Looking for help deciding an EDC fixed blade, bk14, Enzo necker

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Mar 15, 2010
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I know this is posted multiple times a day, so thanks for any input.

I work in landscaping, so I've used my knives to cut zip ties, mower deck belts, pryed open my old car door when it froze, cut landscape fabric, hammered through 2x4's, and much more over the years. I know some of that isn't what a knife is for ,but if the job needs to be done and that's what I have, then lemons out of lemonade I guess. I generally use my knife for normal packaging at home, cutting saplings and sprigs on bushes at work, twine on hay bales, bags of fertilizer and other things. So I'm not always rough on a knife, but I would like the ability to be if necessary.

I used to own an Izula, and I loved it but geometry wise it was just a little too thick at the edge and I could never really get it to cut wood or cardboard as well as my other knives. Had a Mora 2/0 and it was great with wood, not so great with cardboard or any rubber or hard plastic.

I plan on pocket carring, would like the blade to be no more than 3.5", and price not much more than $60
I'm currently looking at the Enzo Necker ffg, I love the shape of the blade, I made a knife out of a file once upon a time with a similar shape, and for me it seemed to work best. I'm not sure if the Enzo can handle much abuse where it's ground decently thin, but I know it will cut good. It comes with a good sheath and fantastic scales.
The BK 14 has the same handle as the Izula(good) and it looks to have a thinner grind, but due to popularity I know it can handle whatever I would throw at it. It's not quite as pointy as I would like, but if that is a problem I could just grind it down to suit my needs. The BK has a sheath but I would have to buy scales to put on it, paracord works as long as you don't have to do hard cuts or use it for long periods.

Anyways, I'm open to suggestions and thanks again.
 
I have both
Enzo necker: smaller and slicier. Makes a great neck knife or EDC
BK14: larger and much more sturday. A great companion blade for the outdoors. Also works good for EDC
 
The Enzo necker is a perfect little EDC, the steel is 12C27 (on the FFG)... so not for gardening tasks, at first sight. I have the BK14 in its D'Eskabar rendition (D2 steel), this would be something more suited to ruder tasks. I have both, use both and enjoy both. Being a light user, I reach for the Enzo usually.
 
I have the ffg Enzo necker and an Izula. I think Revolverroger and Herisson pretty much nailed it. The Izula and BK14 should be more suited to the work knife uses you described, whereas the Enzo is an excellent light use edc slicer, although I guess the scandi ground ones may be more robust.

The grind on my Enzo came exceptionally thin and sharp. IMO, the Enzo blanks are a great value at around ~$25 if you're willing to take care of scales and sheath yourself, but of course they have other options if you don't want to mess with it.

On the Izula, mine came pretty thick behind the edge so I reprofiled it heavily to around 15dps and then convexed the shoulders. Still not a slicer, but decided not to regrind the primary because it slices well enough now and I don't have to worry about abusing it a bit. Not sure how the grind on the BK14 compares.
 
Bk 14 all the way. If you have micarta handle for your izula, it will fit (with some easy sanding) onto a bk 14. I have izula handles on mine. You can also dye the micarta with fabric dye to give it a different color. The bk 14 is a great small knife. It feels noticeably larger to me than my izula. I prefer the izula for edc (though I also carry a folder) but I like the 14 for short day hikes.
 
I have a 14 and love it. What are your thoughts on patina? I dig checking out my stripped 14 after I cut up fruit and veg.
 
Being a fan of Beckers, go with a BK24 or a BK11. The 24 is in D2, 11 in CV1095, both are excellent for your needs.

 
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