This has probably been asked before--why not a BK9 made thick like a BK2?

Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it. Even with the Brute all milled out, it's a boat anchor. I used to do some serious metal detecting at isolated spots in the Boreal forest. I didn't like crap restricting my arms or shoulders as I swung, so no packs. And the thick Brute, while reassuring to me, was trying to pull my damn joggers down my farticus maximus, with just a few basics on the belt. Maybe a big thick chopper is cool in a pack or some different carry rig, but I found that it was just too much steel hanging off a belt.
 
I've got one. Its made by bill seigle. It won the last Becker west chopping contest. And I wasn't all tired out at the end of the 22 seconds it took to kill a 4x4
 
.25" is hardly too thick for a chopper. I use to own the RD9 and my BK9 did indeed out chop the RD9, but i wouldnt blame the thickness of the steel for that as much as the grind and edge on it. The knives i have that do out chop the BK9 are thicker than the BK9. but still i dont think making it 1/4" would improve the BK9, because like one guy said a huge thing the BK9 has going for it is how light it is, its easy to use as a chopper or as a machete on light brush without getting arm fatigue. I wouldnt want to use my best choppers to clear light brush. Especially if there was a lot of clearing needing to be done. My arm would tire out from swinging a 2 pound .35" thick monster of a knife around at light brush, and it wouldnt be very practical. Its always best to grab the best tool for the job.

Its a great knife at a great price as it is, regardless of that though, I too would get a 1/4" BK9 if it were released. :D
 
I like the BK9 as it is, personally. Now a thicker BK4 Machax, on the other hand, would be fantastic, imho.
 
bigghoss said:
That said, I would not mind a FFG .25" BK9. Ka-Bar probably won't make something like that...
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The Swabbie is .25 and FFG. Of course, the blade design is not exactly a bowie style knife :-).
I'll make some pics of the spines of a 9 next to a Swabbie if you want me to.
 
Galeocerdoshark said:
The Swabbie is .25 and FFG. Of course, the blade design is not exactly a bowie style knife :-).
I'll make some pics of the spines of a 9 next to a Swabbie if you want me to.
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Nah. The swabbie does nothing for me. I hear it's a pretty good performer but I just really don't like the styling.
 
bigghoss said:
Seen that one too. None of the Zombie line appeals to me, the blade designs that is. I don't have a problem with the whole zombie thing and I know they come with black scales too.
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I wasn't really too big of a fan until Murph modded his. Holy Moly that thing is sweet!!
 
As mentioned, if you can find an older Camillus version, it's a bit thicker.
I had one in the sale pile for a while, but after hefting it and appreciating its thickness, it went back into the hoard pile.
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
And coincidentally, those are the ones breaking up here in the PNW. I'll stick with the Kabar version just as it's made now.
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Huh? Care to explain? I've never heard of a Camillus BK9 breaking - or any Becker breaking, for that matter. I have both the BK7 & BK9 (both by Camillus) and they've been beaten on, hammered, dropped off the roof onto a sidewalk (well, the BK7 was, and it just laughed), the BK9 chopped through a nail I didn't know was in the fence rail I was chopping (no ding to the edge), they've both pried things open, and generally they've both been rode hard & put away wet. You really can't tell they've been used all that hard.

That said, I still prefer the BK7. I can't really see the BK9 doing any more than my BK7 can do.

NEVERMIND - I just found the thread on Jonny1280's broken BK9. :eek: :(

~Chris
 
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some have said the last days of Camillus the heat treats might have been flaky. they stamped blades. it's been YEARS since they were made, and over time, a long time even, flaws can happen

and maybe a couple bad things happened, that nobody thought about. batoning it too hard just that one time. driving over it ;) throwing it. lots of drops. i've seen people batoning dull knives through wood and ended up using a very hard piece of maple to whack it, because "damn knife ain't going nowhere..."

so. stuff happens.

personally i liked the thicker BK9, wouldn't mind an option for a 3/8 thick blade at the spine anyway. Siegle does a nice job with some of his at a full 1/4, and if you got the monies, i'm sure he'll do a 3/8 if you want. it might not be what you want though ;)
 
3/8ths would be SICK!!!! Doesnt he use 5160 too? That would be one tough son of a gun.

And im guilty myself of using some hard wood to baton here and there.... But i never let any of mine get too dull.
 
Bladite - thanks for the info. I bought my BK7 in early 2006, so I hope it's okay. I hate the thought of retiring it, but I don't want to risk breaking it.

~Chris
 
The BK2 was my fist Becker for about a year and a half. I used that thing often and carried it on my belt most days. I got very used to the heft and thickness. So when I ordered a BK9 I assumed it was going to be the same thickness as a BK2 for some reason. Let me tell you I was very shocked when I opened that box and felt that thin grip.
 
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