ESEE Junglas and Becker Combat Bowie

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
Recently a forum member asked me to compare the new Junglas with Becker's BK-9 Combat Bowie. My BK-9 is an older one made by Camillus in the famous 0170-6C steel, but Ka-Bar says the 1095 Cro-Van is essentially the same steel. The knife has not really changed since the Camillus days, so maybe this is a valid comparison. Also, I replaced the original grips on the Becker with micarta ones I bought directly from Camillus before they went under. I also sharpened the swedge (I don't know why). The original sheath is long gone, but the Cordura one I carry it in now is similar to the ones the new BK-9s come with.
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Both knives are nominally 3/16" thick, but my Becker appears to be just a little thicker than my Junglas.

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The Junglas is a bigger knife overall at 16.5" compared to 14.75" for the BK-9. While the Becker has a 9.125" long blade, the Junglas blade is 10.375" long.
The Junglas is made from 1095 high carbon steel.
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The Becker weighs 18.4 oz and the larger Junglas comes in at 22.4 oz. Right now, you can buy the BK-9 with sheath for $86.95 at Knife Center, but the Junglas will set you back $182.95. Part of the increased cost of the Junglas has to be the very nice Kydex/Cordura sheath and the well shaped micarta scales it comes with. With all that out of the way, time to take these choppers out back for some recreation.

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THANK YOU! I had been wanting to see a side by side on these two.

The Junglas is exactly what it is: a 10" ESEE quality knife backed by the best warranty in the business. They could have gone cheap on the sheath, but they didn't. The Junglas can be found cheaper other places, and for the price you can find it at, that knife is a bargain. I don't know why I don't have one yet, probably because I put part of that knife money toward a Lite Machete back in April.

The Becker is a bargain. It's quite affordable for a knife of that size, but to sell a knife at that price, you have to take some shortcuts and that shortcut is the sheath. The Junglas sheath blows it out of the water.
 
Both knives are light and lively in the hand, balancing just in front of the handles. The angled, contoured Junglas feels a little better to me, but I have no complaints with either handle.
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I did some palmetto slashing with both knives. Both are plenty sharp, but the added reach of the Junglas made it easier to use as a machete. It would slice the leaves cleaner than the Becker. Both knives will work as short machetes.
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I split some wood with both knives using a baton. Both can take quite a beating with no ill effects. I have used the Becker for years and it has proven to be a very tough knife.
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Both chopped well, but the Junglas was more comfortable for me to chop with. The larger handle helped and the bigger blade chopped through the dry hard wood in fewer chops than the Becker, but both performed well, as I knew they would.
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In summary, these are similar knives in use. Both can chop, split, and slash. Both are proven tough performers. I prefer the Junglas for machete work, but the Becker is quite a bargain. If you don't feel like spending over $100 for a very well made chopper, the Becker is the way to go. The Junglas is the Cadillac of bush knives, and it has evolved from the old RTAK series into what I consider one of the very best bush knives ever made. And the sheath is very high quality.
 
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Thanks for the review, both look like great choppers. I really want the Junglas but just bought a RTAK ii, will have to wait a while for the Junglas. Hopefully it will give me good service.
 
BloodGroove4570 said:
Thanks for the review, both look like great choppers. I really want the Junglas but just bought a RTAK ii, will have to wait a while for the Junglas. Hopefully it will give me good service.
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Both my RTAK and RTAK II are still going strong. The handle on the Junglas is more comfortable for me, but the RTAK II is a good knife.
 
I love using the Junglas. The handle makes it feel like an extension in my hand. I've yet to get the Bk9, but it is on the list ;)
 
TheGame said:
I love using the Junglas. The handle makes it feel like an extension in my hand. I've yet to get the Bk9, but it is on the list ;)
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Thanks for the write up.

Moose
 
Both good knives. Much prefer the Junglas myself though. The Junlgas and the Becker can be had for around $15 to $20 cheaper though from other sellers compared to the one you mentioned. Knife Center is always a tad on the high side.
 
Magus said:
Both good knives. Much prefer the Junglas myself though. The Junlgas and the Becker can be had for around $15 to $20 cheaper though from other sellers compared to the one you mentioned. Knife Center is always a tad on the high side.
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Yeah, I just used them as an example. If I had used MSRP it would have been even less accurate! It always pays to shop around. :thumbup:
 
Great review between the 2 blades, I've really been wanting to see how those 2 did side by side. You'd think that the Junglas being a 10" blade you'd be limited on what you could use it for, but it's easily capable of doing just about anything you ask of it with ease, even finer detailed work. It's ended up becoming one of my favorite ESEE knives! Again, great review Horn Dog!!!
 
Thanks. There are so many good choppers available nowadays it comes down to personal preference and price in many cases. I have a ridiculously huge collection of choppers. Some cost more than a good rifle. Now I know that most folks are not going to pay hundreds of dollars for a chopper, but some will. The good news is that you can still get high quality American-made knives at affordable prices. Ka-Bar,Rowen, and Ontario all make good ones at prices under $200. Or if you are just a knife fanatic like me, you can get a Busse, but the others will do anything most folks will ever need a chopper to do.
 
Thanks for the comparison review HD! When it comes to choppers, you are an invaluable resource big guy!
 
Great Review HD ,Thank you ! Moosez45 & I was talking about the BK9 & Junglas in a head to head Comp but neither one of us had both blades .....
2 Great Knives made by two Great Companies !
 
Hahaha. Junglas chopped through in 30 chops, Becker in 39. Junglas out slashed it too. But either knife is a fine outdoor tool.
 
If you hunt around you can find the BK-9 for under $70 shipped (an Amazon (sp?) bargain IMO). Value for money the BK-9 wins easily. But if you can afford the extra cost the Junglas is the better knife with the better scales & sheath (I wish I could afford one).

I already have the BK-9 and I can't afford a Junglas so I'll just have to play with my Lite Machete once it arrives (Knife Center say it has shipped) and my 4 new SAKs. Hmmm, I'm starting to see why I don't have any money to buy a Junglas!

Anyway - cool comparison, now I know that if I find myself with spare money it would be worth buying a Junglas.
 
super sweet.. I've been waiting for something like this as of late.. Thanks, you did a great unbiased observation of both knives..

I wonder if the Kabar version is as thick as the Camillus, I agree if you are just looking for a great chopper without the expense and all the whistles then the BK all the way, but if you need to have micarta and a killer sheath.. hands down get the junglas.. (as it would come to about the same price if you added these to the BK)

:thumbup:
 
TheLastDaze said:
...I wonder if the Kabar version is as thick as the Camillus,...
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I have wondered the same thing. My BK-9 is most definitely thicker than the Junglas. I could be mistaken, but the number .21" keeps popping into my head as the thickness. But it has been a long time since I bought the Camillus Becker, and I could be wrong. It is a touch thicker than 3/16". All I have is a tape measure. In any case, I doubt that such a small difference in thickness between .1875" and .21" would make much of a difference in the performance of the BK-9s. It's like 1/32 of an inch.
 
excellent review, man! i was asked by a forum member (probably the same one haha) to do a side by side test since i have both. after reading your review, i don't see the point in doing a write-up since it's exactly how i feel about them.

for me the bk-9 feels like a large knife and the junglas a scaled down machete. a few months ago we had a party here and i ran out of chef knives (my relatives were all using it) so i whipped out my bk-9. aside from a little heavy it works really well in the kitchen chopping veggies and meat. the junglas felt awkward due to it's handle and blade size.

on the other hand when it comes to de-limbing branches and stuff, i much prefer the junglas due to it's handle size. it feels very nimble in the hand and a lot lighter than it really is.
 
JV3 said:
so i whipped out my bk-9. aside from a little heavy it works really well in the kitchen chopping veggies and meat.
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Just don't combine the BK-9 + Large Watermelon + cheap chopping board + bringing the BK-9 for a nice chop (aiming to go through maybe 3/4 of the watermelon). The BK-9 has enough weight to give it more momentum than you would have on you normal kitchen knives and if you are like me it will be 'scary sharp'

Hence:
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Twice as many cheap plastic chopping boards, but half as big.
 
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