So I just recently bought a Mora companion heavy duty, and I really love it, but I still have around $125 left And I just cannot decide between a chopper or a medium sized knife, If chopper it's a tossup between the Becker BK-9, and the Ontario RTAK-II. For medium it's between the Becker BK-7, and the Esee 6, I will probably end up getting all of them at some point as soon as I can get a job (I'm only 13) but for right now I really can't decide. Would love to hear some opinions.
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Medium sized survival knife vs Chopper.
- Thread starter ChaosJDC
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james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
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Go for the larger knife. Paired with the small handy Mora you already have, you will have all the bases covered for various field and camp tasks.
My bk 9 and carbon Mora (and a folding saw) take care of everything I need to do in the woods. The pair does extremely well together, you'll be quite happy with them.
The bk7 is a touch to long to be an all rounder, and it chops worse than the 9. If I was looking for a single mid sized blade, is get the rowen produced bk12 (6in, drop point blade), but ultimately feel that if prefer the two blade solution either way.
Good luck
.
The bk7 is a touch to long to be an all rounder, and it chops worse than the 9. If I was looking for a single mid sized blade, is get the rowen produced bk12 (6in, drop point blade), but ultimately feel that if prefer the two blade solution either way.
Good luck
.I'm a big fan of mid sized knives. In this case though, get a chopper. Bk 9 is my suggestion. I don't own a 9, but I like beckers in general. Your Mora will handle all of the fine tasks just fine. If you want to save money, a fiskars hatchet will handle the chopping work very well. Maybe not as fun, but for under $25 it saves you quite a bit of cash.
SALTY
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Gotta go with all of the opinions of the Brain-Trust posted above - get the BK9.
For one, and only one field knife - I would get the BK7; but that is not the situation posed. With the Mora and a BK9, you'd be well covered.
Putting aside the logic and wisdom, there is also one additional factor to be considered: You can't not have a 9 as someone once said.
For one, and only one field knife - I would get the BK7; but that is not the situation posed. With the Mora and a BK9, you'd be well covered.
Putting aside the logic and wisdom, there is also one additional factor to be considered: You can't not have a 9 as someone once said.
strategy9
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Chopper.
"Medium sized" blades between >5" and <8" are the in betweeners, designed as a sort of "do it all" knife which is fine for their design, but leave much to be desired; you almost always want a little more blade for (real) chopping, and wish there was a little less for finer cutting jobs, so ideally you have 2 knives, a smaller "skinner" (or whatever) and a true "chopper"... You already got the smaller blade down, so don't limit yourself on the 2nd blade... A Mora + a "chopper" will be able to conquor any task a "tweener" can and more.
"Medium sized" blades between >5" and <8" are the in betweeners, designed as a sort of "do it all" knife which is fine for their design, but leave much to be desired; you almost always want a little more blade for (real) chopping, and wish there was a little less for finer cutting jobs, so ideally you have 2 knives, a smaller "skinner" (or whatever) and a true "chopper"... You already got the smaller blade down, so don't limit yourself on the 2nd blade... A Mora + a "chopper" will be able to conquor any task a "tweener" can and more.
I used to bring heavy choppers into the woods with me, now all I use is a 10" long, thin bladed Latin machete for clearing brush and a 4-5" long, stout fixed blade for food cooking, utility, and fire preparation. There's nothing that I need to do that I cannot, and my woods are Up North.
Big choppers are fun, but I've not found them to be necessary. They're also a pain to sharpen, and if you "chop" with a knife the edge will eventually get damaged and require some effort and expertise to repair.
Big choppers are fun, but I've not found them to be necessary. They're also a pain to sharpen, and if you "chop" with a knife the edge will eventually get damaged and require some effort and expertise to repair.
Pretty sure a Mora will not do this.
The first cut made in that log bent the edge on a fallkniven F1. Looks kinda cool all wavy now. If that knife couldn't hold up to that dry knotted Apple wood, well I know the mora I had with me that day most likely would have snapped. That wood was pretty hellish.
Sure would suck to be 13 and need a knife and not have it.
If you're really going to get into this you'll want something a click or two above the Mora (which will fit nicely into your pack as a back-up blade after you purchase a good knife).
The first thing you want is a good outdoor knife in the 4-5" range. Everything else builds around and supplements THAT. Go for the best one you can.
The Beckers, ESSE's etc. are good, reasonably priced knives. Like anything else, it goes up trom there. If you shop outdoor knives thoroughly you'll find there are five or six good ones out there within your budget. I think a lot of people would agree, a Ka-Bar USMC makes a great first "big" knife for all around purposes but it's really a bit large for what you NEED. In addition to these, a few random, quick-fire suggestions to get your shopping started:
The DPx HEST and HEFT fixed blade lines.
A TOPS B.O.B.
A Cold Steel Trailmaster if you can possibly find one used.
A good Nordic Leuku gives you good chopping capability within a great outdoor utility knife.
The G.O. knives seem to be good ones coming on strong right now.
Of course, even more basic is a good SAK.
The first thing you want is a good outdoor knife in the 4-5" range. Everything else builds around and supplements THAT. Go for the best one you can.
The Beckers, ESSE's etc. are good, reasonably priced knives. Like anything else, it goes up trom there. If you shop outdoor knives thoroughly you'll find there are five or six good ones out there within your budget. I think a lot of people would agree, a Ka-Bar USMC makes a great first "big" knife for all around purposes but it's really a bit large for what you NEED. In addition to these, a few random, quick-fire suggestions to get your shopping started:
The DPx HEST and HEFT fixed blade lines.
A TOPS B.O.B.
A Cold Steel Trailmaster if you can possibly find one used.
A good Nordic Leuku gives you good chopping capability within a great outdoor utility knife.
The G.O. knives seem to be good ones coming on strong right now.
Of course, even more basic is a good SAK.
Bk7 is fine.
A bk9 would be a real challenge to carry about as an outdoors companion.
You could consider the large maxpedition short clip.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DRC1dkyMlhM
Not entirely long at just over 6 inches.
It's tip heavy.
Made of d-2 steel.
Does make an excellent chopper
Without having too much of a heft or
Without being longer than necessary.
I have a bunch if Moras and a BK9. Truth is, the BK9 is just plain fun to own. Problem is the Mora disappears around my neck and another backup Mora disappears in my pack. The BK9 gets left behind as it's just too big and heavy to bring along when space and weight are at premium.
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BK9 is my favorite knife. Not at all too large to carry.
strategy9
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Great choice to compliment your Mora.
Personally as I posted earlier, I consider anything above 8" a "chopper" as you can chop pretty well with it as needed, it doesn't have to a 16" machete to be a "chopper"
9" gives you plenty of blade when you need it, and when its is too much, your Mora will do the trick. Great combo, and if you decide you do need a tweener down the road, so be it... My best guess though is these 2 will do everything any tweener could, and between the two, they'll do it all better then a tweener would, so your next step will likely be a sick folder, multitool, and/or finally a potential upgrade on either of these as you discover any little nuances you desire and may still lack.
Personally as I posted earlier, I consider anything above 8" a "chopper" as you can chop pretty well with it as needed, it doesn't have to a 16" machete to be a "chopper"
9" gives you plenty of blade when you need it, and when its is too much, your Mora will do the trick. Great combo, and if you decide you do need a tweener down the road, so be it... My best guess though is these 2 will do everything any tweener could, and between the two, they'll do it all better then a tweener would, so your next step will likely be a sick folder, multitool, and/or finally a potential upgrade on either of these as you discover any little nuances you desire and may still lack.
Pretty sure a Mora will not do this.
The first cut made in that log bent the edge on a fallkniven F1. Looks kinda cool all wavy now. If that knife couldn't hold up to that dry knotted Apple wood, well I know the mora I had with me that day most likely would have snapped. That wood was pretty hellish.
Sure would suck to be 13 and need a knife and not have it.
Or you could just throw that wood in the fire since it's dry. No knife needed.
Lol, ever started a fire without kindling? Fire pit between the barns is about 600M from the nearest woods and tinder, gotta make your own some times.
You sound like me though. My boy wanted to split some wood yesterday after the fire was going. I told him just throw it on, the fires going.
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I think the BK-9 is a good choice to supplement your Mora. I love large knives. They draw me to them.... got to own this or that or whatever. but I find that I seldom ever use them. When I do need to use one or would choose to use one, I don't have it with me. Been a fan of the Condor Pack Golok for a big chopper.
