Becker, RAT, or Others

S

shelbysguns

Joined
Feb 1, 2009
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443
Hi guys im looking around for a outdoor fixed blade with a full tang medium sized blade like the becker companion or rat 3/4 or some other relatively afforable brand. Im not a fanboy or a brandsnob so dont hesitate to mention any. I dont know alot about this topic in general so im asking you guys. Thanks!
 
Go for the RAT heres why.

1) great fit and finish its about as good as it gets in this department.
2) durable coatings that take awhile to rub off (at which point you probably will have a patina starting anyways)
3) Rat has about the best heat treat for 1095 on the market ive yet to see a company that can top rats rowen heat treated 1095
4) 1095 is very tough and even though it isnt a super new high speed stainless steel it has been being used as a knife steel for a long time and performs quite admirably if your going to be using you knife why would you care if there is discoloration? its gonna get scratched scuffed dinged and nicked anyways.
5) Visual appeal, i think all the rats are handsome knives oarticurarily those with the green liners they add a slight visual flair to a tool meant for use.
6) great linen/canvas micarta handles that fit the hand well and will hold up to most any use.
7)Warranty this is a really big one for some people. if you break your rat no matter how then you can send it in for a new one.
8) the rat sheaths are all very well though out and lend themselves to carry in most any way that you would want to carry, also KSF has very nice weatherproofed leather sheaths for sale that are amazingly rugged and quite handsome to boot
9) Rat knives have excellent and well thought out designs that are the product of lots of field use by outdoors professionals the full flat grinds keep the knife slicing like a champ even at 3/16 inch thick.
10) if you a guy that wants serrations rats serrations are more easily sharpened than other types of serrations and work just as effectivley.
11) When you buy a RAT knife your supported a great company run by great people who actually care about their customers.

If that doesnt sell you i dont know what will

oh and heres the link for ksf: http://www.knivesshipfree.com/RAT-Cutlery-1
 
shelbysguns said:
Hi guys im looking around for a outdoor fixed blade with a full tang medium sized blade like the becker companion or rat 3/4 or some other relatively afforable brand. Im not a fanboy or a brandsnob so dont hesitate to mention any. I dont know alot about this topic in general so im asking you guys. Thanks!
Click to expand...

...you already called it yourself...you want price/performance in a fixed, and if you dig their style, then a Rat is what you want...
 
I'd go with the RAT as well. I love my Beckers too though. for the price they are awesome. KABARs 1095 aint that far behind RATs imo.
 
If Jeff comes out with a thinner, scandi version of the RC4 I would buy one and have it rush delivered. You just can't beat that warranty. Other than that, Fiddleback sells his bushcrafters on here within the Rat/ BRKT/fallkniven pricerange and it's a damned fine design.
 
I like my Ontario RTAK-II .

Here's a picture of one.

rtak-II.jpg


I also like my Kershaw outcast:

Here's a picture of an Outcast.

Outcast1.png


This is also a good choice:

Here's a picture of a Cold Steel Gurka Kukri in action. (Not the machete...):

002.JPG
 
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Full tang, medium sized, affordable? Can't go wrong with RAT Cutlery or Becker.

RAT's coating will hold up to just about anything, and I don't think anyone can beat the heat treat Rowen does on the 1095. Fit, finish, overall quality and the warranty are superb on all RAT Cutlery knives.

If you want a knife at a cheaper price point, you can't go wrong with any of the Becker's.

You might also want to check out some of Bark River's offerings, people speak fondly of them.
 
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I agree with the others. RAT and Beckers are great knives. If $ is tight, a Kabar heavy/short bowie is a nice choice too. Btw, Kabar is making the Beckers nowadays.
 
razorsdescent said:
Go for the RAT heres why.

1) great fit and finish its about as good as it gets in this department.
2) durable coatings that take awhile to rub off (at which point you probably will have a patina starting anyways)
3) Rat has about the best heat treat for 1095 on the market ive yet to see a company that can top rats rowen heat treated 1095
4) 1095 is very tough and even though it isnt a super new high speed stainless steel it has been being used as a knife steel for a long time and performs quite admirably if your going to be using you knife why would you care if there is discoloration? its gonna get scratched scuffed dinged and nicked anyways.
5) Visual appeal, i think all the rats are handsome knives oarticurarily those with the green liners they add a slight visual flair to a tool meant for use.
6) great linen/canvas micarta handles that fit the hand well and will hold up to most any use.
7)Warranty this is a really big one for some people. if you break your rat no matter how then you can send it in for a new one.
8) the rat sheaths are all very well though out and lend themselves to carry in most any way that you would want to carry, also KSF has very nice weatherproofed leather sheaths for sale that are amazingly rugged and quite handsome to boot
9) Rat knives have excellent and well thought out designs that are the product of lots of field use by outdoors professionals the full flat grinds keep the knife slicing like a champ even at 3/16 inch thick.
10) if you a guy that wants serrations rats serrations are more easily sharpened than other types of serrations and work just as effectivley.
11) When you buy a RAT knife your supported a great company run by great people who actually care about their customers.

If that doesnt sell you i dont know what will

oh and heres the link for ksf: http://www.knivesshipfree.com/RAT-Cutlery-1
Click to expand...

What he said. The shop he linked is great too. Worked well for me and I live in canada (lots of online places don't ship international for 5 bucks:))
 
Can't say anything about RAT that haven't been said and I am sure they are damn fine knives. Regarding Becker, I like the no-nonsense design, the reasonable price and the more than reasonable quality, although I am no fan of their grivory handles. I don't see 'em much in Europe, but I suppose they are gravely underrated.
 
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