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ESEE 6 or Kabar Becker BK7?
- Thread starter Nick15
- Start date
1066vik
Gold Member
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- Nov 28, 2009
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The ESEE costs a chunk more but has an edge in the warranty.
The BK7 has a slightly longer blade.
The ESEE has more comfortable handles for me - but I have very wide hands, other folks prefer the smooth rounded grivory on the Beckers.
both are made of 3/16" thick 1095 with good heat treat, are made in the USA & backed by good companies.
I had a Camillus BK7 years back and wasn't sold on it, so I gave it to a friend -- he still has it.
I have an ESEE 6 and love it.
The BK7 has a slightly longer blade.
The ESEE has more comfortable handles for me - but I have very wide hands, other folks prefer the smooth rounded grivory on the Beckers.
both are made of 3/16" thick 1095 with good heat treat, are made in the USA & backed by good companies.
I had a Camillus BK7 years back and wasn't sold on it, so I gave it to a friend -- he still has it.
I have an ESEE 6 and love it.
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- Jun 7, 2009
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Those are two of my top blades. The BK 7 rides in the truck. The Esee 6 is always in my pack , the 4 on my belt. I didn't want to pick between them. Solved the problem by getting all the ones I wanted.
Now the BK7 and Esee 6 are really great knives but the Esee gets my nod for a few reasons. Better sheath for one , Micarta grips for another, better handle ergo , and completely flat-ground blade. I've used both of those knives hard with no edge or handling issues at all. I just happen to prefer Esee's. If your on a budget , the BK is a great choice at almost half the Esee's Price. Handle them both and decide what you like better. I wouldn't worry about paying a bit more to get the Esee though.
Now the BK7 and Esee 6 are really great knives but the Esee gets my nod for a few reasons. Better sheath for one , Micarta grips for another, better handle ergo , and completely flat-ground blade. I've used both of those knives hard with no edge or handling issues at all. I just happen to prefer Esee's. If your on a budget , the BK is a great choice at almost half the Esee's Price. Handle them both and decide what you like better. I wouldn't worry about paying a bit more to get the Esee though.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2009
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There both great knives but my comparsion is
esee 6 you get better handel an a better sheath an a better warnty for +/- 50$ more
The becker is a great knife (witch I personaly like the handles) the sheath is ok but not my favorit, an I'm shore Ka-bar honors ther knives as long as there not abused
esee 6 you get better handel an a better sheath an a better warnty for +/- 50$ more
The becker is a great knife (witch I personaly like the handles) the sheath is ok but not my favorit, an I'm shore Ka-bar honors ther knives as long as there not abused
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Cant go wrong with either.
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- May 22, 2002
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I'd get the BK7.
Any particular reason why?
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- Jan 21, 2010
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Cheapest I have seen a new ESEE-6 is $106. If the hang-up is the Becker handle material.... they make these. Its a $40 upgrade but worth it in my book.
http://newgraham.com/store/category/1/50/ESEE/page2.html
http://newgraham.com/store/category/1/50/ESEE/page2.html
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BK7 is a better chopper... handle is better for chopping and like others have said adding the micarta handles makes this a pretty awesome blade. The ESEE 6 has the best warranty around and the sheath is nice but I dont hate the BK7 sheath I like how it wears on the hip better...lower for me has been better. The Heat threating at ESEE is really the tops of the 1095 but I cant say that it is necessarily better than the Kabar, have never had an issue with any 1095 from kabar! If your uses is more for chopping...BK7 is my choice without a doubt, the handle makes chopping a lot better...less shock with the micarta scales...the regulars grips are hard and a little slick but really seem to do a decent job far better than one would expect!
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- Jul 25, 2010
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I have the 6 and love it, great fit in my hand and just a joy to use. As for the Becker dont know never handled one but. if you buy the becker and dont like the handle scales and purchase the extra micarta scales your spending just as much as you would have for the ESEE anyway, plus your getting a great sheath and molle"s with the 6. Go with the 6 its bulletproof.:thumbup:
Very good points!! That's exactly why I'm leaning towards the ESEE 6... Plus I just like the 6 better overall...
I agree. For the price of the ESEE, you could throw in a BK2 too.
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- Aug 2, 2010
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Get the 6 its a great knife backed by an awesome company with a lifetime warranty. Also comes with Micarta handles and a full flat ground blade and a better sheath and molle locks. I was tossed with this same debate a few years ago. I went with the RC6 and i am very happy with it i must say. And once u drop $40 on Micarta slabs for the Becker, U r looking at $100 anyway. Get the RC6, you wont regret it.
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I'd get the Becker but you've already answered your own question. You like the ESEE better so that's probably the one you ought to get. They both rock.
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Beckerhead #42
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Beckerhead #42
Very true, but I still wanted to see what peoples' opinions would be. I am surprised to see so many recommendations towards the Becker, but as you said, I'll still probably go with the ESEE.
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- Apr 3, 2010
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Nick you know you get a BK13 with the BK7 right? it is a little knife with a 2.25" blade on it...a little necker. Dont get me wrong, I love my RC6 but it is just fair at chopping the BK7 seems to be better. Warranty wise...ESEE is king! Please for regular use the 6 handle is very nice. I have not felt the micarta for the BK7 but believe it is nice and put that knife in a much higher category. If you are going to do some heavier chopping the 7 is the ticket. If not you will find the RC6 to be finished nicer and a bit easier to handle finer work. As these blade sizes go up the fine work goes down...they become clumsy and suited for mostly chopping and batoning. The BK7 isnt too big but the RC6 will do fine work circles around it. The choil on the RC6 helps it in the fine work department quite a bite and the drop point on the RC6 I like more. Once again...for chopping and batoning I will take a BK7 over it all day!
Thanks for the reply!! Very good info! Even with all you said about the BK7, how it chops better and batons slightly better with the lower price as a added bonus, I see it like this... besides the fact I like the looks of the ESEE 20x better, it's really the sheath that gets me every time. The fact that the BK doesn't come with a kydex molded sheath combined with the other fact that it doesn't come with micarta handles really ruins it for me. By the time I find somebody that can make me a sheath for it and buy the handles I coulda easily just bought the 6 (probably woulda ended up paying more for the 7 when it would be all squared away). Even with the 7's added BK13...
Now that I said all that, THANKS AGAIN for the reply and the information! In the end, I may just buy both to settle all second guesses
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Thanks for the reply!! Very good info! Even with all you said about the BK7, how it chops better and batons slightly better with the lower price as a added bonus, I see it like this... besides the fact I like the looks of the ESEE 20x better, it's really the sheath that gets me every time. The fact that the BK doesn't come with a kydex molded sheath combined with the other fact that it doesn't come with micarta handles really ruins it for me. By the time I find somebody that can make me a sheath for it and buy the handles I coulda easily just bought the 6 (probably woulda ended up paying more for the 7 when it would be all squared away). Even with the 7's added BK13...
Now that I said all that, THANKS AGAIN for the reply and the information! In the end, I may just buy both to settle all second guesses
I think both are good knives and both have good warranties (I don't see warranty as an issue, a faulty becker will get replaced). As is the BK-7 is cheaper and for some people that is enough reason to choose it. But if you want to upgrade the sheath & scales then I'd definitely go with the ESEE-6, it will cost you less. I have a couple of Beckers (including a BK-7) and a couple of ESEEs and either brand is great.
Either knife will be a poor chopper but should be a decent batoning knife. For a good chopper you should look at the BK-9 or the ESEE Junglas or a Machete. You can buy a Condor machete for $20 or even better an ESEE Lite Machete (Condor blade + ESEE Micarta Scales) for $55.
If you want to do some chopping then an ESEE-6 is still a good companion to your chopper (regardless of whether you go with a big knife, machete, axe, kukri or whatever) so the money won't have been wasted.
I think that you should buy the ESEE-6 and enjoy the hell out of it!
EXACTLY my thoughts!!!!!!!! I am not looking for the best chopper or the best batoner, I want a good balance of both with the materials and accessories I'm looking for and the ESEE 6 just does it for me!!
I especially like the last comment