Is the Bk9 too much knife for me?

D

danny_gb

Joined
Jul 17, 2013
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Hi all, a total newbie here so if I make any faux pas, please excuse my enthusium over knowlege. Ever since I was a kid, and saw my uncle's Bowie Knife I have always loved and wanted a Bowie for myself. However I have never had a real need for one as they are designed to be a fighting/duelling knife. I have also been an avid camper/hiker for many years. Recently this has turned into an expanding interest in bushcrafting, survival and self-reliance. I am currently knifeless however, accept for a small French hunting folder and a hatchet. I have been researching and researching long and hard and spent my meagre spare time ogling Heinnie Haynes, Knife Connection, Knifeowrks and the like and looking into hunreds of reviews on Youtube. This is how I came accross the BK9. It seems perfect for and I really want it. But through my interest in survival I am learning to be be more practical in all things (this has not always been my strong point). Having said that I dwould really like a big knife but also would like something that can cut and carve. So is the BK9 too much blade for a begginner getting into bushcraft and survival or should I start with something smaller? I am based in Sussex in the UK, but do travel out regular to the US to primitive camp with my wife and daughter. I will be making my knife purchase in the US.

My budget is around $100.

Many thanks in advance for your help and guidence.
 
I think you should get the Kabar Becker BK-9. If you wan a big knife, it is a solid performer. If you want something a bit smaller, I'd go with the BK-7.

I personally find that I use my SAK more often than any other knife both in the woods and normal life. I have "big" fixed blades and I find that I simply don't use them. If I am going to be chopping and know it, I take along a short heavy machete (currently the Condor Pack Golok). But for just cutting, I am pretty comfortable using a smaller knife most of the time. Recently got a Becker BK-16 and love this knife.

I would suggest you give this some thought and consider what you are going to use the knife for especially if you have a limited budget. A two knife combination in the woods is very efficient. Many like a three "knife" combination in the woods that might include a folding saw, hatchet, machete, or whatever interests you and reflects the kinds of things you do.

My suggestion is that you buy the BK-9 or the BK-7 and consider your uses carefully and you experience the Kabar Becker quality. You might decide to go with another brand, but I like these cost effective fixed blades. I expect you will probably get a BK-16/Bk-17 after you use the BK-9 and you'll probably be set for many kinds of situations in the field.
 
Thanks 22-rimfire, really helpful and really appreciated. I'm going to give a lot of thought to what you have said before making my puchase.
 
Welcome!

Tough question. Clearly you have been doing fine with your French folder and hatchet. Many content that those two items, along with a 3-5 inch fived blade is all one would ever need outdoors.

That said, everybody loves a new knife! The BK9 is an excellent knife at an excellent price. You cannot really go wrong with it. (Though it wouldn't be the only knife I take outdoors.)
 
danny_gb said:
...I am currently knifeless however, accept for a small French hunting folder and a hatchet...
Click to expand...


Looking at what you currently have, I too would recommend something a little smaller like the BK-7.

A stout fixed blade in the 5" to 7" range would nicely complement your other tools and be more useful for must bushcraft chores, except for chopping and you have a hatchet for that.


Make that big Bowie your next purchase, but beware it may make your hatchet redundant.




Big Mike
 
I'm actually an avid "big knife guy" but that is just my personal preference. It has to do with my region(where axes arent always that useful) and just the overall versatility that a big knife can offer. In the end, you will have to decide if the big knife is going to be right for you in your region and with your skill set. If you want my opinion, I'd say start with something in a more medium size and perhaps later move on to something larger if it still interests you and you decide you need/want one.

As a general thing, I like Beckers but I feel that some of them are overrated, often the blade geometry just doesnt do it for me. In fact, I usually prefer the smaller Beckers even though I'm a "big knife guy". With $100 to spend you have many options and I think you should take the time to really examine them before committing to a larger Becker.

I think the BK 15, 16 and 17 are great and perhaps you should start there since you seem to be gravitating to the Becker line. Also, take a look at the exchange here on BF, there are very often some great buys to be had.
 
My 7-year old thinks its about perfect.
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Along with a hatchet a BK-7 will do most everything else and be a bit smaller and easier to handle when cutting or carving but it's still a big solid fixed blade. Mine has served me well but I always carry along a good quality smaller folder which actually gets the most use for day to day camp duty like food prep or smaller more precise needs etc.

The BK-9 is more along the lines of a chopper and a short machete at 15" overall so it all really depends on what you will actually have the need for?

Just one guys personal opinion and I like 'em all and have several Beckers!
 
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Hello!

I'm new here also but have had and carried ESEE's all over. I currently carry an ESEE-6 on my hikes and camping trips. It looks a bit long for the finer stuff, but the choil really lets you choke up for almost all the "bushcrafting" I ever have need of. A buddy has the ESEE-5 and though an inch shorter its 1/4" thick and heavy (to heavy imo to do the finer chores around camp) and is lacking a choil. BK is a great company (my current EDC sitting in my bag right now is the ESKABAR) and a BK-9 will be added down the road. The only negative I've heard spoken about it is the "cheap" feel of the handle. I don't hold that against a knife as it allows me an excuse with the Miss's to buy "the ones I NEED" then ;)

Best of luck, your in the right place!

-JWLevin
 
The handle is actually very well designed for a general purpose or even fighting knife. Another material.... personal preference.

You know, you're from the UK, maybe you should just plan on looking at one and you might decide to buy a number of different Kabar Becker knives. They really are pretty good or I would say, excellent for the cost. You better hold onto your credit cards.
 
I think it depends on what tasks you need to perform. A folding saw like the Silky Super Accel is an excellent wood processing tool that you might consider instead of a large blade. If you're already getting by without a huge knife, you might try a folding saw and see how you like it. The largest fixed blade I have is a Scrapyard 511. Around here there's little need to baton and little need of an axe unless you really want to chop some stuff down. A folding saw is plenty for me, but ymmv.
 
Yeah Crimson, that's probably why I will likely break down and buy one even though I know I will seldom use it. But the BK-7 comes first. You know... baby steps.
 
At one time I was also trying to decide between a BK9 or BK7. What really swayed me toward the 9 was Ethan Becker weighed in himself on a post I found and suggested to another guy to get the 9 over the 7. He said all you had to do was choke up on the 9 a little bit. He was right.
I bought the BK9 and it has been an awesome knife for me. I have used it to build a shelter, dig a hole, split a pelvic bone on a deer, carve tent pegs, whittle etc etc............. The only thing I have found that I do that I would rather have a smaller knife for is field dressing game. So I just bought a smaller knife and stuck it in the side pocket of the BK9's sheath.
Once you get used to the knife you will find it is also possible to do so more detailed work with it.
 
It is easier to make a large knife do smaller things well, than it is to make a small knife do larger things well. My BK-9 with choil, jimping & a fire steel flat spot on extended tang.





Or---you can do the same with a BK-7.




And yes, i have batoned the snot out of the BK-9, BK-7 & the Ontario 12 machete i modified, & have had no issues with any of them. They may not look pretty, but they sure are pretty functional for me. :D
 
I had one and sold it... I used it for a day and it was awesome! But I don't even need to chop things and i was just riding around the lake in a RZR... Part of me wished I would have kept it but my RMD keeps ,e pretty happy! If your looking to chop some things up its awesome
 
Dude, the BK9 is one of the best production knives out there, maybe even one of the best knives out there period. I always prefer a larger knife over a smaller one, in an either/or event. Beckers are highly modifiable if you're into that sorta thing. Plenty of advice, knowledge and fun around here. Stick around, we'll learn ya!

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