Who has a 4 and a 9??

B

BigBert

Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
168
So the theme around here seems to be something along the lines of "you can't not have a 9". I am looking at adding either a 4 or a 9 to my Christmas wish list and was wondering to those who have both, which do you use more and which do you prefer? The 9 definitely seems like it would be more versatile and by all accounts seems to perform better, but I just love the look of the 4! Has anyone gotten a 4 and wished it were a 9?
 
I got my 9 first, and the 4 later, when it came out. I got the 4 because it was an unusual style. I much prefer the 9 to the 4. The angle of the 4 doesn't feel right when I'm batoning, and I'm not sure the recurve is as efficient as the straight blade for that activity. I find the 9 makes finger- and pencil-sized sticks better, again because of the wide, straight edge.

I don't do a lot of chopping, so I cannot speak to the differences there. The 4 was a lot smaller in-hand than I expected it to be. Overall, the 9 indexes better in my hand, which is why it gets much more use from me.
 
The 4 does have a certain cool factor.
It's fun to use and makes a great camp tool!

However, the 9 out chops it and it does feel more balanced in the hand.

If you're thinking about one or the other.........get both! :D



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I have both and they have their own advantages. The chopping is similar once you get the snap cut method figured out for the 4. The 4 is a lot of fun to use but for me the 9 checks more boxes so i grab that first. If i were you i would suggest getting the 9 and then a 4 a little later.
 
I have them both, and use them both regularly. In general, I prefer to carry the 4 on hip in the woods as a woods knife, in part because it is smaller and lighter than the 9.

Chopping is about even (with the snap cut on the 4), but I don't do a lot of chopping so I can't really give that much weight.

The 9 is better at batoning, but I usually use my BK2 for batoning.

The 9 smokes anything else for cutting a melon or a squash in half.

The 4 feels sexier and more nimble in my hand than the 9, especially for finer carving tasks.

Tough to recommend one over the other. They are both great. I think the "which one" answer will depend in part on what other knives you already have, ie, which niche you are looking to fill.
 
I don't really have a "need" for either knife. I have a hatchet and a folding saw that handle any serious wood work I might have. Really just looking for a fun toy. I guess a better question would have been- which one do you have more FUN using?
 
If you can only have one(for now) get the BK4. Its THE Becker to have IMHO! Very versital and not too big or heavy. It's the first design Ethan released if I recall correctly.
 
I have both. Although the BK9 is more my favorite since it is more my style of blade, the BK4 itself is very unique and if practiced well, can do about just as great as the BK9. It is a very nice knife, and I love it!

Here are some of my becker knives



 
Translash said:
I have both. Although the BK9 is more my favorite since it is more my style of blade, the BK4 itself is very unique and if practiced well, can do about just as great as the BK9. It is a very nice knife, and I love it!

Here are some of my becker knives

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I'm really digging those wood scales. How does the traction compare to say micarta?
 
BigBert said:
I'm really digging those wood scales. How does the traction compare to say micarta?
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Hi, the traction is worse than micarta. If you swing the knife like an ax (which you're not supposed to in recurve blades), it will slip out, unless you wear gloves. If you use the wrist flick method, or medium chopping (using say up to 75% of force), you should be fine. I think wood looks classier though. If you were really worried about traction on wood scales, you would have to sand the handles down to with a low grit sandpaper.
 
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Translash said:
Hi, the traction is worse than micarta, but I wear gloves when I chop. If you swing the knife like an ax (which you're not supposed to in recurve blades -- use wrist flicks), it will slip out, unless you wear gloves. I think wood looks classier though. If you were really worried about traction on wood scales, you would have to sand the handles down to with a low grit sandpaper.
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I agree that wood looks much nicer, and there are so many different stains and grain patterns you can use to really make it pop! I think one of my winter projects will be to make a set of wood scales....oh and to learn how to use Japanese water stones
 
i have them all :) like some others :>

i prefer the Cincinnati Machax over the new one from KaBar. it's thicker. better chopper. convexed, it's "verah nice"

would prefer even thicker, but that's me
 
Well if anyone has a 4 they'd like to get rid of, I have an used 10 I'd be willing to swap for it. Thanks to everyone for the advice, I know I will have both eventually but there's just something about that 4 that I really like.
 
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