Bk9 vs Junglas 2 what to get

[Vos]

Hi,
I am hesitating between bk9 and junglas2. I am not going to take down trees with them just normal chopping. Does anyone have any experience with both blades? Any insight would be much appreciated.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

You would get a ton of responses quite quickly in the Becker subforum. I have never handled a junglas 2, but I can say that the BK 9 is both a beast and a versatile tool. I don't think you can go wrong with one, and I don't feel the need for any other chopper with a 9 in my hand--at least until you start getting to the "I really should be using an axe" level.

 

[jstn]

The BK9 is my favorite chopper. The Junglas has nicer handles (micarta), and by the time you buy aftermarket micarta scales for the BK9 the price difference is negligible. If you have a soldering iron you can stipple the handles on the BK9 and get some great traction. Here is mine. It's none too gorgeous, but it isn't going to slip. You can spend a little more time and make it look nicer, or even stipple in a pattern. And, if it is too rough afterward, a little sandpaper will get it where you like it. So all that said, I guess the BK9 is my vote.

 

[22-rimfire]

Everyone seems to love the "9". Some call it the "king". I don't own either the BK-9 or the Junglas. If I were going to carry the knife backpacking or fairly long distance hiking, I would probably go with the BK-9. But quite frankly, when I have purchased knives like this, I leave them at home, use around the house, playing around in the woods, or car camping. My answer to the chopping knife question is to go larger than both of these blades as long as you don't plan on carrying it back packing. If that is the case, I would go with lighter of the two.

 

[thebrain]

I absolutely love my BK9 I use it often , I don't seem to have the slippery handle issues that some people have, even had no problems in winter and cold rain. I don't know if I have another knife that is more useful outdoors. That being said I have always wanted a Junglas. One thing I don't really hear much about is edge holding on choppers, my BK9 holds a damn fine edge after 6+ hours of clearing fallen branches after a bad ice storm it was still sharp!

 

[19-3ben]

I am not going to take down trees with them just normal chopping

Not sure what "normal" chopping is. What kinds of things are you doing with the knife? Also, do you plan to do things other than chop? The reason I ask that that the BK9 has a strong reputation for handling small knife tasks fairly well, especially for its size, where the Junglas is a little more one dimensional.

 

[Vos]

Not sure what "normal" chopping is. What kinds of things are you doing with the knife? Also, do you plan to do things other than chop? The reason I ask that that the BK9 has a strong reputation for handling small knife tasks fairly well, especially for its size, where the Junglas is a little more one dimensional.

I am thinking junglas 2 which is smaller than the original junglas...

 

[19-3ben]

I am thinking junglas 2 which is smaller than the original junglas...

Ah yes, I do see that. The shorter blade would be generally handier, but at the penalty of chopping ability that you get with a longer blade. Every knife is all about the tradeoffs in certain areas and optimization in others.

So if the main purpose of the blade is to chop, why make the trade off on the single most important reason you're buying the knife? The standard Junglas would seem to be the better chopper.

 

[JDRanger]

The Junglas is designed for machete use as well as a bushcraft knife. The Becker is a large knife for bushcraft and/or survival use.

I have a BK7. It works pretty well but it’s a big heavy chunk of steel. The BK9 is even larger so it will be good for big jobs but I’m guessing it will be somewhat unweldly for camp set up, building traps, and fire prep.

If you go with the Becker and have some extra budget upgrade the handle scales. The stock scales aren’t very impressive. You can find them in Amazon.

If you want a machete for trail clearing the Junglas2 would definitely be a better choice. Due to its size, weight, and balance I’m not even sure the BK9 would be safe for trail clearing.

 

[Cobalt]

Both knives are 3/16" thick. So the machete argument is null. I have owned several examples of both knives. You definitely need to get the aftermarket handles for the bk9. Factory handles suck. If I had to choose one it would be the Junglas or Junglas 2. I like the sheath system better and the handle fits me like a glove

 

[DJC72]

I own both and enjoy both blades. The Junglas is a slightly larger blade with a top of the line sheath and is well worth the cash. I prefer the Bk9 though, mostly due to ergonomics. While chopping my pinky begins to slip down the Junglas handle. After a few chops, I must reposition my hand. The Bk9 locks my hand place for the duration. I did upgrade the handles on the Bk9 but tennis tape or sandpaper can create a little more traction on the standard scales.

 

[Cobalt]

OP mentioned the Junglas 2 which is not a larger blade. It really is a matter of taste. Both have good warranty. I do not have the junglas 2, but plan on getting one.

 

[unklfranco]

I preferred the ESEE handles and looks but the BK 9 with micarta scales upgrade wins hands down. It really is very hard to top 1095CV without getting into SR101, S7, or INFI.

 

[Cobalt]

I preferred the ESEE handles and looks but the BK 9 with micarta scales upgrade wins hands down. It really is very hard to top 1095CV without getting into SR101, S7, or INFI.

I think Rowans HT on the Junglas gives it a distinct advantage in performance. 1095cv isn't helping much over the better ht'd junglas.

Impressive what a good ht can do

 

[ocnLogan]

I would say BK9.

I find that for chopping, blade length is highly important. Blades shorter than about 8in in my opinion don't chop all that well. While I haven't used the junglas 2, it's overall size would make me cautious.

By the same token, the bk9 chops well (vaguely like my hatchet, if that helps any), but isn't so large that it becomes unwieldy for smaller tasks, and is still able to be carried on your person fairly easily (unlike a good size machete).

I haven't had issues with the "awful" stock scales. In fact, I've tried micarta, and switched back to the stock "slippery" grivory. The ergos of the handle lock your hand in place, and the not too grippy texture means I've NEVER had a blister using it, even after chopping for multiple hours without gloves (most recently, clearing saplings in the backyard, before the machete arrived).

like others though, even though I love the knife, it doesn't get rons of use. It doesn't go backpacking, or do most of the work around the house.

It is an excellent base camp style knife though. It can do almost anything. It feathersticks, batons, carves tent pegs, chops, trims rope, and cuts food. It's just not the best tool for any of those. But because it can, it's often the second blade that comes, as with that I feel I have so many bases covered.

Good luck making a decision . I'm sure you'll love either of them .

 

[Gvard]

I think Rowans HT on the Junglas gives it a distinct advantage in performance. 1095cv isn't helping much over the better ht'd junglas.

Impressive what a good ht can do

At what aspect of performance is the 1095 from esee better than kabar's? What makes esee's ht better?

 

[Yonose]

I like the bk9 but as others have said requires upgrades. I gather that the junglas will bend when pushed past a certain angle where the bk9 would break. Beckers are made in larger, automated batches, so there’s no debate that they have less optimal HT—though the Becker is tough enough for me. I believe the 9 will bind less in softer wood, given its grind.

 

[Patrice]

I was torn between the two a while ago. I really wanted a Junglas but it seemed too long and heavy, without making the most of the length and weight, if that makes sense.

I ended up buying a bk9 and Junglas 2 and found them to function similarly, whilst the Junglas has a phenomenal sheath. The sheath on the bk9 is good enough, it just isn’t as effective and well made/designed as the Junglas one is.

My hands are medium sized and I found that the handle on the bk9 was very comfortable, smooth, without being slippery. The Junglas handle I felt was too large and square for my hand, so I contoured it slightly by filing some finger grooves in (see lower pics).

As far as chopping ability goes, I reckon you would be hard pressed to split them. In the second pic you can see that the 9 has a very slightly longer cutting edge but overall length is pretty similar, so when you are right back on the handle chopping, they are effectively the same length.

I actually sold the BK9 and kept the Junglas but that was basically because the sheath is so good. I would say pound for pound, the BK9 represents better value, as the extra dough is really for the sheath. If, however, you pay the extra, the sheath is absolutely worth it. I wouldn’t really class the Micarta scales of the Junglas as an upgrade either really, just more of a preference.

I have included various comparison pics if they help and also an alternative I would suggest. The Terävä skrama. I now only own the Skrama and Junglas 2 but had I bought the Skrama first, I wouldn’t have ended up with the Junglas 2. The Skrama, IMO, is a better knife than both at anything I can think you would attempt to do with this type of knife. Also, at least in the UK, it costs around half the price of the BK9 and 1/3 the price of the Junglas 2. Comes with a basic cheap plastic sheath or, for an extra £30ish a, by all accounts, pretty decent leather one.

Hope this helps, sorry for the ramble!

 

[Cobalt]

At what aspect of performance? Much tougher steel. The purpose of a large knife like that is toughness for all kinds of jobs. At that, they are not equals, in spite of the fact that the junglas is flat ground(high sabre) and has less metal in it's profile. You would have to ask Rowan what they do and Becker what they do. I am just talking about results. Both knives are 3/16" thick. Try the above video with a BK9. It will not happen. Also if you google both knives as in junglas, bk9 and put failure after it, you will get a wealth of information to help make a decision. Peoples opinions are fine, but facts are better and there are tons of them on the internet. No need for me to discuss it unless you want me to start posting links and pics.

 

[Yonose]

I was torn between the two a while ago. I really wanted a Junglas but it seemed too long and heavy, without making the most of the length and weight, if that makes sense.

I ended up buying a bk9 and Junglas 2 and found them to function similarly, whilst the Junglas has a phenomenal sheath. The sheath on the bk9 is good enough, it just isn’t as effective and well made/designed as the Junglas one is.

My hands are medium sized and I found that the handle on the bk9 was very comfortable, smooth, without being slippery. The Junglas handle I felt was too large and square for my hand, so I contoured it slightly by filing some finger grooves in (see lower pics).

As far as chopping ability goes, I reckon you would be hard pressed to split them. In the second pic you can see that the 9 has a very slightly longer cutting edge but overall length is pretty similar, so when you are right back on the handle chopping, they are effectively the same length.

I actually sold the BK9 and kept the Junglas but that was basically because the sheath is so good. I would say pound for pound, the BK9 represents better value, as the extra dough is really for the sheath. If, however, you pay the extra, the sheath is absolutely worth it. I wouldn’t really class the Micarta scales of the Junglas as an upgrade either really, just more of a preference.

I have included various comparison pics if they help and also an alternative I would suggest. The Terävä skrama. I now only own the Skrama and Junglas 2 but had I bought the Skrama first, I wouldn’t have ended up with the Junglas 2. The Skrama, IMO, is a better knife than both at anything I can think you would attempt to do with this type of knife. Also, at least in the UK, it costs around half the price of the BK9 and 1/3 the price of the Junglas 2. Comes with a basic cheap plastic sheath or, for an extra £30ish a, by all accounts, pretty decent leather one.

Hope this helps, sorry for the ramble!

Never heard of the skrama, I’m glad to hear there are reasonably priced big blades in the UK—most of the news I hear is out of London—plenty of threads discussing the mindset there.