OKC Bush RD-9 or OKC RD-9 or Ka-bar BK-9?

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kage

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Oct 25, 2006
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I don't use choppers much and my modded Kershaw Outcast doesn't get much use. I'm lacking in sharpening skills and D2 + recurve is part of the reason I don't dull it up much. I also would prefer a straight edged blade so that it could more easily be used as a draw knife.

I'm considering an all around camp knife. I want something that I can chop with and still do fine work with too. All this talk around here lately of choppers has got my curiosity up and now I'm considering getting another.

I've read the threads about the BK-9 vs. Ka-bar Large Bowie and decided that the BK-9 would suite my needs better. Then I started looking at similar knives and the Ranger Knives RD-9 is very similar and with Ontario making two less expensive versions of it I was wondering which of these titans is better.

Price wise the OKC RD-9, the OKC Bush RD-9 and the Ka-bar BK-9, are close enough to not matter to me.

The RD-9 is 1/4" 5160. Never used 5160, so how does it compare to 1095 and how's the heat treat by Ka-bar and by OKC? This is a thick slab of steel and I'm willing to bet it's hefty, which will effect it's manueverability. I have little girly wrists, so this may not be the blade for me. I like that it comes with micarta slabs.

The Bush RD-9 is 3/16" 5160. It seems to be identical to the RD-9 except in thinner stock. Again, the micarta is a bonus. I would imagine that this and the BK-9 are pretty similar.

The BK-9 is 3/16" 1095. I've used 1095 in other blades and like it. I don't know if I'll like the handles, but I could always add texture to them myself. I know that micarta slabs are available for it, but the OKC comes with micarta already on them. If I can find one then it'll also include a free BK-13, which is really nice.

Does anybody have both of these? Which is better and why?

Feel free to throw in other suggestions if I missed them, with the understanding that I don't want to spend more than a hundred bucks and I'm avoiding recurves right now.

Thanks for all of your help!
 
well, the BK9 is a wicked chopper, slicer, all round knife, with one hell of a warranty if need be. I beat the tar outta mine and never lets me down

Ontario.......not so much ......cracked and tried to warranty mine........... waste of time.
 
Thanks for the quick reply Bushman5. Reading some of your earlier comments on other threads about your BK-9 is what got me interested in it. Is the Ontario warranty not very good or are you referring to the abilities of their knives?
 
I can't speak for anyone's heat treat in particular, but 5160 is a great steel for choppers IMHO.
 
I was also looking at the RD9 in 5160 but decided the 5160 was not the steel for me. I have used more than a couple steels in my day and I just keep coming back to 1095 (if properly done). It is just so affordable and durable. I have the utmost confidence in 1095 steel. I think I would go with the BK9 over all unless you want to go with something like the Rtak II which is perhaps my favorite large blade knife. I have two Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowies and have beaten the snot out of them. For around $45 you get a very high value knife. The Rtak II, although $100, is just a supreme knife in almost every way. I have not used the BK9 but would guess by looking at the make up that it would be on par with the Rtak II in terms of heft, etc. I know the 5160 is a great tough steel, but I wonder if it is just too hard for those hard use tasks?
 
Based on some of my reading over at the Shoptalk forum, it seems as though 5160 is the ideal steel for choppers. I don't know what the heat treat is like on the Ontario Ranger knives, but there are a ton of folks that swear by the ones Justin used to make.

On the other hand, I really like my BK-9. It chops great, holds an edge, I have batonned a ton of wood with it, without any complaints.

My last comment would be if you have a little extra cash, you may want to wait a month and check out the ESEE (RAT) Junglas.
 
Franchisekid & Chewbacca: Thanks for your input. I seem to read mixed info about 5160. I'm sure it has to do with heat treat, as I've heard complaints of chipping and tip breakage and then others saying it's the greatest thing since slice bread.

I thought the RTAK II was a recurve, but I just looked up pictures and it looks good, too. Great, another one to consider! ;)
 
I would recomend trying to find a RD-9 by Justin on the secondary market. He makes a tough knife and stands behind each one.
 
Hey Franchisekid: I'm watching those vids right now. Good quality and production. Thanks for your recommendation. The RTAK II is definitely in the running now!
 
kage said:
Hey Franchisekid: I'm watching those vids right now. Good quality and production. Thanks for your recommendation. The RTAK II is definitely in the running now!
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I love my RTAK II, it's an absolute beast, but the handle slabs are big, really big. I have big hands and I still wish the slabs were smaller.
 
kage said:
Thanks for the quick reply Bushman5. Reading some of your earlier comments on other threads about your BK-9 is what got me interested in it. Is the Ontario warranty not very good or are you referring to the abilities of their knives?
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knives are fine, the customer service leaves a lot to be desired.
 
Remmm: Yeah, that's what I was just reading. I have kinda small hands but longer fingers and I worry about hand fatigue, especially when combined with the weight of that beast.

Bushman5: thanks for the input. I've never returned a knife, but it's good to know. I'm lazy so if I break a blade I usually have it ground down into a smaller one, instead of returning it.

The BK-9 still sounds like it might be the best all around chopper. Sure wish it came with micarta handles, though.
 
I just found this post and just got a OKC bush RD9 and it is outstanding! It is very light and nimble in hand but it's a chopping WHORE!! I just minced some dried oak fire wood and made some crazy fuzz sticks. It reminds me of the RTAK 2, bout the same size and thickness but I got it for about 60.00 which is a bargain and a half. For the money, it's one of the best knife buys I've ever made. Big enough to do heavy work, light enough to carry without being a burden, and thin enough to do delicate work. I highly recommend it! Jim
 
kage said:
I want something that I can chop with and still do fine work with too.
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No such beast my friend. Guys who want to do fine carving with 9" knives are ambitious, but their talents would far be better served if they just brought along a 3" EDC. Look if you are willing to hump 19 OZ's of steel for the odd opportunity that you might chop something, then adding a 1.5 oz EDC won't be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Recommendations.

RD-9 is a great value. Becker is also a great value, but I the scales really don't fit my hand. Kabar heavy bowie is another great value. Browning competition chopper - kind of a sleeper but good stuff. ESEE Junglas, don't have it, but it would probably be the chopper that I'd buy if I were to buy another one.
 
Of those three , the Ranger would be my last choice. I find the handles to be really boxy and uncomfortable. The heavy Bowie would be second, as I think the bk9 edges it out a bit. The handle on the bk9 is a lot more comfortable. Both the bk9 and heavy Bowie are pretty good slicers. The quality on both is top notch, especially at the price point.

You may have already seen it, but I did a review on the bk9 vs heavy Bowie a while back. I think it was on the Becker subforum.
 
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