Schrade Schf43 Jessica X VS Bk4 VS Bk9 VS Bk21 Chopping

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beachmaster

beachmaster

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Hey guys, since my last post, I have had a video up on this comparison, but I decided not to share because there wasn't any content.

Now, for the Chopping Comparison, I have compared these knives, and tallied points for overall chopping effectiveness, chopping per weight, and chopping per dollar.

I whacked on 5 2/4s per knife, and scratched the highest and lowest scores, then averaged the other 3 to get my results.

The Jessica X took an average of 12.6 hits, the RBK also took an average of 12.6 hits, the Bk4 took an average of 29.6 hits, and the Bk4 took 26.3 hits.

(I really expected the Bk4 to outchop the Bk9 from my experience, but for outright chopping, it didn't really happen)

I am very, very surprised by the results.

Please check out the video and leave some comments!

https://youtu.be/HpXiCTGjWzo
 
As much as interesting a video it was (one could argue not really scientific - but beside the point) - I still think a knife has more to it than just its chopping ability. I know its one of a series, but personally whilst a Jessica X may chop good in your video, I would look at other aspects for my choice. Whilst I may get shot down, for me personally the Jessica X is a bit gimmicky with its 'three hold', it seems like a good chopper - but a tight rear, double handle, and chunk upfront for a 'choil' grip (which seems like prolonged use would hurt split fingers) are a deal breaker for me. Each to their own style I guess, but for how I roll, even if Jessica X chopped in ½ the time of the rest, I would still not go for it. I seems like it would feel like wielding a sword over a knife. I'm not a kukri person either, but stuff the Ghurkhas do with them is legendary in UK armed forces.

I was interesting to see the 4 vs 9, which I thought a 4 would have out shone a little more, but not.

But despite test results, given a choice, I would take the 9 over them, with RBK in 2nd. I wonder what others would choose. And perhaps even in a Becker section, someone would state their choice to be the JessX.

Thanks for sharing video though!!! Much appreciated!!!
 
You lost me when you confused Chris Tanner for Ethan Becker. Simple mistake? Those are ones people remember first.

Maybe I will try watching it again later.

Jeremy
 
I understand what you are saying, and I agree with almost all of it.

I personally prefer the 4 over the 9, which might not be a popular opinion... I started giving the 4 some good dirt time, and it really just works for me!

I think that the JX design has a LOT of potential, and it will work VERY well for a lot of people. I do have some complaints, some exactly the same as your own. But I have spent some good dirt time with it, and it did grow on me. It is performing better than I thought.

I REALLY like the handle concept. There are a few things that I would tweak to make it work the way that I think would be ideal, and I really think that it, in practical use, is a 4 position handle, but the concept did work for me better than expected.

This is a love it or hate it knife. TRUST ME, it will be easy to hate it. Especially at first glance. But there is a lot of potential there.

Which I would choose at this point depends on the situation. I am a khukuri guy, but the length and sheath of the rbk can be a little awkward in the woods. But MAN does it perform! It is simply an AWESOME knife! A better sheath would take it a long way!

If you were going to drop me off in the amazon or some other crappy situation with a single one of these knives, at this point, it would have to be the RBK I think.

But for most other situations, I would probably end up with the Bk4. Especially for the price difference.

I have ruled out Schrade in the past. But the more I have hands on with their products, and the more that I look at their customer support (as opposed to one specific other large knife company especially), and what they are trying to do, I do like them. I wont buy them for myself, because I hate buying Chinese or Taiwanese, and I might not recommend them, even to someone on a budget for similar biases PERSONALLY, but I can't deny what they are offering.

And when it comes to my YT channel, I will absolutely not, EVER let that bias out. I don't think that I will do a lot of Schrade testing, but if somehow I do, and it is awesome, I will recommend it honestly.
 
Dresnor, I did not "confuse" them. I have said the two names a thousand times in the last two days, and I have the two names on the table before me.

Do not ever think that I "confuse" the names, especially of these two people. I like both, but there is no confusion I assure you.
 
I feel like for more leverage, (which is why you would have a big handle like that), that more blade is the better option. The 21 is lighter, but chops as well as is, or better (once you get used to a kukri) it will also work much better for clearing brush and grasses because of its reach and tip speed. It could also be used to defend yourself better than the Schrade, in part because of its reach, in part because of its speed, and in part because it has a grind that is well suited to multiple tasks. The Grind on the Schrade looks like it certainly works for chopping with that weight behind it, and I dont doubt that it will cut. Schrade knows how to make a knife. Just the 21 grind is better suited to a wider range of tasks. The Schrade would be easier to choke up on for fine tasks for sure, but the 21 is well built for those as well, not to mention drawknife work. I get why the Schrade is what it is, but I feel like its going to lose the competition once you get into more than chopping. I could be wrong though. It wont be the first time, wont be the last. I still appreciate the vid either way, although I think the point assignment on price seems like a freebie for the Schrade.
 
A longer handle = more force = deeper cuts. It doesn't take a scientist to understand the physics. It's like adding a cheater pipe on a BK9 handle.

To sum it up: it's hideous. I would be embarrassed to pull that out in front of my friends at a camp out.

I want to add: although I am familiar with the backstory and drama, it does not effect my opinion. I can see through the results of this video it is effective at chopping, but as a knife knut, there is more to it than just ability. The designer, the company, the history, and the overall FEEL and knife gives me as I yield it. When a knife "has it", it's almost a religious experience. That Schrade could never do it for me.
 
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I can't get past the looks either. Not willing to give it a chance just based on looks alone. I've already got a knife that works fine for me. Why do I need to drag along the ugly cousin too?

Cool inspires confidence, and cool is lacking with JX.

After watching the video, you can tell you used up all your energy in the first two blades (no surprise you put JX up first when you're the most rested) And the 9 up last when you're the most tired.
Try doing that same test in reverse order and I bet you'll get a different result. Test incomplete.
 
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Tdhurl1103 said:
I can't get past the looks either. Not willing to give it a chance just based on looks alone. I've already got a knife that works fine for me. Why do I need to drag along the ugly cousin too?

Cool inspires confidence, and cool is lacking with JX.

After watching the video, you can tell you used up all your energy in the first two blades (no surprise you put JX up first when you're the most rested) And the 9 up last when you're the most tired.
Try doing that same test in reverse order and I bet you'll get a different result. Test incomplete.
Click to expand...

Actually, if you paid attention, you would have realized that I said that every knife was rotated for each series or round of tests. And if you missed that, you would realize that on each knife, the last test was done in the dark, and the first was done in the light. And if you missed that, you would have realized that After I got done with the Bk9, which I explained was last in the rotation, that it was time for series number 2.

So no, you are entirely and exactly incorrect.

the test went like this.

round one- jx, rbk, bk4, bk9
round two- jx, rbk, bk4, bk9
round three-jx, rbk, bk4, bk9
round four- jx, rbk, bk4, bk9
round five- jx, rbk, bk4, bk9

I know that is a bit repetitive, but I thought that I would list every rounds exact order since you couldn't seem to pick that up from the video.
 
Perhaps you need to go back and watch the video because you might be talking about some other one. I was not incorrect. You just proved my point above. The JX went first in every series. I watched the video. I missed the part where you claimed you rotated them. You also just typed it!!

So, no you didn't rotate them at all.
Try that test tomorrow with the 9 first.
Oh, also you left out an edge test to prove the knives were sharpened.

Really all you proved was that the JX could chop, which I never said it couldn't.

Regardless....test inconclusive.
 
Calm your farms brothers, we're all friends here :)

Whilst I do have an opinion on the Jx, and I'm not going to voice it here, I do have an interesting observation. Given that the handle length on the Jx is nearly as long as the blade itself and it's canted, it makes me wonder how it would feel on the hip when sheathed. Now if the pivot/attachment point of the sheath were approx. at the ricasso region that would leave a large, heavy mass above said point angled out behind you which, again, I'm guessing that it would likely pull the blade tip upwards at your front (does this make sense the way I wrote this?)
Maybe a picture would help explain..



Now one must understand, I am completely unfamiliar with the sheath for the Jx so I might actually be way off here. I am also basing said observation upon a perceived balance point that is approx. at the ricasso. But if the configuration is similar to the above (crappy) drawing then it makes me think that it might not be very comfortable to carry, be it only unbalanced. BM, not sure if you have shown the respective stock sheaths in any of your vids bud, but I would be interested to see if 'points' would be gained or lost in this OA review due to carry methods.

Thanks for sharing mate,

Springy..
 
I think you drawing is spot on how I imagine it to be. So I can see why it's creator made a kind of sash sheath to carry it. I think in theory the knife would work and being so long handled would give it leverage to be a good chopper, but sometimes all the theory in the world doesn't make for comfort and more. I can see it being very arkward in situations, such as simple carrying, so if I needed something to be a good chopper only - give me an axe! I know there are vids trying to show how it can do things like feather sticks, but it just seems arkward - especially if you hands are not too big like mine!!!
 
FFS, this shit still floating around?

At twice the weight (read hand fatigue), fugly as a meth whore, and shitty Chinese steel, I would pass this one along like a plate of Snickers.

Chopping is a good ability for a knife to have, but it can't be the only thing it's good at, or it will be type cast. A $9 Tramontina will leave the Schrade, BK9, Junglas and whatever your prefered chopping knife is, in the dust, but it's a pain in the ass to actually "work" with.

I can still use a BK9 as a knife, i.e. carve wood, gut a trout, pick a splitter out of my finger, make a bowdrill, and carve up meat. At 1lb, it doesn't wear your wrist and hand down.

I put the BK21 in the same category, sure, it will chop like a demonic hatchet, but when it comes time to carve trap notches, you're gonna be taking breaks.

I am a firm believer it's the hand that wields the knife, not the knife. But choosing what battles you want to fight, is the first step. I want a knife I can chop with, if I have to, but chopping only gets you so far. What happens when the choppings done and now you have to actally start the "delicate" work?

I'll stick to my 9. It may not chop as well as other larger, and longer knives, but I can still twist the cap off the rum bottle when I'm done for the day.

Moose(maybe)
 
Repetition is the mother of all skill as they say. So if you said those names 1000 times one would think you would be close to mastery, or at least have reshot or edited the video.

I would like a chance to handle the knife from Chris Tanner though. My gut feeling is that I'd put it down quickly though. I do feel it is important to handle both good and poor knife designs to understand what works.

I do wish you luck in your YouTube adventure though. Unfortunately, in this forum you will not receive warm reactions with anything featuring a Chris Tanner or his knife designs.


Jeremy
 
dresnor said:
Repetition is the mother of all skill as they say. So if you said those names 1000 times one would think you would be close to mastery, or at least have reshot or edited the video.

I would like a chance to handle the knife from Chris Tanner though. My gut feeling is that I'd put it down quickly though. I do feel it is important to handle both good and poor knife designs to understand what works.

I do wish you luck in your YouTube adventure though. Unfortunately, in this forum you will not receive warm reactions with anything featuring a Chris Tanner or his knife designs.


Jeremy
Click to expand...

Here here.

My 9 stays where it is and won't be replaced, ever, by anything dreamt up by Taylor Brands or Chris Tanner.
 
The overall series will feature many tasks, and strengths and weaknesses will come out, don't worry.
The test will be my exact and absolute best attempt at being entirely fair and unbiased. People here won't like that.
Schrade people won't like that.
But I hope the people who are neither Becker or Schrade people will.
As far as starting each test with the Schrade or Becker, the point is mute. There would be exactly and precisely no difference.
Just like on average there was no noticeable difference between when I started and ended the test.
I am a Beckerhead. To say that I like Becker more than Schrade would be an understatement. I own 4 Beckers because I love them.
I own one Schrade because I saw a good opportunity for a YouTube series.
But the test is, and will be as fair as I can make it. It is easily as fair or more fair than any other knife comparison on YouTube that I have seen.
Anyways, like yall said, obviously the JX is made to chop, and it performs.
We will see comparatively how it performs elsewhere soon.
I'll keep you guys updated so long as I am allowed.
 
Personally my EDC is the original blackjack series Machax because I can :) thick. Convexed.

That said the RBK is growing on me, esp convexed.

Tried to buy a schf43 but it was recalled for defects and my order refunded not an hour ago. Hell, they even shipped it!

I wonder what these defects are all about?

And yeah, I'm willing to give the weird a shot on my own dime and keep it family friendly. Giggity.

But the fates are against me.
 
If you want to see how well it chops, try chopping with your off hand. You'll get a better sense of balance, sweet spot, handling etc.
 
tradewater said:
If you want to see how well it chops, try chopping with your off hand. You'll get a better sense of balance, sweet spot, handling etc.
Click to expand...

That is actually a GREAT point, and I learned that while on a ladder limbing with an Ontario Kukri... Learned and forgot I am afraid.

I am going to have to incorporate that into future reviews, and maybe even squeeze it into this one for the chopping comfort video!

Thanks for the idea!
 
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