100+ for 1095 steel seems kind of excessive, no matter how good the heat treat and fit and finish is. Warranty is great which might factor into it's price too but I've never seen anyone disappointed with Kabar's warranty.

By the way I am not a Beckerhead, I own knives from various manufacturer's and my favorite at the moment is Ontario for actual affordable hard use knives.
 
The cost of ESEE knives was generally a turn off for me relative to what you get. I don't like their sheaths for one thing and that means trying to find a new sheath. Much prefer the Kabar Becker BK-7 if you want a knife that big over the ESEE 6. My impression of the warranties is that they are about equal. Never dealt with the warranty issue with either company. Basically, if I think a knife won't stand up to MY use, I don't buy it regardless of warranties.

The BK-9 is a cool knife for sure, but if I am going to carry a large knife in the woods, I would choose the BK-7 over the BK-9 simply because I seldom need large knives in the woods and probably wouldn't carry the BK-9. I like the Condor Moonshiner if you want a large woods knife. Again, the warranty does not tilt me one way or the other in terms of choosing a blade.

One of the things that push me away with the BK-7 and -9 is the tactical look. I prefer something that has a more historical look. But I generally do like the bowie type blade shape. But between the two knives mentioned, I would choose the BK-7 (and have) over the ESEE.
 
Aleous said:
and my favorite at the moment is Ontario for actual affordable hard use knives.
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I have an Ontario RD7 - comparable in size to the BK7. That's pretty much where the comparison ends, IMO. The Ontario scales are awful (but easily reshaped)...and, in my informal head-to-head comparison, I found the BK7 better for just about everything I did. Oddly enough, I was pretty heavily biased against Kabar at the time; and I would have preferred that my little comparo ended with the Ontario on top. I still sort of like the RD7; so I'll toss out the excuse that it's blade is thicker, and a bit softer, than that of the Kabar.
 
a Trexler Ranger said:
Which Ontario?
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Spec Plus, Spec Plus GEN II and RAT series.
RAT-7 for example is basically predecessor of ESEE-6. Not quite as good fit and finish (or sheath), but it goes for about 70$ in average.

OKC has about the same warranty as Ka-Bar, so that shouldn't be an issue either.
 
Oh sorry, wrote that when I was still groggy from waking up, my aplogies.

I would recommend any of the large blades I've owned from Ontario being the SP10, SP50, SP51, and OKC Kukri.

Their 1095 line is a nice affordable steel with a nice heat treat and can take some abuse I wouldn't think 1095 could take.

SP10 is a huge hunk of 1095 steel, big bowie blade, looks and handles awesome but was a bit heavy for me for a camp blade at 22oz so I ended up selling it but regret and miss it.

OKC Kukri Knife made of the same 1095 steel, a very nice chopper, bought it as a replacement for my Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri which was three times the price so I could have something I wouldnt mind beating the snot out of without thinking about the price.

Their 5160 line is my favorite, tough as nails and sharp, great heat treat, a little more expensive then their 1095 for the most part but oh so worth it.

SP50&SP51 Both very similar, about the same blade and overall length. Both made of 5160 steel. Amazing beater blades which excel at wood processing. Only difference is the SP51 has a saber grind and is heavier at 20 oz to the sp51's 16 oz or so. The Sp51's weight does help it edge over the Sp50 though.

Note: The SP51 has been discontinued so the last of the inventory online is drying up.

I have never been disappointed with Ontario products. They stand behind their blades and if any chance you get a bad one they will make it right.
 
Forgot to note that all the above I mentioned are larger knives with blade length of 8" to 12"

My favorite "smaller" knife from Ontario was the Ranger Afghan, 5" blade made of 5160 and tough as nails, discontinued now.

You can still find it's "little brother" The Falcon which is just a slightly smaller version with a blade length just short of 4 inches.

Some people might say you don't need the toughness of 5160 for such knives but I like to fall back on the old saying: "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it"

Bghorn is right. Ontario's RAT line are the predecessor's of ESEE and are cheaper and reflects that by not having the same fit and finish Esee's have. But still worth the price.
 
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OK, so now I'm liking the look of the Rat 7, and the ESEE 6 is now out of the picture. I'll probably get it later but for now which is better between the BK7 and the Rat 7?

I just checked Amazon they are both $73 and some change
 
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a Trexler Ranger said:
but for now which is better between the BK7 and the Rat 7?
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I'd say, out of the box, about the same. It's up to you to pick a knife with features you like more.
Drop point vs clip point
full flat grind vs sabre grind
handle ergonomics vs handle material
Finger choil vs no choil, etc

Maybe check youtube for reviews of both, then get one. Or both...
 
BK7 no question. Fit/finish/QC/HT is better. Handle worse IMO. Sheath the same. BK wins that one for me.
 
I too, find that the Becker 1095 slightly edges out ESEE's 1095 by a little. I can get both of them to the same level of sharpness, but I go longer in between sharpenings with the Beckers.
 
Becker Bk7 would be my choice between those two.

You will get your money's worth buying either and will be happy with either.

Becker has the better steel, Rat has the better handle.
 
Another great way to compare the two companies is to go onto Amazon and read all the ESEE knife reviews and all the Becker knife reviews.
 
I'd take Amazon reviews with a big grain of salt. You have no idea who those people are or if they know what they are talking about. Here you can see our post history and decide if you think our advice is valuable or not. That is what makes this a community.
 
craytab said:
I'd take Amazon reviews with a big grain of salt. You have no idea who those people are or if they know what they are talking about. Here you can see our post history and decide if you think our advice is valuable or not. That is what makes this a community.
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You should take everything you read online with variable amounts of salt.

But I actually do factor in reviews on Amazon or elsewhere into my buying decisions. It's a great way to gauge how a knife does and appeals to the masses.

Of course I put more weight into reviews by people who have experience who actually know what they're talking about like most reviews here.
 
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