ESEE Junglas vs KA-BAR Becker BK9 | KnifeCenter Reviews

[@W1CK3DSAINT]

I could never decide between the two, so I did the only sensible thing... buy both lol

[@GeorgeOrwell-yz6zx]

Perfect solution!!!

[@falsafaz11]

Amen

[@kenjifox4264]

What’s your verdict? Also, what do you use these knives for?

[@sherrysmith9609]

I just took your advice . Thanks

[@sauce1302]

@@kenjifox4264 my verdict is dual wielding 😂

[@jock-of-ages73]

The BK9. I been wanting one for my collection for a while now.

[@dtelaw]

I chose the the Becker BK 39, which is the clear coat BK 9. Added reclaimed walnut grips and a lanyard. A+++

[@commentz-1]

I have BK9 for 10 years now, it has seen yesrs of abuse on every aspect, now i can say it is worth every penny i had spent on it.

[@Kyle_Sentz]

I have both and either way you go, you're getting a good knife. For me , removing the coating and changing the scales is a must on the bk9. I also polished it up a bit and ground off the thumb ramp with an angle grinder, it just makes it a bit easier when choking up for finer work. I am surprised at the price of the BK9. When i got mine a year and a half ago, it was 72 bucks. Hard to believe it went up 50 bucks in a little over a year. I dont think I would pay that now knowing what i do.

[@WEREWOLFUSMC]

Ha-ha!! That makes perfect Sentz! Ya man, make it your own!

[@waynestorey8174]

Bk9 is what I own. Nothing but faithful knife. Put hockey tape on handle. Never change my mind. Love it. Keep up your videos as I love your channel m8

[@Avinash-oj4nb]

Great Comparison review. Have both of theese wonderful blade's. Bk9 is better at handling and general camp chores, but gets slippery in the rains , had to tape up mine ... But the Esse Has a more larger blade , and looks better, meaner , plus the Micarta handles and the kydex is an great advantage. But I would still prefer the BK-9.

[@Mike-id8gu]

I had the BK-9 and eventually sold it. I couldn't love the sheath or handles. Today I have the Esee and am very happy with it. So much so that I've also added several more of Esee's knives to my collection.

[@ernestvaldez4187]

Have you tried the work tuff gear knives?

[@Mike-id8gu]

I have, and own one. I like it, but it's a bit more weighty than I prefer. I really like my Work Tuff when I'm chopping things for my backyard firepit!

[@douglasreed9237]

I got the Junglas but it would be nice if Becker would start making the Bk 20 again as a regular knife in their lineup with a nice kydex sheath. Thanks for the nice review. 👍👍

[@toddstamos89]

Both perform far above their price points. They are both excellent. The best big blade bowie is by FAR the Fallkniven Modern Bowie, but in this price range the BK9 gets my vote, so long as you change the scales to micarta. But that’s just me. If I had the ESEE in any situation, I’d also feel very confident.

[@bethearrow675]

Fallkniven is way overpriced junk. Joe X proved that.

[@hatchetjack1031]

Just bought the becker w/ macarta & kydex. ESSE sold out in every configuration. Enjoyed the vidio.!

[@alphaomegasurvivalsupply6548]

I have both but tend to go with the esee because it does have a little more power and no matter what I do to it esee will back it up no questions asked

[@Fightosaurus]

I went with the Junglas, and in the end it came down to two factors. First, the Junglas sheath is among the best production kydex you'll ever see. Ambi, jumpable, easily moddable, and holds all goodies. Second, the ESEE 1095 heat treat. Becker/Ka-Bar is no slouch and I prefer Cro-Van in smaller blades, but in test after test the Junglas heat treat holds up to hard use that knives of it's size shouldn't - and stays sharp. It's a beast.

[@tapiolaakkonen5350]

Great video! I'm going to get Ka-Bar BK7

[@brianf9619]

I LOVE my Beckers , that said I have XL hands , so I had to open up the handles a little bit with my Dremmel ,it worked like a charm , I would recommend anybody with bigger hands to do it ...

[@ManInTheWoods76]

I'm that guy that owns neither but have used both for heavy chopping. Like Anderson said, they are both great. My personal choice is the ESEE Expat Libertariat. It's an affordable workhorse that walks away from these two knives handily in the digging department. It has a cleaver nose and digs like a monster without blunting a tip. Though it isn't as sexy, it does double duty and outperforms both in food prep as well. That being said, it does necessitate an additional pointy blade be included (like a Morakniv or whatever.) I'm my case, I carry the BK-18 with great satisfaction.

[@patrickharrison4746]

Don't usually like nylon sheaths but I dig that bk9 sheath

[@dennisleighton2812]

Well, DC, you asked for it, so here goes! My choice (already made as I have one) is the Cold Steel Trail Master (San Mai III version), made in Japan. Firstly, the blade stock is 5/16ths (8mm) so it is super-sturdy, and the centre of balance is a full 3 centimetres bladeside of the fingerguard. This is important for its very good chopping capability. It is a full convex ground blade, with all the advantages that come with that. The laminated construction of the blade results in the legendary edge-holding capability, so well demonstrated in Cold Steel's demo video on KZbin, as well as its phenomenal strength also shown in the video. The handle covers the through-tang for the full length and is super-grippy, even when wet. For added safety there is a lanyard hole. The spine is 90 deg and will strike sparks with a ferro-rod. Overall, the knife has Big blade capability and yet is very nimble and the balance in my hand is just perfect! In terms of the two blades in the video, the Trail Master fits in between the two of them, and is, I feel, a worthy competitor to both of them! Its closest alternative is the Falkniven Modern Bowie, which is VERY similar, even down to the laminated steel blade and shape. In performance the Trail Master and Modern Bowie are close to identical. So, for what it is worth, there is my choice. Cheers DC!

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@1800moonSugar Well if DC doesn't care enough to reply, then that's fine! I care, and he asked.

[@dirkderolf4021]

Bundok is absolute favorite for me too. Excellent video

[@MCTeck]

Back in the Late 80's, I bought off the Snap On Tool Truck a Kershaw survival Knife . It is still waiting to be used .

[@matthewgerlach3056]

Want to sell it? 🤣🤓

[@D_GRAYMAN84]

I choose the Ontario SP-53 Gen 2. Which I'm still waiting on since its on pre-order

[@GeorgeOrwell-yz6zx]

Good choice!!! I got mine 3 weeks ago. It's my only really big knife but I am looking longingly at the Terava Skrama 240

[@ravenoutdoors8623]

Esee Junglas. Have the Junglas and Junglas II. I only get to use them in the mountains though. Not much for EDC lol. 😁

[@bethearrow675]

I own both of these. People got to stop comparing them. They are very different knives and shouldn't be compared. The RTAKII and Junglas you can compare. I also own the RTAKII and I prefer it over the Junglas for everything except fine bushcraft work where I use a proper bushcraft knife anyway. The Junglas handle is just too round for a chopper. It always wants to roll in the hand where as the RTAKII is a bit blocky and just locks into the hand better.

[@johnbelmore1178]

I have a bk9 and I keep it stock...I love it

[@barrybaldwin5535]

I have owned the Ontario RTAKII for a decade & find that it performs parallel to the Junglas for even less money than the BK9 & also has the better scales. I also own the Ontario RD6 Bush 6" & the Ontario RAT3 with the same construction. The Ontario lineup described here are all 1095 & all have a flatter spine right to the tip for more efficient batoning. Why spend more money?

[@zosonte129]

Esee warranty.

[@ferrumchnop6617]

Glad i finished the vid. Junglas with quality kydex and micarta out of the box make that price gap disappear imo. Great vid. *edited

[@brnrecluse2946]

Very thorough & extremely professional review. Rock on dude!

[@tylerbarnes7628]

Esee warranty makes it the best choice always.

[@brucefranklinjr.8543]

I have the bk9 with micarta, no complaints

[@easyki84]

Not when you're not living in the USA.. Unfortunately.

[@chadharner800]

I have both of them bk 9 is much more comfortable to use just add some tape to handle . Sheath not really a issue as it gets strapped to pack.

[@Ve-suvius]

In what ways do you find the BK9 more comfortable. For some the Becker handles are a little small.

[@chadharner800]

@@Ve-suvius seems thebecker handles just fit my hand better no so blocky

[@Ve-suvius]

@@chadharner800 Mmm yah, I feel what you're saying. I have experienced this with many ESEE knives. These days they have 3D handle options, more expensive though. The Junglas is still very wide and flat yes. Where the BK9 is way more hand friendly. I'm sure a Roman Legionar to name a historcal sword wielding soldier, would prefer the handle of the BK9 by far.. Blocky is not good to a hand. Though I know that some like the Junglas handle better. There's no one size fits all here.

[@chadharner800]

@@Ve-suvius yea I feel the Becker’s get a bad rap due to sheaths but leaves room upgrade

[@Ve-suvius]

@@chadharner800 Well the kydex is not perfect either. With extreme cold it can get brittle.

[@James-ke5sx]

I have 10 kabar knives from the jarosz folder to Reinhardt Kukri. I pull Mountain bike inner tube over the handles. I don't like Esee handles or the kydex sheath. I prefer the extra pocket, slim size, molle attachment and price of Kabar which is why I can buy 10 of them instead of 5 Esse knives. I bought them for using in case of emergency not so much for looks.

[@Ve-suvius]

Love the Reinhardt. Beautiful made knife....🤟👌

[@BabakPA]

Definitely the BK9. Holds a better edge due to the heat treat. More versatility.Those flat grinds make the knife a lot stronger in lateral stresses than a full flat grind and I also feel that the BK9 bites deeper in the wood. The BK9 has a stronger tip and I have seen the Junglas tip bend. The Bk9 is a 9” blade but feels like a much smaller medium sized knife and it a really good choice for self defence because it is actually designed to be a combat knife. The Junglas is really just a big chopper and I have seen instances where the BK9 actually out performed the Junglas in chopping as well. Just my humble opinion. Thanks for the video

[@Ve-suvius]

Interesting that you saw the BK9 in some cases chop better than the Junglas. Some claim otherwise. Where is the truth.. It's only one inch of difference in length. Maybe the speed of the user plays a big part as well, and the technique being used when chopping. That can make a huge difference...

[@BabakPA]

@@Ve-suvius yes you are right, I feel the saber grind plays a part in chopping as well. I feel in my experience it splits the wood better in chopping. Cheers

[@Ve-suvius]

@@BabakPA Ah, I understand. This is why the Fiskars axes split so effectively . Due to the wedge-shape blade profile. Thinner blade profiles though, bite deeper... Like the Cold Steel tomahawks, Rinaldi axes.

[@joshuagenovese36]

Both good choices , though i went with the Junglas myself, ive allways liked the design as well as Esee"s warranty . Thanx for the review

[@ericplatz7200]

I’ve got to Bk9 I’ve already upgraded that sheath and I’m going to buy some Bacardi handles. You can’t go wrong with K bar.

[@JacobDrosdick]

I've never tried Bacardi handles. I've usually gone with Makers Mark

[@johnd48]

But which would be a better EDC option for work? I'm high school math teacher

[@knifecenter]

No comment

[@Tree_Stabbing_Troy]

High school math teacher? You better get one of each!

[@Ve-suvius]

Reinhardt BK21 You want to be able to cleave a desk in two when 'needed'.

[@jnzupka]

I personally prefer the BK9 With the Micarta handle scales of course

[@Ve-suvius]

Did you have the Junglas to compare it with?

[@jnzupka]

@@Ve-suvius I have tried them both

[@Ve-suvius]

@@jnzupka Did you sell the Junglas, or still have it.

[@jnzupka]

@@Ve-suvius It was a friend’s

[@Ve-suvius]

@@jnzupka Ok, I understand.

[@gregoryblake3377]

What about the Rtak2 from Ontario I think it's right in the middle of these 2

[@AnomadAlaska]

I have the RTAK2 and the BK9. Hard to justify the Junglas as well, but I am sure trying! I prefer the BK9 and save it for special occasions. I beat the tar out of the RTAK2 regularly and it just comes back for more. If I could only have one it would be the Becker.

[@therealfilthyanimal]

I have the Esse it rocks! Now I want the Becker!

[@starlingblack814]

I have both ESEE and Becker knives, but neither the Junglas or BK9. I think if I do pick up one of these it would be the Junglas or Junglas 2 because of the lifetime warrantee and the sheath, although am sure I would be quite satisfied with either / or the Junglas or BK9. Thanks for a good review.

[@passivesolar6194]

Both Superb knives. Would go w the Becker.

[@navigator1372]

Me 2.

[@ramoncasillas4490]

I love all of your videos. There very informative Thank you very much.

[@Kuromankuro]

It's possible to find kabar Potbelly's and bacon makers etc. For around 50 with pocketed nylon sheaths and the kabar piggyback knife included, I think the compromises are okay considering the price.

[@BladeRunner1066]

I just bolted a Esse 3 to the Junglas sheath.

[@MTMILITIAMAN7.62]

I am looking at both of these knives and I think the Junglas is going to get it mostly for the sheath. It is a personal pet peeve of mine buying a knife only to have it come in shitty nylon garbage made by a 12 year old Chinese girl in a sweat shop. That ESEE cares enough about their blade to put it in kydex when they send it to you says a lot about the quality of the company, as well as the knife. If I got the Kabar, I'd end up spending another $100 on custom kydex and the $70 they want for the G10 scales, and that would bring the cost of the BK-9 over the Junglas. Plus, I love 1095, but I know heat treat matters with this steel. TOPs and ESEE both have reputations for doing an excellent job with their heat treats and edge geometry, and that is enough to make a basic high carbon steel into an amazing cutting tool.

[@jameskocks4734]

i bought my junglas without the oem sheath and bought a custom leather sheath and im satisfied!

[@catfishcave379]

Definitely going with the Spyderco Bug over these... I see these knives and get all excited over which one to buy... but I’d only use it to threaten my son when he won’t do his chores... or to greet my daughters’s boyfriends...

[@rtz549]

Esee 5 never Gets enough attention.

[@josephmartin1540]

Hey, DCA! How about comparing either to the, say, the Ontario 12" machete for camp work, wood processing, even bushcraft. Of course, I tend to mod things... But, just "as is." Thanks!

[@sarumite]

Two good edc options

[@knifecenter]

For IWB, naturally.

[@jaywalls1905]

Got the Bk9+Bk2.....now time to find some zombies!!

[@samward9641]

Got the BK9 with the sweet handle and the kydex sheath. Daddy didn't raise no fool... 😊. But I did get the esee Escobar for my little guy..... Don't think I don't got a KB 19 either, but I'm going to go through my Gerber prodigy before I pull that bad boy out... I must have drink too much beer....

[@martinmiller1087]

Great review - thanks

[@annabarone9956]

Thanks for what you do, Keep doing you and I’ll keep watching.

[@DinoNucci]

Dropped a pimp knife flex @ 7:54 !

[@Wildwestwrangler]

I have the venom green junglas with orange scales and the junglas 2 in classic colors love them both!!!

[@Wildwestwrangler]

I now have the bk9

[@Ve-suvius]

@@Wildwestwrangler So having both, which one do you prefer and why, the BK9 or the Junglas.

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

Or the Ontario SP53. Strip it, thin the edge a bit and it's a brutal chopper. It's also made of better steel for such work imo.

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

Rockwell 53 to 54..... 5160 .....what makes it so great again?

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

@@bradfarrahgerwing154 Because it's stronger and it'll chop better.

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

@@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279 you'd be hard pressed to find anyone around here backing up that claim.....I get it that you spent time profiling and making it right for you....BUT.... its a pretty pedestrian average chunk of steel that needed work....,the essee and beckers are ready to go out of box with much better steel and edge profile

[@teddysmith457]

The EBSEE AND K BAR Would be excellent for batoning

[@BDSwaim]

Can you guys please source a dangler kydex sheath for the bk9. That would make mine perfect.

[@Rizzie01]

I don't know if you're still looking, but "Grizzly outdoors" is fantastic. I bought a kydex sheath for my BK2 from them, It's not a dangler but they have the option for it. I love my sheath, super durable and looks great too.

[@goneoutside1011]

I have the 9 a d I really like it being a Marine I’m kind of bias.

[@Ve-suvius]

The 9 is the better choice for me also... Better handle, and I like the blade + tip better as well. Though the Junglas is also a great knife.

[@navigator1372]

An sp 5chops better than both but doesnt baton as well as bk9. It feather sticks good and is 50 bux

[@cypherf0x]

The Becker sheaths suck which is a pity because they're great knives.

[@christianflores7583]

Il take the jarosz choppa over both of these, similar blade length, it handles smaller knives tasks very well, the grind allows it to baton and split better than the junglas, its lighter it just swings way easier, the coating it has is much smoother than the one on the bk9, ill admit the bk9 has the the beat handle shape, but some hockey grip tape on the jarosz handle equals the playing field,

[@chrisu.k9307]

My bk9 has warped in the profile of the blade. Looking down the blade looks like a snake. I chopped a fairly small ish pine tree down with it, sawed logs and stripped the logs of bark and knots etc. this is a fairly simple task for bk9 but clearly it’s not a strong enough knife. I’m hoping the esee I have just bought to replace it with is capable of not warping after reasonable use.

[@chrisu.k9307]

Would you like a photo which I can provide

[@cesaraugustovelazquezcorti2903]

What is the of the this type of knives

[@zman92630]

I'm planning on getting the BK9 for car camping and will replace the handle with micarta. I don't plan on wearing the sheath much, if at all, so while I like Esse's Kydex sheath, I don't feel compelled to get it. The Esse does look like a great blade, though. I'm betting you can't go wrong with either. Great video, and thank you.

[@marquezvanroeschen5340]

I'll go for Becky!

[@therealdestructicus]

The Esse grind angles always seem to make them bad cutters.

[@loyalegroup3929]

In my very humble opinion, you can take a BK-9, and a Buck 110 Slim Select...both EXCEPTIONAL "price point" blades...and, for about 150 bucks, be loaded for bear.

[@MarkJohnson1960]

Another great comparison and review

[@fede1233]

Love esee company , but the bk9 have a better design

[@trooper2221]

The cv in the becker seems to make it hard to sharpen, my junglas I can get razor sharp, ok now I have the bk2. Same steel as the 9. Almost impossible to sharpen.. I’d go essee all day everyday

[@ApocGuy]

those scales ARE SLIPPERY when wet on all beckers. not that few wraps of tape doesnt fix (or micarta scales, but those are close to 60€ ) . i've tested Esee 7 and didnt like the handles. love my bk9, what i regret is that i didnt buy bk5 when they were readily available...

[@ReeferNoob23]

I’ll keep my bravo 3 for the woods and my Kabar full sized fighting knife for around the house abuse lol

[@backyardblacksmith3090]

I got me both 🤪

[@iuhuh10110]

If I were in the market for a chopper I would go with the Terava Skrama.

[@mikezmit340]

For wood processing and chopping, nothing compares to the Terävä Skrama 240. For a general purpose all-round large (and cheap) knife, I would go with the Kershaw Camp10.

[@Ozone077]

Junglas 2 is more similar in blade size to the BK9.

[@loyalegroup3929]

BK-9.

[@MovieGuy666]

The BK9 is the better knife.

[@mealex303]

I like the esse but hate the billbording on the blade and would be a deal breaker for me

[@Ve-suvius]

Billboarding 😂🤣 I know what you mean. The skull is gone at least, that made it a Halloween knife. Tops also has too much writing on their knives. Knives are not books, stop doing this companies !

[@WhispyWoods.]

I haven’t even watched yet, but wow, this will be epic!!

[@jeremywilkins4985]

Both nice neck knives.

[@Ve-suvius]

André the Giant agrees.

[@markpaolino4264]

The Junglas is my choice. Fixed blades, I pretty much go with either ESEE or TOPS.

[@primeministersinister625]

I love tops, their 1095 is the best I've seen, better than Kabar's a small margin, leagues better than other companies. Esee on the other hand, in my experience, has a quite poor heat treat. I've had two esees, an izula and a 3, and neither seems to hold an edge at all.

[@eoffdahenny]

Becker bk-9 is good for chopping bk

[@AnomadAlaska]

Anyone have time with the RTAK2 and Junglas? I have the RTAK2 and would love the Junglas, just because... But it appears so similar I can't justify it to the Chief Financial Officer.

[@knifecenter]

Both are solid but the ESEE definitely has nicer fit and finish, and it chops a little better than the RTAK due to its weight distribution and blade geometry.

[@cmdleo666]

I have both the rtak2 and the junglas and I never question it . The junglas is a phenomenal blade for the outdoors.

[@AnomadAlaska]

@@cmdleo666 still trying to convince myself I "need" all 3. Haha

[@sopwithcamelus]

I recently bought an RTAK II and I regret it, because the grind on it was pitiful. It had an s curve to it, and I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to.

[@minguscreek]

Ontario RTAK2

[@lonestardude6283]

Tops Armageddon! Only because that's what I have in a large knife! If I'm ever in the market to replace it, then definitely the ESEE Junglas! Hard to beat ESEE's warranty!

[@garrettferrell6821]

The Armageddon is great..I think I like the Junglas just a little bit better but mainly because the sheath..I’ve never been a fan of nylon sheaths.I wish Tops would use kydex or leather on all their knives

[@jorgefernandez6407]

BK-9 here... ❤

[@markzimmerman2522]

Ka bar bk9

[@butchhill5656]

BK 9

[@timbo4374]

Buy both..why limit your options? lol

My choice was for the BK9 but I changed the original handles for micarat ones and (for me) it is a true improvement (and not cheap at all for 'just' handles). For the sheath no possible comparison, Esee win easily

[@bloodgout]

BK9

[@DoomOfConviction]

I guess up to rifle caliber these knifes stay literally bulletproof

[@simpleman6542]

Bk9

[@christopher_martin]

i want the bk9 1095 cro van blade with the ESEE handle and sheath!

[@toto29er]

Hi there, nice video...how about Esee Darien? How would you compare it with the Junglas? If one already own a machete and a knife what will be the use of the junglas?

[@knifecenter]

Depends on what you want to use it for. If you need heavy chopping, probably the Junglas. If you are clearing thinner brush or vegetation/heavy grasses, a thinner machete like the Darien will work better and not wear you out as much.

[@jaredyoung5353]

I ended up making my own knife.

[@levkvarner9865]

Your subtitle says homless not Junglas 😅😅😅

[@11_EVERYTHING_OEFx2]

Junglas all day.

[@mrpink3630]

junglas is a beast. cons are its heavy. like hatchet heavy. and the balance is not great, it might just be the weight though. i want the bk9 as a lighter option. i do like having the junglas. its confidence inspiring and comforting knowing you have that indestructible monster if the need arises. ive batoned it threw so much crap and chopped like crazy iwth it.