Large fixed blade?

DJG097

DJG097

Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
2,468
Well I cant decide on a large fixed blade...I was thinking of a Becker bk 7 or 9, but was also thinking of an ESEE 6. I was leaning more towards the ESEE because it all ready has micarta scales and a kydex sheath. The becker costs less but to get a new sheath and micarta scales it would be around the price of the ESEE. Help me choose one of them or recommend a different knife.
Thanks.
 
The Becker BK-9 is an awesome amount of knife for a great price. There are other options to micarta scales. Take a look in the Becker Knife and Tool manufacturer's sub-forum for suggestions on roughing up the grivory handles for better grip using a range of tools from sandpaper to a soldering iron. I'm waiting on a roll of McNett Camo Form to wrap mine in at a fraction of the price of a set of micarta scales. The original sheath is not that terrible either.

BK9.jpg
 
I have a BK2 and a esee 3 and I guess it depends what you wanna do with it, the BK is heavy, thick and has fat handles. It gets the job done but I would never carry it. The esee is just the opposite and I carry it all the time, probably can't pry a door open with the esee but its nice knowing its on your hip. lots of colored after market scales avalable also.
 
I have a RC6(ESEE 6)and it is a great blade.If you're leaning that way,don't be afraid to buy one.But,don't hesitate to buy a Becker either,I like both brands.If you don't want to fuss with the handle and sheath though,I'd lean harder toward the ESEE 6.
 
Turn it up a notch and look at a Chris Reeves green beret 5.5 or 7, its a hard use work of art including the sheath, probably the best customer service out there and if you ever decide to sell you'll get most of the investment back. For $30 bucks it can be sent back for a Spa treatment and you'll get it back looking new and factory sharp. Got my 5.5 for $280
 
I own and use the heck out of a Becker BK9. Love that knife to death. You mention replacing the handles and the sheath (presumably to "bring it up to the level of the ESEE") and that's certainly easily done but it is by no means required. Micarta looks better but in my opinion grivory is more comfortable and more functional. The BK9's sheath is nothing to write home about but it's functional. In fairness, I'm carrying mine in after-market kydex (Christmas present last year) now but that's just a nice (as opposed to mandatory) upgrade.

If you go with the BK9, you ought to use it for a while as is before you plunk down more money to change it. You may find you like it. :D

Anyway - BK9 gets my vote (and my near constant use during hunting season). Here's a pic from just yesterday morning...

20120116_ac_0005.jpg



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Beckerhead #42
 
DJG097 said:
Well I cant decide on a large fixed blade...I was thinking of a Becker bk 7 or 9, but was also thinking of an ESEE 6. I was leaning more towards the ESEE because it all ready has micarta scales and a kydex sheath. The becker costs less but to get a new sheath and micarta scales it would be around the price of the ESEE. Help me choose one of them or recommend a different knife.
Thanks.
Click to expand...


I own all three of the knives that you listed and my favorite by far is the BK 7, for me it's just about perfect.
The grivory handles are very comfortable to me, the handles on the ESEE 6 are not as contoured as they are on the BK 7.
As far as the sheath goes there is nothing wrong with the one that comes with the BK 7, it's more than usable. There are plenty of forum members here that could make you a kydex sheath though if thats what you would prefer, thats what i did.
All three of the knives you listed are excellent choices, you can't go wrong with any of them.
 
Well after reading over this thread i think i'm going to go with the 9. Cant wait to get it!!
 
You may want to consider the Schrade SCHF9 as well. A lot of blade for around $30:
Screenshot20110319at3.37.56PM.png

- The handle design allows for gripping way at the back,
- The blade is recurve, a bit front heavy with a sweet spot forward
- The blade is 1/4" thick.
All of the above makes for a great chopper on par with blades longer/heavier that don't have these features.
 
hey you should at least consider the KA-BAR USMC fighting/utility. it may not be as sexy as the other options but i've never owned a better knife. it's saved my life on more than one occasion, it does everything i ask it to and more, the 1095 blade holds its edge really well, its pretty easy to carry and you cant ask for an all around better knife. (plus you can get it for less than 60 bucks on amazon)
 
IMO, the Becker sheath way outshines ESEE's kydex... cheap loose rattly crap versus a reasonably well built and designed cordura jump sheath...
The 6 isn't a bad blade. I think the BK7 feels like a much bigger knife, although the overall length isn't that much different. I have the USMC and the BK7-the fighting knife is great, to be sure, but the BK7 is just much more utility oriented versus fighting. Without dealspotting, you can find the Becker for the same price as the USMC.

If you go with the 9, you'll be very happy with it.
 
Hyperbiker said:
I have a BK2 and a esee 3 and I guess it depends what you wanna do with it, the BK is heavy, thick and has fat handles. It gets the job done but I would never carry it. The esee is just the opposite and I carry it all the time, probably can't pry a door open with the esee but its nice knowing its on your hip. lots of colored after market scales avalable also.
Click to expand...

These knives are in completely different categories, as well as being in different categories from the knives the OP was talking about. The BK2 compares closely to the ESEE 5, and the ESEE 3 is closer to a BK11/14 than anything else you can get from Becker right now. That said, I completely agree that both are great companies, and both have great selections of knives :).

@OP

I wouldn't really say that the ESEE 6 is a "large" knife either. So depending on what you are wanting the knife to do, it might not work exactly as you were planning. The ESEE 6 is by no means a bad knife, its just not going to large knife tasks (chopping and battoning is what usually comes up) as well as either of the beckers.

I have the BK2 and the BK9, and quite like them. The BK9 out chops my (crappy) hatchet and is lighter as well. Its a large knife, but I can still do little work fairly well. I don't have the BK7, but that is likely my next one. I think that 7in is pretty much perfect for a belt knife, and would like to test that theory out.

A review of the BK9 I did a while ago.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-vs-KaBar-ZK-War-Sword-(PHOTO-HEAVY-and-EPIC)

I personally like the grivory (wish I could get different colors, but thats a different matter), and have never wished for more traction than it already has. Speaking of the handles, I find the Becker handles very comfortable, and with the grivory I can easily use a blade for hours and get no blisters.

The sheath is what it is. It is functional and thats about it. Its not a "bad sheath", but neither is it great.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: If you're looking for a "large knife" then the only ones that you mentioned that fill the bill are the Beckers. The BK7 and BK9 will out chop and out batton the ESEE 6 by a pretty fair margin. Just comes down to what you are really wanting the knife to do.
 
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ptoering said:
hey you should at least consider the KA-BAR USMC fighting/utility. it may not be as sexy as the other options but i've never owned a better knife. it's saved my life on more than one occasion, it does everything i ask it to and more, the 1095 blade holds its edge really well, its pretty easy to carry and you cant ask for an all around better knife. (plus you can get it for less than 60 bucks on amazon)
Click to expand...

I already have a ka-bar usmc but its the short version.I love that knife and keep it on my night stand every night. :D
 
Hard to go wrong with a Becker if that is your price range also Scrapyard makes/made ( most are discontinued but pop up from time to time on the exchange ) some excellent blades around that size my favorite happens to be the Regulator.
 
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