Schrade Schf43 Jessica X VS Bk4 VS Bk9 VS Bk21 Chopping

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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.

I'm very offended by this statement...

...what do you have against snickers?
 
After watching the video, I'd take my trusted BK9 over the other blades. It might take a few more chops to get through a log but the 9 is so comfortable and well balanced. It's blade geometry excels in cutting tasks for a knife its size and it batons well. It's a great all around knife.

The Schrade's main drawback for me is the overall lenght to blade lenght ratio. I understand what he's trying to do but I'll take more blade any day of the week. I think he could have shortened the handle lenght without losing much of the knifes chopping prowess. Hopefully the knives Chris is designing are successful. His gear reviews are pretty well done and I enjoy watching them.
 
I understand what he's trying to do but I'll take more blade any day of the week. I think he could have shortened the handle lenght without losing much of the knifes chopping prowess.

I've heard him say many times that he wanted to try something new and design something that had never been done before. I'm wondering if there's a reason that there aren't other knives that are that size and mostly handle. I haven't used it, so I cant say for sure. Maybe time (and Schrade sales of that model) will tell.
 
I have a schf9. Decent knife, well worth the price. I keep it in my truck to beat on. Designed by someone who understands a knife. I have a BK4 and a BK9. Designed by someone I respect more than anyone I've run across in the knife business. I don't have a 21 because it's too close to Christmas and I need the cash for my family. I'll never have an schf43. I'd rather spend the money buying a lovely dinner for Moose's meth whore. Just my opinion. I'm sure there are people who will want to buy it. You know what they say about a fool and his money. To me, I'd have to set aside a significant amount of time with the intention of designing the ugliest, most useless pos I could possibly think of to match that thing. Nothing against Schrade. Everything against that "knife".
 
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The best thing about the bk9 is how well it chops for its weight . It is King ! Then you look at this J thing , has got to be the ugliest knife I've ever seen and at 2lbs give me an Ax . Wth
 
Accuracy is not complete here, I'm afraid. The JX weights double the 9, and is being used first in every round. That leaves for a tired, half assed effort for the rest of the blades. And I just can't get past the eyesore factor; I like the aesthetics of a knife as much as its function, and even if those 2 aspects collide it's time to move on. I recently bought an Italian folder that I had been lusting after for like a year, and ended selling it on the exchange after 3 days of ownership. The beautiful talon sweep at the end of the handle kept stabbing my hand every time I tried to get something out of my pocket. So, if I merely bought that JX knife based on it's chopping ability, it would most likely be sold back as my eyes wouldn't be able to cope with it, and my hands would definitely welcome a lighter knife/small hatchet to do the same thing I bought it for.
 
I have to agree with other comments...
The BK4 and 9 looked very halfhearted chopping. The first 2 there was a lot of leg movement and off hand balancing but the last 2 appeared out of gas.

Should have rotated the first to the last then 2nd to the first and so on, every round.

It was okay and I appreciate the time it took to do everything but it just screams Tanner vs Becker and somehow that thing got way too much credit...

But, as stated previously this is just the chopping stage and there's more comparisons to come so we'll see...
 
As I lay in bed last night trying to settle my head, a thought came to me about this test. There should be at least one more category (not sure what to call it) that sheds light on the fact that the BK4 weighs so little, yet chops so effortlessly IF used correctly. Trying to swing the little BK4 hard enough to match the Schrade is never going to happen. But the Machax absolutely excels at more intelligent chopping with Ethan's suggested wrist flick, and without referencing the specs of the two blades, it weighs significantly less than the Schrade for pack or belt carry. To ME the value is higher with the Machax, even if occasionally I need chop through something really thick and that takes more (relaxed) chops than the Schrade could have powered through.

Consider how the Laplanders chop with their Leuku.................they use lighter, repetitive swings while holding onto the rear of the handle. It may take longer than the nine chops of the Schrade, but they're hardly breaking a sweat doing it. This same approach would also work with the light, versatile BK9 and BK4.

Lastly, if we're really trying to unearth the "best value" in a chopper, I'd take an reputable machete EVERY time over the new Schrade thing....................or a few offerings from Condor.
 
Yeah even a machete would be good, and even though big, they never feel hard to wield, from cutting bushes to trimming and opening coconuts - all good.

One chopping test missing though is testing a BK2 chopping a JessX to bits! Now that would be a chop sight to see...haha. I guess it would be like a strike of wolverine s claw through butter.

Although the BK2 chopping against the BK9 would be highly dangerous, those two clashing would be like an almighty thunder and would probably rip apart the very fabric of the universe and create a huge void in the time and space continuum! Then we'd all be screwed. So on second thoughts, let's just keep it to wood chopping!
 
...
I'm wondering if there's a reason that there aren't other knives that are that size and mostly handle
....

actually, a fair number...

the Fiskars mini brush hook chops well beyond what you'd expect (sure, it's 25 dollars, soft steel, polymer handle, but it DOES chop, wow]

or as a little bird reminds me, the Japanese forest "axe"... lots of handle.

and a host of others. some have canted blades. some don't. nothing new under this sun?
 
actually, a fair number...

the Fiskars mini brush hook chops well beyond what you'd expect (sure, it's 25 dollars, soft steel, polymer handle, but it DOES chop, wow]

or as a little bird reminds me, the Japanese forest "axe"... lots of handle.

and a host of others. some have canted blades. some don't. nothing new under this sun?

All good points. I always surprise myself with how much I don't know. Maybe the only defining line exists in my mind, but I think of your examples more as general tools. When I'm looking at, what I think of as, specifically knives I haven't seen as much variation. Even if a big knife has a handle big enough to slide back into a rear grip the blade is still much longer than the handle to make it look more... normal. At least to me.
 
All good points. I always surprise myself with how much I don't know. Maybe the only defining line exists in my mind, but I think of your examples more as general tools. When I'm looking at, what I think of as, specifically knives I haven't seen as much variation. Even if a big knife has a handle big enough to slide back into a rear grip the blade is still much longer than the handle to make it look more... normal. At least to me.

big knives are a sign of steel rich cultures; those with less metal used longer handles of other materials - i'm sure they'd skip that step, perhaps.

or it could be a performance issue :D who can tell, except actual results.

tool are tools are tools

apparently the defect is related to a safety issue with the handles. mmm.
 
I have to agree with other comments...
The BK4 and 9 looked very halfhearted chopping. The first 2 there was a lot of leg movement and off hand balancing but the last 2 appeared out of gas.

Should have rotated the first to the last then 2nd to the first and so on, every round.

It was okay and I appreciate the time it took to do everything but it just screams Tanner vs Becker and somehow that thing got way too much credit...

This.
 
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The ONLY reason that it looks like I am doing more with the jx and rbk is because you can DO more then WHEN chopping.
If that concept made ANY sense, don't you think that I would still be tired in round 2 with the jx and rbk?
The Bk9 and bk4 are more efficient knives as your see in chopping by weight. That is why I included that type of grading.
That is where the rbk won, Bk4 got second, and the Bk9 third.
 
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