backwoods knife

G

grobe

Joined
Aug 18, 2005
Messages
228
i'm new to the forum here have been in search of a blade that you guys should be able to help with.
i need a good backwoods knife. i've been thinking around a 7" blade. i know alot of guys like to carry a 4" and a small hatchet. but i want something that can be carried solo and do most jobs well. something that will last a LONG time and provide years of good hard use. things that i like are full tangs with handle scales, tried and true steels, and non aggressive looking blades. the kicker is that i don't really want to spend over $100.
when looking in the bang for the buck catagory, i've come up with the becker cu7, onatrio rat-7, and the swamp rat camp tramp. i've also seen mention of bark river, but they're a bit pricey.
becker......not a fan of the handle scales. blade design not my fav., but should do. sheath not liked by most from what i hear.
rat- 7..........like the handle scales, the 1095, and the blade design. sheath seems good. rep is questionable. it seems people say "i heard that ontario was having qc problems". so who actually has had a rat-7 and returned it or been dissatisfied?? i want complete confidence in a blade. how do i tell if i got a good one??
camp tramp......a bit large, don't like the handle, and a bit pricey. chopping would probably low on the totem pole of chores for this blade. the 1/4 stock seems a bit overkill for a genreal purpose all around woods knife.
also will a carbon blade start to rust if in the rain for a day or three before being cleaned and oiled??
 
Yes, carbon steel would start to develope rust, but I don't see why you couldn't give it a wipe after use. A small vial of oil doesn't weigh anything either. Then there are those pre-saturated cloths like Tuf-Cloth, you might want to check those out if you deside on a carbon steel knife.

One knife that I instantly thought of while reading your criteria is the Timberline Zambezi. It can be had for about 100 dollars online. The blade is not quite 7 inches, but the overall length is not far from the Camp Tramp. It really would be one of the knives I'd seriously consider if I were you. Good stainless, so you don't have to worry about rust too much. People have found it to be a real workhorse.

Also, have you checked out the Ka-Bar line? The 8" Camp Knife might suit you. It's one more alternative, but I'd choose any of the knives you mentioned over it.
 
I dont have any of the blades you mention, but I have Battle Rat- it has the same handle as the Camp Tramp- it is a great handle and incredibly comfortable. As far as I know, The Ontario Rat line have good warranties, so if you got a bad one, they would replace it. Swamp Rat is the toughest, has the best warranty, as well as the best steel of the three, but is more costly.
The thicker stock would add some weight that helps with chopping, if thats what you plan to do. I think they all would be good knives, I personally like Swamp Rats.
 
It’s worth considering the Ranger Knives RD6 or RD7. They are great value for money, and Justin is a stand up guy to deal with.

A flat ground RD with a thinned edge would serve you very well.
 
grobe:
Before I started making my own, I was a big fan of Cold Steel knives. I think their recon scout, and S.R.K. are in that size range.
Most importantly, look for something flat ground, and consider a high carbon blade with some sort of performance coating. I never used a Swamp Rat, but they seem to have really good geometry, and if their claims are true, their heat treating sounds great.
Good luck, and make the right choice. It would suck to ruin a great trip because you saved a few bucks on crucial equipment.
Adam.
 
I think from reading your post, you need a Ruana Bowie Knife. Please do not whine about the price. Just go for it! It is 5160 carbon steel & tuff as Shi$. Get one and be done with it already! :D
 
thanks for the replies
way-o....thanks for the reccomendations. the timberline is a bit too flashy (looks more like a fighter) and it also has 1/4" stock which i believe might be a bit too thick for my purposes. the kabar is also a bit large.
rat fink...ibesides the handle i've heard that the camp tramps are a bit stout for normal camp chores (food prep, carving, etc.). and i just have this fear about the handle coming loose. i know, i know, it'll probably never happen.
djolney...the rangers are nice, and definately worth the money, but here again arrise the question of it being too stout of a blade for normal chores.
adam...no offense but i'm just not a fan of CS products.
pogo...sorry man, but i am whining about the price. :D
 
grobe said:
how do i tell if i got a good one??
Click to expand...

Same as with any blade, use it. There is always the chance that a flaw will only surface after extended use, some manufacturers take many steps to try an insure this doesn't happen to you, for example the crack peentration testing that Swamp Rat performs :

http://www.swamprat.com/specs.html

chopping would probably low on the totem pole of chores for this blade.
Click to expand...

You might want to consider a Leuko, check Rangar's Forge.

-Cliff
 
thanks cliff-
any sources for the leuko?? couldn't find much on it. i'm assuming this comes as a blade only and one must install the handle themselves.
 
Leuku is just a type of knife - a traditional Lapp pattern
A relatively thin, straight spined wide blade and a simple, usally straight handle that gets a bit wider near the pommel. Grind is similar to a typical puukko, the blade being longer or much longer.

Here's a beautiful interpretation of the style, though perhaps not absolutely traditional ;)

http://www.ragweedforge.com/ Has at least a few models, over and under $100.
http://www.kellamknives.com/ might have something as well.

I'd suggest looking for a carbon steel one. This sort of knife might require adjusting your techniques, depending on what you're used to using.

.

Edit:
I guess the Jarvenpaa Leuku would be the closest match, in your price range. Ragnar's page. Knives from Iisakki Jarvenpaa are good quality, possibly very good for the price.
 
The becker, or swamp rats would be a good way to go. Personally I use a knifeware Kampr and have had good results with it for a few years now. I did try a becker BK9, but it was too big for long hikes so I did away with it and went back to the kampr.

One thing to consider is what you will actually use it for, and what weight you are willing to carry with you. The kampr I use is just big enough to chop with (make a small shelter), but small and "agile" enough I could fillet a fish with, and light enough I can carry for long hikes without noticing the weight too much.

http://www.knifeware.com/bigcounkam1.html
 
The Big Country knives look solid to me. Now you made me want one.
New Graham has them for a smaller price. ($76.50 for the Kampr) Just saying because price was a concern, I'm not biased or anything.
 
grobe said:
thanks for the replies
rat fink...ibesides the handle i've heard that the camp tramps are a bit stout for normal camp chores (food prep, carving, etc.). and i just have this fear about the handle coming loose. i know, i know, it'll probably never happen.
:D
Click to expand...
The handles cannot come loose. Of all the knives mentioned, the Camp Tramps handles are the least likely to come loose. And if you somehow managed to wreck one (basically you would have to do it on purpose), it would be covered by the unlimited warranty.
The CT might be a little stout for slicing tomatos and such, but that is why you should also be carrying a smaller Fixed blade or folder . I carry an Endura for fine cutting tasks. :thumbup:
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
The handles cannot come loose.
Click to expand...

I have seen a Camp Tramp grip loosen, it took a long time though and constantly heavy prying, chopping and splitting, after more than a year of this I could move the handle a little, and you could feel it a little in really heavy work. There was no danger of it coming off, the tang is actually designed to prevent this anyway.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
I have seen a Camp Tramp grip loosen, it took a long time though and constantly heavy prying, chopping and splitting, after more than a year of this I could move the handle a little, and you could feel it a little in really heavy work. There was no danger of it coming off, the tang is actually designed to prevent this anyway.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

Well that could be considered a rare occurance, and you could send it back for a new handle in such a case.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
I have seen a Camp Tramp grip loosen, it took a long time though and constantly heavy prying, chopping and splitting, after more than a year of this I could move the handle a little, and you could feel it a little in really heavy work. There was no danger of it coming off, the tang is actually designed to prevent this anyway.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

Jeez Cliff, if that's ALL you could accomplish in a year, my CT should last me my lifetime and my kids also. Usually this takes you about 15 or 20 min on the woodpile with other knives.

'Really heavy work' usually reads that the knife in question is in pieces. Did your brother have a go at it also?

Rob
 
Grobe,

Of the 3 you mentioned, the Camp Tramp stands head and shoulders above the other 2, IMO. You really do get what you are paying for in terms of performance. Second place would be the Becker, a real good steel also. The Rat with 1095 is a good steel, but to be honest doesn't really come close to the other 2 in terms of edge holding and other aspects of performance.

Now, I have to quickly add that I think that 1095 is an excellent steel, and all 3 would be very capable knives. All I'm doing is ranking them, but I consider 1095 to be well above my own minimum requirements. Well above.

I own the Camp Tramp and Becker, but not the Rat. I have other knives (Kabar) in 1095 that I am using for a reference, so please keep that in mind when you evaluate my reply. Any of them should serve you well. Enjoy!
 
wetdog1911 said:
'Really heavy work' usually reads that the knife in question is in pieces. Did your brother have a go at it also?
Click to expand...

Last I heard it was still running fine, I sent it out for an extended pass around a year or so ago, yeah my brother carried for awhile as well. Really solid knife.

-Cliff
 
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