Ok please dont be mad!! Which one?

Joined
Feb 2, 2009
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I got my first becker. Now I must get a long one!!

SO BK7 or BK9?

I have the BK2 it is for everyday carry I take it everywere all the time. I want something for on the trail to replace my machete.

So you know what I will be doing with it!
Chopping,clearing,fire wood, campsite maintnice, all things my BK2 cant or dont want to do to it!

I saw the thread by pict. on the survival sheath I will be doing something similer!

SO WHATS YOUR THOUGHTS?
 
The BK7 and BK9 are two of my favorite knives and I like them equally. However, if you're trying to replace a machete I'd go with the BK-9 because of the length.
 
BK9 BK9 BK9 did I say BK9, you can do heavy work(chops awesomely) light & fine work with it.
you have a BK2(what a thick nasty good knife) you want to replace your machete
then yes it must be the BK9.and then later get BK7 or not.I have two BK7's it's a great knife but between the BK9 & BK2 the BK7 just dosen't have as much use any more.
hope this helps
 
Ethan, I just got a BK9 last week and am very impressed. My first >7" blade (used a #1211 Kabar for a decade) and what a chopper! Razor sharp out of the box, although the edge is a little bit uneven. I think it's the a good balance between weight and both the pros and cons of the utility of a big blade. Even when I was camping with my Kabar, I often found myself going to smaller folders and such for little tasks.

The little companion blade is nice and came almost razor sharp but I could take it or leave it. I think I see a Necker in my future...

Please Please PLEASE bring back the kydex sheath for this knife and if possible, offer it separately as an upgrade. I can't stress this enough. I bought and enjoy my BK9 despite the nylon sheath. It is not beltworthy but it keeps the blade safe and secure in my bag.

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Hey ZDIG....

The NINE always came sheathed in A pouch sheath and Kydex is a high cost option..... There are a number of Good custom guys...Hummelbaugh at Survival Sheath Systems, River City Sheaths, Buy Brown Industries, and Normark gets good reviews but I have not used his service (I will Soon)....I am very glad you like the Blade and I am confident you will enjoy using it....Pleas post your using impressions when you get a chance.....Thanks....

All Best....

ethan
 
Thanks for replying, Ethan.

Did it? I must be mistaken then; I've only recently discovered your great designs. If kydex is such a high cost material, why is it offered standard on so many other Kabar Beckers? The 2, 3 and 13 come to mind. Please feel free to correct me again if I'm still wrong. Anyway, I'll take a peek at those custom guys but I'd rather not spend more than my knife on a sheath.

Cost vs Utility was a major factor in my decision to buy your fine product. That said, I'd have been happy to pay another $10 or $15 if it came with a good positive retention sheath. Maybe it's time for me to start learning how to fold kydex myself...

Reviewing the BK9 from Point to Pommel:

Good strong point. I like that the swedge is shallow and not too pronounced. Good thickness further up the blade than many survival knives. It has been left powder coated by the factory and that's good; I don't want a sharpened swedge on a big blade like this.

Belly is good as well. Curved enough to get a good rolling push cut while the sweep remains obtuse and strong.

Body is well thought out in a no-nonsense way. No goofy 'blood grooves' that do nothing but weaken the blade body. No million relieving grinds making sharpening a pain.

Spine seems thick enough for strength without being excessively heavy. No complaints there and I like the jimping above where my thumb sits.

Choil area is fine, although I wouldn't mind seeing a 2nd lanyard loop at the index guard. If it were larger, I'd be able to choke up further for finer control, but I guess that's what smaller knives are for. Just a thought, but maybe increase the size of the index guard and sink a lanyard hole in there, killing 2 birds with one stone.

The Grivory grips work in a no-nonsense kind of way. Some complain that it's slippery but I don't have that problem. It fits my hands well both naked and gloved. Pommel is fine; I have no issues there.

On to Use:

My BK9 has been used a few times, doing both light limbing/thorn clearing tasks and chopping down seasoned poplar of up to 6 or 7" in width. Haven't tried clubbing yet; maybe tomorrow.

Swinging for limbing and brush clearing is good because there's enough mass to let it power through, but not enough to make it hard to check my swing. Perfect.

Chopping was excellent. I've never had a knife that chops like this! I like that the spine extends as far as it does. It puts enough mass far enough forward to build momentum, but not enough to annoy my wrist when lifting for another swing. This thing takes nice big bites! Again, perfect.

After a cumulative hour or so of use, I don't see or detect any real change in the edge. Still nearly shaving sharp. I'll probably have to touch it up after the next use, but there's good edge retention.

If you've read though my ramblings this far, let me take this opportunity to say Thanks, Ethan. You put out an awesome product and I love that it's made in the USA. For roughly $80 to my door between shipping and tax, it's a hell of a value. I know I'll enjoy using this knife for years and years.

Here are a few pics I took before whanging up the finish.
 
Hey ZDIG......

What a nice and thoughtful post....Thank You!!!!!....Alot of us actually LIKE the pouch type sheath...I like the external pocket for a spare fire kit and sharpening stone, etc.....Try an Eagle pouch sheath sometime as they are the super premium....John Carver who runs the joint is really a master at what he does.......I have not checked on what he charges these days but every Eagle product I own has been worth the money in the long run......I have some of his bags that are twenty years old and have been used extensively and they look brand spanking new...Anyway have a look.....Thanks again for your kind words....

All Best....

ethan
 
Normark is, or recently has, ordered a KaBar BK-9 so that he can make sheaths. I intend to be his first customer for this product.
 
is there a different between the ka-bar bk-9 and the original camillus bk9? i thought they were made to the same specs?
 
orig. BK9 from camillus is a bit thicker.

But paradoxically KaBar's 1095 is a bit tougher IIRC.

I'm anxious to get one of the new KaBar BK&T's to check it out.

IMO Ethan Becker + KaBar = WIN.


:thumbup:



But I'm still mourning Camillus.:(
 
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