Recommend me my first big Becker

TheWambo

TheWambo

Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
1,138
I currently have a 16 and a 14 (that are the workforce of my kit) and I've been using them in tandem with an axe hatchet or a machete. Now that I have the little end of the Becker spectrum decently represented I figure its time to try incorporating a large chopper into my Becker armory. Now I'm pretty skilled with axes and hatchets (for a while all I carried blade wise in the woods was a Wetterlings) but I need to work on my large knife skills. Anyway I'm tied between three candidates: the BK-4, BK-7 and the BK-9 (I'd love a brute but its waaay out of my budget).
I was wondering if the 7 was big enough for a hatchet replacement, if axemanship would translate through the 4 well, if and why the 9 is a better option than the 7 for a chopper (aside from the obvious length increase, i.e. do those extra few inches make much difference?)

and just for shameless becker knife porn

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Definitely the 9. It's the king for a reason. Man, it really can chop, yet feels very light. Probably my favorite Becker in the entire lineup.

I do kinda want to get and mod a 9, because the Haze one, while wonderful, could use a few more mods. I just don't want to mod the HK-9, ya know?
 
The weight on it make it such a good chooper and you can hit with a better hitspot than the 4.

The 4 has a smaller hitspot and is closer to the handle than the 9.
 
I love the 7 and the 9, but if you're thinking about going big then yes just go ahead and get the 9. It is really an amazing piece of steel, when you hold it you feel empowered haha.

EDIT, PORN ADDED:
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No contest bk-9 for all your chopping needs. Not that BK-4 is any worse, but I'd start at getting the 9. And dont stop at getting 1 either!



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I am going to say BK9 as well, and here is why. The 7 is a great knife, but it is an all around type of knife, not really king of anything, whereas you have the low and mid range covered with a 14 and 16, really all you have left to get is large style knife, so that puts the 7 out in my opinion and leaves you with the 4 and the 9. Now, the 4 is a love it or hate it kind of blade, whereas the 9 is much more easily accepted by folks. The 4 might be an awesome knife for you, but the 9 stands a better chance of being so. Of course later on down the road you want to get all of them, but ultimately, for right now, I say go with the 9.
 
BK9

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Or a BK4

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They both kick some serious ass.

I do like my 9 though........

Moose
 
I have the 9 and the 4. The 4 gets more use, it is lighter, and it seems more dialed-in to the woods where I live. That said, the 9 is the king, so if you are looking for a Big Knife that's probably the way to go. But if you are looking for the best tool for processing wood my choice is the Machax.
 
JWL said:
I have the 9 and the 4. The 4 gets more use, it is lighter, and it seems more dialed-in to the woods where I live. That said, the 9 is the king, so if you are looking for a Big Knife that's probably the way to go. But if you are looking for the best tool for processing wood my choice is the Machax.
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Well I spend most of the year in the Adirondacks so the woods here aren't too far off from Maine. I assumed the 4 was probably the best suited for the job (Ethan spent a lot of time designing it to do just that). So now I'm stuck between the 4 and the 9. Does anyone have or know of a chopping comparison video?
 
But if you are looking for the best tool for processing wood my choice is the Machax.
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I've heard others say this... but it has not been my experience at all. Perhaps for smaller wood working tasks like limbing or shaving the bark of. I don't find the BK4 as well as the BK9 at all... It also doesn't chop as well. The BK4 is comfortable for sure, I just didn't see the performance out of it that I was hoping for.

Of course, that could all have to do with the areas we use the blades in and our techniques. I think I would really like a Machax that was about 50% larger.

Does anyone have or know of a chopping comparison video?
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No video, but I took them both out and did comparisons... the 9 left the 4 in the dust as far as I was concerned. YMMV of course.... but there IS as reason why the 9 is king. :)
 
Another question since portability came up, how is the sheath system for the 9 and the 4? any big issues with them?
 
The 9's now come with some molle straps on the back of the sheath. The older sheaths had nothing on the back, but have some rivets that can be used if you want to lash it to a pack. I find them to be adequate for getting the knife from one place to another, but there is obviously a lot of room for improvement. I'm happy that BK&T includes a cheap sheath and saves me the money in the end. I typically end up with kydex or leather, anyway.

Personally, I'd go with the 9. It's my favorite of the large Beckers that are in production. We'll see once the Patrol Machete is re-released, but even then I think the 9 would get a lot more use.

Last weekend, the BK9 saved my butt when it rained for 5 hours on my wood pile when the weatherman said there was no chance of rain when we left on our hike.

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