Thoughts on chopping with the BK4 and the BK9 (A lot of Pics)

[axesbold]

Spent some time last week with the 9 and the 4, and with all the discussion on which is a "better" chopper I thought I'd offer some thoughts.

The 9 digs deeper and definitely hits with a bigger thunk.

Chopped on some red oak that's been down about six weeks.

I like big chunks as opposed to a lot of chips.

If you can roll the log it's a piece of cake.

Machax doesn't cut as deep, but it doesn't have any tendency to stick. It may glance though. The 9 likes to stick because it digs so deep.

The 4 is much more precise since you chop with the forward part of the blade. Notice how I notched in the edges. If you tried to do that with the 9 you'd be chopping with the tip and hitting dirt and rock, as you can't always roll the log.

Here's why.

9 on some green Red Maple.

Pretty much done unless I want to risk mucking up my edge.

Same notch after some finesse with the 4.

Not always can you limb from the bottom to the top.

No notch required for the 4.

I believe the forward chopping of the 4 leaves somewhat less risk of barking the knuckles.

Even used the 4 to drive a felling wedge.

I'll keep the estwing around for that though.

Two very fine blades.

So I don't think either is "better," they're just different. Want something like a felling axe... swing hard, make chips fly, dig deep with little risk of glancing? That'd be the 9.

Like a little finesse? Chopping logs on the ground, in awkward positions, some limbing? That'd be the 4.

Plus, to me, the 4 is just.... art...

 

[thrillbilly]

very interesting thoughts Mark. I especially like the pic with the axe comparison. Kinda my view too, King= Raw Power, 'Chax= Finesse

 

[LastXJ]

Good writeup, pix and thoughts. I love my 9, but I think a 4 may be in order soon. Can't have too many Beckers, and they can serve different purposes.

 

[KP]

Thanks for the insights and great pics. I got a 9 and was a bit skeptical on what the 4 would add but it's posts like this that convinced me to get one anyway.

 

[DJG097]

I like both for different reasons but I think i'll stick with the 9 mainly because I cannot for the life of me get my machax sharp.

 

[Guineaman]

I recenctly did a head to head chopping comparison that included a 9 and a 4 plus a few others, didn't really give much thought to the finess of the 4. I havn't posted pics yet, blah,blah,blah huh? thank for the insight as to more than just chopping ability, i will pay more attention to that upon next use of the 4

 

[Dudepal]

Thanks for the pictures and review. I dig the axe to chax shots.

 

[ThePointyEnd]

I like both for different reasons but I think i'll stick with the 9 mainly because I cannot for the life of me get my machax sharp.

Keep at it! sharpening a recurve is different. it took me a while to get the hang of sharpening mine, too. Finally got the edge the way i want it. shaves. Might want to try narrow stones and a sharpie, that's how I got there. After I convexed it .

Ax, This is a great contrast-ison. I just gained some insight about the BK-4, and the BK-9 and which is a little better at what. One thing I picked up is that the grind heights probably provide an explanation of the Bk-9's deeper bite.

Please forgive me, I'm about to get technical

a little bit of a skewed angle. But, hopefully, the pic came out ok enough to see... I'm no pro photographer. But the moral of the story is that the Bk-4 has a grind height of around 7/8" (0.890" right at the thickest point) while the Bk-9 has a grind height of around 1 3/16" (1.175"). These are both Kabar knives. Taking stock thickness into account, the Bk-4 is 0.195" thick Bk-9 is 0.188" on the money (per the blade database's stats). Only 7 thousandths different. That is a quite similar stock thickness, and a good bit shorter grind for the Bk-4, providing a wider(more acute) grind angle. explaining why the BK-9 tends to bite deeper.

That being said, I would expect the BK-4 to split(baton) better because of the wider angle and greater focus of energy at the sweet spot. I also found it neat the the BK-4 seemed to limb better, but I'm going to chalk that up to the same focus of energy as above, and spare everyone a second pseudo-science lecture

I've been "playing around" with the two pictured for a few weeks, and I can say that, without a doubt that I find them both to be excellent at just about everything around the yard. They both destroy at yardwork, lol.

 

[Captain Airyca]

Interesting! Nice to know those differences, thank you!

 

[DJG097]

Keep at it! sharpening a recurve is different. it took me a while to get the hang of sharpening mine, too. Finally got the edge the way i want it. shaves. Might want to try narrow stones and a sharpie, that's how I got there. After I convexed it .

What stones do you use?

 

[Mistwalker]

Well...just under 6 minutes of chopping with a BK-9, not sure I am ready to try it with a 4 just yet

 

[ThePointyEnd]

What stones do you use?

Used one of the repurposed cylinder hones that Murph brought to the gathering (thanks!), my India was just too wide to do it easily, but I suppose the side of a single grit stone would work fine. Or one of those ceramic rods. The trick is to cut into the stone while keeping the bevel angle consistent, and the stone 90 degrees to the edge where being sharpened. With the machax, this means changing the angle you're holding the 'chax at a lot. Good luck!

 

[Skystorm]

Good comparison review, Thanks for taking the time to do it.

 

[tradewater]

Excellent review and pics. Enjoyed reading your take on the differences too. I'm a fan of straight blades, but I'm sure the 4 could get you around quite nicely after a little learning curve.
Great post.

 

[Moosez45]

Great job, brother.

Very well done.

Moose

 

[thrillbilly]

Keep at it! sharpening a recurve is different. it took me a while to get the hang of sharpening mine, too. Finally got the edge the way i want it. shaves. Might want to try narrow stones and a sharpie, that's how I got there. After I convexed it .

Ax, This is a great contrast-ison. I just gained some insight about the BK-4, and the BK-9 and which is a little better at what. One thing I picked up is that the grind heights probably provide an explanation of the Bk-9's deeper bite.

Please forgive me, I'm about to get technical

a little bit of a skewed angle. But, hopefully, the pic came out ok enough to see... I'm no pro photographer. But the moral of the story is that the Bk-4 has a grind height of around 7/8" (0.890" right at the thickest point) while the Bk-9 has a grind height of around 1 3/16" (1.175"). These are both Kabar knives. Taking stock thickness into account, the Bk-4 is 0.195" thick Bk-9 is 0.188" on the money (per the blade database's stats). Only 7 thousandths different. That is a quite similar stock thickness, and a good bit shorter grind for the Bk-4, providing a wider(more acute) grind angle. explaining why the BK-9 tends to bite deeper.

That being said, I would expect the BK-4 to split(baton) better because of the wider angle and greater focus of energy at the sweet spot. I also found it neat the the BK-4 seemed to limb better, but I'm going to chalk that up to the same focus of energy as above, and spare everyone a second pseudo-science lecture

I've been "playing around" with the two pictured for a few weeks, and I can say that, without a doubt that I find them both to be excellent at just about everything around the yard. They both destroy at yardwork, lol.

you need an American ruler......
but you make a good point, I think the angle of grind DOES explain some of why the 9 bites deeper.


I actually prefer to baton with the 9, the curved 4 is more awkward for me....the straight blade wins in that category, IMO anyways.

 

[Ethan Becker]

Thanks...

Enjoyed this one.....Nice pix too......

Ethan

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Great post. Great pics. Not that it matters, but I agreed with everything you said. My exact feeling on both. You can't go wrong with either tool.

As for sharpening the BK4?,,,I am a big fan of a diamond steel rod. This way, the knife stays in place, and the steel is doing the work. I finish with a ceramic rod, and then a strop. I am no sharpening expert, but all my knives shave hair...so they are sharp enough for me.

 

[namida]

I like these comparison threads! Really puts things in better in a perspective and makes me even more confused about which Becker to get! Now I think I fully understand about the default responses; "Get both" or "Get them all" :thumbup:

 

[trailbum]

Great thread.
Thanks for taking the time.