Best 7 incher?

Buffalohump

Buffalohump

Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
6,199
Hey dudes,

I recently traded away my CRK Project I so I'm in search of a 7 incher to replace her.

I figure this is the place to be for a good, tough all-rounder for the backwoods.

I'd like a 7 - 8 inch blade. I like the NMSFNO but those Busse prices... whew! :p

What should I be looking fer?
 
Me! Oh wait. I wish. LOL

Son of Dogfather is a 7" blade. As is the Camp Tramp. I'm a CT fan. Ummmm. . . what are you looking to spend???
 
Chopweiler gets my vote. Not too hard to find. 7 7/8ths inch blade. Good heft for the heavier tasks. listed originally for 200$.

J.
 
I would vote for either the Chopweiler or the SOD. The SOD may be easier to find and less expensive but would probably offer a little less in chopping.
 
I love my Camp Tramp, but aftermarket prices can be tough.

If you go to blade, bet you could bag a chopweiler or SOD. Folks seem VERY happy with those! The ratweiler, but after market prices there too!
 
It really depends on a number of factors.

1. price - it seems all busse kin knives in this length range increase rapidly in value with the Busse branded increasing the quickest. The NMSFNO are currently in the Busse company store and, I at least think, represent on of the best values going. A new/good condition ratweiler or camp tramp will probably cost more then the Busse. The chopweiler isn't far behind. Scrap Yard's SOD is the least pricey right now but even they are already selling at ~133% of their initial cost. If a little more length isn't off putting you might open yourself upto the dogfathers and the rare battlerats as possibilities. Busse has its own exchange on the forums here and you can sometime find a decent price on all these blades on ebay.

2. handle/grip - some people very much prefer the res-C handles on the SOD, Camp Tramp, and etc. If you will be doing a ton of chopping this might be a nice feature as res-C absorbs quite a bit of fatigue inducing vibration. I personally much prefer g10 or micarta, mainly for looks.

3. blade steel - for many/most INFI is worth the extra cost over the swamp rat or scrap yard offerings. Most reports list it as the best overall steel for knives, ever.

That being said, SR101 (52100) has a reputation for great edge retention, some report that its better then INFI in this regard (though some of these same people are a bit, um, odd). SR101 is not regarded as being as shock resistant as INFI but this is made up for quite a bit by the differential tempering of the longer blades by Swamp Rat. SR101 is more likely to rust then INFI.

SR77 (S7) is incredibly tough. It falls short of the other two in terms of raw edge retention but is probably better then a majority of stainless steels. It is the least pricey of the three. If the blade is mainly used for chopping and finances are limited, this is likely the best economic choice.

4. resale value - It seems that once a Busse knife is no longer offered for sale by the company store, its value increases greatly. This is more true for unused knives but the used ones do not lose much value either. Some of the older designs from Swamp Rat are increasing in value. These are usually the larger micarta handled knives. Some used swamp rats or scrapyard knives may eventually be able to be resold near their original store price.

5. coolness factor - this is subjective but if you are looking for what is likely termed as the 'best' on the market for non-custom knives Busse specific knives tend to hold this coveted reputation.

6. Warrenty - all have the same basic awesome warranty.
 
Sorry for the longish post. Here is a summary as I know it:

If you want the best, and a good value with high resale, get a NMSFNO from the Busse company store before they go away.
If you want the best overall value with a premium on edge retention look for a swamp rat.
If you want the best overall value with a premium on toughness look for a scrapyard.
 
http://
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Does this do anything for ya?!!
 
another vote for the famed CampTramp if price permits so. good luck with your choice. Swamp Rats are an excellent tool with a great warranty.
 
Hey.

Thanks for all the good words!

Toast: that was a great summation of the pros and cons. Thanks for your time!

I have always been a fan of the original Ratweiler but they seem to be thin on the ground now.

The Chopweiler looks like a very capable piece, no doubt about it!

I would love a Dogfather LE, but they can be pricey and hard to find.

The NMSFNO is still top of my list - that configuration is all business!

As for the Camp Tramps and others of that sort. I think I prefer something a little blade heavier. I like a broad blade.

I guess I will have to take up position at the Exchange and hope my timing is good when the right one comes up.
 
Buffalohump said:
As for the Camp Tramps and others of that sort. I think I prefer something a little blade heavier. I like a broad blade.
Click to expand...

Huh?

CT has a 1.75" wide blade saber-ground and it balances at the choil. For reference, the NMSFNO (8" blade) balances in the same place and is a shade under 2" wide.
 
Ratweiler, Ratweiler, Ratweiler.

SatinGreen-1.jpg



Maybe Terry will be along soon with a pic. By far the best collection of original Ratweilers that I've seen. Of course, the Bully could easily be holding out on me. ;)
 
If you can find an original Ratweiler at a reasonable price, that'd be the one.

Another one to consider is the original Battle Rat. Although it's got a 9" blade, it handles and carries like a smaller knife. It's very light weight for it's size and to me is better suited to more delicate tasks than others in it's size category. The FBMs and Dogfathers actually seem a bit bulky and even clumsy compared to the Battle Rat for many non-chopping chores. You can also sometimes find lightly used ones for decent prices on the exchange.

Maybe a Battle Rat and a Ratweiler. Just because. :thumbup:
 
Palling_man, what is the final grit used to polish the top ratweiler in you pic?
 
iamtoast -

Ya know? I don't actually remember. That feels like a lifetime ago (it was another house, State, and job ago.)

I was basically the stuff used for automotive finishing. 4-digit stuff that actually felt pretty soft to the skin.

Sorry, best I can do short of guessing.

(Oh, also metal polish paste and rubbing by hand! Stuff like Brasso and Fitz!)
 
Knives in the 7"-9" category are my favorite size and there are some fantastic choices in the Busse-trio:
- Camp Tramp (Swamp), some would say king of the lightweight camp blades
- SoD (Yard), basically a Camp Tramp in SR77 shock steel
- SFNO (Busse), amazing but harder to find at a good price
- Chopweiler (Swamp), a budget Ratweiler with simple looks
- Ratweiler (Swamp), a legend and it deserves it
- NMSFNO (Busse), a legend in the making, get it at the store while you can
- FSH (Busse), a legend and it deserves it, hard to find at a good price
- Battle Rat (Swamp), a lightweight champion

You won't go wrong with any of those so find one that fits your budget and don't look back. :D Good luck.
 
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