wow. This is literally the 1st and only blade/tool video that I agree with every single thing that was said.
It reminds me a lot of a realization I had with framing hammers a few years ago while working with a framing crew in San Marcos, TX. I was on a 13 man crew, but the only guy with a rubber "shock absorbing" hammer. Literally every single member of the 11/13 Hispanic crew had smooth wooden handles. I assumed they were going cheap, and that my rubber modern concept handle had the advantage. Well I looked like a massive wuss for the first 2-3,weeks. Nothing can describe the feeling of cramped, blistered, basically worthless hands when there's still 10 hours left of work to do and you've got 12 guys yelling at you.
I switched to a smooth hatchet shaped handle (the exact model of my co-workers) and my life became tolerable again.
I had this same revelation in Indonesia when my brother and I were clearing a spot to hang out hammocks in Lombok.
It took almost 3 hours and I did 3/4 of the work, despite him being 2x as fit as me. He was carrying a Tom brown tracker that I admit I used as well on the trip (only when he wanted to trade), and loved it for carving with that 2nd bevel, but 30 mins after we got to hard work chopping 3"-5" diameter trees I put him into a deep sense of shame with my bk9. Wet, sweaty, tired, sore hands can be dangerous when swinging around a big chopper, but I never had a second of doubt. I was still able to tie knots and pitch my tarp & hammock with no fuss/cramps/soreness. Not even 1 tiny hotspot.
I will never buy a "rubber/traction" or finger groove handle ever. I can see the benefit of those in a combat/stabbing knife, but man....it's almost worthless in the woods/jungle.
Buy a machete with a rubber handle and finger grooves (if such a bad design exists...but I doubt it) and pat yourself on the back if you can work for more than an hour on the trail.
I buy non-bk knives for opening boxes, edc, and gutting fish. For WORK, I'll never buy anything other than an Ethan design.
That handle on the bk9 saved me the blisters, cramping, and embarrassment that I went through with framing hammers on the job site. But for the record, I could out drink every one of them.
I am pretty sure that Ethan must have went through something similar, to inspire his practically flawless handle design.
Final campsite for the night:
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Bk9 begging for more:
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