I've decided that I'm finally going to get a good fixed blade for hiking/camping. I know that the 4-5 inch blade is the most utilitarian/practical, but I like the idea of something a bit longer, stronger, and better suited to use as a survival knife. I've narrowed it down to either a full size Ka Bar (USMC fighting knife or one of the variants) and the Becker BK9. I know that the longer blade (9") on the BK9 will allow me to batton through larger pieces of firewood, but the Ka Bar would be easier to carry, 2/3 of the weight, and its less expensive.
I feel like now would be a good point to point out that I do realize that Ka Bar now makes the BK9, and there is a BK7 (Why couldn't I have made it simple and chosen knifes from different companies?)
I know that a great big knife is not going to be the best for the more detailed wood carving side of wilderness use, but I would also carry a smaller SAK, CRKTM16, or a Leatherman multi-tool, that would be able to do the "small knife" tasks.
I was origanally pretty stoked about picking up a Becker, but the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking the Ka Bar might see more use, and be more useful as an "all-around" knife. Do you gues have any input? Is there anything that the BK9 will be able to do that the Ka Bar won't? Any experiance with either of them? Also, does anyone have any particular favorites in the Ka Bar line?
Finally, Either way, I'd like to get a sheath that has a pocket on it so I can keep a sharpener and metal-match/fire-starter with it all the time... can anyone point me in the right direction to look for such a sheath? (It looks like most of the BK9's come with one, but the Ka Bar doesn't.)
Thanks!
Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
I feel like now would be a good point to point out that I do realize that Ka Bar now makes the BK9, and there is a BK7 (Why couldn't I have made it simple and chosen knifes from different companies?)
I know that a great big knife is not going to be the best for the more detailed wood carving side of wilderness use, but I would also carry a smaller SAK, CRKTM16, or a Leatherman multi-tool, that would be able to do the "small knife" tasks.
I was origanally pretty stoked about picking up a Becker, but the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking the Ka Bar might see more use, and be more useful as an "all-around" knife. Do you gues have any input? Is there anything that the BK9 will be able to do that the Ka Bar won't? Any experiance with either of them? Also, does anyone have any particular favorites in the Ka Bar line?
Finally, Either way, I'd like to get a sheath that has a pocket on it so I can keep a sharpener and metal-match/fire-starter with it all the time... can anyone point me in the right direction to look for such a sheath? (It looks like most of the BK9's come with one, but the Ka Bar doesn't.)
Thanks!
Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
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