Battle of the Camp Knives KaBar BK7 vs Ontario Spec+ Kukri Knife, 1095 vs 1075 Carbon Steel - Review
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- What's better outdoors knife for fire-making, food-prep, bushcraft, survival, edge holding, toughness, chopping?
Recurve geometry vs combat utility clip point, 1075 Carbon Steel vs 1095 Carbon Steel. Whose powder coating is more effective? All this and more covered in this review of the KaBar Becker BK7 Combat Utility Survival Knife and the Ontario Spec Plus Alpha Kukri Knife.
Both knives tested with a long lasting dual-grit edge!
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#thehomeslicesharpening #dualgritedge #dualgrittest
Great video! Interesting too. I have Beckers and Kukri's and they each perform their specific tasks, very well...
Thanks bro - I actually did a whole chop tournament last year, and the KaBar won the edge retention challenge (surprised me). I have a couple videos coming out in a few months where I test some full size Kukris (a Cold Steel and a couple genuine Nepalese) as well with great results!
I like the BK7 and BK9 and other choppers but eventually I had a custom knife made that fit my needs. Found a maker on Bladeforums and sent him a design I've wanted for a while. For $200 he made me a killer chopper out of Nitro-v(other choices were 1095, 80Crv2 and CPM M4 but Nitro-v is plenty tough while being stainless) heat treated to perfection at 60-61hrc and a kydex sheath (leather is an option). The heat treat on it was amazing, I put it up against a Shrade and a Condor to help me break down a bunch of wood. It did about 60% of the work and was still cutting newsprint pretty clean. Schrade had chips and dents and Condor dulled pretty good even though they were ground much thicker(I had him do 8 thou at the tip and by the ricasso and sweet spot at 15 thou).
There are great knives out there and some might even be just about perfect but sometimes you just need a custom knife that you designed for your needs. There are great makers out there charging not much more than big companies do and I'd rather support the lil guy.
HaHA bro - we are absolutely of one mind!!!
I have a custom maker sending me a 6.5 inch full flat ground hunting knife made of 63 HRC NitroV. He's literally making it now.
Going to be my next blade to put through all these tests.
I know 63 HRC is hard, but I'm not planning to baton with it - just light chopping on green stuff and then my traditional kitchen test (pumpkin, carrot, apple, tomato).
That's so awesome that you recommended a thin stainless chopper out of super hard NitroV hahaha, we seriously need to design a knife together you and I.
@@homeslicesharpening You know what they say, great minds think alike. That's awesome though, looking forward to seeing how that knife does. Mines an 11" blade ground as a saber/convex to a thin edge with about a 7" multi position handle and it's used for everything so 61 was what the maker recommended. Even at 63, Nitro-v is still pretty tough, its one of the toughest stainless steels out there(beating out a lot of carbon steels even) after Aeb-l, Niomax, 12c27, 14c28n, lc200n/Z-finit and 420hc though the last 2 are only below 60hrc.
I'm really glad I came across your channel through Pete. We seem to share a few knife ideas like this or your ultra thin folder for cutting.
Take care.
@@D00MTR33 You too bro. Oh yeah, if I was using an 11" chopper with a leverage increasing handle extension - I'd definitely not ask him to temper it to 63. Sounds like a cool design. You should shoot a short video panning around different views of the blade and post it up so I can see 😁
Could you share a picture of the knife?
@@gigarogi I tried doing a link to a photo of it on my IG. You can go on there and take a look. Same username.
Extremely detailed review. I like the little details and the whole expectation vs reality aspect.
Thanks bro - aiming to provide some real useful down-to-earth feedback! This was encouraging!
Ontario SP kukri has good quality blade which is quite useful if you're experienced in kukri usages. But batoning is definitely not for inexperienced individuals. Straight blade shapes eg Bowie, Spear tip, Sax etc even Tanto can be comfortable for batoning. This is why Nessmuk had mini axe/ hatchet wood works with dressing knife for games/ preps and trapper folder with two blades for fine craving or chipping. Good presentation in video. ☝️😎
Haha, did I not look experienced at batoning? 🤣 my batoning skills (or lack thereof) in this video have earned me the title of "Caveman" from other viewers, which I find hilarious.
Thanks for the comment bro - I am glad you enjoyed the video. I think the Ontario is a cool knife, but I am also really excited to try out some larger, more traditional kukri's later this year.
Cheers!
@@homeslicesharpening In general the kukri shape not your batoning 😂
Yeah lot of good knives out there to review. CRKT Catchall, Clever Girl, KUK. Tops Outpost Command, Taloma field knife or Ontario Blackbird and Rat 6 makes excellent carrying option. Keep up the good work. 😎👍
I like honesty in reviews.
Haha, yes! Otherwise why do them?
Welcome down under brother.
Thanks bro - been here for almost 5 years and I love it. Just had a baby boy and he's a Kiwi Citizen 😁
I've come to learn, after much money spent, if you're going to do the khukuri thing, do it right and get one from a reputable Nepalese company.
All these American (and other Western) made "khukuri-like objects" are way subpar compared to the real deal.
The closest I've seen to useful is the Ontario Kukri (the large one) but even then, the shape is still off and Ontario's heat treat is always questionable. Mine came with a warpy blade towards the tip. The handle kind of works but is blocky and dumb. And, of course, the blade not differentially tempered and has a silly flat grind with a V edge.
But a decent "kukri" beater for the money.
You'll be pleased to know I have 2 real Nepali Kukris coming up in the next chop tournament, as well as a Cold Steel Kukri that seems decent.
I'm not sure the Ontario is a good example of that blade style. Try the condor k tack it's 1075. Or tops which is in 1095.
Yeah, you're right - I actually have several more Kukri tests coming once a viewer in Auckland sends me some. Thanks!
Thanks for the review! Personally, I shy away for batoning with my primary fixed blade after breaking a $200 customized knife doing so. For a while I was on the “use a knife for a knife and an axe for an axe!” brigade but there’s times when having a knife like object for light to medium chopping and batoning is just the ticket. For that I got an Esee Expat Libertarian Machete. Despite the name it more like a 9” 1075 straight handled froe with a hole that allows it to be used as a draw knife. You might want to check it out. Thanks again.
Awesome advice! Yeah, my primary camping setup is a Bark River Fox River EXT1 and a Condor Scout Axe.
I guess I'm just probing the batoning/chopping knife options cause I find it to be a really fun world to explore.
I have seen the ESEE Expat before - it's ruggedly cool and simple. How is the chopping action? Looks like a beast.
I may have to do my outdoors test with one at some stage!
Thanks for the great comment!
@@homeslicesharpening I live in Arizona and only used it on small to medium sized branches and its excellent. It is blade heavy but not unwieldy. It is close to the weight of the BK7 but with a better blade slope and an additional 2” in length (may be for fixed blades that should be part of the equation, blade run maybe?) so I betting it will do well on heavier chopping task. I plan on getting up into upper elevations where there is some larger materials and I will let you know. Thank again
Enter a (quality brand) Nepalese made khukuri. Usually around a quarter inch spine at thickest point. Convex edge. Differentially heat treated blade for toughness. All around or just under $200 once you include shipping.
Not the easiest shape to deal with for batoning but it works and you get used to it.
Ask for the same specs and hand made detail from an American made blade and you're looking at an easy $500 minimum.
This Ontario Kukri is very nice. Not so heavy than other Kukri.
Yeah, very portable!
Some drawbacks you mentioned about kukri could be tweaked. Good paracord lanyard can improve grip and chopping power, anti cut adhesive tape can fix the sheath, but then again: that means you didn't buy a product that's ready to use. Also: not much can be done to improve batoning. I've fumbled around with this stuff and ended up buying GB froe. I'd prefer cheaper stuff, maybe Fiskars can make one someday :s. Cheers friend
Thanks for the input! I've used tennis racket tape to improve grip, absorb shock, and cut down on hotspots on machete handles before - but these are some other great hacks.
I think after using the ESEE and TOPS in the tests I've done in the last couple weeks (not published yet) I'd be keen to save a bit more money and buy another brand rather than fix the Ontario. But I appreciate the thoughts.
How do you like the Gransfors froe? Never used one.
@@homeslicesharpening froe is useful when you need to do a lot of precise splitting for woodworking, or process firewood quickly. It also doesn't have any coating that rubs off on wood. The handle is mounted in similar way on tomahawks, which helps in transport, but the whole thing is still heavy. A good knife (plus optional improvised wedges) is still better for camping, bushcraft, etc
@@Owieczkin Great to know, thanks for passing on the knowledge bro - I always appreciate your perspective!
You should try a real kukuri, i have a 14 inch bladed kukuri and its heavy but man does it chop.
Hey man - I have a couple of Kukri's in the line-up for my upcoming Chop Tournament from 10-12 inch blades. Looking forward to testing them!
3:00 wear resistance vs metal fatigue . metal fatigue would explain why the sharpness drops suddenly : the edge isn't dulled due to abrasion because 1095 carbides endure, but the metal is weakened by mechanical work and the edge just roll or break or both . While 1075, perhaps will simply be more sensible to abrasion and tougher due to less carbide and hardness and thus starts to dull faster and does it steadily in a linear fashion .
Just an hypothesis?
Yeah, that's a great thought - thanks. I have heard of metal fatigue and this is probably a case where it is at work to some extent!
For myself I have been enjoying the 1095, it seems to defy the stats in some cases and perform admirably. I'd love to have some really high HRC 1075 to play with cause I think it would be amazing, but I don't think I'm gonna get any for under $100 haha! Thanks for your thoughts!
What is the point of a lightweight kukri, not a lot me thinks
After using it, I'd have to agree somewhat. I was hoping for "lightweight packable chopper" but I overshot it and ended up with a blade that is heavily specialized... Which does not do great at its own specialty.
Definitely going to sell it and move on to other options!
@@homeslicesharpening why did you use the Ontario, instead of the Ka-Bar 8" Combat Kukri in 1095 Cro-Van? I'm sorry, but this comparison seemed silly to me. You're comparing 2 different knife styles, with different coatings, and different steel types. Ontario knives also never arrived sharp, while Ka-Bars do. Did you sharpen the Ontario kukri before the comparison?
I LMAO during your batoning!!!! I'm sorry, but that Kukri just would not cooperate! Excellent review, by the way!
Haha, I resorted to smashing it with a log when the baton failed me.
That's ok, I LMAO watching myself baton when I edited this video. We can't always look cool my friend.
Lol, thanks for visiting.
Glad you liked the review.
A homemade splitting wedge will help remove the blade when stuck in a log like that.
Yes. Indeed.
That would be the pathway of rational, civilized man.
As we've established I was having something of a Paleolithic moment...🤣
I love when you went Caveman with that Huge price of wood!!😅😂. I would like to see that in real time!!. I have a Camilus made B k10 in 01706C (basically the same steel) and have loved it for Many years. Didn't realize you have been making videos for as long as you have!. Outstanding!!!.
Haha, thanks - all I had on hand. It was a bit of a Jackie Chan moment, just smashing the enemy with whatever happens to be around! I love the BK7 - just got done with a Black Walnut handle for it, which is sooooo nice.
Buck knife compadre froe 108 , is one chopper you may enjoy using, probably not much of a food preparation blade. , or a thug 5160 steel 👍 but 🤷🏻if NZ would let it through customs 🛃
Thanks for the review
Bueno
S-3 ranch
Thanks mate! I'll take a look at the Buck models. I saw you sent me a photo of the Thug on Patreon - very cool. Would love to get my hands on some 5160 at some stage!!!
Unfortunately it is difficult to find a supplier for those knives here - but I'll keep an eye out!
Bk…9 for the win!
Yeah! Have you seen the KaBar with 17dps Denim stropped edge dominate the 1000 Chop Test? (I’ll link it below)
Also, I just had a viewer send me a BK9 - Can’t WAIT to do the chop test on that!!!
1000 Chop Test & Mind BLOWN - Kabar Becker Knife 17 DPS Denim Strop Micro-Convex Ultimate Edge
ruclips.net/video/C-QD3WIa_s4/видео.html
@@homeslicesharpening I have not, but will check it out. I absolutely love the BK9. It would probably be my one knife if I could only have one utilitarian blade. I stripped mine and put a patina on it. Now it looks like something an Ork would carry in the hobbit movies.
@@Rooster-fo7lg Nice! I could see that. The BK9 is pretty dang multi-purpose!
Hope you enjoy the video. You will see how badly the coating needs to be stripped on mine if you watch it. After days worth of chopping and 3 times of enduring the 1000 Chop test - it looks like a recurve because the coating is beaten so far up the blade, lol.
Great job, very informative! Were there any tasks where you felt the kukri shape offered a significant advantage over the becker?
Thanks mate, yes I would say that the Kukri shape added significant power to the chop - IE if the BK7 was as light as the Ontario it would be terrible at chopping, but the shape made up for the lighter weight somewhat.
I also felt that although the coating was terrible for batoning, the shape made it easier to keep ahold of the handle and strike the tip flat (the forward lean helps with the knife not rotating out of the block of wood, IF you have a coating that does not get stuck)
I'm highly confused as to why you're comparing apples to oranges. Why not compare the Becker to the Ontario SP5, SP10, or SP6? Those would be proper comparisons, especially with a properly sharpened SP5 or SP10. A kukri is completely different than a straight knife blade. If you wanted to compare a kukri to a straight knife, you should have used the Ka-Bar Combat Kukri, which is closer in size, and is also 1095 Cro-Van.
Yeah, that’s fair bro. At this point in the channel I had zero budget, and these were the 2 knives that the overall size/weight that I was looking to try at the time, and that I could afford.
Anyway, would love to try more blades, but I am a little limited at the moment by money. Thanks for your thoughts anyway. I’ll check out the knives you mentioned.
I’m actually doing a chopping tournament right now with some fun comparisons. Perhaps not as proper as they could be, but lots of fun & my testing has come a long way since this episode. I have several kukri’s lined up for the next tournament, and had several blades sent by viewers including the BK9, Tops Tahoma, Fallkniven A1, Survive GSO, Buck Hoodlum. In addition to my BK7, and other fun things (such as tactical katanas 😁)
Cheers.
@@homeslicesharpening I definitely understand the money issue. Most of the channels I watch are professional RUclipsrs, so they make money via RUclips to buy the knives, or the companies send them versions for testing.
@@DDDYLN Haha, yeah, I have a few viewers helping me by sending blades to test, so I'm not as limited as at the publishing of this video. All good though - have a good day.
Bk 7 is the best batoner in ghat size j have. Sabre grind kix @ss
I have been so consistently impressed with the BK7. It has performed over and over! I love it!
Have you seen the 1000 chop test with the BK7 off of a 17dps hanging denim strop? It’s insane!!! Link below 👇
ruclips.net/video/C-QD3WIa_s4/видео.html
Does this mean the Gabester was... wrong? (shocked) The Kukri is just to light and maybe a bit to short to be more effective. The prestations of the BK7 don't surprise me just a reliable working knife. I would like to see an ESEE in comparison with a Ka-Bar, I guess all the fame and glory would be for the ESEE, but you never know. Thank you for this one Gabe, have a nice weekend with your wife and the little kiwi.
Haha, the Gabester most certainly was. Neither the first nor the last time I will be completely wrong!
I have good news for you my friend. I've already done the outdoors test with an ESEE 6 (airing in 2 weeks) and a TOPS Silent Hero.
I also put both of them to the kitchen test, and am working on the editing for that now! So your curiosity ought to be somewhat satisfied soon.
However, I won't spoil the results...
Have a great day with your family as well Jeroen.
@@homeslicesharpening That's good news! no spoilers indeed but somehow my money is on the ESEE. Good luck editing but that allways turns out very good.
@@jeroenvoss6231 Thanks, have a good one!
bk7 sheath insert is 1 inch longer than the blade. bad design with unnecessary length.
Yeah, they were probably trying to do a generic sheath that fits multiple designs for cheap. I've never had a real problem with it though - other than it feeling low quality and being a bit big to fit in a bag 😆
Great review and face off, it doesnt take much to get an advantage, definitely think the Ontario was out of its weight class......would have liked a bit more reflection on their light brush clearing performance. That been said totally agree with what you said regarding the handle design, I find it perplexing when knife designers seem to exclude the pommel swell for a chopping knife....handle design in an all day chopper is critical. May be a parang in your future tests
Yeah, I plan to do more detailed analysis of chopping aspects in future knives. This was sort of a quick review on what I already have - as a reference point - before testing the TOPS and ESEE that have been sent to me.
With those higher end knives I'll do much more footage of chopping, and provide feedback.
YES, pommel swell is a must!
Would love a good Parang, have a recommendation? Or something you want to send me?
@@homeslicesharpening I really appreciate hearing reviews on these larger knives from someone who actually uses them for a decent period doing actual work (not staged) so look forward to more of that.
I think I mentioned a couple before ..... Condors tool and knife seem to be the most reliable supplier with decent designs...
▪ Village parang
▪ Mini duke machete
▪ Parang machete (this has the best tapered "ricasso".....IMHO this is what gives a good parang a whippy light but penetrating swing....just wish they did this on some of their smaller models). But for tool this size I would normally reach for a good ole Cane knife
▪ Australian millitary machete (this is a robust golock style blade which appears to be pretty close to original spec)
I would love to be able to support your chanel more .... unfortunately not exactly as liquid as one might like.
Looking fwd to more of your vids, cheers
@@bunyipdan Oh mate, I'm so sorry - I fully remember and appreciate the conversation we had about Golocks & Parangs, I simply failed to link your name to the conversation.
Sorry about that, I remember all the tips you mentioned. I have so many conversations on here lol! That Condor Parang Machete is a monster in the best way!!!
I have a review on an ESEE and TOPS coming out in the next 3 weeks. I've been sent a few more blades from common brands & steels by viewers (Bark River, Cold Steel, Fallkniven, Buck etc...)
I am hoping to get through the smaller less efficient blades from common makers - and give the common market steels as fair a comparison as I can over the next few months. After that I am hoping to branch out to makers like Condor (who make a wide variety of chopping implements) and invite some custom makers to send me unusual designs, steels, heat treats. Feel free to remind me about parangs and golocks, seriously, I want to produce videos that are helpful to my viewers.
No worries about not having money to support - your feedback is valuable enough.
Thanks so much for the input my friend!
@@homeslicesharpening No worries bro, starting and managing a RUclips channel must be quite intense, no need to apologise ..... I think there is an interesting balance to be found in working blades / tools, although I yearn for a decent steel, this is not always available or at all affordable, so end up chasing functional design. A good ole Cane knife (Nth QLD Kanaka style) will work just fine if you maintain the edge, hope to see how you find the functionality of the knife design and give us your insights in steel performance. Cheers
@@bunyipdan True! Haha, we all chase the steel when the HT and design are more important overall! We also look for something that lasts longer, forgetting that some of the ones that dull faster are actually enjoyable to sharpen, erasing the negative effect if you just sit down at a stone every week or 2.
But alas, I thirst for edge stability... lol.
Take care mate, I'll remember next time 😉
Mate, what's your job? ..jungle explorer?
😂bro, what's your job? Undersea scuba specialist? Nice profile pic.
I work for a Christian non-profit that has a focus on medical training and humanitarian aid in the Pacific Islands (primarily Vanuatu, but I live in NZ currently).
My job includes managing transportation, grounds, some HR/staff care, and facilities maintenance for our main property in New Zealand.
The chopping testing I refer to is from the fact that I spend half a day per week removing invasive plants/bushes from a valley that my organization oversees. The first video of that series of tests is this one, if you want to see what I'm referring to:
ruclips.net/video/CPq7meungJA/видео.html
Cheers.