Best all around knife fixed blade!

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blackgrub0331

Joined
Aug 17, 2006
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I've been looking for a good all round knife. I have a M-9 bayonet a Ka-bar and a few other knife. But I'm looking for something bigger in the 9+ inch blade length. I was looking at a few of the Striders but I was told there are a lot better knives out there that will not cost me $400. I've looked also at the Swamp rat's and heard they are really good tough knives. I'm looking to spend up to $200 maybe more if the knife is just what I want. Thanks
 
Welcome to BF.

You might start with a Becker BK-9, beat the heck out of it, and see if it suits you.

$200 will not likely get you a new 9+ inch Swamp Rat. If you keep your eyes open in the For Sale forum, you might find a used Battle Rat around that price or a bit more. Also, try posting over in WTB (Wanted to Buy).

I sold a mint BR for about $200 recently, but I was simply offering up a great deal, and it sold in minutes. Most new ones have been selling in the $250 to $300 range.
 
Do you want a larger fixed blade for camp and outdoor chores?

Or do you want a smaller fixed blade for EDC?

If you can spend a bit more than $200 (closer to $300 I guess) you can get Busse if you want a larger knife, or a Dozier if you want a smaller one. Busse makes some smaller knives, and Dozier makes some larger ones, but Busse excells at the large heavy duty knives while Dozier excells at the smaller super cutters.

IMO, Busse and Dozier are the best. Bar none.

If you want to spend less, look at Bark River and Charles May.
 
Guyon said:
Welcome to BF.

You might start with a Becker BK-9, beat the heck out of it, and see if it suits you.

$200 will not likely get you a new 9+ inch Swamp Rat. If you keep your eyes open in the For Sale forum, you might find a used Battle Rat around that price or a bit more. Also, try posting over in WTB (Wanted to Buy).

I sold a mint BR for about $200 recently, but I was simply offering up a great deal, and it sold in minutes. Most new ones have been selling in the $250 to $300 range.
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I guess there web site must be old then because it say's for the Battle Rat - $148.95! I do have the right site? www.Swamprat.com For the Swamp rat I'd be willing to pay the $250 for that all I've heard was good things about it. Thanks for the help
 
I am very impressed with the Swamp Rat Rattweiller, its an excellent fixed blade and is very affordable (and its pretty damn big). other ideas for camp knife tasks would be any busse, strider, buck strider solution, swamp rat or sog.


my 2 cents.
 
blackgrub0331 said:
I guess there web site must be old then because it say's for the Battle Rat - $148.95! I do have the right site? www.Swamprat.com For the Swamp rat I'd be willing to pay the $250 for that all I've heard was good things about it. Thanks for the help
Click to expand...
Swamp Rat is currently revamping their line. Unfortunately, the only knife you can order from the URL above is the Rat Trap folder. Their website is woefully outdated and not maintained; but their products are top notch.

All new Swamp Rats will be purchased through the Swamp Rat Store. Currently, the only model available for order is the new M6; and it appears that Eric Isaacson is currently out of stock (but promises more to come very soon). They will be releasing further production models in the near future, and all will be available from the Store.

Here is a thread on Rat Chat that shows what the new line of Swamp Rat will consist of, and their projected prices.

If you are looking for something "today" I'd strongly recommend checking out the Bladeforums Exchange "Production Blades for Sale" section where you can still find "old model" (and a few of the newer models) for sale at great prices.
 
Best ?

Ken Warner has a way with words and sure said it best:

"There is no best design. There are only best designs for: for certain people, for certain jobs, for certain demands. "
 
I thing I'm going to wait until swamp rat knives comes out with there new line of knives and see what they have to offier. I really like there knives and maybe i'll have enough money save up to get a 9 inch and a 6 inch one.:D
 
I have a BK-9 I vote for that or the HI Khukuri. I don't own a Busse yet, but I hear they are the best.
 
I have been buying SOG blades of late and have been pretty impressed with the blade quality verus price. I have a Seal Pup Elite (plain edge) (around $70) that I feel is an excellent all around knife. Some of the Bowies are really quite nice but are considerably more expensive. The Tiger Shark is their biggest blade and it sports a 9.5" blade. I have the current model that has the partially serrated blade as well as the older SK-5 Tigershark that I really like. Also have the older SOG Tech I that is larger and heavier than the Seal Pup Elite. It is a fine blade!

Blades that are really excellent, but smaller is the Dozier line of custom knives. They are made in D2 steel and are great all around knives. I just wouldn't want to beat one around too much like I might with a SOG blade.

I have looked at the Swamp Rat knives and have been tempted to buy one more than once. I lean toward medium sized knives. Have a few big blades, but for use I pretty much want something up to a 5-6" blade. They are just easier to handle as long as chopping is not your thing with a knife.

I would rather have an axe along for chopping and a saw for sawing for the most part in a camp setting. A 12" Ontario machete is a pretty good camp knife as well and they are under $20.

Links below: http://www.dozierknives.com/
http://www.sogknives.com/home.htm
 
+ 1 RD-9. Runs you about $110-120 from sagecreekoutfitters or Brigade Quartermasters. Only problem is that it's a tad heavy for all-day belt-wear.

What u have already isn't bad- if you really want to save $, buy a Tramontina machete for $8 and a Wetterlings FA for $35, and then you're all kitted-out w/that Ka-bar IMHO- no other blades really needed.
 
Other than Busse and SR, - Fehrman also, you should really check out the Ranger RD-9 as "huugh" and "soupah" have already mentioned. An excellent flat ground rugged carbon steel knife for less than $120 or so with sheath. Look at the web site, read reviews on this forum. This is a highly regarded inexpensive option for anybody.
 
I love busse, SR, Strider, chris reeve and ranger knives.

If i were you id get a RD-9 from ranger knives. they are a great deal.
 
Any knife from Fallkniven or Chris Reeve would do very nicely...

"Becker on a Budget" work very well, too.
And, any of the Ontario RAT knives are excellent - especially with the D2 steel! *drool* (Have two of the RAT-7s in D2 - simply awesome!)

Regards,
Mike
 
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