Wanted: Thoughts on BK 9

lagarto

lagarto

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
1,438
Well,
I just got my tax return, and decided to spoil myself a little. I just ordered a BK 9 because I wanted a large blade for use in the outdoors, and unfortunately sold most of my good ones last year due to finances. I really liked the RD 9 from Range Knives,but it is a little beyond my means right now, even though it's still very inexpensive. I figured the next best thing was the Becker, and I found it for a little more than half the cost of the alternative at NGK. However, never having field tested one, I was wondering what people here think of them. Are they a decent choice for a (wannabe) outdoorsman on a budget? Specifically will they stand up to light chopping and splitting tasks as well as the usual slicing?
 
I think you'll see mostly great reviews on it. I have one and like it a lot. You get a very good knife for not much money. Don't worry about chopping with it, batoning through wood etc. Lateral stress is the only problem I've heard on the Beckers. It won't take the prying and twisting that say, a Swamp Rat would. But it will hold up to plenty of hard use.
 
It's on the bid side for most other chores but it will chop very well!

Another good chopping only knife is the 12" Ontario machete.

Collecter
 
It is a fine knife for chopping. True it is not meant to pry up concrete slabs, but will stand up fine if say the knife gets stuck in wood and needs to be wiggled around enough to get it out.
 
My BK7 can chop and split and still slice very well, and my RD7 is a beast at chopping. It doesn't have the thin edge that the BK7 does so it lacks in the slicing field, but it is very robust and can take a beating. Prying with the RD7 doesn't even make you second guess the knife ;)

Don't think the BK7 isn't tough, just after holding/using the RD7 you see that the RD7 is tougher. I understand that the BK9 is thicker stock, but the RD7 and RD9 use the same stock thickness for some comparison info :)
 
the main complaint that i hear about the BKs is in the handles. they're slippery and not as grippy/tough as micarta.

definitely try to handle them before you buy.
 
Thanks for the input so far everyone, keep it coming. Powells85 I really would like to get one of the Ranger knives, but as I said my budget was extremely limited. I'm glad to hear that the Becker's hold up almost as well as those. Madfast, the thought had occurred to me too, I've handled the BK7 once, but never a 9 although I think they all use the same handles. I may try to texture it some with a dremel tool.

Lagarto
 
The becker handles are designed to not give you blisters. I don't find them slippery and like them just the way they are.

Collecter
 
lagarto said:
I may try to texture it some with a dremel tool.
Click to expand...
Another alternative is to just use sandpaper for simplicity or beadblasting if you have a blast cabinet. For sandpaper, the finer grits should achieve a texture with some purchase to it without being too coarse and aggressive.

With the Dremel, what pattern were you thinking of adding to give the Becker handle better traction?
 
RokJok,
I was thinking of either trying to use the cutting wheels to add a little cross hatched pattern such as Fehrman knives is currently using on their knives, or maybe using a small drill bit to add a set of holes, similar to having it Mayonized with a much smaller hole diameter, to each slab. Not sure if it would work out that well, just a thought I had.

Lagarto
 
Had my BK9 for a couple of weeks now. You cannot go wrong for the money. I read alot about poor grip performance. Handle is comfortable, as for slipping, a little grip/fabric tape will correct that perceived problem. Great chopper! Sheath is not the greatest, but the pocket holds my Leatherman perfectly.
 
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